Please recommend a budget modem ...

[disneybound31]

I am having high-speed cable internet hoooked up this week, but I need a budget modem recomendation and I know nothing about modems. What brand am I supposed to get and can I get one from Walmart for less than $50? It's Comcast cable if that matters- I can lease theirs or buy one.

 

[WheelCEO]

As someone who is heavily involved with computers (and uses comcast), just rent the one they have. They charge me $4/month for the modem rental but if anything ever happens they replace it no questions asked. At that price, it will take 1 yr+ to offset the cost of buying it.

 

[Justsyd2]

I would also lease from them so that they'll replace and/or repair it.

 

[dawson5]

I bought mine for $40 (linksys). Less than a year later something happened and I sent it in, covered under warranty. This one replaced the original one that was 5 years old, we thought something was wrong with it. After talking to the guy at Comcast, he said don't do that until someone checks it out, usually nothing goes wrong with the modems. He was correct, it was the cable line, not the modem. We've been using high speed since '02, I think we've recouped what the modem(s) cost.

We had the motorola surfboard and are now on a linksys. The motorola ran about $80, no rebates, at best buy. I liked that modem because of the on/off button located right on top. The linksys does not have that option. The motorola also stood up, my linksys lies flat and takes up some space.

Look at newegg for deals. That motorola that was $80 at best buy is $52 at newegg with free shipping and unless you live in CA, no sales tax.

Also, we had bought all of our equipment and comcast people came and set it up.

 

[cglaura]

When I bought Comcast Internet, I decided to buy my own modem. I have a Motorolla Surfboard, cost $75 and it is now 9 years old with no problems...so I've saved myself $350-ish in Comcast fees over the years.

You have to figure, depending on the modem, it will pay for itself in at least a year. I don't think they really have too many issues in that timeframe. (?)

 

[jedijill]

I am having high-speed cable internet hoooked up this week, but I need a budget modem recomendation and I know nothing about modems. What brand am I supposed to get and can I get one from Walmart for less than $50? It's Comcast cable if that matters- I can lease theirs or buy one.

are you getting Comcast voice service to? If you are then you have to rent a modem from them as the ones you can buy are only for Internet.

HTH

Jill in CO