# Which cable modem to buy **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [May 11, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611 "2009-05-11T10:31:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:31am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/1 "2009-05-11T10:31:38Z")
Tired of paying $5 a month to rent something I can buy on ebay for $30-$40. Anything specific I should look for? Time Warner service in Williamsville. ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/2 "2009-05-11T10:42:51Z")
i would say make sure it can handle the amount of bandwidth, I think my service was recently upgraded to 10mbs/down and my modem cant handle it ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/3 "2009-05-11T10:45:47Z")
My surfboard modem works just fine… I have also used the Linksys cable modems before and they also work fine… Don’t have any useful advice outside of that…never had issues with either of them… ---
**Author:** ![Daddie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/daddie/32/7621_2.png) [@Daddie](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Daddie)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/4 "2009-05-11T10:59:52Z")
I have an SB3100 sitting at home, it was on adelphia. I don’t know why I have it. You can have it if you want. I’ll be in buffalo in a couple weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:19am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/5 "2009-05-11T11:19:03Z")
Tough to argue with free. If not I’d recommend something DOCSIS 3.0 since if you’re spending the money I could see time warner giving you lower speed down the line because you’re DOCSIS 2.0 or something like that… ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/6 "2009-05-11T11:42:09Z")
> [@Daddie](#): > > I have an SB3100 sitting at home, it was on adelphia. I don’t know why I have it. You can have it if you want. I’ll be in buffalo in a couple weeks. :tup: Sounds good. Might not need it because I’m still throwing around the idea of going FIOS. Gotta PM Nikuk and see if he’s still happy with his Fios. Just not happy with $32 in monthly equipment costs to replicate what I have now with Dish (home media DVR + 2 regular set top boxes). ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/7 "2009-05-11T11:43:35Z")
what’s the cliffs on using your own modem with TW? can you just pick up any cable modem and call TW and be done, or is there more to this? ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/8 "2009-05-11T11:45:10Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > what’s the cliffs on using your own modem with TW? > > can you just pick up any cable modem and call TW and be done, or is there more to this? From what I’ve seen, yeah. You call them with the MAC address, they enter it, you plug the new one and and it syncs. Return their modem and bye bye rental fee. ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/9 "2009-05-11T11:45:29Z")
You can pick up a cable modem and call timerwarner… OR Most new cable modems allow you to spoof another MAC address and you just put in the MAC address of your old cable modem ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/10 "2009-05-11T11:47:42Z")
I wouldn’t spoof if your old one was rented…I could see them giving it out to someone else and that causing all hell to break loose ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/11 "2009-05-11T11:49:27Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > I wouldn’t spoof if your old one was rented…I could see them giving it out to someone else and that causing all hell to break loose Nah It doesn’t work like that…The MAC is authorized for a node… If you took your modem to another location it wouldnt work…I moved apartments in the same complex and needed to get my MAC readded… ---
**Author:** ![Joe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/joe/32/7219_2.png) [@Joe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Joe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/12 "2009-05-11T11:51:28Z")
oh that’s cool. I had a bunch of problems switching a digital cable box with them that had previously been someone else’s. God i don’t miss TW. ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/13 "2009-05-11T11:52:31Z")
> [@Joe](#): > > oh that’s cool. I had a bunch of problems switching a digital cable box with them that had previously been someone else’s. God i don’t miss TW. TW blows ---
**Author:** ![ryanmcell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ryanmcell/32/7510_2.png) [@ryanmcell](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ryanmcell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/14 "2009-05-11T15:45:36Z")
SB3100 isn’t docsis 2.0. It’ll work but won’t handle the speeds. Any standard cable modem that is docsis 2 will work just fine. I’ve heard from a few of my engineer friends back in TWland that they have been testing 50+mbps download caps and are awaiting standardization of 3.0… Either way, buy one used on eBay and it pays for itself the first 5 months. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/15 "2009-05-11T15:50:28Z")
Will the 3100 handle the 10/2 connection I have now? ---
**Author:** ![ryanmcell](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ryanmcell/32/7510_2.png) [@ryanmcell](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ryanmcell)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/16 "2009-05-11T15:52:47Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > Will the 3100 handle the 10/2 connection I have now? Negative, when they initially rolled out the 10/2 there was 1500+ subscribers with 3100’s, and so they setup a team to call each person and offer a new modem, most declined and after a week called in and reported slow speeds…:roflpicard: ---
**Author:** ![walter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/walter/32/7202_2.png) [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/17 "2009-05-11T16:25:51Z")
Hrm, didn’t realize they were cheap. Do the technologies update frequently? I’ve been renting one for years, might as well bite the bullet. If its only $30, its not like it’ll wear out in 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![jabbu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jabbu/32/7446_2.png) [@jabbu](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jabbu)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/18 "2009-05-11T17:04:45Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > Most new cable modems allow you to spoof another MAC address and you just put in the MAC address of your old cable modem You give out some of the worst advice/_crap_ inside info relating to ANYTHING time warner… ---
**Author:** ![LZ1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/19 "2009-05-12T03:25:10Z")
> [@jabbu](#): > > You give out some of the worst advice/_crap_ inside info relating to ANYTHING time warner… Yea? So how is that wrong? That is what I did with my replacement modem and it worked fine… It’s extremely useful to post and say I am wrong with out any supporting details… ---
**Author:** ![Geehee](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geehee/32/7238_2.png) [@Geehee](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geehee)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2012, 7:07am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611/20 "2012-11-20T07:07:44Z")
BUMP New (old?) $4 fee is making me want to buy one. Time warner suggests the following: [http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/topics/internet/buy-your-modem.html](http://www.timewarnercable.com/en/residential-home/support/topics/internet/buy-your-modem.html) Good? bad? what do you use? [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/which-cable-modem-to-buy/67611.md?page=2)