Well yeah. That’s what their tech does. And it’s why I have my ISP’s WiFi offering disabled and the antennas removed and run their router in bridged mode, hooked up to equipment I own that doesn’t call out to the Internet.

It doesn’t really matter… the data is managed by a third party in another country. I have no real control over who gets access to it, intentionally or otherwise. Better that the data just doesn’t exist in the first place.

If you are interested I can try and find the article on it but a few years ago an article came out where they were able to use wifi signals with enough accuracy that they could see a password that you were typing on your keyboard!!

But basically they use the way the wifi signal bounce off things to make an image in much the same way that echo location works

If a DOCSIS 3.0 modem still can't be saturated by the tier of internet someone is paying for, what advantage would 3.1 have?

"cheap" is a relative term.

Nobody should be buying a DOCSIS 3.0 modem these days. They are obsolete and for some reason still being sold.

A decent DOCSIS 3.1 modem is at least $200. A Next Gen like S34 is at least $220. At least at the big blue big box store. And then you have to get your own wifi.

(However, that big blue store also will give you a 15% discount on any networking purchase if you recycle an old network device...I traded in an old modem but you should be able to find a switch or router at a thrift store and still come out ahead)

It pays for itself pretty quick (by not paying rental fees), but that doesn't necessarily make it cheap.

I absolutely prefer using my own equipment, and do...but it's also worth mentioning that in many markets, Xfinity removed data caps if you have a rented modem.

Because docsis 3.0 standard is nearly 20 years old at this point and 3.1 is significantly faster. Docsis 3.1 is only 15, but 4 (which is still 8 years old) probably isn't supported by your ISP yet. But the speed difference is quite noticeable. 3.0 will theoretically do 1gbps down, and 100-200 up, but 3.1 could do 10 down and 1gbps up. In the age of symmetrical fiber internet those upload speeds are dire. 3.1 realistically gets you a symmetrical gig connection.

Is your ISP know for robbing customers when they’re not home?

Can you use your own modem? I thought you had to use theirs?

It looks like DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 are for coax which should be avoid anyway . VodafoneZiggo is already starting with DOCSIS 4.0.

In my neighborhood you get a choice between coax or nothing.

5G modems are probably an option.

Edit: never said it was a good option, just that it was an option.

If a DOCSIS 3.0 modem still can't be saturated by the tier of internet someone is paying for, what advantage would 3.1 have?

Ah, so 3.0 is fine if your internet still sucks. Got it.

Didn't read the article, but it's possible to get a 3d map with wifi. They can probably see you.

There is no privacy or security.

5G modems are probably an option.

Edit: never said it was a good option, just that it was an option.

You need to use their modem quite often, but you don’t need to use their router. They’re usually “all in one” modem/router things these days, but they’re legally required to provide you with a modem in bridge mode if you ask — at that point, an Ethernet cable attached to their modem is effectively attached to the Internet, and you can put your own hardware inside (firewall, Wifi router, etc.).

While you need to connect to their IP gateway, you don’t need to use their DNS services or anything but their IP gateway service.

While that may be "an option", 5G sucks compared to coax service.

Both are inferior to fiber by a long shot, but wired will always be better than cellular, which is limited spectrum and inconsistent.

It depends a bit on where you are and what you need, the speed of my 5G modem was a lot quicker than the coax options for the same money, and it was decently stable. My only issue was that I had like no upload speed.

I was also point out it was an option and it has it's use cases

We have a choice between T-Mobile 5G, 3M ADSL, coax docsis and Starlink.

Of those, the most reliable is the DSL, then Starlink, and it's a tossup whether the T-Mobile or the Mediacom DOCSIS is the least reliable

I worked for Mediacom for 5 years. It wasn't reliable then either, but at least then, I didn't have to play the "first we have to send out a tech that may not actually show up the first time because it's working at the exact moment he checks before he cancels the call" game.

When I left them, we switched to DSL, which was ... painful, but we managed for a couple of years. Then the pandemic happened, and the kiddo went to remote schooling, and the DSL just couldn't handle it. So we used the "reduced cost" internet plan for going back to Mediacom.

Except after months of fighting to actually get the reduced price plan we were supposed to be getting, we were told the T-Mobile now serviced our area, and switched with glee.

And for almost 3 years it was GREAT. But in the past year or so, we began having horrendous service issues. Speeds were no better, and sometimes even worse than the DSL we had previously.

Finally, I had enough, and bit the bullet and switched to Starlink.

Now, our service is great. The bill isn't, because let's face it, $120 a month for 200ish Mbps down and 50ish up is nuts, but at least we have fast, reliable service now.

If you are interested I can try and find the article on it but a few years ago an article came out where they were able to use wifi signals with enough accuracy that they could see a password that you were typing on your keyboard!!

But basically they use the way the wifi signal bounce off things to make an image in much the same way that echo location works