Question from Rod: I received a flyer in the mail from Xfinity saying everyone in my area now has the option to upgrade our Internet service to 1200Mbps with virtually no increase in the monthly charges.
I’d love to do that because that would be a huge increase from the 200Mbps I’m getting now, but I can’t afford to buy a new modem.
I bought the modem I have now four years ago and it’s still working great.
My question is will I need to buy a new modem in order to get the full 1200Mbps speed that comes with this new plan?
Rick’s answer: Congrats on the new 1200Mbps option, Rod. I was able to upgrade to that same speed quite some time ago, and it’s truly awesome!
If at all possible I strongly recommend that you take the plunge and opt for the upgrade. I really don’t think you’ll regret it.
Now, the bad news…
Yes, you’ll almost certainly need to upgrade your four year old modem to a newer model that supports the latest protocols and much faster data transfer speeds.
Since you own the modem you have now you’ll either have to replace it by buying a new one or start renting one from Xfinity. You said above that you can’t afford to buy a new modem so might need to go the rental route if you want to do the upgrade.
While there are definite advantages to owning your modem instead of renting (it tends to be cheaper in the long run, for example), there are advantages to renting as well:
1 – Xfinity will replace your modem at no extra charge if it stops working or gets destroyed by lightning.
2 – If you have an issue with your Internet service Xfinity’s tech support personnel won’t be able to pass the buck by claiming the problem lies with the modem (which they won’t have an obligation to “fix” since the modem belongs to you instead of them).
3 – You’ll get a free upgrade every time you end up needing a new modem in order to take advantage of a service upgrade or to add an additional service to your plan.
Bottom line: In my humble opinion an increase from 200Mbps to 1200Mbps for roughly the same monthly fee is a great deal even if you have to start paying a monthly modem rental fee in order to take advantage of it.
But that being said, the ultimate decision is yours to make based upon your own circumstances and preferences.
Update from Rod: Thanks for that info, Rick. I called Xfinity and they confirmed that I will need a new modem. They’re coming next week to install it!