DSL Question

[BillyP]

They're finally offering DSL in my area. My question is should I rent the modem or buy it. The rent is $10 a month or I can buy it for $125 plus tax. If I rent it and lightning zaps it, I get a new one. If I buy it, it's covered for 1 year.

 

[hudr]

I would buy it unless I had a LOT of lightning damage in my area. In my area the phone company sells the modems as well as renting, but if you buy it you get a rebate for the cost of the modem.
So I say... Buy it. Won't take long at $10/month to pay for one.

 

[Phils]

I dislike renting anything.... it always seems a losing proposition, dollar-wise. But if you buy (or even rent) you should have surge and lightening protection. I have my DSL modem powered from a UPS (interruptible power supply) so that it (and the rest of the phone system) still operates if we lose power. Protection from lightening is a side benefit.

Phil

 

[Bird]

I got my DSL service in late September '05. And I just replaced the Netopia modem today with a new one, so the original lasted just over 6 months. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif And yes, mine's powered from just the surge protector on my UPS.

 

[bky]

hum my dsl modem is supplyed by phone co free /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and it's a good thing I am on my 3rd one.

 

[BillyP]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll have to give it some thought.


bky. how much are you paying for DSL?

 

[Bird]

Bill, I neglected to say that the phone company also provides my modem free, but I'm not so sure I'd call it "free". /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I've got a "package" deal for telephone with call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, 3-way calling, etc., etc., 750k DSL service, and just about the whole shootin' match on Dish Network satellite TV, so I don't even know what part of that big bill every month is for the DSL service. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

But at least when I called their tech support yesterday I got to a human quicker than I've gotten anyone at any other company in a long time, he spoke English clearly enough for me to understand him, told me he'd order a new modem "next day air", and UPS delivered it this morning. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hazmat]

I bought my cable modem figuring at $10 a month it would pay for itself quick (~$100) - 4 months later they dropped the rental rate to $3 a month. At that rate there will probably be new technology out before the darn thing is paid for. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[SPIKER]

I would try it out with the rental first, to see if the thing works for you, then consider buying it. just my 2 cents worth. they should be able to do that weasy enough.

around here cable co, (road runner) and DSL (Verison / earthlink) all provide the modems free so they don't have to worry about compatability issues with hardware...



mark M

 

[GregMVT]

When I switched from cable to DSL a year ago Verizon offered a free modem with a commitment of one year's service. And it's cheaper than cable!!

Greg