Time Warner is upping their cable modem rental from $4 to $6

[DoctorHfuhruhurr 137]

If you haven't already heard and are a Time Warner cable customer they are raising the rates on cable modems rentals from $4 to $6 a month.  I just purchased a Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem to replace mine and it will pay for itself in about 14 months (there are much cheaper options also).  The article below elaborates on it and I included a link to the Time Warner approved modem list.  Be careful what you buy from Ebay and even Amazon if Amazon isn't the seller.  There's a lot of used black color cable company modems for the Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 are being refurbished and sold on Ebay and Amazon 3rd party sellers.  Those are no bargain and have little if any warranty.  This particular modem should be white for consumers.  The $6 rental isn't a lot but I prefer not to get gouged if I can help it.

 

http://gizmodo.com/5948616/how-to-beat-time-warners-bullsht-modem-rental-fee

 

http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/topics/internet/buy-your-modem.html

[nylyon-(Admin) 8,257]

I have Comcast and have owned my modem for years.  The obvious disadvantage is that if it breaks (mine has once) you have to get a new one and deal with the activation.  If you go this route, be sure that the modem you are looking at is supported by your provider.  While an unsupported modem *may* work, you'll be on your own if it doesn't.  Finally, fast modems don't do anything if you have old slow routers.  Consider upgrading to 802.11n for your router (and PC / notebook card) to take full advantage.