Question is it A good idea to switch to cable modem(it is available in my area now)price 190.00.If the phone lines are down cable will work right?Cox cable said they are compliant,and do not use any phone lines for their internet service.

-- bailey (glbailey1@excite.com), December 07, 1999

Answers

With no electricity, it won't matter.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), December 07, 1999.

I gotta Cox Modem, and it kicks a$$, would NEVER go back!!! Plus, I still have my phone modem installed, so I always have that as a back- up to employ if needed. They had a special deal in my area, $50 install if you buy a 6month subscription to the local paper. Currently install is only $30, last I heard. Good ddeal, cause it covers the ether card. If $190 is no sweat, then I'd say "go for it!". Never look back!!! Only tip--rent the modem for $15/month, rather than but for $300 (at least those are the prices in my area). We've had Cox since Feb, and our first modem was fried in a power storm, so they came out and upgraded to new model at no charge.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 07, 1999.

Been in the cable industry for many years. Most Cable systems use either Cable Data or C.S.G to keep the data flowing to the cable boxes or the modems; refreshes,authorizations,etc. If the boxes or the modems don't hear from home, they shut themselves off. Both systems are hooked to large mainframes in California or Denver,Co. through telecommunications links. If a frog sneezes in Boise, we have trouble. This is just one example of how the cable could go off after rollover. Trust me, there are many, many others. When you were told they don't use phone lines, that was only partly true.You upload and down load through the cable fiber system but if the phones go out then the cable system will also. I would spend my $190 on a Ham Radio or a good Shortwave receiver.

-- John Malone (paranoid@mybunker.com), December 07, 1999.

Forget what I said, Irving is right.

-- John Malone (paranoid@mybunker.com), December 07, 1999.

Can you get Roadrunner in your area? They rent the modems for $10 a month if you want to try it out without buying. If you want to buy it they are $99. I'm very happy with mine, 256Kbps, never goes out, no complaints.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 07, 1999.