What's the Deal: Saving money on your cable internet bill
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- If you're looking to trim your cable bill, we are here to help.
On average, Americans spend more than $100 dollars a month to have cable in their homes. But we have found a way you can save a little and boost your internet signal at the same time.
Buying a modem and router yourself is nearly always a better idea than renting the devices from your cable company. In fact, Consumer Reports says you can save about 10 percent a month.
High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury. For most people WiFi is now a necessity, like any other utility.
To get the signal, you need a modem. Then you use a router to distribute the signal. Many people pay their internet provider to rent this equipment without even knowing it.
"If you're renting a router, you're probably paying anywhere from $5 to $10 a month or up to $120 a year. You can buy a very good router for $100 to $150 dollars so you're gonna pay for it in the first year," said Jim Willcox from Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports says this router from Asus is a best buy at $100. But money isn't the only reason to buy your own.
"A lot of times the router that you're gonna get from the cable company doesn't have the latest technology. So it may not perform as well as one that you buy yourself," said Willcox.
Also, routers haven't really been known for their good looks, but CR says that's changing with sleek-looking designs you can display.
"We're in a golden age of router design right now. So you don't even have to hide it out of site," said Willcox.
Other router options include mesh networks like the Eero or Google WiFi where several routers work together to provide WiFi coverage throughout your house.
Many of these high tech options are expensive. Eero costs $500 for 3. Google WiFi costs $300 for 3. But Consumer Reports says these types of routers provide higher levels of performance you may need.
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