modem Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

Q&A: Will I need a new modem if I upgrade to faster Internet?

Posted on October 26, 2021

Question from Rod: I received a flyer in the mail from Xfinity saying everyone in my area now has the option to upgrade our Internet service to 1200Mbps with virtually no increase in the monthly charges.

I’d love to do that because that would be a huge increase from the 200Mbps I’m getting now, but I can’t afford to buy a new modem.

I bought the modem I have now four years ago and it’s still working great.

My question is will I need to buy a new modem in order to get the full 1200Mbps speed that comes with this new plan? [Read more…]

5 tips for getting the most from your Internet connection

Posted on October 12, 2021

Back in the early days of home computing, most users had to connect their computers to the Internet using a dial-up analog modem.

Those dial-up connections were typically about as slow as a sedated slug, and establishing and keeping a stable connection was tricky at best.

Even worse, that slow and unreliable connection was typically dedicated to a single computer, so connecting multiple computers to the Internet required a separate modem and a separate telephone land-line for each computer. [Read more…]

Why you should plug your modem and router into their own battery backup device

Posted on May 23, 2021

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

You probably already know how important it is to keep your laptop and desktop computers plugged into a battery backup device.

But there are actually at least two other devices in your home that deserve a battery backup unit as well…

[Read more…]

Why you shouldn’t accept a used modem from your ISP

Posted on May 20, 2021

If you’re one of the millions of Americans who subscribe to broadband Internet service through Xfinity, Charter or another Internet Service Provider (ISP), you most likely rent your modem from them.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

While I think it’s usually a wise move to buy your own modem, renting one from the ISP isn’t necessarily a bad move if you live in an area that gets hit by frequent electrical storms.

When a modem needs to be replaced, most customers simply accept whatever device the technician pulls out of the truck and installs for them without giving it a second thought.

Well, that can be a very big mistake. Why? Read on and I’ll explain… [Read more…]