Keith Graham

DNS=Domain Name Server
When you wand to go to a URL in you web browser, the browser needs to convert the WWW type name into a numeric IP address. It does this with a DNS lookup.
By default your PC is configured to use your cable company’s DNS through a process called DHCP.
The problem with this is that your cable company has a slow DNS that also keeps track of the web sites that you visit so it can sell you customized ads.
There are several free and fast DNS providers including Google. I have been using the Google DNS for years.
Recently I found out that Cloudflare, company that I really like, has a super fast DNS that is easy to use.
There are simple instructions for setting up the CloudFlare DNS on your PC on their website. It is pretty simple to do. Basically you turn off DHCP and type in the new DNS address. They are 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1. It took me about a minute to do. If you haven’t done anything like that the instructions are on their website which simply is https://1.1.1.1
There is a link on the top right hand to get the DNS setup instructions for Windows or Mac.
The main page has the app links so you can use the fast DNS with you cell phone. There is a free version, but they want to sell you a fancy version for $4.95 a month. Go with the free version for now. It is very fast.

I have been paying $10 a month to the cable company to rent our cable modem for 30 years. I never got around to replacing the old modem and returning it and I feel stupid.
Today I finally replaced the modem. I bought a $50 replacement for my modem from Amazon. I got the same brand and model number in order to prevent any problems, but that isn’t really necessary. I could have upgrade to a faster more modern modem, but that might have caused issues. I do not play online games where modem speed is an issue. I simply browse the web.
I received the new modem a few days ago and today I went into the cellar and unplugged the old modem and plugged all of them into the new modem.
Problems:
I did not get any internet. I read the instructions on the cable company’s website carefully and wrote down my account number and other information. I was supposed to type in a special URL that would let me register the new modem.
It turns out that you have to wait 10 minutes for the cable company to realize that you have a new modem plugged in.
Once I waited, the URL popped up, I plugged in my account number and then after another long wait, the system told me that it had found me. I pressed a continue button and then the new modem initialized and I had a new modem working.
Things to know:
The modem is not your cable box. It is a smaller box that is connected to cable coming into the house. It is connected to your WiFi router via a yellow (usually yellow, anyway) network cable.
In my case I have what is known as a “telephony” modem where I plug my telephone cable into. Some people don’t use their cable company for telephone access and won’t have this kind of modem.
Usually the cable signal comes into the house on a COAX cable. If you have a cable box for TV then you have a splitter that sends part of the signal to the cable box and half to the modem. This should have been done when the cable was installed, but be aware of it.
I have 30 days to return the old modem to the cable company so I won’t be charged rent for it. I will hold on to the old cable box for a week or so, just to be sure that everything works.