When you sign up for cable modem access from your internet service provider, there are a number of different ways to handle the actual modem itself. You can rent a modem from your ISP for a monthly fee, you can purchase one from your ISP, or you can use a cable modem of your own. Depending upon your ISP, it may be the most cost-effective to purchase a cable modem. Compared to renting, it will definitely save you money in the long run. It also gives you the protection of the modem company's warranty if you switch internet providers.

For example, the Linksys BEFCMU10 cable modem has a 3-year warranty, so if you move to another city and sign up with a new ISP during that time, you'll still be covered. In addition, Linksys offers toll-free tech support 24/7, so it gives you another route for help in the event that your connection goes down.

Picking your own cable modem lets you decide on additional features you might want as well. The BEFCMU10 doesn't have a wealth of extras, but it does offer both USB and Ethernet connections for hooking up to a PC. If you have a Linksys home network, either wired or wireless, you know that this modem will play well with it.

Installing the BEFCMU10 is a straightforward process. Simply connect it to your system via the included USB or Ethernet cable, plug in the power adapter, and connect your coaxial cable to the back. You will have to talk to your ISP so they can get the MAC address of the modem (which lets their computers find it), but the process only takes a few minutes.

The BEFCMU10 offers download speeds of up to 42.88Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10.24Mbps. Of course, this all depends on what limits your ISP has set, but the modem itself won't be the source of any bottlenecks.

We were able to find the Linksys BEFCMU10 cable modem for around $65, which is a good price. If your ISP gives you the option to purchase a cable modem for your service, consider the pros of bringing your own modem to the table.

Pros: USB or Ethernet, good speeds
Cons: Few extras

Warranty
3 years limited