Using E Bay modems.

[eth01]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

While this is very very true, the fact that VM don't want the modems back as they are now technically defunct and the cost of production of new ones is cheaper than return and refurb means that when you end your contract and VM tell you to keep the modem they are somewhat giving up their rights to ownership by their actions. I would think a stolen goods case in this instance would have limited chance of success.More to the point. Now if said, deactivated modem was hacked to gain services then you have a much stronger case but the theft is of service, not of the modem.

thats if they're able to prove that you're doing just that..

[Noob91]

I canceled my contract and Virgin told me to 'dispose' of the modem. I don't plan to, I'm just going to keep it incase I wanna go back.

But how is it illegal to sell it on? Under what law are you referring to? You mean breach of contract? How can you breach the contract once both parties have dissolved it?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by eth01

I find it most strange that the OP thought that buying illegally sold modems on eBay would work ... i'm not saying they won't, and i'm not saying they will.

Why would it be strange? I bet if you talk to 90% of people in the street, they'd have no idea that Cable modems need activating.

[eth01]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Why would it be strange? I bet if you talk to 90% of people in the street, they'd have no idea that Cable modems need activating.

That's not my point. I'm saying if you were to buy a cable modem from eBay -- it's not going to work out of the box -- you'll need to work with it (before it does).

I'm not going to give anything away. You know the score.

[Fatec]

Originally Posted by darthlinux

Makes me wonder why Virgin Media don't give you the modem as they don't collect them and always send new equipment out for new installations

The simple reason behind that is so techs cant take them home, modify them and sell them on..

As some techs do with the tv boxes..

---------- Post added at 15:40 ---------- Previous post was at 15:39 ----------

Originally Posted by eth01

That's not my point. I'm saying if you were to buy a cable modem from eBay -- it's not going to work out of the box -- you'll need to work with it (before it does).

I'm not going to give anything away. You know the score.

Oh i dont know, some of them do work out of the box if you talk to the seller..but i'll say no more...

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by eth01

That's not my point. I'm saying if you were to buy a cable modem from eBay -- it's not going to work out of the box -- you'll need to work with it (before it does).

I'm not going to give anything away. You know the score.

You've missed my point. The average ebayer would not necessarily know that the modem would not work out of the box, unless they have some technical knowledge of how Cable works. Why would they assume that it would not work? You can buy any number of ADSL modems and assume they will work with your ADSL service.

BTW, before you answer: Yes, I know that ADSL is quite a different thing to Cable Broadband, but the average ebayer may not know that.

[Ignitionnet]

No technical reason why Virgin couldn't allow customers to bring their own modems more a matter of policy. In the US a number of MSOs still permit customers to provide their own modems and unless you're aware Virgin don't permit this you're not going to be any wiser about it.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

No technical reason why Virgin couldn't allow customers to bring their own modems more a matter of policy. In the US a number of MSOs still permit customers to provide their own modems and unless you're aware Virgin don't permit this you're not going to be any wiser about it.

With the difference between DOCSIS, EuroDOCSIS and then versions 1/2 and the forthcoming 3 I can just imagine people screaming and shouting at VM saying "My Modem doesn;t work" all because they've gone out and bought the wrong modem.

VM supply the modems, no reason for a spare because if yours breaks down VM will send you a replacement... If you need your connection 24/7 then you should be on a business account with it's SLA which will get you a replacement a lot faster..

It's highlighted on here often enough that the eBay sold modems will NOT work (The same as the STB's) unless they've been hacked and are then totally illegal upto the point where you are committing theft of services.. (and no this isn;t the thread to go into the whole "It's not theft" routine, that's been covered in 101 other threads...)

[Ignitionnet]

DOCSIS 3 is a slightly different kettle of fish, in the case of DOCSIS 1/2 VM only run 1.0 and DOCSIS 2 can accomodate 1/1.1 modems anyway. In the case of EuroDOCSIS not really VM's problem and if modems were available 'off the shelf' in the UK they would likely be both anyway as we're in Europe.

Again no real technical reason and more a matter of policy, VM wanting to control the network right to the CPE.

In the US customers tend to be able to do what they want to with their cable line, where it his the house being considered the demarcation point between cableco and customer and anything goes after that with it not being the cable operator's problem if the customer breaks stuff and a customer who makes a hash of their home cabling has a return path filter put on their drop meaning they can't interfere with the network. Of course they do lose their return path but minor issue

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

In the US customers tend to be able to do what they want to with their cable line, where it his the house being considered the demarcation point between cableco and customer and anything goes after that with it not being the cable operator's problem if the customer breaks stuff and a customer who makes a hash of their home cabling has a return path filter put on their drop meaning they can't interfere with the network. Of course they do lose their return path but minor issue

What part of the US is that in then?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

What part of the US is that in then?

Not Cablevision's evidently

Remember lots of peeps in the US take their analogue feed directly into their TVs from their local cableco. They certainly don't ask their MSO to come out every time they want to connect a new set to the feed, they just split existing feeds. Usually basic subscribers are insulated from the digital network being on different taps or having return path filters fitted.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Not Cablevision's evidently

Remember lots of peeps in the US take their analogue feed directly into their TVs from their local cableco. They certainly don't ask their MSO to come out every time they want to connect a new set to the feed, they just split existing feeds. Usually basic subscribers are insulated from the digital network being on different taps or having return path filters fitted.

Aaah, you are talking the old analogue cable which is more akin to a distributed aerial, with, yes, no loopback.
That is a rare old beast these days with the push to digital multichannel HD broadcast and is being switched off in many areas to give more bandwidth to the digital cable channels.
Akin to the Analog Cable on VM really.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...witch-off.html

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Aaah, you are talking the old analogue cable which is more akin to a distributed aerial, with, yes, no loopback.
That is a rare old beast these days with the push to digital multichannel HD broadcast and is being switched off in many areas to give more bandwidth to the digital cable channels.
Akin to the Analog Cable on VM really.
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitalt...witch-off.html

Yeah I'm referring to it being a relic of the MATV days. I know they are in the process of phasing them out, to the annoyance of people who have 6 TVs and a coax mess through their homes.

That's what I meant, the whole demarcation from the cable company is a bit of a relic from that, and I'm aware that companies increasingly have enforced their own modems on customers for logistics reasons. Still a number of customers that are using their own modems, and complaining that they are being charged a modem rental fee

You're in a good place for cable, Cablevision have recently done a big node splitting programme to get all their nodes down to approximately 250 homes passed. The joys of having to compete with FiOS

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

You're in a good place for cable, Cablevision have recently done a big node splitting programme to get all their nodes down to approximately 250 homes passed. The joys of having to compete with FiOS

My apartment was invaded last week so they could run new duct work (and a small cotton thread) into the phone closet to make the building FiOS ready. I've just signed a new 12 month 3/$29.95 each deal with Cablevision (it was cheaper than the two for $110 my bill was going up to) so I'll see what happens in about 9 months. Been happy with them so far. Get full quality on NetFlix on Demand, even at 7-10pm at night.

[dragon]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

When you agree to a broadband connection and pay a monthly fee to the service provider, Virginmedia loan you the modem for the duration you are with them.
It is at no point yours to sell on as it does not belong to you.
You will find that most modems will not work.

Unless you are one of the EARLY pre VM subscribers and in which case it is possible to actually OWN the modem.

My dad did the SB4100 he had was actually His, right up untill the day a lightning strike cooked it.