12/31 I have to buy a new modem

[darkemeralds]

Comcast sent me a letter today telling me that on December 2 my cable modem will stop working. I need to buy a new one in order to receive their blazing snail's paced no competition internet signal.

Sigh.

So I go searching online and every model that Comcast says they support has at least a few one-star reviews saying that it doesn't work with Comcast in some areas. All the reviews talk about hours spent on the phone with customer support getting the modem set up. I dread that kind of thing.

Has anyone else on Comcast done this around the Pacific Northwest--replaced your own cable modem? I really don't want to rent from them; they get too much of my money as it is. I'd welcome some guidance.

Comments

[azurelunatic]

I've replaced my own (San Francisco Bay Area). I got a Motorola SURFboard (named Mr. Zog by a helpful dreamatdrew, because the main SSID is "SexWax").

I learned that a) you must call in so that they will allow the internet to flow through your new equipment, and b) that this call must be while Sales is in the building, because 4am support does not have the keys to the required system.

I also learned that c) the supposed self-service thing on the captive portal they slap up all over your internet DOESN'T WORK THE USELESS GODDAMN SURF-WAX-FOR-LUBE MOTHERFUCKERS.

[darkemeralds]

Thanks. I just googled Comcast captive portal, a term I wasn't familiar with till five minutes ago, and learned a lot. It all feels very...not-free, I guess. But it's what I've got, and it beats no internet at all. I feel a little but more sanguine now. Much appreciated.

[azurelunatic]

It'll probably also help if you're prepared when you call in, with the "Hi, I just replaced my modem, with the make and model of both the old one and the new one, so that when the incompetent wretch on the other end says "you have a ____" you can firmly and confidently say, "No, that is the old one; my new one is:"

I don't recall whether they needed the MAC address of the thing, but I do vaguely recall looking it up for full sarcastic detail.

[darkemeralds]

Full, sarcastic detail. I like that! :D

[pinesandmaples]

I had my own modem with Comcast in the Midwest that's actually worked across the country on three different providers. But see also: Midwest, Southeast.

[darkemeralds]

Good to know, thanks. I've had the same modem/router pair for, gosh, as long as I've had cable internet. It bothers me a little to have to replace them because Comcast Says So, since they're both working just like the day I got them. Maybe it's true that the required new modem will bring those blazing speeds Comcast is always talking about. We'll see...

[ranunculus]

M has owned his own since he learned better, and we have -always- had our own modem. NOT worth renting.

[darkemeralds]

Yeah, I'm pricing them now. If I'd rented from Comcast for as long as my current old modem and router have been on the job, I'd have paid for them about twice by now.

[cat63]

All the reviews talk about hours spent on the phone with customer support getting the modem set up. I dread that kind of thing.

That's utterly appalling. Last time we needed a new modem, I was able to plug it in, type in a couple of passwords and it was all systems go - and I'm a complete numpty when it comes to techy-go-beep!

Of course there's a fair bit of competition between ISPs round here, so it pays them not to piss their customers off too badly if they can help it.

[darkemeralds]

We are a competition-free monopoly zone, for all intents and purposes. The more cryptic they make things, the more you depend on them to sweep in with their "low cost" solutions.

Happily, between geeky me and my very-geeky nephew, I can usually manage to get things up and running.

[cat63]

We are a competition-free monopoly zone, for all intents and purposes.

Bah. :(

Happily, between geeky me and my very-geeky nephew, I can usually manage to get things up and running.

Hurray for geekiness!