Hi, shortly I will be subscribing to Comcast broadband. One can either
rent a modem -3 bucks a month- or buy one.
I noticed circuit city has several different ones, I am looking for
agood cable modem that isnt way too expensive or super cheap- can
someone recommend one? I saw a motorola that they are promoting was i
believe 99? now 50 or 60?
Thanks
KOS

"KOS" <computerstuff2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1110405132.027087.16930@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...
the cable modems.

I say stick with the motorola 5100. Works the best..

"Never anonymous Bud" <newskat@katxyzkave.net> wrote in message
news:gl5v2190l9hq2bbhra1b3buq026ib08r0m@4ax.com...
Not true, you're out the savings you could have had by owning. At $5/month
rental and about $60 for a typical modem (even cheaper if you get a rebate
with new service), the break even point is at 12 months. It is very
unlikely that a system change will kick in within a year that would obsolete
a modem. A new modem should have a warranty that will cover any breakage in
the first months or year; since electronic devices either fail in the first
days of use or last forever.

Now, if a cable company doesn't give any discount or a very small discount
for customer owned modems, rental makes sense. In most cases it doesn't.

Look at the numbers; how much does a modem cost (and don't forget about new
subscriber rebates that can make it free) vs. the rental cost. If the
payback period is smaller than the period of time you think you'll be using
the service, buy the modem. Even if you have to buy a new modem every five
years to enable some new features (like DOCSIS 2.0, 3.0, ...), in most cases
you come out far ahead.

By the way, I've owned my SB4100 for over four years. It works just fine,
and will be ready if Comcast ever decides to turn on DOCSIS 1.1 in my area.
I've had several service calls with Comcast over the years, and they never
blamed my modem.

-Gary

KOS wrote:
However, if I were going to buy one, the Motorola 5100 would be my choice.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

Gary wrote:
Your math is faulty. 60/3=20, not 12. Cable modems, in my experience,
last well below two years (I have had 7 in about 5 years).

laying in the yard, and the pole is down! But since I rent, this is not
a problem. Had I bought all the modems I have been through, I would be
FAR behind the break-even point.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

Never anonymous Bud wrote:

If they're running DOCSIS, you'll be fine.

Ron Hunter wrote:

Where'd the 3 come from? He said $5/month, not 3.

I'd always buy one over renting. It'll always pay off in the end. And
make them prove it's the modem if they say that. I made them put one of
theirs on to prove it's the modem. Of course, it wasn't and they had to fix
their problem.

I think Circuit City is offering a Motorola SB 5100 for $49.99 after
rebates. I thought it was free if you signed up for Comcast service thru
them.


"KOS" <computerstuff2@excite.com> wrote in message
news:1110405132.027087.16930@o13g2000cwo.googlegro ups.com...

James Knott wrote:


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

Never anonymous Bud wrote:
modem in most cases here over the years.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

Dave wrote:
I have rented from the beginning, and in the time I have been on cable
internet, I have had seven modems. None has lasted more than two years.


--
Ron Hunter rphunter@charter.net

"Ron Hunter" <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in message
news:8tRXd.15786$zE4.9447@fe07.lga...

my experience is a bit different.

i rent and during the 4 years that ive had cable internet service ive had 2
modems. one was the non-docsis modem during the @home days. and the 2nd one
ive had for the past 2.5 years...

Dave wrote:

With my ISP, I don't get a discount by owning my modem, but I do get more
bandwidth. 5 Mb/s vs 3.

I have the opposite situation. I gought the current modem for $40 and have
used it for 4 years.


"Ron Hunter" <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in message
news:8tRXd.15786$zE4.9447@fe07.lga...

I haven't heard of that arrangement. So you get 5Mb/s if you provide your
own modem and 3Mb/s if they have to provide one?

"James Knott" <james.knott@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:vuSdnY3UBqS-yK3fRVn-rQ@rogers.com...

Dave wrote:

Yes. If you own your modem, you get the Extreme service. If you use
their's, you get the Express service, for the same price.

http://www.shoprogers.com/store/cabl...asp?shopperID=

That's an interesting approach. I'd definitely provide my own if offered
that choice.


"James Knott" <james.knott@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:a4idnedZjOZ2-K3fRVn-rA@rogers.com...

I just glanced at the web site. Do I read it right that you have to buy
their $99.95 modem or can you buy one at a retail store?


"James Knott" <james.knott@rogers.com> wrote in message
news:a4idnedZjOZ2-K3fRVn-rA@rogers.com...

I wrote:

"Ron Hunter" <rphunter@charter.net> wrote in message
news:CaOXd.15489$Sy1.611@fe07.lga...
What's hard to believe? Just because your cable company blames the modem
all the time doesn't mean they all do. As I said above, in my experience
Comcast has never, ever blamed my modem. If you want to believe that I'm
lying, that's your problem.

Oh, and I figure I've saved well over $100 over four years by owning instead
of renting, so I'm way ahead.

-Gary

"Never anonymous Bud" <newskat@katxyzkave.net> wrote in message
news:gl5v2190l9hq2bbhra1b3buq026ib08r0m@4ax.com...
This assumes that Comcast will replace your rental modem when
it fails. In my case, they refused to do so (mine got zapped by a
lightning strike). I had to buy a new one. They have not lowered
my bill, either.

Alan