topic Re: router and modem in Electronics

router and modem

bargainsgirl — Tue, 03 May 2016 14:36:26 GMT

I currently rent from Time Warner but wish to buy my own. Been having problems with "pauses" when I am online. Brand new Air so I know it is not my computer.

Are there modem/router combination devices? I may as well replace both. The one I am renting is several years old and though they say nothing is wrong there is! Not sure what brands are good and reliable....thanks!

Re: router and modem

LTT1 — Tue, 03 May 2016 14:42:02 GMT

@bargainsgirl

We are having problems here and I also use an air.

The company we rent from (U-verse) has been out twice and replaced etc. but we still have problems.

When I look up our problem on the net, I get answers stating that the internet in our homes is never "too full."

I know this isn't true... when DH and I are both using devices in the same room, one person (usually him) has to wait and wait.

DD has a new set-up, and cannot get internet in the basement and other areas of the new house. More devices are plugged into her system than before. So it seems true that internet signals can be weaker depending.

I will look forward to reading here about other people's experiences so we can go forward.

Thank you for posting.

Re: router and modem

ChynnaBlue — Tue, 03 May 2016 15:07:31 GMT

Do you have a Time Warner cable office near you? If so, I would package up the modem/router you think has a problem, walk it into their office, and exchange it. I used to live a block away from a Time Warner Office and years ago, their DVR boxes were very shoddy and I used to have to replace mine every 6-8 months because the hard drive would stop working. I just walked it in, got a new one, and left.

Walk the modem or router in, tell them it's not working, and get a new one. Easier than dealing with the tech guys on the phone if they're close by.

Yes, they do make modem/router combination units and you can purchase one. But if you do that and something goes wrong, Time Warner may charge you for any visits they make out to check on your internet and may blame your equipment. I know my cable company once told me that they could send someone out to check on my internet issues, but they told me that if the problem was caused by my equipment, I would be charged. I said go ahead and try, everything is your equipment.

Re: router and modem

butterfly123 — Tue, 03 May 2016 17:11:08 GMT

We've also had problems with Time Warner. We had a service person come out and he said the first technician did not set the boxes up correctly. On that day we also asked to have the equipment replaced. The technician informed my DH and I that the router/modems TWC uses are not the best quality. But as stated in the previous answers if you buy your own than they nay charge you for service calls.

If you have a TWC office where you live than I would second the vote to go into their office and switch equipment. The only problem is that TWC will not offer you their best equipment unless you know what to ask for.

We went to the office where we live with recommendation from tech support on the phone. When we ask for certain brands of modems and routers TWC did not carry those brands at the local office.

This is a frustrating situation and so far we have found no answers to resolve the problems.

☹️

Re: router and modem

tucka — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 06:36:55 GMT

I also have a problem with my router/modem, its att, and i have replaced it 3 times. my computer keeps going off line, and red light show up on router, I do the test and they say my broadline is not working.My computer is less than a year old.A t and t come out and mess with the lines then it works for a while than have same problem again. Should I go and buy a router that hopefully is stronger than what att gives me cause this is frusterating,any help would be appreciated.

Re: router and modem

DJP — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 07:21:41 GMT

@tucka

Have you tried a computer repair place. Call and ask them what you can do. Can you speak to the company where you bought the computer? Hopefully someone can give you an answer.

Re: router and modem

gadgetgal613 — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 11:48:57 GMT

@butterfly123 wrote:
We've also had problems with Time Warner. We had a service person come out and he said the first technician did not set the boxes up correctly. On that day we also asked to have the equipment replaced. The technician informed my DH and I that the router/modems TWC uses are not the best quality. But as stated in the previous answers if you buy your own than they nay charge you for service calls.
If you have a TWC office where you live than I would second the vote to go into their office and switch equipment. The only problem is that TWC will not offer you their best equipment unless you know what to ask for.
We went to the office where we live with recommendation from tech support on the phone. When we ask for certain brands of modems and routers TWC did not carry those brands at the local office.
This is a frustrating situation and so far we have found no answers to resolve the problems.

☹️

I've owned my own router and modem for over 20 years. When I found out what they charge for renting, I bought my own. I have Comast, looked up recommended or compatible modems then purchased one. Once I hooked it up, I called Comcast and registered it. If you don't, it won't work. I have a separate router which doesn't need to be registered since it's the modem which gets the signal and is associated with my account. STOP RENTING! You're paying at least $120 a year for equipement you can buy and use for years!

Re: router and modem

ciao_bella — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 12:28:09 GMT

I have Optimum Cablevision and stopped paying for their rental modem years ago. If you call your cable company they can tell you which modem brands and/or models they recommend for you to purchase that will work with your system. I believe they are required to give you that information if you don't want to rent one any longer. I was given about 3 or 4 choices to pick from which would work well with Cablevision. I purchased our modem from Amazon. After purchasing it, you must call your cable company and register it, so they stop charging you for a rental. They will also send the signal to set it up with them, and then you are set to go. It's been at least 7 or 8 years owning my own and have never had any problems with it.

As for a router, we have our own router so I only needed the modem to purchase. Again, your cable company will tell you which brands/models they recommend for router/modem combinations that will work with your cable company.

Re: router and modem

Ainhisg — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 12:58:30 GMT

We have Mediacom internet. It is the only provider in our area to provide the speeds we need for 20+ smart devices! When we switched to Mediacom, we said we wanted to buy our own modem, and they told us the specs to get. (It is the Arris brand, which we got at Best Buy.) When the Mediacom tech came, he installed the modem we purchased after making sure it was what we needed. It paid for itself in no time. If we did have to have Mediacom come out for a service charge? The cost for the service call would be much less than what we would have paid to rent a modem all these years.

As far as a router goes, I highly recommend a mesh router to extend your wi-fi signal throughout your home if that is an issue. We have a 1700 sq. foot home, but our modem is placed in a corner bedroom far away from everything else. With our mesh router, we get fast wi-fi in the farthest corners of our yard, in my husband's shop, out in the garage...it is amazing! We have a two-unit mesh router, but for larger homes bigger than 5000 sq feet, they have packages with more units. This is the one we have, and I cannot recommend it enough. Talk about easy to set up! And all done through an app with very clear, easy-to-understand directions.

Re: router and modem

SilleeMee — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 14:55:47 GMT

This old thread is from 2016.

Sure, you can buy your own but just like any other piece of electronics it gets outdated and should be replaced after 5 years.