Cable modems connect a personal computer or small home network to the Internet via your home's cable television connection. Cable modems function the same way as older, telephone based 56K modems but operate at much higher speeds. The incredibly high amount of bandwidth that a cable modem can provide to a user makes cable based Internet access the ideal solution for most home and small business users. Cable modems have a theoretical maximum speed of 30MB per second, but the vast majority of cable Internet providers place a bandwidth limit on home connections of 512K up to around 8MB per second. Even at 512K cable modems are still roughly ten times faster than traditional dial up modems and also faster than ISDN service.
Costs Associated With Cable Modem Internet Access
Most cable providers will offer to rent a cable modem to the end user when they sign up for service. Many also provide incentive offers as a sign up bonus. These incentives can take the form of gift cards for local electronics retailers. In many cases these are offered as a part of a new computer purchase. The incentive gift cards can greatly offset the cost of buying a new cable modem and should be researched prior to making a purchase to make sure the buyer gets the best deal possible. Purchasing a cable modem will cost between $50 and $100. Renting a cable modem from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) will average around $5 per month. Over the course of a year or two it is more cost efficient to purchase a modem rather than rent one from the cable company, however a modem provided by the cable company is more easily serviced and should the modem go bad the cable company will replace it for you.
Cable Modem Manufacturers and Features
In general a cable modem has no other features other than to provide access to the Internet. Although a few manufacturers have built routers into their modems these are few and far between. In general, someone buying a modem will also need to purchase a router if he or she intends to use it on a home network. Linksys, Netgear and other major computer networking manufacturers are good bets when searching for a modem to meet an individuals needs. Always check with the local cable provider to see if they recommend any specific brand or model before buying.
Costs Associated With Cable Modem Internet Access
Most cable providers will offer to rent a cable modem to the end user when they sign up for service. Many also provide incentive offers as a sign up bonus. These incentives can take the form of gift cards for local electronics retailers. In many cases these are offered as a part of a new computer purchase. The incentive gift cards can greatly offset the cost of buying a new cable modem and should be researched prior to making a purchase to make sure the buyer gets the best deal possible. Purchasing a cable modem will cost between $50 and $100. Renting a cable modem from the Internet Service Provider (ISP) will average around $5 per month. Over the course of a year or two it is more cost efficient to purchase a modem rather than rent one from the cable company, however a modem provided by the cable company is more easily serviced and should the modem go bad the cable company will replace it for you.
Cable Modem Manufacturers and Features
In general a cable modem has no other features other than to provide access to the Internet. Although a few manufacturers have built routers into their modems these are few and far between. In general, someone buying a modem will also need to purchase a router if he or she intends to use it on a home network. Linksys, Netgear and other major computer networking manufacturers are good bets when searching for a modem to meet an individuals needs. Always check with the local cable provider to see if they recommend any specific brand or model before buying.
