8 ms·

I called Comcast and had 2 options. Pay $50/month for unlimited or pay $25/mo for unlimited, but I would have to forgo using my own modem/router and use theirs.

I called Comcast and had 2 options. Pay $50/month for unlimited or pay $25/mo for unlimited, but I would have to forgo using my own modem/router and use theirs. Decided to just pay the $50, but we'll see what happens. I could see them increasing the cap or forgiving overages for a few months.

alerighi 7y ago
You must maybe use their modem (how they can check it I don't know, maybe they don't give you the configuration parameters for the network?) but you always have the possibility to add your own router after it and basically use their modem/router as a simple modem. It's what I did in my country before they made illegal for ISPs to force you to use their modem/router, simply used the modem/router of the provider as a modem, forwarding all the ports to my own router that I used to do actual routing, WiFi access point and all other stuff that a router does.
- vict00ms 7y ago
  They also charge you a monthly fee for using their modem.
  - monocasa 7y ago
    They waive that in a lot of cases, as they're trying to build out their network of xfinitywifi hotspots you see everywhere. I still ran my own modem, but it's a point to keep in mind.
    - wtallis 7y ago
      If it's providing a WiFi hotspot, then it's their router that you're using, not just their modem.
      - monocasa 7y ago
        They give you a combo router and modem by default when you run their modems (for the reason given above). The WAN port is just a downstream port for the internal router. I don't think there's a way to disable the router itself in most cases these days, just some of the services it provides.
- eatbitseveryday 7y ago
  I have Comcast and use my own modem and router. The requirement for the modem was simply one which supports at least DOCIS 3.0.
  - monocasa 7y ago
    It has to be on the whitelist, and they require that they control the software running on it.
    - eatbitseveryday 7y ago
      How would they control the software on my modem? I bought it from a third party.
      - monocasa 7y ago
        The modems take firmware updates from the cable line side without prompting you.
        eatbitseveryday 7y ago
        Do you have some reference for me to learn about this?
- jaywalk 7y ago
  The modem has to be authorized via MAC address on the network. They know the MACs of the modems they own, so it's very simple to know if a modem is theirs or not.
  - cornishpixels 7y ago
    That has nothing to do with what he said. At the very least, you can leave their modem also set as a router and just put your router behind it (double NAT). More likely, you can turn off all of the "router" functions of their modem and still put your own router behind it. There is no way for them to differentiate whether the device behind the modem is a router or a computer.
    - jaywalk 7y ago
      Really? Did he not say: >You must maybe use their modem (how they can check it I don't know, maybe they don't give you the configuration parameters for the network?) Because I answered the "how?"

alerighi 7y ago

You must maybe use their modem (how they can check it I don't know, maybe they don't give you the configuration parameters for the network?) but you always have the possibility to add your own router after it and basically use their modem/router as a simple modem. It's what I did in my country before they made illegal for ISPs to force you to use their modem/router, simply used the modem/router of the provider as a modem, forwarding all the ports to my own router that I used to do actual routing, WiFi access point and all other stuff that a router does.

vict00ms 7y ago
They also charge you a monthly fee for using their modem.
- monocasa 7y ago
  They waive that in a lot of cases, as they're trying to build out their network of xfinitywifi hotspots you see everywhere. I still ran my own modem, but it's a point to keep in mind.
  - wtallis 7y ago
    If it's providing a WiFi hotspot, then it's their router that you're using, not just their modem.
    - monocasa 7y ago
      They give you a combo router and modem by default when you run their modems (for the reason given above). The WAN port is just a downstream port for the internal router. I don't think there's a way to disable the router itself in most cases these days, just some of the services it provides.
eatbitseveryday 7y ago
I have Comcast and use my own modem and router. The requirement for the modem was simply one which supports at least DOCIS 3.0.
- monocasa 7y ago
  It has to be on the whitelist, and they require that they control the software running on it.
  - eatbitseveryday 7y ago
    How would they control the software on my modem? I bought it from a third party.
    - monocasa 7y ago
      The modems take firmware updates from the cable line side without prompting you.
      - eatbitseveryday 7y ago
        Do you have some reference for me to learn about this?
jaywalk 7y ago
The modem has to be authorized via MAC address on the network. They know the MACs of the modems they own, so it's very simple to know if a modem is theirs or not.
- cornishpixels 7y ago
  That has nothing to do with what he said. At the very least, you can leave their modem also set as a router and just put your router behind it (double NAT). More likely, you can turn off all of the "router" functions of their modem and still put your own router behind it. There is no way for them to differentiate whether the device behind the modem is a router or a computer.
  - jaywalk 7y ago
    Really? Did he not say: >You must maybe use their modem (how they can check it I don't know, maybe they don't give you the configuration parameters for the network?) Because I answered the "how?"