 NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN
1 edit | . That's a fantastic deal when it costs an overwhelming $30 to buy your own. | |
|
 | brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL
1 edit | Re: . They are like we have 200,000 cable rentals. Let's make it $5 a month. We now make $1,000,000 a year haha! | |
|
| | 
mm8
@charter.com
| Re: . I bought my cable modem motorola 5100 about 5 years ago, never had any issues. It paid off for itself many times over. Just goes to show how many people have computers at home but have no idea about computers. I guess you could say what you don't know it may hurt you in this case $5 a month. Don't mean to insult anyone by it. | |
|
| | |
bogidu
@bresnan.net
| Re: . Ok, now let's flip your logic on it's head. I'm a systems analyst with 25 years experience. I've been with comcast for 5 years and been through on average a cable modem a year. At $3 a month, that's $36 a year. Cable modems were over $130 5 years ago. Now days it maybe smarter to reevaluate my decision to rent as the price of the modems has come down, however considering the failure rate I've had . . . . I'm not so sure. | |
|
| | |
| | | |
| | | | brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Miami, FL | Re: . wow, now the CEO can retire his family for 600 generations. | |
|
| | | | 
baineschile
2600
Premium
join:2008-05-10
Sterling Heights, MI | Lol, youre right, i missed that completely. | |
|
| |
Matrix math
@myvzw.com | Actually that would be 12 million dollars a year. Doctor Evil 12 times over | |
|
| 
Neyland
join:2003-02-04
USA | Anyone got a line on a good cable modem that supports Digital Voice, or are you forced to rent with that service? | |
|
| | |
| 
HarleyDude
join:2002-01-04
Kennett Square, PA
 ·Comcast
| According to this article, they are more like $100. »www.multichannel.com/article/353···wide.php
At an extra $2/month that would be $24/year. It would take a little more than 4 years to break even. I'm not sure it the $100 covers the cost of an EMTA (phone) modem, but if not the payback could be longer.
--
The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery
| |
|
| | clickie
join:2005-05-22
Monroe, MI
| Re: . But that's retail. Comcast gets them without retail mark-up and much cheaper due to the scale of purchases. I'm willing to bet that the $30 price suggested in an earlier post isn't too far off the mark.
Furthermore, the extra $24 per year is in addition to the $36 per year currently being paid. So the modem rental is costing consumers $60 per year, possibly double what the damned thing cost Comcast. The break-even point, assuming $100 retail cost of the modem, is not four years.
I bought a Linksys cable modem from Wal-Mart for $55. A little hunting around avoids paying too much at retail. However, that is just a cable modem. I agree that if you need a phone adapter with the modem, you're going to pay a lot more. | |
|
| | | 
maartena
Stacked.
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: . Keep in mind though that cable companies continuesly have to replace modems too. They break. Customers break them. They get obsolete. Etc.
In 7 years I am now on my 3d cablemodem. TWC doesn't "officially" charge me on the bill, but obviously they do count the modem price into your monthly bill.
They don't officially allow you to buy a modem either, but in former Adelphia areas it has been done.
What I am getting at is that TWC doesn't offer you a discount if you purchase your own modem, so it isn't always worth it, unless you REALLY want to have a specific model.
--
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" | |
|
| | NeoandGeo
join:2003-05-10
Harrison, TN | I got my RCA modem 1.5 years ago for $25 from Amazon. Granted it will only go to ~36Mbps, then I will have to upgrade. I have still saved a ton of money. | |
|
| dfxmatt
join:2007-08-21
Evanston, IL | eh, the docsis 3 cable modems are presumably kind of expensive. we got a cisco DPC 3000 (which I can't find prices on anywhere). Anyone have pricing on it, as to whether we may as well buy our own? | |
|
|
maartena
Stacked.
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| You can get a DOCSIS 2.0 modem for about $40, but I haven't seen a DOCSIS 3.0 modem yet for under $80 or so, and the decent ones cost a little more.
If you rent the modem, and DOCSIS 3.0 comes to your town.... swapping the modem is free. If it breaks, even if it is your own fault by spilling a drink all over it..... replacement is free.
It's give or take I suppose.... $5 a month nets you $60 a year, and if you buy a $80 DOCSIS 3.0 modem that is going to last 3 years you have made your money.
I'm on my 3d modem since I got RoadRunner 7 years ago, so for me it is pretty much breaking even.
Do keep in mind though that if you are considering VOIP from the cable company, you'll get a modem/phone gateway from the cable company anyways, and your bought modem will become worthless.
--
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" | |
|
| | 
TKJunkMail
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
3 edits | Re: . said by maartena  : but I haven't seen a DOCSIS 3.0 modem yet for under $80 or so, and the decent ones cost a little more. If you rent the modem, and DOCSIS 3.0 comes to your town.... swapping the modem is free. If it breaks, even if it is your own fault by spilling a drink all over it..... replacement is free. It's give or take I suppose.... $5 a month nets you $60 a year, and if you buy a $80 DOCSIS 3.0 modem that is going to last 3 years you have made your money. Prices on a SB6120, a Docsis 3 CM, run from $75 to about $100 at many online stores. Plus the cost of shipping and taxes in some states.
»www.google.com/products?q=SB6120···coring=p
ErwinComp
New $74.95
Tax: $5.94 + Shipping: $9.95
$90.84 after taxes and shipping
--
My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page
| |
|
| 
fonzbear2000
Premium
join:2005-08-09
Saint Paul, MN
| said by NeoandGeo :That's a fantastic deal when it costs an overwhelming $30 to buy your own. Not if you have digital voice and have to use an eMTA device.
--
»Check this out! | |
|
SRFireside
join:2001-01-19
Houston, TX
| Want to avoid the fee? Buy your own cable modem... ...or stick to analog on the cheap. The whole argument about updating the modems is just so they can add more sales options on their digital cable service. If you can still get the standard, "non-digital" (because really it's all digital anyway) service you can bypass the cable box completely and just plug directly into your television. | |
|
| rody_44
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA | Re: Want to avoid the fee? Buy your own cable modem... this has nothing to do with set top boxes. this is for cable modems. | |
|
| | 
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: Want to avoid the fee? Buy your own cable modem... said by rody_44 : this has nothing to do with set top boxes. this is for cable modems. Don't even THINK about EVER buying your own cable tv box. those are FAR TOO LUCRATIVE. you'll NEVER be able to buy your own tv box. and before anyone mentions tivo, those are more expensive out the door with their plethora of fees than cable company boxes are!!!!!!!!!!!!
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
|
| | | axiomatic
join:2006-08-23
Tomball, TX
| Re: Want to avoid the fee? Buy your own cable modem... Wow that's really wrong.
In fact considering Comcasts "box rental" fee + the "DVR" fee the TIVO pays itself off in about a year and three months.
Comcast has really priced themselves out of the game and literally ALL of my friends have switched over to TIVO units recently because TIVO is a far better solution and the cost savings become real very shortly. | |
|
| | | |
maartena
Stacked.
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | Re: Want to avoid the fee? Buy your own cable modem... On the other hand, I have had a DVR for 5 years or so, starting off with a Explorer 8000 with my SD TV, which I had replaced due to a harddrive crash at least once..... then I traded it up for free for a Explorer 8300HD DVR, which I had to replace THREE TIMES. Once because the box rebooted continuesly by itself, once because of a harddrive crash, and once it started smelling very funny (electrical burn) and it would not even turn on anymore.
I may just have had bad luck (and no, they were not stuck in a closet, but on a table with at least a foot in each direction (except downwards) of breathing space), but even with the DVR fees, I still have quite some YEARS to go before I make my money back.... 
Also keep in mind TiVo still charges you about $10 a month, and you HAVE to have it connected to the internet or analog phone line.
--
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" | |
|
| | | dcdeadbeat
join:2008-10-07
Washington, DC
 ·Covad Communications
| said by dvd536 :said by rody_44 : this has nothing to do with set top boxes. this is for cable modems. Don't even THINK about EVER buying your own cable tv box. those are FAR TOO LUCRATIVE. you'll NEVER be able to buy your own tv box. and before anyone mentions tivo, those are more expensive out the door with their plethora of fees than cable company boxes are!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that what a Tivo HD is? I think I paid $249 for it and Comcast gives you the cablecard for free. Yes I know $249 is a lot more than the monthly DVR rental fee, but I bought it because I wanted an alternative. | |
|
| 
armyrebel4
Dream Chaser
Premium
join:2002-01-08
Springfield, IL | I agree SRF, who has time to watch 300+ channels anyways. | |
|
Joe12345678
join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL | they force you to rent the phone modem why can't you buy tha they force you to rent the cable phone modem why can't you buy that?
and how much will the cable box rent go to
$8-$10 for a sd box?
$10-$12 for a HD box?
$17-$22 for a HD DVR? | |
|
|
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Re: they force you to rent the phone modem why can't you buy tha said by Joe12345678 :they force you to rent the cable phone modem why can't you buy that? and how much will the cable box rent go to $8-$10 for a sd box? $10-$12 for a HD box? $17-$22 for a HD DVR? in AZ a hd dvr will be $28 out the door![cox]
and we haven't even paid for PROGRAMMING yet!!!!!!!!!
DON'T EVER THINK YOU'LL *EVER* BE ABLE TO BUY YOUR OWN CABLE CONVERTER BOX!!!!!!!!!!
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
|
| |
coxsucks
@sbcglobal.net
| Re: they force you to rent the phone modem why can't you buy tha and they lie about satellite tv by saying they have • Free HD programming, including your local Hi Def channels*.
but what they don't say on that page is they make you pay $12 per hd box.
A $9.99 monthly access fee to get any channels in Hi Def is better then $12 per box + Digital Gateway $5.00.
a sd box is $6.
vs satellite at $5 /m per box (any one even HD DVR) box 1 free.
coxes HD-DVR's and SD DVR also have a line saying needs dvr service not listed in the price card but with them saying that makes it seem like that is not part of the box rent fee. | |
|
| | 
tubbynet
reminds me of the danse russe
Premium
join:2008-01-16
Chandler, AZ | of course, you also realize that cox doesnt charge rental fees on the emta for phone service, right?
q. | |
|
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| Nooooooooooooooooow Q:When can i avoid cable box fees by allowing me to buy my own cable box?
-
A: cable box rental fees are far too LUCRATIVE to EVER let you buy your own cable box!
-
this isn't a comcast only issue. its EVERY cable company!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
|
|
See 15 replies to this post |
|
chronoss2009
join:2008-09-23 | cable whas that that then means i ur save how much? | |
|
heat84
join:2004-03-11
Fort Lauderdale, FL | EMTA's don't count? EMTA's aren't part of this right? | |
|
| 
ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs: | Re: EMTA's don't count? They do say "voice" in the statement so my guess would be yes, they will be hiked up also. | |
|
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
1 edit | Have a MON/DU OPOLY? Raise Rates! The consumer won't mind, just a few bucks more.. ater all, the minimum wage went up another .50 cents, so we have to collect our part of your money, along with the bank, insurance company, health care provider, government, etc, etc. etc. It's real cheesy to say that the money goes into buying "NEW" equipment they know damn well they're surcharging for with the deployment of docsis 3.0 early adopters already... so that doesn't make any sense. It's just an unjustified money grab on cablemodems which are DIRT CHEAP (on average $30-50) so they assume a lifespan of 8-10 years and your actually buyng the modem on an installment plan.. and on the odd chance that the modem dies.. they take the money from other "rentals" to buy dirt cheap modems by the thousands for $20 each-- so they have plenty of spares. | |
|
neufuse
join:2006-12-06
Indiana, PA
·Comcast
| rentals...... anyone who says renting boxes / modems is a non-profit thing for cable-co's needs to look at the numbers... comon $5 a month for a $40 cable modem? in one year they already made $20 profit... a cable box costs about $350 (based on places that DO sell moto boxes) for a HD box, at $9 a month for the box then HD Service fee of who knows how much that takes a whole 2-3 years to pay off then profit time... most of these boxes dont break every year, heck we have never had a box break.... you have to figure out they make SOME money off cable boxes because they rarely break to the point of not being usable... they usually jus repurpous the box to someone else anymore it seems like... but back to my point $5 a month for a $40 modem is ridicilous...... start making people buy the darn things | |
|
|
| |
Reverend J
@unh.edu
| Motorola SB6120 $90 You can pick one up at Amazon.com for $85 (17 months to break even) with free shipping or J&R, or Buy.com for a bit more (I think $88 w/ shipping) so there are plenty places to get cheap ones. If you want to go with a DOCSIS 2.0 you can get a new one for under $50 if you look around.
I think this will motivate a lot more people to buy their own, however it's a number game for comcast, will the number of people dropping the rental fee be offset by the increase in price. Plus Comcast loves to keep the renter fee on after you buy a modem despite several calls to them to try and fix it (not that I know from personal experience or anything) | |
|
| cferro
join:2003-07-27
Jersey City, NJ | Re: Motorola SB6120 $90 Comcast only needs an excuse to raise their prices for service.
I brought a SB6120 router in June for $93.24. It will pay for itself in about 20 months. I did not have any problems with paying an extra month for returned equipment. | |
|
EricGT
@optonline.net
| Cablevision rental? I subscribe to Cablevision in NY, and I don't think I paid anything for the cable modem when I had it installed years ago. And I don't see a monthly charge on my bill for a modem rental either.
Is Comcast the only company charging customers to rent modems? | |
|
PittsPgh
join:2003-08-21
Pittsburgh, PA
| New fees on old equipment This is ridiculis. My modem is five and half years old. DPC2100 hardware ver. 1.1 Should give me a new modem for the new fees. Had line trouble earlier this year, I swapped it out for anothe five and half year old modem. Same model and version.
My HD cable boxes (Non-DVR)are almost as old. Did try to swap the one out for one with an HDMI. They haven't had them in several months. Only DVR's  Motorolla doesn't send them any.
Can't get new equipment but seem to get plenty of new fees.
So where's all this money for equipment rental fees going to? Defintley not new equipment for the end customer. | |
|
| 
Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: New fees on old equipment said by PittsPgh :So where's all this money for equipment rental fees going to? Defintley not new equipment for the end customer. The new fees go for the purchase of new DOCSIS 3.0 modems, to pay for replacement of old modems, tech charges, and of course, money for the company.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us | |
|
| | PittsPgh
join:2003-08-21
Pittsburgh, PA
| Re: New fees on old equipment said by Rob :said by PittsPgh :So where's all this money for equipment rental fees going to? Defintley not new equipment for the end customer. The new fees go for the purchase of new DOCSIS 3.0 modems, to pay for replacement of old modems, tech charges, and of course, money for the company. Back in June when i swapped the modem out. I totally lost them when I asked about the new 22Mbs tiers. I would have went for it and the newer model.
Paul | |
|
| | |
Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| Re: New fees on old equipment said by PittsPgh :said by Rob :said by PittsPgh :So where's all this money for equipment rental fees going to? Defintley not new equipment for the end customer. The new fees go for the purchase of new DOCSIS 3.0 modems, to pay for replacement of old modems, tech charges, and of course, money for the company. Back in June when i swapped the modem out. I totally lost them when I asked about the new 22Mbs tiers. I would have went for it and the newer model. Paul You asked the folks at the front desk? I don't even think some of them can tie their shoes.
But I say - keep swapping it out. Every 3 months take in and get another one.
--
CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us | |
|
| | | | PittsPgh
join:2003-08-21
Pittsburgh, PA
| Re: New fees on old equipment said by Rob :You asked the folks at the front desk? I don't even think some of them can tie their shoes. But I say - keep swapping it out. Every 3 months take in and get another one. Even the phone reps were lost on that subject as well. They must be on the same drugs that freaked out rabbit is on.
FYI: turned out it wasn't the modem. It was the outside lines. It wasn't untill it peaked over 60 and lost connection while on the phone did they send a truck out. Comast kept saying 55 was still good. That's the luck i have with them. I hate dealing with them. Now the tech who replaced the line was great.. Except he didn't know anything about the upgrades either.
Paul | |
|
|
|
maartena
Stacked.
Premium
join:2002-05-10
Orange, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Will Comcast operate DOCIS 1.1 and 3.0 on the same system. Since newer DOCSIS equipment, both on the cable operator as the client side, is downwards compatible, it is VERY VERY likely that this will be the case.
As a matter of fact, I would want to bet that there is a mixture of 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0 modems running on most cable networks right now, regardless of what DOCSIS equipment is on the head ends.
They can't - and won't - simply replace all modems that are older but still work for those clients, it would be too much of a cost burden. It is better to leave that to it's "natural flow" and don't re-issue returned 1.1 modems, and replace them in the cases a client requests a speed upgrade.
--
"I reject your reality and substitute my own!" | |
|
perki
join:2008-12-01
Santa Maria, CA | Bright Side Now it makes your $70 dollar invesment payoff in 14 months instead of 2 yeard | |
|
|
| |
| 
fuziwuzi
Not born yesterday
Premium
join:2005-07-01
Atlanta, GA
| said by AplusWeb :When a service call is placed, the first thing they will demand is that you swap out the modem - as a troubleshooting pre-requisite prior to sending a technician out... or if they find the modem is bad, and its not theirs, you get charged for the call - not cheap, either.  I've gotten that many many times, also. The first thing they claim, no matter the actual problem, is that my customer-owned modem is at fault and I can "rent a modem from us and not have to worry anymore." My modem has never been at fault.
Also, Comcast has twice tried charging me a rental fee for the modem that I own. I have never rented a modem from Comcast, yet they've put a modem rental charge on my bill. Once it took six months and six trips to their store with my receipt in hand to get them to stop charging me a rental feel.
With this new increase, I would caution everyone who owns their own modem to start scrutinizing your bill each month.
--
***************
I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
- Stephen Hawking | |
|
| | Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
·Comcast
·Embarq
| Re: Catch 22...  Be aware that anyone can use the cable modem's web page to gather some important information if they are experiencing a problem with their broadband service. All they need is the ip address of the modem's status page. That ip address is not revealed by the documentation that is supplied with the modem.
The status page for Motorola and Linksys cable modems can be accessed by entering the following ip address in their browser's address bar: 192.168.100.1. By having the information shown on the status page I was able to cause Adelphia severe heart burn. When I would have a problem accessing the internet I would immediately go to the modems status page and check the signal tab. The lowest signal value that the modem's webpage could indicate is -15dBmv. When it displayed that value the signal was usually below -15dBmv.
In one case an Adelphia Technician measured a signal level of -20dBmv. Unless the signal was above -10dBmv my download speed was compromised. I eventually learned that the reason that Adelphia could not maintain a satisfactory signal level in my home was that the cable serving my home was substandard and the Adelphia Service Manager did not want to spend the money to fix the problem. | |
|
fruhead
join:2002-01-29
Montclair, NJ | My, oh my... ...they all come out of the woodwork on a topic like this.
I'm shocked, shocked that a company is seeking profit!
 | |
|
mikesco
join:2006-02-17
South Hadley, MA
| Rip off When the Original cable modems came out they cost more than these Doscis 3 Cable modems and yet Comcast set the price at $3 per month. They collected the revenue on these and made a tidy profit. Now they feel the need to raise to charge 66% more? Cable modems rarely fail, I will be now be purchasing my modem instead of renting. | |
|
| Macflash
join:1999-07-20
Middleton, MA
| Re: Rip off Actually in early 2002 cable modem rental rates from Comcast where 8 dollars a month. So I spent about 100 bucks for a SB4100. It was not until a few months after that when cable modem prices plunged that Comcast dropped the rate to 3 bucks a month. Still I made out ok. I only retired my 4100 a few months ago when I needed an EMTA model for voice. Now it looks like I am stuck with renting unless I switch to Vonage. Will strongly consider that after my year of introductory triple play rate. | |
|
| | nightowl4
join:2007-07-25
| Re: Rip off why are you stuck renting an EMTA model? Can't you buy your own? I got mine for free with free shipping. The catch was that there is a 2 year contract. I rented a modem 10 years ago and soon learned that with Altrio cable, service was just $15 with my own modem so I got a Toshiba. I used it till Altrio went bankrupt and Champion took over. Champion provided modems at no charge like TMW. Actually they just rolled the rental into the service fee. They stopped servicing my area so with Charter I'm back to using my own modem. Not many areas are serviced by two cable companies. | |
|
| Macflash
join:1999-07-20
Middleton, MA | Comcast will only let you use their EMTA modems for their digital voice service. Given that next year I may be using FIOS instead, I would probably be renting this year anyway. | |
|
|
|
|
Comcast Raises Cable Modem Rental Fee
·
Will Comcast operate DOCIS 1.1 and 3.0 on the same system.
I wonder if Comcast will operate DOCSIS 1.1 and 3.0 service on the same cable system? That would be handy if they would do so. It would be great for someone like me that owns their own modem and does not care about a speed higher than 6 Megs down. If I am forced to purchase or rent a DOCSIS 3.0 modem I might go DSL for a year and wait until I can get a promotional offer like I received when I moved here. Free Motorola Modem, Six Months of broadband service for $19.95 per month for 6 Megs down and a $100.00 Gift card from Circuit City.
Catch 22...
Re: Catch 22...
The best way to avoid paying for a service call is to have a spare modem on hand like I did. That way you can use the spare modem to prove that the broadband providers system is defective and not the modem that is defective.