I’m not sure of the reasoning, but I know that when my SOs parents swtiched ISPs, they had to get a new (different) modem. Whether they were significantly different, or the new company was just being bitchy, I don’t know. But they were able to buy the first one off of their first ISP, and lucky us, its the same one used by the provider where my SO and I live, so hopefully we;ll be able to just get the service and not pay for a new one.
Not that that really answers your question… But I’d say if you’re planning on sticking with the same provider, see if you can buy it off them.
There’s a cable modem standard called DOCSIS which all those cable modems should be compliant with. However, the cable company can selectively allow or disallow specific cable modems from being authorized on the network. The reason they have a list of supported cable modems is that those are the ones they know how to help you with if you have trouble. If you pick one not on the list, they very well may refuse to authorize it, so it won’t work.
Oh, no, there will certainly be reliability differences and different features available for all those different modems. My point is simply that they’re all technically capable of working with your cable modem signal if the cable company wants to let them.
Wouldnt the MAC address have something to do with this? Im not really sure what it is or what it does, but there’s little sticker on my cable modem with a MAC address on it that my cable company sometimes asks for if I call.
The MAC address is the unique hardware address of the modem. The ISP keeps a list of customer’s MAC addresses, and only allows MAC addresses on the list to get an IP from the DHCP server. This keeps people from buying a modem and getting service without paying.
The type of modem you buy can also affect the connection speed, just like a standard phone-line modem. Operating system support is usually not an issue, as pretty much all of them use Ethernet to communicate with your computer. Some also offer USB, but Ethernet will give you better performance.
You might want to check out www.dslreports.com. Personally, I’d recommend staying away from any 3com modems because they’re getting out of the business.
When my local cable ISP was having issues, I called tech support. A lineman was sent out to work on my line. The real issue later turned out to be at the larger network level, however during troubleshooting he took my 1st modem, a Toshiba, and replaced it with the one I have now, which is a Motorola.
He claimed that the Motorolas in general have higher performance when confronted with less than 100% perfect connections over the cable.
Was he right? I don’t know. But I wanted to share this with you in hopes it might help you make a good decision.
Just because a modem is DOCSIS certified does not mean your ISP will allow you to use it…I know this as I work in the modem dept. for Comcast and we have a list of modems that, while DOCSIS approved, are not Comcast approved and we do not allow their use on our network.
In the next few months as I begin to deal with the broadband idiots -er- customer service reps at illegal-cable-monopoly -er- COMCAST, I will try to remember that there be dopers there somewhere and that I should try to be civil.
But I’d say if you’re planning on sticking with the same provider, see if you can buy it off them.