Apple Disbands the Wireless Router Division

[Xairbusdriver]

My very cynical opinion:

I think the ISP's generally sell/rent modems that are not quite the latest. They have no interest in being on the 'bleeding edge' and dealing with the problems that brings. Interesting that they use the term "lease". It is technically more correct than "rent". It usually specifies a period of time. That has advantages for the lessor in that they can demand the total payment due for the time period specified, even if the lessee returns the product before the time period ends. The advantage for the customer is the fixed rent for the time period.

$99 is the price I've seen when looking to buy the same modem modem I used to have from Comcast. The model I now have includes telephony functions that we don't even use, so buying one like that would be even more wasteful.

Anecdotal replies from most users is usually not much more than marginally useful. Most people will not be able to actually notice speed differences in one piece of hardware over another. (even if they constantly use some method to check/record that speed) There are also many other variables, over which you have absolutely no control, in the actual "speed" you get on the web.

Either way you go, you will only save money if the product fails within the warranty, and then, only if you are the owner. I wonder if there is any source that shows how often any product fails within its warranty period.

Sorry to sound like such a grinch! This method of fee charging is how the airlines learned how to 'pick our pockets'. Hopefully, this is just my un-informed, miss-informed, 'don't-confuse-me-with-facts' opinion!

[kimmer]

I checked with several folks (most of whom are tech savvy), and my ISP uses Smartrg sr360n modem/routers. Everyone is very pleased with it and recommends leasing. Monday I'll contact the company and make an appt to have them come install one for me.

[Paddy]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Nov 26 2016, 07:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I checked with several folks (most of whom are tech savvy), and my ISP uses Smartrg sr360n modem/routers. Everyone is very pleased with it and recommends leasing. Monday I'll contact the company and make an appt to have them come install one for me.

Well, from what I can find, it's at least 3 years old...I didn't realize you were on DSL. I know less about DSL modems than cable - and there isn't a lot of info out there about that particular model.

I'm assuming that since you're looking at the ADSL gateway instead of the broadband one that your service is via the former Qwest? This?

http://www.peakinternet.com/internet/high-...internet/qwest/

Yikes...that's slow for the price! Reminds me of what Bell tries to sell around here - they're still offering similarly very slow speeds. I switched to the cable provider (Rogers) about 3 years ago - 100mbps instead of 5. Same price. It was a no-brainer. Now I have 250mbps down and 20 up for about the same in US dollars as Peak is charging for "3-7 mbps"...I guess that "it's cheaper in the US" thing is only true for some things. Of course, there are places here that have terrible service options too; generally more remote/less populated areas.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Nov 26 2016, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUOTE(kimmer @ Nov 26 2016, 07:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I checked with several folks (most of whom are tech savvy), and my ISP uses Smartrg sr360n modem/routers. Everyone is very pleased with it and recommends leasing. Monday I'll contact the company and make an appt to have them come install one for me.

Well, from what I can find, it's at least 3 years old...I didn't realize you were on DSL. I know less about DSL modems than cable - and there isn't a lot of info out there about that particular model.

Most of what I found were Canadian reviews.

QUOTE

I'm assuming that since you're looking at the ADSL gateway instead of the broadband one that your service is via the former Qwest? This?

No, I'm with pioneer telephone on a broadband plan that is part of a telephone bundle through Pioneer.

http://www.pioneer.net/bundle-save

I have the “Freedom Choice” bundle (Essential is a brand new package), with what is now called the “Performance” Internet plan through peak.

http://www.peakinternet.com/internet/high-...ternet/pioneer/

However, I was grandfathered in when they made these changes, and as long as I stay with what I have, my cost remains the same: $101.49 for the phone and Internet.

I no longer need all the bells and whistles with the phone line, but as I just said, if I change to the slightly lesser plan, I’ll pay a ton more for my Internet and lose any savings.

My only other option is to go to a bundle with AT&T and DirecTV for Internet and cell service; but I’d still need a landline as cell service is unreliable here, as you probably remember but others reading this won’t know.

For those reading this who want to tell me to shop around, etc – these is no such thing here. Just remember I’m in a very rural area. You can’t use an antenna for the TV reception so you have either the rinky-dink cable company with 54 channels (half are shopping) at around $30 a month (and it doesn’t work a good chunk of the time) or you have a satellite dish. Phone service is Pioneer or Pioneer. Internet is Peak or satellite. Best cell service remains Verizon, although AT&T is building more cell towers, but they are way behind Verizon. I'm not complaining, Sneakers and I knew this when we moved here. I'd do without the Internet before I moved away from here, just to have fancy Internet.

[RNKIII]

Let me just add a couple of my own pennies here... DirecTv is highly unreliable due to weather conditions... if you get a lot of heavy weather / clouds you will NOT get DirecTv signals...  just my experience...

Best of luck in your search.

BobK.  rnkiii

[Jack W]

QUOTE(RNKIII @ Nov 27 2016, 08:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let me just add a couple of my own pennies here... DirecTv is highly unreliable due to weather conditions... if you get a lot of heavy weather / clouds you will NOT get DirecTv signals...  just my experience...

Best of luck in your search.

BobK.  rnkiii

I had the same experience when I lived in an apartment down by a creek.
Whenever it rained or was foggy, very spotty reception.

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

if you get a lot of heavy weather / clouds you will NOT get DirecTv signals

Fortunately it's rarely overcast in the coastal northwest... in one week of August, anyway.

TV antennas work fine in an attic, assuming you have enough space free of cross-braced rafter "beams" to rotate it properly. Also makes the rotors, for the movable types, last much longer. Of course, O-T-A stations will be much more limited in programming, at least for old/new movies and many made-for-Netflix/Amazon/Whoever programming.

Telephony via the web is also available without using the dual function modems. And there's always Skype.

Bottom line, it may take so much time and (literally) bother in dealing with the almost infinite permutations of plans/deals/specials/bundles/different companies/etc. that you'll not have any free time to enjoy the rest of your life! I cheat and let SWMBO handle "customer service" communications! She is great at 'walking out of the sales floor' if she is not getting the price she wants! I take partial credit for her seemingly unbounded patience because she's lived with me for over 51 years!!

While not debating the tech savieness(sp?) of your friends, I do question what they use as comparisons. A farmer thinks his new Model-T is much better than his old mule and wagon. Even a slow cable/DSL connection is fantastic compared to the old phone-line modem (Remember what "modem" means? It's still being used to describe a piece of hardware that now deals with data at tens of magnitudes faster input.)

[sluggo]

QUOTE(Paddy @ Nov 24 2016, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think Kimmer has two routers, Jim - she said the old one was replaced with an Airport Extreme, although she also mentions an "Airport Express" - which is a different animal. Can you clarify that, Kimmer?

Combo router/modems are generally looked down upon as being the best of neither world, but many ISPs no longer provide modems without routers built in. For a long time, we had a combo unit provided by our ISP, turned off the router functions and used various iterations of the Airport Extreme. However, since moving to our new house, we've found the combo unit actually gives us better coverage than the Airport, so we're using that only to provide another network on the main floor (mostly for the Apple TV). I've considered acquiring a newer router, but so far haven't. If I was going to consider it, I'd probably go for the TP-Link Archer C-1900, as it gets very good reviews and isn't too expensive. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16833704287

So, something you should ask your ISP - is your purchased modem up to scratch? It's quite possible that it's outdated too. Next question - what will they charge you to rent a modem/router, and what make and model do they provide? You can then look it up - see what other people think of it. If people think its ok as a modem, but stinks as a router (often the case) then you can explore turning off the router functions and getting your own router. If you want to get your own new modem and separate router (if they recommend that/tell you your current modem is outdated) can you buy the modem and what models do they allow/support? That tends to be key. Some ISPs have a number they allow - others only allow one particular make/model so they aren't supporting multiple models.

Good information Paddy. I'm using an Airport Extreme purchased in November 2011 along with a Motorola SB6141 SURFboard modem that I purchased in February 2014 soon after Time Warner started charging monthly fees for their modems. Maybe it's time to update the technology around here.

[sluggo]

After consulting with an authorized Apple reseller/repair person that has never steered me wrong in the past, he agrees that it's probably about time to replace the Airport Extreme. I asked for suggestions and even offered to buy from him if he sold any of this type equipment. He immediately pointed me to Amazon for this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDLRHF...=UTF8&psc=1
I now have one due for delivery tomorrow. He also states that my current Motorola SB6141 SURFboard modem probably does not need replacing at this time, as it's basically a pipeline but my cable company controls the flow through it.
Anyone need a used Airport Extreme?  

[Xairbusdriver]

QUOTE

Anyone need a used Airport Extreme?

It depends on the types of electrons you've been downloading. Many of them, especially from so-called "social" sites have not been handled well and have cracks that often fail leaving very sharp edges. Those things can be harmful to the 'pipes'!