Does Cox Charge for Modems?
Cox is an American cable internet service provider that has more than 6 million subscriptions in 18 states in the United States. When having Cox internet services, you require a modem to facilitate the connection of your gadgets to the Cox network. This brings up the usual query of do they charge for modems in Cox. The short answer is yes, Cox does charge a monthly fee for modems, but the cost should not be much, it is just $9.99 a month. Nevertheless, these charges might not be exclusive and you might be able to do away with them through the right modem purchase or modem rental. Continue to read on to know more about the modem charges that Cox charges its customers, the rental costs, and how to avoid or minimize the charges.
Cox Modem Rental Fees
If you use a modem provided by Cox, then they will charge for monthly rental even if you are using their internet services only. At the moment Cox has different internet modem rental fees of $10 per month and if the customer’s plan does not cover WiFi service, then they are charged $10 per month for the WiFi router. So your total monthly equipment rental fees would be:
- Internet modem rental: This translates to $10 per month for full access to the site and all the available information.
- WiFi router rental: Employees at this company pay $10 to have access to membership benefits every month.
- Total rental fees: There should be no limit on the number of people that can be invited per month, but to qualify, subscribers will have to pay $20/month.
In a year, therefore, this comes to $240 in terms of rental charges. The actual amount of the rental fee may vary by the market or the selected plan, but the majority of Cox Internet users can anticipate that they are going to pay between 10 to 15 US dollars per month for a modem and router bundle.
Cox internet plans may come with modem and/or router rental, which will be a monthly fee, but this will depend on the plan offered. The rental fee is usually excluded in the Cox basic package or introductory offers for internet services.
Cox Modem Purchase Options
Instead of getting stuck in paying numerous rental fees, perhaps it is best to invest in your modem. It will also help to remove the modem rental charge, and as a modem could have a built-in WiFi router, it could remove the WiFi router rental as well.
Here are some things to know about using your modem with Cox services:
- Only a modem that has been approved by Cox can be used in your home or establishment. Some of the modems cannot be used to connect with the network that Cox is offering. See which modems got the green light with your ISP and choose according to your bandwidth tier.
- For WiFi, choose a modem with cable modem built-in router capability to make sure you do not end up paying $10 monthly for Cox WiFi router rental.
- To be more specific, the owner of the equipment is YOU. This means no hidden charges and you may connect the modem with other providers if you leave Cox in the future.
- One of the fees that Cox has for their personal modem service is a one-time activation fee of $50 when one is setting up a new modem.
Paying the approximate $20 monthly rental fee, your personally owned modem would already repay itself in roughly 13 months. They are entitled to use it with no extra charges after that time and can continue using it as long as they are using the internet. You may also negotiate your way to have this Cox activation fee waived, depending on the negotiation prowess of the customer. That would make it cost-effective for any Cox customer who is looking forward to staying with the company for at least the medium or long term.
Connecting Without Your Modem: Understanding and Avoiding Fees
To dodge modem rental fees in the long run, it’s best to buy your very own accredited cable modem (optionally, with WiFi incorporated). Here’s a quick summary:
1. Cox-compatible research modems that are fit to operate at your current internet speed. See compatible options by visiting their official website to check for the approved modem list.
2. Buy a modem that has been recommended by Cox but is right for you. Cox currently aims at the DOCSIS 3.1 model as it rolls out gigabit speeds to offer future proof. If WiFi is required, then it is necessary to select a modem+router combo unit.
3. You have to call Cox to get a new personally owned modem purchased connected to your house and activated. If you opt to self-install your equipment, you will have to pay an activation fee of approximately $50, which is a one-time charge.
4. Another is for Cox to make sure any rented equipment such as old modems or routers are returned to prevent the company from charging for them again.
5. Stay connected to your home network by eliminating modem rental charges from your life for good!
It may cost considerably less if you purchase a modem that is compatible with your current network, which investment will be recovered in 1-2 years when compared to monthly rental from Cox. From then on, you will have newer equipment to work with but no corresponding monthly rentals to pay. However, like many cable companies, Cox does have equipment costs for renting a modem and/or router if you choose to use theirs, although opting to buy your modem outright could save you from these sneaky equipment fees in the long run.
Ready to upgrade your internet experience? Call us now at +1 844-349-7575 to explore the best Cox Internet plans for your needs!