saul (other smart people too, but mostly saul)

[sys]

i have to switch my internet service.  apparently the new company wants me to buy a docsis 3.0, 802.11n modem/router.


are all 3.0 & 802.11n devices the same, or are some better than others?  and this is the only thing i'll need?  it just plugs in and works?

[steve dave]

You can use anything the carrier supports and you don't need (or probably want) a modem router hybrid.

[sys]

You can use anything the carrier supports and you don't need (or probably want) a modem router hybrid.

why not?  won't it cost me twice as much to buy a modem and a router as it would to buy a lone hybrid?  plus, then i'd have to plug in two things.

[steve dave]

Router tech is changing and modem tech (as far a I know) is not. If the price is the same I would get seperate. Also, you may not have cable Internet at some point but the router will still be viable?

[steve dave]

If you can get a combo for the same price you should do it

[sys]

Router tech is changing and modem tech (as far a I know) is not. If the price is the same I would get seperate. Also, you may not have cable Internet at some point but the router will still be viable?

maybe i already have a router?  what is the thing that is giving me the internet that i'm using right now?

[wetwillie]

Oh boy

[sys]

Oh boy

is steve dave trying to screw me, wetwillie?

[wetwillie]

Oh boy

is steve dave trying to screw me, wetwillie?

He may be, I was expressing disbelief in your lriq

[sys]

oh, yeah, it's pretty low, all right.  heh, heh, heh.  hey, what should i buy to get internet in the future?

[wetwillie]

Do you have a linksys?

[sys]

Do you have a linksys?

i have two things.  one is a small black thing with green lights on it.  it is called a motorola nvg510, and plugs into an electrical outlet and a phone jack.  the other thing is my laptop.  i don't know if either of these is a linksys, but i don't think so.

[wetwillie]

Do you have a linksys?

i have two things.  one is a small black thing with green lights on it.  it is called a motorola nvg510, and plugs into an electrical outlet and a phone jack.  the other thing is my laptop.  i don't know if either of these is a linksys, but i don't think so.

Ok.  You are just using a modem, who is the new Internet provider?

[sys]

Ok.  You are just using a modem, who is the new Internet provider?

it would be comcast (if i order their service, it seems complicated).

[wetwillie]

Ok.  You are just using a modem, who is the new Internet provider?

it would be comcast (if i order their service, it seems complicated).

Get the modem only if you can, Sounds like they want to rape you with some sort package deal you don't need. 

[sys]

Get the modem only if you can, Sounds like they want to rape you with some sort package deal you don't need.

so then how would i route the internet?


they want me to lease a modem for $7 a month, but i'd rather tell them i already have a modem and then buy one.  but i need to know what modem to buy.  and what router, if the modem doesn't route the internet on it's own.

[wetwillie]

Get the modem only if you can, Sounds like they want to rape you with some sort package deal you don't need.

so then how would i route the internet?


they want me to lease a modem for $7 a month, but i'd rather tell them i already have a modem and then buy one.  but i need to know what modem to buy.  and what router, if the modem doesn't route the internet on it's own.

This lists approved modems for Comcast so you could buy one and use it, you only need a router if you want to be wireless or network other computers you have. http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

[sys]

of course i want to be wireless.  i thought that was obvious.  otherwise how could i carry my laptop around to different parts of the house?  i don't even know if it can be plugged into things.

[wetwillie]

of course i want to be wireless.  i thought that was obvious.  otherwise how could i carry my laptop around to different parts of the house?  i don't even know if it can be plugged into things.

I'd go with the cheapest modem you can get away with then on Comcast using that list.  The wireless router you can buy at whatever price point you feel comfortable, like SD mentioned you can use the router in the future if you ditch comcast but if you get their combo deal its modem won't be compatible with another service probably.

[sys]

ok, this is good advice.  so the modem doesn't matter and the router is what varies in quality.  and any router will work with the modem?

[wetwillie]

ok, this is good advice.  so the modem doesn't matter and the router is what varies in quality.  and any router will work with the modem?

more or less,  i would decide which modem you are going to want then it will be very simple to find compatible routers. 

[sys]

more or less,  i would decide which modem you are going to want then it will be very simple to find compatible routers.

ok, good.  you are a good person, wetwillie.

[steve dave]

sys, you have a router, don't need the combo they want to sell you. get a motorola surfboard cable modem (they are trying to sell you one with a combo router) and use the router you have (both should prolly have lights on them (not trying to eff with you))

[sys]

i don't think i have a router, sd.  that was a false alarm.

so if i buy this modem, that's a good one?  it's on the list.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00768SBAU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A3R03SY06R5EI6


and then would this router work with that modem/comcast?  it seems fairly cheap, no idea if if it's good or not.  i probably don't care, as long as it works.

http://www.amazon.com/BUFFALO-AirStation-HighPower-Gigabit-Wireless/dp/B005CSOE1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1352617000&sr=1-1&keywords=wireless+router+n+450+mbps

[steve dave]

Yeah, I have that same modem. It works great. Router doesn't matter for the cable. That one looks good to me if you don't need dual bands (use it for multiple things at once)