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 (or Internet gateway) from them.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, even though you can opt to purchase your own modem if you want to.
When a modem needs to be replaced, most customers who rent their modems simply accept whatever device the technician pulls out of the truck and installs for them without even giving it a second thought.
Well, that can be a very big mistake. Why? Read on and I’ll explain…
When a tech replaces a “bad” modem, it is typically taken back to their shop and tested. If it appears to work ok on the test bench, it is usually reset back to its factory defaults and placed right back into the inventory of replacement modems to be used later to get another customer back up and running when they have a problem with their Internet connection.
The problem is many issues with electronic components are intermittent, which means the “tested” modem might work just fine while being put through its diagnostic paces on the test bench, yet cause all kinds of connection problems the next time it’s put into service in another customer’s home.
Don’t let that unfortunate customer be you! ALWAYS insist on a brand new modem (or gateway) when it comes time for yours to be replaced.
And there’s also another reason why you should always insist on receiving a new modem…
Modems and gateways are constantly being replaced with newer models in order to support faster data transfer speeds, enhance Internet / network security and add new features.
If a repair tech replaces your defective modem with a used device, the odds are pretty high that your “new” modem won’t support the latest communications and/or security technologies.
That means if you later sign up for a faster Internet plan or add opt for additional features (VOIP telephone service, for example), you’ll need to have your modem/gateway swapped out yet again.
Bottom line: If you’re renting a modem or gateway from your ISP, you’re surely paying them enough to purchase a brand new modem on a regular basis. Therefore you deserve a brand new modem every time yours needs to be replaced.
You also deserve to be able to take advantage of the latest (and fastest) technology available to you at the time. Unless your name is Fred Flintstone or Betty Rubble, you don’t have to settle for an unreliable “stone age” era cable modem.
Bonus tip: It’s a really good idea to keep your cable modem (and router) plugged into their own dedicated battery back device. This post explains why.