Modem/Router Choices, Issues

[Humphrey]

Again, not necessarily cord-cutting related.

Has anyone opted for Comcast's Gateway combination modem/router versus buying their own equipment? I know it's $13 a month versus the payback on buying your own stuff (and given I'd be committing for 2 years, that's $312 down the drain)..but there might be something else at play here.

 

[gtmtnbiker]

Has anyone opted for Comcast's Gateway combination modem/router versus buying their own equipment? I know it's $13 a month versus the payback on buying your own stuff (and given I'd be committing for 2 years, that's $312 down the drain)..but there might be something else at play here.

When I had Comcast in the past, I did have my own modem and router. It's a lot more reliable than their equipment. The Comcast combo would frequently crash. How often, at least once per month. Plus, you save money by buying your own equipment instead of renting.

 

[TFP]

Again, not necessarily cord-cutting related.

Has anyone opted for Comcast's Gateway combination modem/router versus buying their own equipment? I know it's $13 a month versus the payback on buying your own stuff (and given I'd be committing for 2 years, that's $312 down the drain)..but there might be something else at play here.

When I had Comcast in the past, I did have my own modem and router. It's a lot more reliable than their equipment. The Comcast combo would frequently crash. How often, at least once per month. Plus, you save money by buying your own equipment instead of renting.

Funny this is mentioned, but as a non-cable subscriber, I'm looking at trying to save money on my internet while boosting performance. For some reason, I'm just a flat out idiot when it comes to wifi/networking stuff. A couple things:

• I currently have FiOS 100mbps which includes renting the FIOS modem/router. This is about $68/mo. Performance isn't great, we frequently get hangups and it doesn't reach the whole house.
• Comcast has 100mbps for $35/mo and 200 mbps for $44/mo. Both of which are cheaper than current costs.
• I don't have currently have my own modem/router and I'll have to pay the installation fee from Comcast
• I will not be getting cable or a land line no matter what. We stream video/music plus web browsing on 3-4 devices at a time.

So my questions:

• Any downsides to switching to Comcast internet?
• Do I need to upgrade to 200mbps, or are the current issues due to the shitty FiOS router?
• If I'm going with my own modem/router with Comcast (my preference) - what should I get? I've got less than zero clue in this department.
• Anything else I'm not thinking of? It seems too easy to just "switch" but I could have someone from Comcast here later this week for installation.

 

[edoug]

You don't need 200 or probably even 100 but if it isn't taxing your budget too much. And I'm guessing the extra $9 isn't, why not get the extra speed.

 

[gtmtnbiker]

Funny this is mentioned, but as a non-cable subscriber, I'm looking at trying to save money on my internet while boosting performance. For some reason, I'm just a flat out idiot when it comes to wifi/networking stuff. A couple things:

• I currently have FiOS 100mbps which includes renting the FIOS modem/router. This is about $68/mo. Performance isn't great, we frequently get hangups and it doesn't reach the whole house.
• Comcast has 100mbps for $35/mo and 200 mbps for $44/mo. Both of which are cheaper than current costs.
• I don't have currently have my own modem/router and I'll have to pay the installation fee from Comcast
• I will not be getting cable or a land line no matter what. We stream video/music plus web browsing on 3-4 devices at a time.

So my questions:

• Any downsides to switching to Comcast internet?
• Do I need to upgrade to 200mbps, or are the current issues due to the shitty FiOS router?
• If I'm going with my own modem/router with Comcast (my preference) - what should I get? I've got less than zero clue in this department.
• Anything else I'm not thinking of? It seems too easy to just "switch" but I could have someone from Comcast here later this week for installation.

Which router do you have from Verizon? Is it the Actiontec router? I did find those routers will sometime crash. I currently have Verizon Gigabit service with the Quantum router. It's very reliable. I still use my own router anyway.

Comcast Internet was fine when I had it. It's not as reliable as Verizon's. I think I had 3-4 outages per year while Verizon might be 0-1.

The modem I have is this one:
View: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016PE1X5K/


I think this router will be ok.
View: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AC1750-Smart-WiFi-Router/dp/B079JD7F7G


Personally, I bought a more expensive router.

 

[CR67dream]

Split out from cord cutting thread....

 

[canderson]

I literally installed this tonight for Comcast: View: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0723599RQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


It replaces an old Surfboard. Getting 350 mb diwn.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

I think this router will be ok.
View: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AC1750-Smart-WiFi-Router/dp/B079JD7F7G


Personally, I bought a more expensive router.

There used to be a router thread.

I would strongly recommend not going with that TP Link router. It was great when it was working but after a year or two started to have reliability issues, which created an awful internet experience. This was consistent with others on the internet including another poster even on this forum.

 

[The Napkin]

I use a NETGEAR C7100V for my comcast. It's probably more than I needed but I love it. Works great, solid signal in what was a rough area (used to have to use an extender and still had drops with an airport), and couldn't be easier to use. May or may not be something you'd use but we have second account "guest" that we give the cat sitter the password to.

 

[TFP]

You don't need 200 or probably even 100 but if it isn't taxing your budget too much. And I'm guessing the extra $9 isn't, why not get the extra speed.

Eh, it adds up over time. Trying to look at all my recurring/subscription charges to reduce where I can. I'd pay it, but only if it's really necessary.

Which router do you have from Verizon? Is it the Actiontec router? I did find those routers will sometime crash. I currently have Verizon Gigabit service with the Quantum router. It's very reliable. I still use my own router anyway.

Comcast Internet was fine when I had it. It's not as reliable as Verizon's. I think I had 3-4 outages per year while Verizon might be 0-1.

Yeah - I have the shitty Actiontec one from FiOS. I can't use my own since it's still provided via cable/coax and not ethernet. Maybe I could upgrade to the gigabit to get the ethernet connection but that seems like overkill. However I'm definitely worried about general outages.

Split out from cord cutting thread....

Thank you sir. Probably should have done that myself.

 

[The Napkin]

Eh, it adds up over time. Trying to look at all my recurring/subscription charges to reduce where I can. I'd pay it, but only if it's really necessary.

if you do the 100 would they let you (and how much of a pita) would it be to convert to the 200 after a month or 2 of seeing how the 100 works for you?

 

[TFP]

if you do the 100 would they let you (and how much of a pita) would it be to convert to the 200 after a month or 2 of seeing how the 100 works for you?

Good question. I'm sure they wouldn't turn down extra money, and there's no commitment/term on these.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Eh, it adds up over time. Trying to look at all my recurring/subscription charges to reduce where I can. I'd pay it, but only if it's really necessary.


Yeah - I have the shitty Actiontec one from FiOS. I can't use my own since it's still provided via cable/coax and not ethernet. Maybe I could upgrade to the gigabit to get the ethernet connection but that seems like overkill. However I'm definitely worried about general outages.


Thank you sir. Probably should have done that myself.

Are you using FiOS for Cable? If not you shouldn't need their router and can just have them enable the ethernet port on your ONT box.

Additionally 100 Mbps for Comcast != 100 Mbps for Verizon. Verizon delivers the speed quoted, whereas Comcast delivers up to that speed, which is lower and often impacted by others on your network.

 

[The Napkin]

Good question. I'm sure they wouldn't turn down extra money, and there's no commitment/term on these.

yeah, a potential commitment/breaking a contract fee to change from 100 to 200 would have been what I would have been worried about. If that doesn't apply seems like you might as well try the 100 and see how it works for you. Unless there's a "come back out and flip a switch to connect" fee that you'd have to pay a second time. They do love themselves some fees.

 

[TFP]

Are you using FiOS for Cable? If not you shouldn't need their router and can just have them enable the ethernet port on your ONT box.

Additionally 100 Mbps for Comcast != 100 Mbps for Verizon. Verizon delivers the speed quoted, whereas Comcast delivers up to that speed, which is lower and often impacted by others on your network.

I don't have cable now - just Youtube TV. My ONT box is outside too, so I'd need to run the ethernet inside (I believe) even if they enabled that. And I'd have to call them.

And I'm not getting 100mbps from Verizon now even though it's what I'm subscribed to. Everytime I check it's usually around 50-60 (but I know those aren't reliable).

yeah, a potential commitment/breaking a contract fee to change from 100 to 200 would have been what I would have been worried about. If that doesn't apply seems like you might as well try the 100 and see how it works for you. Unless there's a "come back out and flip a switch to connect" fee that you'd have to pay a second time. They do love themselves some fees.

That's what I'm thinking too.

 

[gtmtnbiker]

Yeah - I have the shitty Actiontec one from FiOS. I can't use my own since it's still provided via cable/coax and not ethernet. Maybe I could upgrade to the gigabit to get the ethernet connection but that seems like overkill. However I'm definitely worried about general outages.

I have FIOS since 2005 timeframe and I always had ethernet connection to my router. I wonder if the tech did cable because he didn't want to run a new ethernet line to your router? In my case, it was simple as the router is very close to the ONT in the basement.

 

[Red Sox Physicist]

And I'm not getting 100mbps from Verizon now even though it's what I'm subscribed to. Everytime I check it's usually around 50-60 (but I know those aren't reliable).

That's probably because you're using MoCA (coax) for the WAN. Verizon's not supposed to use that for anything over 75 Mbps. It's MoCA 1.1, which is supposed to handle up to 175 Mbps, but there can be signal degradation issues over the coax into your house that can drop that. You can call and ask them to switch it to Ethernet, but since you said the ONT is outside, you'll probably have to pay them to run the Ethernet line.

 

[TFP]

That's probably because you're using MoCA (coax) for the WAN. Verizon's not supposed to use that for anything over 75 Mbps. It's MoCA 1.1, which is supposed to handle up to 175 Mbps, but there can be signal degradation issues over the coax into your house that can drop that. You can call and ask them to switch it to Ethernet, but since you said the ONT is outside, you'll probably have to pay them to run the Ethernet line.

Yeah I was going to call them and ask about all this but the thought of being on the phone with them has me shuddering and I figured completely switching providers was less of a pain than trying to get them to run ethernet in.

 

[gtmtnbiker]

You can call and ask them to switch it to Ethernet, but since you said the ONT is outside, you'll probably have to pay them to run the Ethernet line.

you could complain that you are not getting the advertised speeds so they send a tech out and waive the fee.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

you could complain that you are not getting the advertised speeds so they send a tech out and waive the fee.

Or telling them you're switching to Comcast will result in them comping it as well I'm sure.

I can't imagine voluntarily going from FiOS to Comcast, especially if internet service was my only concern.

 

[kneemoe]

I have a 2MB pipe. I telecommute, I stream netflix/prime/etc. I realize 2 isn't enough for most folks, so I say it only for reference, but damn do these numbers seem crazy. Yeah, if I were to pull a torrent file I might have to cap it's speed or tell it to run between 11pm-3pm or whatever

I guess my main point here is, infrastrucure of your LAN is probably more impactful than the size of the pipe for most (home) users