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Fleeced
join:2012-10-06

1 recommendation

Fleeced to Lowtarget

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Re: [TWC] Virtually All TWC Customers Face $3.95 Modem Rental Fe

They won't waive the fee unless you get your own modem. Most other carriers charge a similar fee either way.

Jawsinc
Jaws Incorporated
join:2011-01-12
Woodside, NY

Jawsinc to Dampier

Member

to Dampier
$4/mo is a little high i would say. $1.95 seems more reasonable considering they prob get those modems for 5 bucks a pop when they buy 100,000.

tonyram57
join:2001-11-08
Brooklyn, NY

tonyram57

Member

Comcast charges $7 but I think that TWC will eventually raise it to that price to in a year.
fartness (banned)
Donald Trump 2016
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside

fartness (banned) to Dampier

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to Dampier
I didn't notice anything on my bill for EL yet.
giffnyc
join:2004-06-24
Gardiner, NY

giffnyc to Dampier

Member

to Dampier
In NYC.

I have Docsis 2.0 level service in my NYC apartment. Currently have the RCA 425 modem.

Has anyone tried activating a purchased 425? It's not on the approved list, but they are readily available from ebay for 20 bucks. It seems silly to pay 4/month for something that costs 20.

I'm concerned I'll get a runaround if I buy one - "It's not on the list, sir, even though we have deployed thousands of them."

I understand Docsis 3 is a bit future proof, but this is not my main Internet source - the basic service is the right one for this location and I'm fine with Docsis 2.0. Will I get shut down if I buy my own 425?

Thanks!

Eagles1221
join:2009-04-29
Vincentown, NJ

Eagles1221

Member

I canceled my D3 service, waited a month, got the 3 meg basic service and the contractor that came in looked at my SBG900 and said he'd call in the MAC. After 15 minutes I was live. AIM and bittorrent don't work - but for 19.99 its great and I can VPN in to work and any files I need I can usually get over FTP.

Perhaps they used the file for the 901 and the 900 is close enough...who knows?
mathfaster
join:2005-09-23
Upland, CA

mathfaster to giffnyc

Member

to giffnyc
said by giffnyc:

In NYC. Will I get shut down if I buy my own 425?

I thought I read a post in one of the new fee or approved modem threads that said that IF you can get to a Level 3 tech they will provision a user owned modem that is the same model as your currently leased modem. Cannot find that post at the moment.

tonyram57
join:2001-11-08
Brooklyn, NY

tonyram57 to giffnyc

Member

to giffnyc
said by giffnyc:

In NYC.

I have Docsis 2.0 level service in my NYC apartment. Currently have the RCA 425 modem.

Has anyone tried activating a purchased 425? It's not on the approved list, but they are readily available from ebay for 20 bucks. It seems silly to pay 4/month for something that costs 20.

I'm concerned I'll get a runaround if I buy one - "It's not on the list, sir, even though we have deployed thousands of them."

I understand Docsis 3 is a bit future proof, but this is not my main Internet source - the basic service is the right one for this location and I'm fine with Docsis 2.0. Will I get shut down if I buy my own 425?

Thanks!

You are better off getting the SB5101 modem. Ebay has them for around $20 to $30 used but I don't trust things used especially cable modems so I got mine new on Newegg when they had them in stock and paid $52 to avoid the tax. Newegg had them for $55 but they are not in stock anymore. They should get them soon. If you don't want to wait Amazon has them new for $50 but if you live in New York you pay tax on Amazon but it still might be cheaper with the tax then from Newegg without the tax.
Fleeced
join:2012-10-06

Fleeced to mathfaster

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to mathfaster
TWC will provision any modem they currently lease in the field as well as what is on the approved list.

ArgMeMatey
join:2001-08-09
Milwaukee, WI

ArgMeMatey

Member

said by Fleeced:

TWC will provision any modem they currently lease in the field as well as what is on the approved list.

Just wondering if there's any documentation or authoritative source to confirm that. Not mentioning or discussing the reasoning behind the list omissions just leads to conspiracy theories about boosting Motorola stock prices and so on. For example they've got thousands of DPC2100r2 modems on lease but that model is no longer on the list for purchase.
NGOwner
join:2000-11-21
Leawood, KS

NGOwner to giffnyc

Member

to giffnyc
From another thread here:
said by NGOwner:

Earlier this week I replaced my loaned modem with a bought modem.

An Ambit U10C018. It was the same model modem TWC was loaning me. A plain jane DOCSIS 2.0 modem. $16 delivered off eBay. No problem adding it to my account here in KC.

According to speed tests, I'm running 20/1 speeds right now.

Seems like a real easy way to avoid TWC's money grab if you're on a "lower speed" Internet tier.

[NG]Owner

DocDrew
How can I help?
Premium Member
join:2009-01-28
SoCal
Ubee E31U2V1
Technicolor TC4400
Linksys EA6900

1 edit

DocDrew to ArgMeMatey

Premium Member

to ArgMeMatey
said by ArgMeMatey:

Not mentioning or discussing the reasoning behind the list omissions just leads to conspiracy theories about boosting Motorola stock prices and so on. For example they've got thousands of DPC2100r2 modems on lease but that model is no longer on the list for purchase.

The modems on the list are what can be bought on the retail market. Very few modem makers actually sell their modems new at a store. Motorola, Zoom, and Netgear are the big 3 retail modem offerings, that's what is on the list.

Linksys, Belkin, D-link, and a couple of others come and go with their retail modems. They'll release a modem and seemingly abandon support for it shortly after, if it has problems.

Cisco, Scientific Atlanta, RCA, Ubee, Ambit, etc. never sold their modems retail. They're only available grey market or 2nd hand.
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20

Premium Member

What is the "lite" plan? We have basic, standard, grandfathered turbo, turbo, extreme and ultimate.

DocDrew
How can I help?
Premium Member
join:2009-01-28
SoCal

DocDrew

Premium Member

Lite plan is available in some areas. It's usually 1 mbps or less download and about 1/2 that on upload.
Mele20
Premium Member
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI

Mele20

Premium Member

I bet we have it but it is not advertised. You have to ask for something below basic (3/384).

Woops
@rr.com

Woops

Anon

I have an old RCA DCM425 getting about 20 down and 1 up - paying 45.95/mo - if I upgrade the modem, will a lower throttle kick in? I think I have Turbo, but I've had it for so long, I don't know. At 4/mo, I'd take a 6141 from TWC -
Fleeced
join:2012-10-06

Fleeced to Dampier

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to Dampier
20/1 sounds like standard with the "power boost". So you'd lose the 20 down IF you got a D3 router. I would verify what your speeds are either way, if it is a powerboost you really wont' notice much of a difference as it's only for a few seconds of a large download anyways.
mathfaster
join:2005-09-23
Upland, CA

mathfaster to Woops

Member

to Woops
said by Woops :

I have an old RCA DCM425 getting about 20 down and 1 up - paying 45.95/mo - if I upgrade the modem, will a lower throttle kick in? I think I have Turbo, but I've had it for so long, I don't know. At 4/mo, I'd take a 6141 from TWC -

Check your TWC invoices. Mine have the plan level I am paying for. No need to guess what level you are on if specified on your invoice.

Eagles1221
join:2009-04-29
Vincentown, NJ

Eagles1221 to ArgMeMatey

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to ArgMeMatey
I can attest L3 will activate a SBG900, which is not on the list but used to be in the system so they have config files for it. The SGB901 is on the list. The SBG900 sucks as a router I bridge mine to a real router.
GH4STLY
join:2012-11-03
Apex, NC

GH4STLY to Dampier

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to Dampier
Here is my issue. I just got off the phone with them.

My parents have a bundled plan, so they have Turbo Internet, TV, and Phone.

None of these "supported modems" have any form of telephony/VoIP support that TWC provides. So I called them tonight, and asked them about it.

He responded that I could buy modem, keep my old modem specifically for the use of the telephone system. This way I wouldn't be charged. However, if any form of data went through the modem being used for the telephone service, I would get a four dollar fee.

Well, data would have to go through the modem at some point, because I am assuming the encapsulate everything over an IP Network when they do this stuff (haven;t really dived into how their phone service operates). Second, if they are only concerned about data going in and out of the modem, I don't see how that is reason to charge a modem fee. What difference will there be if I buy my own?

Really, if this is there way of eventually improving speeds, it sucks. I am sure they could find a way to improve data speeds for communities on the whole if they re-worked where and what their money was going in to.

I asked him what if I went for a sbv6220, would I be fine. They said that it wouldn't work (if it actually DOES work or not is a different story). I don't really see a reason why it wouldn't. Assuming that they are using standards, it shouldn't have any issue to connect with the telephone systems they put in place. I mean, I am not really mad at them, but I am a bit disappointed.
dipswich
Premium Member
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC

dipswich

Premium Member

This policy is the proof that the rental fee is a cash grab. TWC is so bent up on collecting more money that they're defying logic.

I bet they didn't volunteer to install an additional outlet for you to plug something else into, either.

said by GH4STLY See ProfileHowever, if any form of data went through the modem being used for the telephone service, I would get a four dollar fee.
...
Second, if they are only concerned about data going in and out of the modem, I don't see how that is reason to charge a modem fee. What difference will there be if I buy my own?


tonyram57
join:2001-11-08
Brooklyn, NY

tonyram57 to Dampier

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to Dampier
The title to this post is wrong. All TWC Customer don't pay a modem rental fee as with EL since TWC still bills you and you don't go on EL site to check your account. I bought my own modem not knowing this. Still it is good I have a new one now and not the refurbished junk that they hand out to you.
Dampier
Phillip M Dampier
join:2003-03-23
Rochester, NY

1 recommendation

Dampier

Member

said by tonyram57:

The title to this post is wrong. All TWC Customer don't pay a modem rental fee as with EL since TWC still bills you and you don't go on EL site to check your account. I bought my own modem not knowing this. Still it is good I have a new one now and not the refurbished junk that they hand out to you.

Earthlink is not Time Warner Cable. It is a separate company that uses TWC as its billing agent.

tonyram57
join:2001-11-08
Brooklyn, NY

tonyram57

Member

Earthlink is not Time Warner Cable. It is a separate company that uses TWC as its billing agent.

I know that but it seem weird that I have to call TW up for support and my bills I use autopay are all from TW.
Dampier
Phillip M Dampier
join:2003-03-23
Rochester, NY

Dampier

Member

said by tonyram57:

Earthlink is not Time Warner Cable. It is a separate company that uses TWC as its billing agent.

I know that but it seem weird that I have to call TW up for support and my bills I use autopay are all from TW.

Earthlink is supposed to handle support calls themselves, at least those not involving service calls, line problems, billing etc.

The Earthlink loophole is a great deal for those who loathe paying modem rental fees and want to wait six months for prices to moderate. We are already seeing that on the 6141 modem, which is as low as $86 (down from $99-150 last month).

Jawsinc
Jaws Incorporated
join:2011-01-12
Woodside, NY

Jawsinc

Member

$86? from where?
mind21_98
join:2006-05-13
San Diego, CA

mind21_98 to Dampier

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to Dampier
FYI to everyone: make sure that when the TWC agent activates your modem, they activate it as a DOCSIS 3 modem (if it actually is one). I just activated my new modem today and, you guessed it, the agent marked my SB6141 as a DOCSIS 2 modem. This is something that evidently will need Tier 3/a trouble ticket to fix, since none of the people I talked to on the phone could fix it.

Until they do, I'm paying for Extreme and only getting Standard.

hobgoblin
Sortof Agoblin
Premium Member
join:2001-11-25
Orchard Park, NY

hobgoblin

Premium Member

"This is something that evidently will need Tier 3/a trouble ticket to fix, since none of the people I talked to on the phone could fix it."

Unfortunate but true.

Hob
fartness (banned)
Donald Trump 2016
join:2003-03-25
Look Outside

fartness (banned) to Dampier

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to Dampier
said by Dampier:

said by tonyram57:

Earthlink is not Time Warner Cable. It is a separate company that uses TWC as its billing agent.

I know that but it seem weird that I have to call TW up for support and my bills I use autopay are all from TW.

Earthlink is supposed to handle support calls themselves, at least those not involving service calls, line problems, billing etc.

The Earthlink loophole is a great deal for those who loathe paying modem rental fees and want to wait six months for prices to moderate. We are already seeing that on the 6141 modem, which is as low as $86 (down from $99-150 last month).

I have EL and I still call TW for support, and the trucks still come from TW on Mt. Hope.

LadyL
Premium Member
join:2002-09-18
Lorain, OH

LadyL to Dampier

Premium Member

to Dampier
Just got my email from TWC for bill ending 12/15/2012...new HSI for me will have the 3.95 fee added=58.35...that includes the tax. Doesn't bother me at all...only have HSI with them...don't use my tv except to watch my dvds