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Do you lease or own your modem?

beneteaubeneteau Member Posts: 8,552 ✭✭✭
edited March 2015 in General Discussion
I've been paying (leasing) my CenturyLink modem for $8.00 a month for a long time. If I buy it, CenturyLink will charge me $99.00. Should have bought it a long time ago and I would be ahead several dollars.

From what I've read, a particular modem will work only with certain ISP's which makes me concerned about buying a retail modem rather than buying one from CenturyLink. Afraid the one I'd buy would not work with CenturyLink.

I'm pretty knowledgeable about computers; but, I don't know anything about modems. I don't want a wireless and I have my own router.

Could anyone enlighten me?
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Comments

  • Mr. PerfectMr. Perfect Member, Moderator Posts: 66,437 ******
    edited November -1
    Own, never lease. Just look up the requirements your provider has for a modem, and make sure the one you buy meets them. DSL (and cable internet) providers love to make it seem like you have to lease from them to have a compliant device. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    Centurylink, for example, even provides a table of compliant devices.
    https://internethelp.centurylink.com/internethelp/modem-compatibility-table-q.html

    The only downside, is that if there is a problem with the modem (rare in my experience) they won't troubleshoot it for you, nor will they, obviously, replace it if it's defective.
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    And fiery auto crashes
    Some will die in hot pursuit
    While sifting through my ashes
    Some will fall in love with life
    And drink it from a fountain
    That is pouring like an avalanche
    Coming down the mountain
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  • TheBrassManTheBrassMan Member Posts: 3,807 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Own. I got tired of leasing my modem from Comcast at $7.00 a month.
    Purchased one for $96.00. Have not had any problems with it. Paid for itself in a year.
    I would have to replace the Comcast one about every 15 months.
    When I looked for a modem the modem actually had printed on the box what ISPs it would work with.
    All Comcast is offering now are wireless modems. Do not want wireless in the house.
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  • Oso2142Oso2142 Member Posts: 2,940 ✭
    edited November -1
    Own.

    As pointed out above, the device has paid for itself. For me, since I've owned it five years, I've done well - I think.
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  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I didn't know you could lease them..????[?]
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  • AlpineAlpine Member Posts: 15,092 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Own.

    No question.
    ?The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.?
    Margaret Thatcher

    "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
    Mark Twain
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  • beneteaubeneteau Member Posts: 8,552 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by TheBrassMan
    Own. I got tired of leasing my modem from Comcast at $7.00 a month.
    Purchased one for $96.00. Have not had any problems with it. Paid for itself in a year.
    I would have to replace the Comcast one about every 15 months.
    When I looked for a modem the modem actually had printed on the box what ISPs it would work with.
    All Comcast is offering now are wireless modems. Do not want wireless in the house.


    I already have a wireless router.
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  • nards444nards444 Member Posts: 3,994 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    own. 1. For about 100 bunks you can buy one. 2. Leasing cost 6-8 bucks a month, after a year you made your money back, and its savings after that. 3. The modem you will buy will be much better. I just went to ownership on mine, bought one thats wifi has three channels, normal speed but longer range, faster speed but shorter range, and I have a guest channel that I can put a password or no password on so when people come over.


    Cable companies will service your internet up to your modem if you own it, they will not fix or troubleshoot your modem if you own, you have to call the manufacture.
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  • milesmiles Member Posts: 2,548 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When Comcast was my Internet service provider, I had both a cable box for my TV and a rented modem on my desk for my computer.

    I went with another provider (EPBFI), I have neither cable box or modem.

    Fiber optic cable comes thru the wall straight to my TV and the same for my computer.

    Here is a small edited C&P from their home page.

    Does Fi-Speed Internet require a modem?
    There is no modem required for Fi-Speed Internet unless you go with the gigabit (1,000 Mbps) speed.
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  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Bought mine at walmart.[:I]
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  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I recently upgraded mine. Got it on Amazon for $40 or so.
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  • armilitearmilite Member Posts: 35,490 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Own
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