US Cable Support > OptimumOnline > Can you use your own modem with OOL?

reply to dm145

Re: Can you use your own modem with OOL?

reply to useown

reply to useown
Get the FREE Arris TM822G 'Loaner' from CV...
It will cost you NOTHING, and CV will be responsible for replacement if it should ever fail...
Your only responsibility is to return it should you ever decide to terminate your service.

-Tursiops_G.
--
If You're Unsure, "RTFM"... If You're SURE, "RTFM" Anyway.

Thanks for all of the responses and help.

I realize that it seems silly to buy a modem when you can get one for free. However, I am making a trip up to return the cable boxes that I have (since they are now charging me for them, 2 years of free time is up) and I would like to just rid myself of CV equipment once and for all.

The arris modem looks interesting. Why is it that the moto modems are widely available at retail but the arris modem doesn't seem to be at all.

BTW, current modem is an OLD SB5120 modem. It's ancient by today's standards.

I guess you are intent on getting your own after all the advice given here so if you can find a Zoom 5341J (note - J model)

»www.amazon.com/Zoom-DOCSIS-Cable···063K4NN6

or Motorola SB6141/SB6180

»www.amazon.com/Motorola-SurfBoar···07IMPMW4

or even the Arris. The main reason you don't see them being carried locally anymore is because there is no need, in places with Comcast that still rents modems for a fee, Best Buy carries more options.

I guess if you don't want to get it online then the SB6121 is a good option too, unless OOl decides to come out with a faster than 101Mbps tier (say 200Mbps) then your modem wouldn't be fast enough because it can only bond 4 channels at say 150Mbps max.

reply to useown

Really? They will ask me to return a modem that I bought and purchased with my own money? That can't be right...Does anyone have experience with that?

I wanted to return every piece of physical hardware I have from them in one trip to one of their locations. I was going to do so so that I could have a hard copy receipt for returning their hardware. I can't imagine what claim they would legally have to a piece of hardware that one purchased.

Shotta35 - thanks for the links. I did find the SB6180. Right now it's just regular OOL so I'm not worried about breaking 100Mbps, lol.

reply to Bob
The terms and conditions show that they lay claim to their own equipment, not to things purchased separately:

»www.optimum.net/Terms
Section 1, subsection D and Section 14 subsection ii

You are correct. As long as you retain documentataion that you returned all of their hardware, you should not have any problem. They can't lay claim to something you own. However, there have been isolated, anecdotal incidents where people claimed that Cablevision demanded the return of hardware that had already been returned. If you retain documentation of surrendering the hardware, you won't have that problem.

If using your own hardware works for you for whatever the reason, then by all means go for it.

Thanks limegrass. That makes sense to me and that's why I wanted to return the equipment in person and get a receipt indicating such to keep handy.

All I'm really trying to do is save having to go and return equipment twice since I know I won't have CV for too much longer. Returning equipment in person is a pain and I don't trust them to ship them the stuff and assume they'll send me proper documentation for the return of equipment.

reply to useown
When I canceled my service in 2004, I owned my own modem, but the Cablevision representative assumed I had a CV modem and wanted me to return it. I had to explain that it wasn't CV's modem.

Here's someone who had more trouble - »Cancel OOL, return MY modem or get charged?

Someone else with even more trouble:

quote:

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And then there's my experience where it took 3 months at least 4 phone calls to get an accurate final statement that did not include a $60 charge for the modem I own.
»Re: I think it's time for me to go.....

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reply to Bob
Thanks Nyan. I appreciate your taking the time to write and what you're saying makes sense. Seems like they pretty much have 0 systems in place to track what is happening in terms of equipment. It's hard to imagine a company as big as Optimum is run so poorly, then again based on the customer service experience maybe it's not.

Assuming that you provided someone with equipment vs knowing is kind of ridiculous.

I'll give it some thought and take it from there.

Those cases I cited were from several years ago, so hopefully CV has gotten its act together. However, since almost everyone gets a free modem now... who knows?

reply to useown
At a glance equipment on the account, the rep will just see the equipment registered to the account, but all equipment is coded with an ID code - CV owned data/CV owned voice modem, as well as Customer-owned data/customer owned voice. If the rep goes into the individual equipment to look it should be coded appropriately. I don't know what causes mistakes on this matter, but I suppose it could either be incorrect equipment type listed, lack of knowledge to check equipment type following any charges made in error, or lack of knowledge of what to do following any findings of incorrect charges. I also have no clue if the system automatically charges when any equipment is left on the account, regardless of ownership. You can definitely get any mistake straightened out, but you may find it's not worth risking the time/effort of reversing any charges vs just making a second trip to return the modem.

reply to Tursiops_G

Subaru: What fee are you referring to?
There's No separate rental fee for the Modem itself (and you'll get No discount if you provide your OWN modem), but if you do take the CV-owned 'Loaner' Modem, it MUST be returned at termination of service to avoid paying an equipment non-return charge...
--
If You're Unsure, "RTFM"... If You're SURE, "RTFM" Anyway.

reply to useown

Time Warner is going to start charging $3.95 a month per modem. Hopefully Cablevision doesn't follow.