FWIW, this applies to Comcast too.
Protip: buy a used modem say SB6120/SB6121 off of craigslist for about $30-40 and never have to pay that silly $7 fee that Comcast has been sticking to customers forever.
Protip: buy a used modem say SB6120/SB6121 off of craigslist for about $30-40 and never have to pay that silly $7 fee that Comcast has been sticking to customers forever.
After my frustration subsided I spent a little time researching [1], made use of my Amazon Prime subscription and had a brand new, well reviewed, compatible modem [2] at my house Saturday morning.
The modem Comcast gave me retailed for $28. I paid $7/mo for over 4 years. That's well over $300 for a $28 piece of garbage, just because I didn't know I had the option to use my own hardware. I canceled my monthly rental, had a tech come out to pick the broken modem up at no charge, and have been happy since.
Invest in a modem like you do your other hardware. It will be better for your wallet and have the added benefit of _not_ lining the pockets of a company many people despise.
[1] http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/ [2] http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007IMPMW4
Bonus: free speed boost.
One can look for a DOCSIS 3 compatible device here: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/
If you do buy a modem off of Craigslist, you need to make sure that the person takes the MAC address off of their Comcast account. Else, Comcast will not permit you to add the modem to your account, "for security purposes". For what security purpose this serves, I have no idea.