Best Data Cable Modem at Compusa tommorow (4/8/01)

[MaStAYoDA1]

Well, the Compusa website put up the ads for the week of 4/8/01, and on one of the pages (I'm too lazy to look again) it states there's the Best Data Cable modem for 99 bucks after a 70 dollar instant savings and 50 dollar MIR. Anybody hear anything about this modem? (and yes, I know that its more efficient to rent from cable company, just curious)

[m0j0]

if it is $99 bucks, then i dunno if it is more efficient to rent from the cable co. i mean, i have had mine for a year without changing it. well, at my condo i did. anyhow, at $10 rental a year, that is $120, right? so i guess it depends on how often your cable co changes out.

[Bluto]

I couldn't find this cable modem on their website. Anyone got a link? I saw a cable modem router on there, but no cable modem...

[newguy]

my 2 cents...

I rented that cheap Motorola Surfboard modem from Cox for 15 months ($150). Then I wised up and both myself a 3com homeconnect (great ratings and looks too cool,).

Before people hesitated to buy a cable modem because they were for the most part proprietory (won't work elsewhere). But all that is slowly changing with the DOCSIS standard being adopted by many cable modem service provider. I checked Best Data's website and only found one modem CMX110, so I guess that's the model Compusa is selling. This model has some decent ratings and is of the DOCSIS variety.

Bottom Line: If you are going to keep your cable modem service for at least 10 months, there's really no excuse for not buying it. Should you choose not to continue your service, you can always Flea-Bay it for about what you originally paid for it. By the way, here's the link to the ad http://www.compusa.com/media/ad_pdfs/pg8.pdf

[BooJew]

I bought my Cable modem about 17 months ago... And havent had to change it yet. Needless to say I'm ahead :)

Safe bet is always to go DOCSIS and not to worry about change in ISP modems. Reason why? It takes a lot of time and money for an ISP to change out all the equipment they have.. plus all the modems they rent.

Things like this are planned 5-6 months, if not more, in advance. If you call your provider and ask it'll give you a good indication of how long you'll be able to keep it.

Plus if your already DOCSIS there wont be any changes for atleast another year! So dont worry. The next big change may even come in the form of compression algorithms....

[spicymeatball]

if you buy a cable modem, can you get it to work with your existing cable connection? ie, not paying *specifically* for cable internet service?

i've heard of people ordering cable internet service from a provider but not ordering cable tv as well; then they just split the the signal so that one coaxial goes to the modem, and one goes to the tv. in essence getting "free" tv.

does this work the other way around? i'm imagining that they'll see a request from the modem for an ip.....

[sizemic1]

No.

[kcrilly]

I was renting one from Cocks (Cox) for 15 bucks a month. I then received a call from the asking if i wanted to buy it for 165. If the 99 dollar one will work that is a great deal. Good post.

[BooJew]

spicymeatball,

You cant do this for the simple reason that each Cable Modem (and NIC for that matter) has whats called a MAC address.

Each MAC address is unique and cable signals are only sent to modems whose mac addresses are registered to your ISP.

Thats an over simplification, but it works.

[RezERez]

That's not entirely true. I spent the $ and bought the Toshiba today (DOCSIS compliant). Assdelphia.. err.. Adelphia CLAIMS they're DOCSIS compliant and the modems they provide @ no cost are DOCSIS compliant, but when I went to register the MAC ID w/ them. They came back to tell me that it wouldn't work, and I honestly couldn't get a connection whatsoever. Call your provider and make sure it will work.

[Bluto]

thanks for the link newguy... my local circuit city didn't have any though :-(

[newguy]

Bluto,

The ad was for CompUSA, not Circuit City, however, the Fry's in San Diego, I know have them in stock. I don't know if fry's will pricematch though.

[spicymeatball]

cool, thanks for the answers.

has anyone ordered only cable modem service (no cable tv) and split the signal to get the tv working as well? i've heard that it's possible, but has anyone actually done this?

[MaStAYoDA1]

spicymeatball... besides being illegal first of all... ;)

They put a blocker on your cable line... whether or not you can take it off or not I do not know. I know thats what they do with Cox cable in san diego anyhow. (I know somewhat cause I switched back to basic cable)