Questions Your Business Should Ask While Modem Shopping

The majority of Internet providers will ask you to rent your modem from them; what they fail to mention is that you usually have the option to buy your own modem. What are the benefits of purchasing a modem over renting one, and how can you make the best decision possible while modem shopping? Macro Systems is here to help!

Should You Consider Renting Your Modem?
Most ISPs will permit you to rent your cable modem, which may include a built-in router to save time and money. In this scenario, you actually get what you pay for, so don’t anticipate mind-blowing quality from this device. These might be consumer-based routers that aren’t as high-grade as a business needs to be successful, in terms of both security and functionality.

If you’re not interested in this option, or you want more options for your wireless connections, you’ll be selecting a third-party router; if you’re already looking at routers, you might as well check out modems. Since most ISPs charge you by the month for your modem, you could save some money in the long run. It’s also worth noting that some ISPs will make you use their modem due to restrictions placed on them by certain cable companies, which means you’re stuck with them regardless of what you do.

What Cable Modems Are Compatible with Your ISP?
If your cable provider will permit you to use a third-party modem, most cable modems will do the job. Naturally, you want to check with your ISP first to make sure you purchase a compatible model. Another imperative issue that could present itself is connection speed; you’ll want to make sure that any modem you purchase will support the speed capabilities of your router.

Should You Contemplate a Modem-Router Combo?
A two-in-one modem and router typically isn’t a good idea, primarily because if one fails, the other will fail also. If they are separate devices, you will only need to replace one when it fails, rather than replacing the entire device. Additionally, these all-in-one devices are far from the quality that you should expect from a business-grade solution, especially in security. We recommend investing in secure resources whenever possible, especially a trusted router that’s set up properly. You should never rely on default settings!

Does your organization need assistance setting up hardware for your networking infrastructure? Macro Systems can help. To learn more, reach out to us at 703-359-9211.