My old modem died, and when I took it in for a new one I had to get the new kind with Wi-Fi. However, you can install it without turning on the Wi-Fi, and that’s what I did. Computer speed seems about the same.
The clerk very sneakily asked me some question that, when I answered yes, led him to believe that I was agreeing to sign up for triple play phone service, which I was not intending to agree to. I discovered this ploy a couple of days later, called them, and they took it back off.
I ended up purchasing my own wireless router/modem at Best Buy. I forget which one I got, but it is working great. The only problem I ran into was I had the Triple Play package, because it was cheaper to add a home phone even tho I didn’t use it. My new modem didn’t have a telephone connection so they cancelled the triple play and stuck me with slightly more expensive TV/Internet combo. Oh well.
An update: Mrs R was having trouble watching streaming video, so we decided to bite the bullet: We bought an Arris SB6141 modem, and upped our speeds from Comcast. Much better now.
Thanks to everyone who gave me advice in this thread; it’s much appreciated!
The 6121 is considered obsolete but is still out there in great numbers (both service and on shelves). Its only drawback is that it doesn’t have enough channels to support the increasing speeds (105mbps and up, I believe). It can be had for about $60 new and $30 refurb. But the 6141 is a good choice at a slightly higher price point - same bulletproof design, with the channels increased for future-proofing.
BTW, Arris long had a name as a maker of cheap cable-provider junk, and that hasn’t changed much. But they bought the modem division from Motorola a couple of years ago and those models - including the 6121, 6141 and others - are as good as ever.
