I'm thinking about switching back to Comcast for internet service - having been on Verizon DSL (3 Mbps) for 10 years. No FIOS available in my area, and Comcast's slowest service is 7 times faster (20 Mbps) for less money for the first 2 years.

10 years ago I leased my cable modem, because cable modem technology changed quickly. Comcast is offering $7/month to lease or $99 to buy a cable modem. Comcast users please chime in. If you bought, did you buy from Comcast or somewhere else. What make/model. I'm in New Jersey.

Buy---Check CraigsList for used ones.

My decade old Motorola SurfBoard is running strong!!

Buy it from Amazon.
[www.amazon.com]

You'll pay for it in a year without that $7/month fee.

...And this way you aren't handing Comcast more money for their monopoly-priced service.

At $3/mo I leased. Then over a few months time, they raised it to $5, which made it debatable. Then to $7 which made it an easy decision. My first on I paid $5 for at a thrift shop. It lasted a year. Then I bought on at Target (needed it ASAP and it was only a couple bucks more than I could find online.)

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The popular choices at various web sites are Motorola SB5101 (DOCSIS 2.0) for $60 or Motorola SB6121 (DOCSIS 3.0) for $85. Considering Comcast seems to be increasing speeds regularly, the smart choice seems to be the SB6121.

Bought my own Motorola Surfboard SB6120 - 18 months ago. (It has DOCSIS 3.0, but I'm not sure if that is meaningful) My speeds on Comcast are very similar to Ken Sp.'s. As mentioned, buying it yourself does seem like a no-brainer. LyleH

Just recently bought a Motorola SB 6120 for $90 delivered online. It handles DOCSIS 3, which will be available soon, if not already there. It also plays nicely with IPv6.

The SB6121 will work as well.

If you have a home network, don't get a modem-router combo. The router is the weak link and is often replaced sooner. You'd replace the whole unit just to get a working router.

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Mr. Curmudgeon, on Mountain Lion.

As always - thanks everyone for the advice. I will continue to use my Netgear WGR614 802.11g router.

If you only subcribe to internet, buy the modem. If you ever get Comcast phone service, you won't have a choice but to lease their special modem.

Check to make sure the modem you get is on Comcast's compatibility list.

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Buy it, Comcrap Lease is for losers.

I found my Motorola SB6120. Can't beat curbside recycling prices

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$7/month lease is nuts.

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Buy!

Quote
silvarios
If you only subcribe to internet, buy the modem. If you ever get Comcast phone service, you won't have a choice but to lease their special modem.

I was having constant voice and data outages with Verizon DSL and I reluctantly ditched them last month for Comcast's triple play service. Even after my 1-year contract expires, I'll still be paying less for TV/phone/Internet with Comcast than I was with Verizon (landline/DSL) and Comcast (TV).

After the Comcast technician left my house, I couldn't get my Airport Extreme to work with the Comcast modem (which I have to rent because I use them for voice calls). After 60 minutes on the phone with tech support resetting the modem and router, Comcast eventually bumped me to their "signature" tech support for $30 setup fee and $10/month. The tech fixed the problem in 15 minutes. I called Comcast to complain that I was a new customer who was not happy and they credited my account $30 and cancelled the monthly signature support.

Below is a typical Speedtest result for Comcast:


And here is a typical result for Verizon DSL:

I didn't even know Comcast had different levels of support.

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Quote
the_poochies
Below is a typical Speedtest result for Comcast:


And here is a typical result for Verizon DSL:

Wow! That's pretty fast for DSL. Lucky to hit 3Mbps, shoot even 1.5 Mbps around here. Comcast is very fast for Internet, I probably would have made the switch as well.

Quote
silvarios

Quote
the_poochies
Below is a typical Speedtest result for Comcast:


And here is a typical result for Verizon DSL:

Wow! That's pretty fast for DSL. Lucky to hit 3Mbps, shoot even 1.5 Mbps around here. Comcast is very fast for Internet, I probably would have made the switch as well.

I had speeds of 1.5-3Mbps and when I called Verizon for help when I got no connection at all, the nice CSR "upgraded" the speed of my line at no extra charge

That result was probably at the upper limit of my range; most DSL results were between 5-7 Mbps.

Quote
the_poochies
After 60 minutes on the phone with tech support resetting the modem and router, Comcast eventually bumped me to their "signature" tech support for $30 setup fee and $10/month. The tech fixed the problem in 15 minutes. I called Comcast to complain that I was a new customer who was not happy and they credited my account $30 and cancelled the monthly signature support.

WTF?! "We can't fix your problem in a timely manner unless we charge you $30 first, plus $10/month." Total B.S., Comcast.

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Modem on sale
[www.frys.com]

This is fairly typical for my DSL speed, although it is not ADSL but VDSL through U-Verse. I could pay more for faster service but have no desire for increased speed.

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