#Comcast modem vs router for free
#Comcast modem vs router install
#Comcast modem vs router upgrade

You can probably request an upgrade, which is covered for free because you pay a monthly fee. Generally, you won’t see automatic upgrades when a new Wi-Fi standard goes live, so while all your friends are speeding along on Wi-Fi 6, you may still suffer through Wi-Fi 4. Even if you do pay a monthly fee, you’re investing in free replacements, free upgrades, and technical support.ĭon’t buy a standalone router unless you’re unhappy with your provider’s unit. Chances are, you have the best modem for your connection, so there’s no need to make the investment.

In a nutshell, buying is ideal for the following:ĭon’t buy a standalone modem if you don’t pay a monthly fee. Free technical support from your internet provider may or may not be available. The burden of cost is also yours when you want to upgrade. If your modem, router, or gateway fails, the replacement comes out of your wallet.

The drawback to buying your equipment is the overall expense.

#Comcast modem vs router install

Better yet, you could install a mesh networking kit that spreads Wi-Fi across your home or small office like a web. You can get high-quality products from brands like NETGEAR, Linksys, TP-Link, and Zyxel. If you choose to purchase a router, you may find one that has a better range or better parental controls than the unit supplied by your internet provider.

#Comcast modem vs router upgrade

You can upgrade as needed and manage your devices-not your internet provider. The pros are straightforward: you can select and keep the device you want so long as it’s compatible with your internet provider’s connection. In summary, here are the reasons why you would buy or rent from Xfinity: Reasons to rentĬheaper overall cost (depending on the model) Plus, the only technical support will be through Motorola or ARRIS-maybe from Xfinity, too, if you’re lucky. With both retail models, you’ll be responsible for upgrades and hardware replacements if the gateways fail. You won’t save money until the third year, and by then Xfinity will probably offer something even better than its 3rd Gen gateway at no additional cost to renters. However, the cost of the ARRIS unit is roughly $37 cheaper than renting the Xfinity gateway over two years. The ARRIS SURFboard G36 is almost on par with Xfinity’s new gateway-only the maximum 2.4 GHz speed is slower than Xfinity’s. Now here’s where price comparisons really get interesting. Is it worth the downgrade? Absolutely not unless you have a low internet connection and never plan to upgrade your plan. It doesn’t even include the 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port.

After that, the money stays in your pocket, right?īut look closer at the specs and you’ll see that Motorola’s gateway is slower than Xfinity’s. If you don’t want to rent, the compatible Motorola MG7700 wireless gateway costs $169.99-just over a dollar more than what you’d pay to Xfinity in rental fees for an entire year. But first, let’s take a look at the annual rental fees from 14 internet providers. We’ll show you exactly why by using Xfinity as an example. Wireless gateways are a hit or miss when it comes to saving money. Replacing the gateway entirely may be cheaper, depending on what you buy. The problem is that many internet providers now supply you with wireless gateways (modem/router combos), so if you have one, purchasing a router is an added expense and more in line with privately managing your home network than saving you money. Your home network is yours, however, so owning devices on your side of the modem makes perfect sense-including the router. In this case, buying a standalone modem may save you money and lots of frustration. However, there may be cases when your provider’s supplied modem is of low quality and you want one with better performance and stability. You probably (hopefully) have the best modem for your connection anyway. After all, you don’t own your internet connection, so why own the modem? Let your internet provider deal with that aspect of your service. You don’t need to purchase a standalone modem if your internet provider supplies you with one rent-free.