Voo
join:2007-04-11
Las Vegas, NV
| [NV] Buy or Lease a Modem (for COX HSI)?
1 week before I move to LV. I was looking at the pricing of Cox's offerings and I noticed that I have to rent a cable modem from them monthly.
After doing some research, it seems that it would be more cost-effective to just buy a modem ($50) and use that instead.
I was wondering...
1. Should I even buy my own modem or does the Cox-supplied modem work well? And will I run into problems if I use my own modem?
2. What would be a good modem to buy? It seems that the Motorola "Surfboard" models are going for about $50, but their D/L speed is limited to 38Mbps. If I get the Premier Tier (10MB down), will I be able to get 10 down?
3. Does anyone have another modem to suggest?
Thanks so much!!!
Vegas here I come!
-Voo |
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m8trix
join:2003-12-24
Phoenix, AZ | cox tends to use Motorola modem in most place and are very good,they like to use the SB5120.the SB5101 is the newer model and that is what i got and love it and im on a 12mb/1mb service and has been up 100% since having it for 2 months |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
1 edit | reply to Voo
The modem I got from Cox was a Scientific Atlanta WebStar. Even though it was free (part of a promotion), I scrapped it in favor of a purchased Motorola SB5120. The Motorola's are excellent and provide much more diagnostic information. You will not usually run into problems if you use your own modem as long as its on the Cox approved modem list. However if you have connection problems and they send a tech to your house to troubleshoot, don't be surprised if they swap your modem out for one of theirs - at least while troubleshooting. If the problem is not modem related, they can swap yours back in.
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"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."
- Albert Einstein
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Mospaw
Head Ache
Hawaiian Jellyfish
join:2001-01-08
The Pacific
 ·Cox HSI
Host:
Road Warriors, Not..
All Things Macintosh
Automotive
| I've got a WebStar that I purchased (I didn't' have a choice of brands) and it's perfectly fine. I've had it for around 8 months. I get good speed, etc. Never had a burp that wasn't cured quickly. I think it cost $25 as part of a promotion.
In the long run owning a modem is cheaper than renting. And you don't have to buy from COX. If you don't buy from them, make sure it's compatible.
No matter which modem you buy, make sure it's on surge protection or even a good UPS so it gets good clean power. You might even consider a surge suppressor for the cable line to protect it, but that's probably overkill.
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fnord )+( |
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babwas
join:2005-04-09
Omaha, NE
·Cox HSI
| reply to Voo
I just signed up with Cox again. They told me they no longer lease modems as a general rule here in Omaha, they would rather sell you one for $60. I told her I had a Linksys that was a couple years old I would like to use. I was informed that if I bought a modem from them I could get service for 1/2 off for 6 months and no install fee. If I used my old modem I had to pay for a self install kit ($20) and would only get 1 month free. I bought the new modem since it is saving me $58 a month for the next 6 months. They brought out a SB5120. I like it better than my old Linksys. |
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robertfl
Premium
join:2005-10-10
Mary Esther, FL | They give you the scientific atlanta piece of crap modem. Your better off going to newegg.com and buying a modem there for $42 dollars.
Rob |
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Voo
join:2007-04-11
Las Vegas, NV
| reply to Voo
OMG so may varying options... must... sit ...down
lol
Thanks for the feedback all.
Is the "50% off for 6mths" offer valid in LV? And does Cox use the SA modem out there? I plan to get the 10/1 plan, and heck... for 50% off for 6 mths, I'll buy the modem just so my cat can sleep on it O.o |
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Mospaw
Head Ache
Hawaiian Jellyfish
join:2001-01-08
The Pacific
·Cox HSI
Host:
Road Warriors, Not..
All Things Macintosh
Automotive
| said by Voo  :Is the "50% off for 6mths" offer valid in LV? You'll have to call them to see what the current offers are. They're always changing. And sometimes you can get a little extra if you ask nice. said by Voo :And does Cox use the SA modem out there? I've got one. Had it for a while. It's working fine for me, but apparently others have issues.
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fnord )+( |
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ajwees41
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Omaha, NE
·Cox HSI
| reply to babwas
said by babwas :I just signed up with Cox again. They told me they no longer lease modems as a general rule here in Omaha, they would rather sell you one for $60. I told her I had a Linksys that was a couple years old I would like to use. I was informed that if I bought a modem from them I could get service for 1/2 off for 6 months and no install fee. If I used my old modem I had to pay for a self install kit ($20) and would only get 1 month free. I bought the new modem since it is saving me $58 a month for the next 6 months. They brought out a SB5120. I like it better than my old Linksys. How do you figure it's saving you $58 a month?
ajwees41 |
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jsimmons
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA
| reply to Voo
I have used the SFA modem without issues for a short time before buyinng a Mot SB5120. Both modems have an internal web server you can "browse" to to get status and diagnostic info. However, the SFA provides very limited info, and Cox doesn't "unlock" access to certain screens with critical signal level info. On the Motorola modems this info is readily accessible and allows you to keep an eye on your signal levels - critical for proper operation of the modem connection.
When connectivity issues arise, you're flying blind with the SFA modem. You're in the know with the Motorola. And when working with tech support on an issue, having that info can help you find/correct problems more quickly.
Either modem will work. The Motorola is superior in my opinion. Some say it also works better on lines with poorer signal quality. I can't substantiate that from experience.
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"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler."- Albert Einstein |
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Irish Shark
Play Like A Champion Today
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-29
Las Vegas, NV
| reply to Voo
said by Voo :2. What would be a good modem to buy? It seems that the Motorola "Surfboard" models are going for about $50, but their D/L speed is limited to 38Mbps. If I get the Premier Tier (10MB down), will I be able to get 10 down? That's 10megaBITS not megaBYTES.
The SB51xx as well as the WebStar will work just dandy. I would suggest getting a SB51xx.
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"You can observe a lot by watching". Yogi Berra |
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babwas
join:2005-04-09
Omaha, NE | reply to ajwees41
I am currently paying $74 a month, but after the 6 months it will cost me around $132. Cable, internet, and phone. |
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keeska
Premium
join:2007-04-06
Sedona, AZ
| reply to Irish Shark
quote:
The SB51xx as well as the WebStar will work just dandy. I would suggest getting a SB51xx.
Had the Webstar and swapped in an SB5100. Both work fine but the Motorola is more user friendly if you want to monitor it. You cannot access the Webstar's internal webpage if the modem is online but you are able to access the Motorola's internal webpage at any time. |
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dg2
Premium
join:2004-01-22
Lowell, AR
·Cox HSI
1 edit | reply to Voo
One other option to consider:
If you're going to subscribe to Cox's telephone service, the box they bring out for that may also double as a HSI modem. Mine does, and it works very very well.
Of course, that will depend on how Cox delivers telephone service in LV. Ours is basically VOIP. Some markets use different modes, including conventional switched networks. It might be worth a call to LV to find out. |
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NoVA_CoxUser
Stand back from the cage -- The RF bites
Premium
join:2004-07-06
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
| said by dg2 : ... If you're going to subscribe to Cox's telephone service, the box they bring out for that may also double as a HSI modem. Excellent recommendation!
Las Vegas indeed is one of Cox's VoIP markets. |
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Irish Shark
Play Like A Champion Today
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-29
Las Vegas, NV
| reply to keeska
said by keeska : quote:
The SB51xx as well as the WebStar will work just dandy. I would suggest getting a SB51xx.
Had the Webstar and swapped in an SB5100. Both work fine but the Motorola is more user friendly if you want to monitor it. You cannot access the Webstar's internal webpage if the modem is online but you are able to access the Motorola's internal webpage at any time. While that is true, it is not the MODEM's fault. The various ISPs choose not to enable all the diagnostic pages. What are they trying to hide? 
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"You can observe a lot by watching". Yogi Berra |
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Voo
join:2007-04-11
Las Vegas, NV | reply to Voo
Thanks for the TON of info and suggestions. I will not be taking Cox's phone service as I currently use my cell exclusively.
And yes Irish, it's 10Megabits, my bad :P |
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state
stress magnet
Premium,Mod
join:2002-02-08
Hampton, VA
clubs: 
Host:
Webhosting
Sonic.net
UK Broadband
Washington & Balti..
UK Chat
| reply to dg2
said by dg2 :If you're going to subscribe to Cox's telephone service, the box they bring out for that may also double as a HSI modem. Mine does, and it works very very well. There's also the possibility of an additional charge for that. We've had Cox phone service for years, when it was initially installed they came out they mounted a box on the back of the house and everything was transparent.
We recently moved, and when the phone service was transferred they installed an Aris modem for voice inside the house. When I noticed the ethernet port on the back and inquired about using that for the network connection I was told it would be an additional $40 charge. Needless to say, I stuck with my SB5120. |
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keeska
Premium
join:2007-04-06
Sedona, AZ
| reply to Irish Shark
quote:
While that is true, it is not the MODEM's fault.
I disagree. It is the modem's fault in that it even allows such a thing to be done. Obviously the Motorola doesn't allow it or I wouldn't see its web page either. |
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Fubar
join:2001-02-20
Phoenix, AZ
| said by keeska : quote:
While that is true, it is not the MODEM's fault.
I disagree. It is the modem's fault in that it even allows such a thing to be done. Obviously the Motorola doesn't allow it or I wouldn't see its web page either. It is the ISP's that choose whether or not you can view those pages....
If you hook up an unprovisioned webstar you would be able to view all pages in the diagnostics, however as soon as it is provisioned and gets pushed a config file by Cox those pages are disabled...
The same could be done with a Motorla modem but are not....
So again it is the ISP and not the modem.... |
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