I have been renting a wifi modem (from Cox) for 25 months now, which has cost me $175. I want to get my own, but I want to get refurbished as new ones are quite expensive, at least the best selling ones on Amazon, which typically start ~$90.

I read a ton of reviews of refurbished ones, and many are mixed, with many people saying it did not work for them. They aren't cheap either, usually going for $50-60 for the top brands.

I ordered a refurbished one, the exact same one (Ubee DDW365, for $35) that I have been renting, as I thought that would really lessen the chances of getting something that doesn't work on my network. Just got off the phone with Cox, they said they tried but they can't register it on the network, as it was apparently used on a different network before, and can't be switched over to Cox.

I went on a long but polite rant on the phone and basically said we went to the moon almost 50 years ago and a modem -- the exact one that I have -- can't be connected to your network because it was used on another network before, even though it is refurbished which means it should be in factory condition? I said there has *got to be* a way to do it, some guru behind some desk knows how to, so please try again. She said she asked a bunch of people at Cox (I called first, tried to connect, didn't work, then she called me back after 20 min), and they all said it can't be done, so that's that, but she said the top brands will work

So, if anybody here can help me find a way to connect it to Cox, that would be ideal. I will offer a bit of money for your time if it will take you time to hack it.

Otherwise, I have to resort to the known brands which I was avoiding due to cost (Netgear, Cisco, Motorolla), so please let me know personal recommendations of refurbished (or new but reasonably priced) models (with direct links ideally) that you got and that gave you no trouble. I only have a 5 Mbps connection (no TV) so I don't need anything fancy, just ideally DOCSIS 3.0, but even 2.0 is perfectly fine for the package I have.

Thank you.

P.S. A friend suggested it is probably cheaper to get a cable modem and separate router, whether going the new or refurbished route. Haven't researched that yet, as he just told me. Is that usually true?


[Edited on August 22, 2016 at 4:23 PM. Reason : ]

8/22/2016 4:07:27 PM

If the modem was associated with an existing COX account it can't be used according to:
http://www.cox.com/residential/support/internet/article.cox?articleId={d0168860-e4eb-11e0-dee8-000000000000}

They're not going to change their system for you so you're likely SOL unless there is a way to spoof a different MAC for the cable RF interface.

8/22/2016 5:11:19 PM

I don't know, but I got it from eBay, and the seller has a bunch of identical ones, and they say they are refurbished and they have very good reviews, both for the seller and the modems.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ubee-DDW365-DOCSIS-3-0-Cable-Modem-Wireless-Router-Gateway-WiFi/331701311677

Quote :

"Tested and guaranteed to work! "

Quote :

"WIFI WILL NOT WORK TIME WARNER OR BTIGHT HOUSE"

The model is on Cox's compatible list (which is obvious as I am renting the same one), so I don't know where the problem is.

8/22/2016 5:21:12 PM

The problem is that it was used on Cox's network before and they don't allow device reuse. You said so yourself: "can't be connected to your network because it was used on another network before" It's a lame policy for them to have but c'est la vie. Get your money back from your eBay seller and buy something different. Given Cox's policies, buy something new.

8/22/2016 6:16:24 PM

I brought my own modem when I used cox.

8/23/2016 9:06:17 AM

^^ It might have been used on Cox, or maybe on another provider. Anyway, yeah, I can't use it. Any model suggestions?

^ Any model suggestions?

8/23/2016 11:34:31 AM

moto SB6121/SB6141/SB6181 are all pretty standard and cheap

8/23/2016 5:52:15 PM

^ wow, just $20... but that's not wifi. however, the suggested routers underneath are $20-25.

any router suggestion? what do you have?

if i can get modem + router for $40-50 total, why are wifi modems at least $80-90? does having both devices in one casing offer any extra benefits, other than convenience?

thanks!

8/23/2016 7:13:02 PM

Can't go wrong with an Asus router but they're probably pricier than you want to pay. Just find the cheapest gigabit router you can find.

http://www.cnet.com/topics/networking/best-networking-devices/cheap/

8/23/2016 8:45:16 PM

In the price range you are looking you will find a bunch of slow & outdated crap.

If your OK with that, rock and roll.

If not, SB6141 + tplink C7 will put you around $150 but you will get at least modern speeds - Should see 50/10 no problem.

With TWC the 6141 tops out around 100/25 I believe.

Having the devices separate is perferable to me - you can update each one independently (less cost at the same time, or upgrade as each becomes outdated) and if one fails, you don't have to buy both.

But it does take up more space on top of my garage fridge..

8/23/2016 10:40:30 PM

He's got glacial 5 mbps internet. Old and slow shouldn't be a problem.

8/25/2016 2:45:42 PM

with 5mbps, you'd be better off paying extra for an unlimited data plan from tmo or something and just using your phone as a hotspot. any mimo N router for ~$20 should be more than sufficient for your needs. check out tp-link

8/25/2016 4:29:19 PM

Buying a combo modem + wifi router is always a really, really shit idea.

They are all garbage. Absolute garbage.

Get a dirt cheap Motorola Surfboard DOCSIS 3.1 modem and buy a separate Wifi router. Since you are literally pinching down to a few bucks here, it's really going to depend on the speeds you care about. If you literally do not care AT ALL about local network speeds (transferring files from one device to another via wifi) and only about internet connectivity, get a used Linksys WRT54G or GL. You can find them everywhere used for 20-30 dollars. Only B/G supported (so 54mbps max) but they are bulletproof and reliable once you install DDWRT firmware on them (and if you buy one used there's a 99.9% chance it will already have DDWRT).

If you DO care about local network transfers, but only have 1-2 Wifi devices, get a last-generation N router from Asus/Netgear. Used will run you 40-60 dollars for a decent one.

If you have 4+ connected devices and want high speed and reliable connections, you need a MIMO router (multiple antenna's basically). They will run you 150+.

8/26/2016 1:25:51 AM

TP-LINK Archer C7

8/26/2016 2:18:57 PM

bump

5/30/2017 11:05:29 AM

2x2 ac1900 is the best bang for buck if you don't have apple devices as they're the only 3x3 radios commonly in the wild.

the asus ac-rt68u/ac1900 is the one i'd get

5/31/2017 12:30:56 AM