new modem

[WharfRat]

I have been running an old Comcast Motorola modem for years.
Now they want to send me a new updated one.
OK
But - I see, I am renting it for $8 a month.
What would be my best choice for a modem to purchase (for home)?
Simple - 1 Mac and 1 Mackbook Pro
both connected with Airport Express units.

Thank you very much for suggestions,
   MSD

[DigiCorn]

You know why Comcast wants you to upgrade?

http://www.cedmagazine.com/news/2013/06/comcast-to-turn-up-millions-of-wi-fi-hotspots-in-neighborhoods

[Farabomb]

I didn't read but is that comcast opening everyone's modem as a AP so their other customers can leech?

[DigiCorn]

They claim that their new modems will create nationwide Xfinity Hotspots for Xfinity customers only, and they claim it will only extend about the size of your house, which makes no sense. 

They claim that the idea is that Xfinity users will be able to have wifi access anywhere without having to login to someone's personal wifi, thus negating the need for their password. They also claim it's not strong enough for someone to sit in a car in front of your house and do evil things while connected to your network, or have access to your network. But they also supposedly absolve you from any wrongdoing if they do.

[edit] They also claim that it won't slow your access speeds, or interfere with your streaming.

[Farabomb]

Logic would dictate that if someone is leeching your bandwidth, something you pay for, there is no way for it not to affect your speeds. Allowing anyone access, no matter how separate it may be, to your personal network would be a violation of your privacy.


HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA. Privacy, like that exists anymore.

[DigiCorn]

Exactly.

I've had AT&T, Clearwire and Comcrap at both my last house and here. AT&T and Clear couldn't deliver reliable service as promised, but Comcrap delivers above what I pay for. I fucking hate Comcrap with the fire of 1,000 suns, but damnit if they don't do what they say and more. And their customer service and prices fucking suck donkey dick. For a year or more, I haven't had an interruption, or anything to complain about. I really want to hate them and get someone else, but there is no one else (except for Consolidated who I know suck) and fuck if I haven't had solid internet from Comcrap. Curse those bastards.

At first Comcrap gave me... I think it was a Scientific Atlanta modem, and I was using my own Linksys/Cisco router, but I had mucho issues. Then they swapped me the Motorola wifi modem/router, but it was only a G connection. Then they swapped me an Arrus modem. I finally determined that the brand new Linksys/Cisco AC router I had was crap. I swapped it three times and gave up. I went out and got an ASUS AC router with the Arrus modem, and was rock solid. I eventually added an ASUS AC repeater and a Netgear powerline connection and I have 50+ mpbs wired and wireless throughout my house - still having some wifi connection issues in the garage during the day, but at night it clears up.

[Farabomb]

We have business Comcrap here. You would think for the price it would be fast and stable but it's the opposite. Our connection goes down all the time. I have a USB wireless card in my bag so I can tether the mac to my phone if I really need to get something out. When the net is down, so are the phones.