Cable Modem
 

Comcast raised my cable modem rental fee from $3/month to $7/month - same modem (which is about 10 years old now)...

This motivates me to buy one.

Any tips on what to get?

Need performance commensurate with the cable line; reliable & low cost...

Motorola Surfboard, any DOCSIS 3.0 compatible one.

Like this: Newegg.com - MOTOROLA SB6121 SURFboard Cable Modem RJ-45

So wait, they did not give you a new modem, this is the same unit that has been in your house for 10 years?

That could spark a very unsettling conversation.

You called them on it I'm sure.

Would love to hear how they felt justified.

Motorola modem at Fry's is about $80. $7 month is a good racket to be in.

so, I can be sure that if the cable modem is "DOCSIS 3.0 compatible" that it will work fine on the Comcast cable internet feed?

I'd like to be sure they can't give me a bunch of BS if there are line problems.

PS - Yes, I sent them a nasty-gram, but like most monopolies that are not well regulated, I doubt there is much to gain from it.

The older DOCSIS versions will also work, but 3.0 is the fastest, so may as well go with that.

I have the 6120, it's on their approved modems list.

Here is the list for reference: DOCSIS Devices

If you don't have a separate router, you can go with a cable modem/router all in one for about $40, but I like to have separates personally.

Newer Comcast is now IPV6 and they issue an SMC wireless gateway with four local lan ports as well and USB for wan storage. They didn't charge me anything for it, I just called and they exchanged old for new.

So just a note, if you're on my particular Comcast system, IPV4 only routers are being phased out so that would affect my decision in a new purchase.

I have one of those dosicus 3 Motorola surfboard extremes I used for a year and then switched to DSL.

Make me an offer on the Motorola. ;)

I'll send you a pm

I had the exact problem last January. Modem went out, called the company, was told the one I had no longer was avaiable. I could now rent one from them for $7/month, something the old Verizon supplied for free. I was on the phone a long long time. They told me to take it or leave it. I went to Radio Shack and bought one for $70. NOW, NOW, they called my wife last week to offer a upgrade for phone/internet, lower bills etc, etc, etc. We're going to save about $100/year. BUT TODAY I GET A NEW MODEM IN THE MAIL. Something they would not do 3 months ago, bastards, no monthy fee, go figure.

Everything he said. :)

I have a couple of Comcast-compatible modems. I replaced the older one with the Motorola - pretty sure it's a 6120, but I know it's DOCSIS 3.0/Comcast-approved because i researched before I bought - and then I upgraded to business class a few months later.

Comcast insisted I went with a managed router they provided - (and incidentally refused to let me go with my option; Cisco cable WIC in a real router). Bottom line is, I have two cables modems I have no use for.

Think I paid $40 (Ebay) for the Motorola, including shipping from Canada. Worked great. I'd happily let it go for what I paid. You could have the older one (pretty sure it's DOCSIS 2.0, so still not too shabby) for shipping, if I can find it.. The problems with connection stability I thought were the modem itself turned out to be about a whole mess of finger-tight co-ax connections a room-mate made...

I also have a box of assorted DSL modems/routers/bridges and a few ISDN T/As if anyone needs one. :)

Comcast isn't a major contender this year for Worst Company in America.
The Consumerist: Search Results