Cable installation help

[Preferred B]

I'm moving in the next month or two, and need to get cable installed at the new place. I'm planning to get the high speed internet/digital cable/telephone package - that's what I have now, minus the phone, but it's been about 4 years since that was installed and my memory of cable installation does not stretch back that far.

 

Basically, I'm trying to get things set up correctly without getting totally ripped off. The cable installation fee is one-time, $50. You have to pay it. However, you have the option of having the high speed internet installed for another $50, or installing it yourself for free. Does anybody know what would I be agreeing to do by installing it myself? Just hooking things up and getting them functioning with my computer, or would I be drilling holes, connecting wires, etc.? If I have a problem are they going to tell me it

[a.miller]

In my experience (with Comcast) all you need to do is split the coaxial cable, with simply a splitter. They're only like $5 or $10. Then you rent the cable modem from Comcast for (cheap) amount of dollars a month. Run the cable from the wall to the splitter and then one of the split lines to the modem and the other to your tv. Then you can hook the ethernet cable from the modem to a wireless router or right into your computer.

[anodyne]

it's super easy to install your own cable modem, and you can get a cable modem for less than $50 and not have to pay $2.50 a month for one forever.

[ction]

I'm a total moron and I was easily able to set up high speed cable internet on my own. It was really as easy as hooking coax cable to the splitter and modem, and plugging the modem into the PC. I didn't even need to use the set-up cd that came with the modem.

 

As a bonus, Cox Cable gave me a free cable modem and splitter. They actually even replaced my cable modem when it stopped working, a year and a half later as well. Check with your cable company and see if they offer free modems.

[a.miller]

They actually even replaced my cable modem when it stopped working, a year and a half later as well.

My modem died also, and it was nice to just take it to the cable company and get a new one instead of being out $50. I guess it's a price breakdown issue.

[WilcoFan]

Yes, I have been through several cable modems and comcast pays for the latest/greatest everytime one breaks. -- Even with surge protectors we can get some pretty nasty electric storms that will blow up my cable modem and wireless router.

[Preferred B]

Thanks, everyone. Right now I'm leaning toward installing the cable internet myself and ponying up $2.50 or so a month to lease the modem, but buying a wireless router. They don't offer free modems - I kind of hate Charter. That and even though I'm changing my service and moving, I still can't get the promo rate on this bundle package unless my account has been inactive for at least 30 days. (Or - I'm just assuming here - I put the account under someone else's name and then switch the service over to me after a couple of months, which is what I'll probably do.)