I like to think of myself as an authority on bandwidth because, in fact, I’ve written about it for well over six years. However, despite my experience, I have carried around a disgusting secret: I rented a Wi-Fi network from Xfinity for decades. I am aware, I am aware. My occupied modem and router worked perfectly despite my constant advice to Wired readers to purchase their own products. That being said, I did hear in the back of my head, I was wasting money.
A monthly cost of$ 15 for internet equipment doesn’t seem that bad to most people when they first sign up for internet. In reality, it seems like the wisest thing to do to avoid the stress of maintaining your network over time. But the reality is that, after a few years of paying that monthly payment, it starts to increase up– and you’ll had wasted hundreds of dollars on products that you could have purchased yourself.
As I looked over my old charges, I discovered that over the past six years, I spent an incredible$ 873 on Xfinity’s equipment costs. It not only shocked me, but it also pushed me in the right direction. I went ahead and bought my own network and modem.
Owning your possess products is the better option, as much as I appreciated my Verizon equipment. You’ll notice significant performance improvements, for one thing: My add speeds went up by over 2,000 %. Better still, investing in your own products usually pays for itself within one to two years, making it well worth the expense.
The average monthly internet bill in the United States is$ 78, excluding any additional fees and charges listed on your ISP’s wifi label. Although equipment rental fees are necessary, we always advise that you make your own gear purchases and maintain them. Furthermore, depending on your circumstances, you may be able to take advantage of any low-income promotions available in your state if you qualify.
Check out our guide below for more details on how to transition from renting to purchasing your own products.
How to select the ideal network and router
The best online is the net you not see, and I didn’t remember the last time my link went over or I saw a buffering wheel in my home. And all of this is made possible by a 2017 model that Xfinity describes as an “old Mobile Gateway with minimal speeds and functionality.”
This demonstrates how much the type of internet users you are affects the type of computer you need. I live in a 750-square-foot room, and my computer requirements are generally limited to film calls and Television streaming. The same network is unlikely to work in a larger house with many floors. Similar to split-second emotions, online gambling is a key factor. If this rapid responsiveness is significant to you, it’s definitely worth investing in a gambling router that minimizes slowdown.  ,
Wi-Fi routers range from the TP-Link AC1200 for$ 30 to the ultra-modern mesh systems like the Netgear Orbi 970 Series for$ 1, 500. To analyze each Wi-Fi network, CNET runs three rate tests in five different rooms in our tests facility, logging results for download speed, download speed and overhead. That procedure is repeated six times, taking into account variations in system performance throughout the day.
After consulting our takes for the best Wi-Fi modems, I decided to go with a budget get: the TP-Link Archer AX21, of which my former CNET partner and network enthusiast Ry Crist wrote,” It’s zero fancy, but it offered near flawless functionality for small- to medium-size homes in our tests, and it’s a tie to setup”. The 700Mbps speed the TP-Link hits at close range is more than enough juice for me and only cost$ 85 when I purchased it on my Xfinity plan, which only works for 200Mbps. (T-Link has since been the subject of an investigation by a number of government agencies for its connections to Chinese cyberattacks. But I don’t have any plans to replace my TP-Link router just yet. )
Do you need to buy a modem?
You might need a cable modem in addition to your router depending on your internet connection. Some ISPs, like Spectrum, offer a free modem with a fee for a router.  ,
Compatibility should be the main quality check for a modem. You shouldn’t deviate from your internet service provider’s recommended model list, which will have a page listing all the models that it works with on their website. You may also have a choice between DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1, the newer standard provides faster speeds, but DOCSIS 3.1 modems are typically more expensive. ( Note: Although some ISPs have DOCSIS 4.0 modems for rent, the majority are not yet widely available for purchase. ) Other factors to consider are the number of Ethernet ports and the modem’s speed limits ( check that they are on par with or above your internet plan ).  ,
I had to purchase a modem in addition to a Wi-Fi router because Xfinity doesn’t offer one for free. One of the cheapest Xfinity-compatible models I could find for$ 100 at the time I purchased it was the Hitron CODA Modem, which is a DOCSIS 3. 1 model. It supports download speeds up to only 867Mbps, but that’s still far more than my Xfinity plan.
How to configure your brand-new router and modem.
The simple part of ordering the equipment is the ordering process, but the lengthy wait and error of setting up third-party equipment is what leaves many customers stranded for years. The process is largely the same whether you’re starting service fresh with a new provider or swapping out old equipment. Here’s everything you’ll need to do.  ,
1. With your ISP, activate your new modem.
The modem is the piece of equipment that connects a coaxial cable to your internet provider’s network to provide access to the internet from your home. Before it can work, ISPs need to tie your specific modem to your account. They will also disable this when you switch out old equipment when you turn on the new modem. Your MAC ( media access control ) number, which can be found on the bottom of the modem, is being logged by ISPs to accomplish this.
You can typically do this through your internet provider’s app, in a live chat or by calling a customer service number.  ,
2. Connect the coax cable to your modem
You’ll be prompted to connect your modem to the cable outlet in your wall and plug it into a power outlet after your new modem’s MAC address has been registered with your ISP. Your modem’s lights may need to wait up to 5 minutes before it detects the internet signal. Once the indicator lights are on, you’re ready to set up your wireless router.
This TP-Link router offers wireless access to your modem’s connection with the web (hence the antennas).
3. Set up your Wi-Fi router
You’ll want to follow the instructions provided because each Wi-Fi router has its own setup procedure. In the case of the TP-Link Archer AX21, that meant unplugging the modem’s power, connecting the modem to the router’s WAN port via an Ethernet cable, powering on the modem and then plugging the router into a power outlet. I then used the TP-Link app to configure my new network.
That’s the condensed form. There’s a lot more to consider when setting up a wireless router, including choosing the optimal location, setting up parental controls and protecting your privacy. However, I was prepared to begin testing out my new internet connection for my needs.  ,
Speed comparison: Which setup is fastest?
I ran speed tests before and after I was connected, one from my desk next to the router and the other from the farthest corner of my apartment ( regrettably, the bathroom ), to see how my new modem and router would compare to my old equipment.  ,
My old modem and router returned 164/5Mbps speeds from my desk and 143/5Mbps from the bathroom– not bad for an internet plan that advertises 200/10Mbps speeds. However, my new equipment gave me astonishing speeds: 237/118Mbps at both my desk and my bathroom. I actually gain a significant speed boost by purchasing my own equipment, not just to save money.
I have no idea why my new computer is now uploading data at ten times the speed of my old one. I’m a Connect More user on Xfinity, which claims to offer only 10 Mbps upload speeds. In 2022, Xfinity announced that it was increasing upload speeds on my plan to 100Mbps– but only for customers who pay for its$ 25-per-month xFi Complete equipment. With my new router and modem, it appears that I’m reaping those same benefits. The main cause of the increase in upload speeds is probably the switch from DOCSIS 3.0 to DOCSIS 3.0, according to my best guess.
How to save yourself some headaches
I eventually correctly set up my router and modem, but I made a lot of mistakes along the way. What I would change is as follows:
- Buy your modem and router on day one. Moving is a pain, and no one wants to have their to-do list get any longer, but this is one task that rewards the extra effort ( nearly a thousand dollars in my case ). It’s best to have your modem and router ready in case of issues so that a technician can visit your home to set up your internet.  ,
- Use the list of compatible modems provided by your ISP. Although routing is not tied to a particular provider, you must make sure that your modem works with your ISP if you do need to buy one. Don’t cut corners here. I looked for a modem on Amazon that said it was compatible with Xfinity, but I was ultimately forced to return it after several hours of phone calls. Don’t go too far from your provider’s recommended list of all the modems that it uses.
- Pay for only the speed you need. There is no justification for paying for a modem certified for 2, 000 Mbps when you only get 200 Mbps with your plan, and internet equipment is expensive. If you’re just streaming TV and scrolling the internet, you don’t need to pay top dollar for a gaming router with exceptional latency.  ,
My final thoughts
Setting up a new router and modem is not fun, but it is incredibly worthwhile. My internet speeds have dramatically improved, and I’m paying significantly less for them. I’m spending$ 15 per month on equipment, and a Xfinity representative later reduced the cost of my plan for the following year. My monthly bill increased from$ 78.54 to$ 50. That’s far more than I expected to save, and my new equipment paid for itself within the first six months. The only regret I have is that I didn’t make the leap sooner.  ,