OT: Cable modem purchase
 

I've only ever used the cable company's cable modems but now that I'm in PWM and subject to the mercy of Time Warner, I am surprised to find that they charge $8/month for modem rental. So, I figure I might as well buy a modem - right?

Was thinking the Motorola/Arris SB6141, which TWC lists as compatible and Amazon has for $90. Thoughts?

Buy it.

You weren't paying TWC the same $8/month for a modem in NYC?

I had RCN in NYC for the whole time I was there. They didn't charge a separate fee for the modem. And they gave me a prepaid UPS label to return the modem when I moved.

And they charged $39/month for 50/5 service vs TWC's $53/month for 30/5 service.

I've had great luck with the Motorola/Arris modems. The 6141 is good. You could also consider the 6183 to future proof yourself as increased speed becomes available--that's the one I purchased a few months ago.

I bought the 6141 to use on TWC. It works fine and should be good up to 100Mbps. Although in my area the top speed is 30Mbps.:(

I got mine on NewEgg.

Looks the one to get. Too bad it doesn't support DOCSIS 3.1 but it'll pay for itself long before you'll need 3.1 for 4K video, etc.

You can grab a "factory reconditioned" one (not sure what that means - a modem someone bought and returned?) for $53 + $5 shipping = $58.

http://www.woot.com/offers/arris-mot...41-cable-modem

Offer expires at midnight, or when sold out.

TWC supplied me an Arris DG1670a when I started with them 60 days ago, and frankly it works well. I prefer the configuration it has with 2.4GHz wireless, 5 GHz wireless, and four Ethernet ports. Due to my equipment setup I at home, my preference it to have an onboard Ethernet router for the gateway.

This device has been bulletproof and the wireless signals are carrying far better than the Netgear gateway I was using when on DSL. I'm on a 50M/5M plan at TWC, but actually get 8% faster speedtests. Yet for the $8/month I'd like to determine what my payback period is if I buy a new gateway. Yet I want a device that has the same port configurations. I don't see an Arris device in TWC's official BYO replacement links that match the DG1670a capabilities. Thoughts?

Timewarnercable buy-your-modem

Arris DG1670A spec sheet

I've often been able to find cable modems at Good Will stores in the $3-$5 range. I found an old DOCSIS 2.0 modem a couple of years ago for $5, even after 3.0 equipment was recommended and rolled out for all rental modem customers, but they still activated the 2.0 modem without issue and my speeds held true to the tier I was paying for. About 3 months ago I found a DOCSIS 3.0 for $3 (no power supply)... both were Motorola and used the same PS, so now I'll stop getting the "UPGRADE YOUR CUSTOMER-OWNED EQUIPMENT" emails from Comcast.

It will be a return due to:

• defects and repaired back to spec
• used and cannot be sold as new and checked as up to spec
• supplied by ISP and user terminated account.

Just a wild guess, but I'm thinking Mr. Dave will be supplying his own AP.

I've bought maybe a half dozen of these for various purposes and they have all been rock solid. Just like most of the other SurfBoard modems I've bought in the last 5 years. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

For my obligatory update: I ordered the 6141 from Amazon last night. Saw Woot's deal this morning. Also woke up to an email from our landlord saying they'd have Time Warner come out today and put in our own cable connection at no cost to us. I suppose I'll keep the modem when it comes, because I'll probably need it in two months when we move out of here.

Thanks for the recommendations, y'all.

Got the SB6141 also with TWC a couple of months ago.

I was also fed up with paying 8 dollars a month when i have my own Airport Extreme and i didn't want their crap wireless gateway.

As a side note - whatever you find it for on amazon - you can walk into Best Buy and they will match the price if its a new device. I did this so i didn't have to wait for 2 days :)

Amazon fortunately still isn't collecting tax for the state of Maine, so unless they'll throw the tax in on the price match (and I'm sure they won't) Amazon is still a 5.5% better deal.

Note that I am not advocating that one should shirk their fiscal responsibility to the great state of ME ;)