It's easy to forget how important, and impressive, your cable modem actually is. It handles your Internet traffic 24/7 for years, usually without a hiccup. Some modems even pull double duty as your wireless router.
Beyond that, there is another good reason to occasionally think about your cable modem. If it's more than a few years old, you might not be getting the Internet download speeds you're paying for. Check your Internet speed on this website.
Cable companies have been busy upgrading their networks for faster speeds. These faster speeds require faster cable modems.
The newest standard for cable modems is DOCSIS 3 - although DOCSIS 3.1 is coming soon. DOCSIS 3 can achieve download data rates of 160 Mbps or better - four times faster than DOCSIS 2.
Before you run out and grab a new modem, check with your cable provider to see if it has upgraded your network to the DOCSIS 3 standard. If it hasn't gotten around to your neighborhood yet, there's no urgency to upgrade.
There's also no rush to upgrade if you're happy with a basic low-speed plan. If you have an old DOCSIS 1.1 modem, however, there's a good chance that it may be throttling your Internet connection speed.
In addition to boosting your transfer rates, a newer modem could clear up any connection issues you've been experiencing. Most cable companies are phasing out DOCSIS 1.1 modems anyway.
To find out what kind of a modem you have, visit the support pages of the manufacturer's website and look up your model number. The manufacturer name will be printed on the bottom or back of the modem - it isn't the same company as your Internet service provider.
Once you've determined that upgrading to a DOCSIS 3 modem is the right move for you, should you buy your own or lease one from the cable company?
Both strategies have their pros and cons.
The major cable providers tack on a monthly fee of $3, $4 or more for renting a modem. If anything goes wrong with it, the company will usually fix it or replace it for no charge.
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Call your provider and see if it will upgrade you to a free DOCSIS 3 modem to keep you a happy customer. Some people have even gotten the monthly rental fee waived by asking.
On the other hand, you can buy an excellent DOCSIS 3 modem for $85-$100. Let's say it gives you four good years of service. At $4 per month, you'll pay $192 to lease a modem over the same period.
The downside is that you're on the hook if something goes wrong with it, and you're responsible for staying current on firmware updates.
If you decide to buy, check out your service provider's support pages for recommended DOCSIS 3 routers. If you stick with top brands such as Motorola, Zoom, Linksys and D-Link, you'll get reliability and a good warranty.
You should also be able to use it with another provider in case you move.
When shopping, you'll notice some modems with built-in wireless routers; these are often called gateways. While a gateway is convenient space-wise, it has disadvantages compared to a standalone router.
Stand-alone wireless routers are more powerful and have more features. While a gateway is tethered to the wall with a short coaxial cable, you have more freedom to place a standalone router, which can mean a better signal.
If one part of a gateway goes kaput, you'll lose your Internet service, or your network, until you can get a new gateway. When a stand-alone router goes down, you can at least get a computer on the Internet by plugging it into the cable modem with an Ethernet cable.
Plus, with 802.11ac wireless gaining popularity, you'll probably be upgrading your router in a few years. That's well before you want to upgrade your cable modem again.
