# Cable Modem Question... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289 "2001-10-13T19:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chekmate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@Chekmate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chekmate)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/1 "2001-10-13T19:44:02Z")
I am getting a new computer to go along with my new house, and I am getting a cable modem there. Anyway, I was wondering if I actually need an internal modem since I am going to have a cable modem. I am customizing my system through Alienware, and I could save like $60 if I skipped out on the modem. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/2 "2001-10-13T19:50:14Z")
Nope…you would just need a network card instead of a modem…if you mean a dial-up modem that is… ---
**Author:** ![TheNewbie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@TheNewbie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNewbie)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/3 "2001-10-13T19:50:47Z")
You can skip the internal modem unless you would want it for backup. Just in case the cable goes out or whatever. The company you get your cable modem service will install a network card into your computer, thus there is no need for an internal phone modem. Save the $60 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/4 "2001-10-13T19:50:55Z")
Nope, you don’t need a regular modem. You will probably need an Ethernet card for your cable modem, however. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/5 "2001-10-13T20:21:33Z")
I’ve found I’ve needed my 56k modem as a backup a few times, so I’m glad I have it. But, maybe your cable modem service will be more reliable than mine. I suggest not getting the modem, and if you find out you would like one later, get it then and install it yourself. You can probably find it for less than 60 bucks, too. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/6 "2001-10-13T21:19:47Z")
The modem would also be handy if you choose to fax something in the future. ---
**Author:** ![hidon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@hidon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hidon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/7 "2001-10-13T21:27:08Z")
Hey, cool name, Manservant Hecubus. I’m a huge fan of Kids in the Hall. ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/8 "2001-10-14T05:15:41Z")
$60 for a 56K modem? I paid $20 for one two years ago. Unless there was some great advance in 56K technology that I’m not aware of, you may be better off buying one separate if you decide you need one. Same goes for the ethernet adapter you’ll use. Most places I see try to stick you with a $70 3Com card when, for what you’re using it for, you’ll see absolutely no difference between that and a $15 D-Link card. -LV ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/9 "2001-10-14T11:02:23Z")
> [@](#): > > $60 for a 56K modem? I paid $20 for one two years ago. Unless there was some great advance in 56K technology that I’m not aware of, you may be better off buying one separate if you decide you need one. I suspect it might be one of those call-waiting modems… they allow you to get incoming calls on the same phone line, while allowing you to maintain your Internet connection. Is that the deal, Chekmate? ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/10 "2001-10-14T11:23:52Z")
When I built my current computer, I didn’t buy a new modem to put in it. The motherboard doesn’t have an ISA bus, so I’d have to buy a PCI modem. My cable went down for three days once, but I managed to get it to work with some diffculty (long story) until the cable guys could fix it at the pole. Other than that I haven’t missed it one bit. Besides, who would I dial in to? I think my cable service has a dialup number, but jeez, I’d have to go online to look it up. Besides I used dialup at a friends recently, and really I’d rather do without after being on cable so long. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2001, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cable-modem-question/87289/11 "2001-10-14T14:40:17Z")
You can get a very nice PCI USR internal modem for $49 at staples or office depot. I saw them there the other day. These are a top comp & they are very compatible.