You can't use your own modem with oxio, but you can use your own router, either as the main router or as a Wi-Fi extender. oxio lends you a certified modem at no charge, so there is no modem to buy. Owning a router you like is the only equipment decision you actually have to make, and it comes with two catches worth knowing before you plug anything in.
Can I bring my own modem to oxio?
No. oxio's help centre says that personal modems, and modems from other internet providers, are not supported. The modems are certified by the vendors and pre-configured for the service.
Which model you get depends on your province and region. oxio's list of modems and routers names five models outside Quebec (Hitron Coda-45, Hitron Coda-4589, Sercomm DM1000, Gemtek GT-DUO31 and AccessPoint CBN CD8000) and adds the Arris TM822G in Quebec. You don't pick; oxio sends the right one for your address.
One practical detail: the modem box does not include a coaxial cable. oxio says to have an RG6 coaxial cable ready before your setup date, ideally 6 feet or shorter to limit signal loss. If your wall outlet is across the room, check that you have the right cable before the box arrives.
What does the modem cost me?
Nothing extra. oxio's fees article lists remote activation, technician activation, installation and shipping at $0, and says equipment rental is already included. That is the part I'd point at when someone tells me their old provider charges to rent a box.
Here is a worked example with a made-up number, since rental prices vary. Say your old provider charges $15 a month to rent a modem. Over 36 months, that is 36 x $15 = $540 for equipment you never own. Check your own bill for the line item, multiply it by 36, and you have the real cost of "free" gear elsewhere. With oxio, that line stays at $0.
Can I use my own router with oxio?
Yes. oxio's article says you can use your own router as your main router or as a range extender. oxio also sends its own router with every plan (an Adtran 841, an eero 6 or an oxio WiFi Pod), rated for roughly 1,500 sq ft of coverage, so you only bring your own if you want to.
Two honest caveats from oxio's article:
- Using your own router doesn't lower your bill, because an oxio router is included with all plans.
- oxio support can't troubleshoot a router it didn't provide. If your own router acts up, you're on your own with its manual.
My rule of thumb: if the included router covers your home and you don't need special features, leave it alone. If you already own a good one, or live in a larger home, use yours.
How do I use my own router as the main router?
Follow these steps, based on oxio's article:
- Connect the oxio modem to the internet as instructed in your setup email.
- Plug an Ethernet cable from the modem into your router's WAN (internet) port.
- Set up the router with its own instructions, and leave internet access on DHCP, so the router receives its address automatically.
- Connect your devices to your router's Wi-Fi.
The oxio router uses NAT, which means every device at home shares one public address from oxio's network. Your router will do the same thing, so no special setting is needed.
How do I use my own router as a Wi-Fi extender?
This is the setup people get wrong, and the wrong version causes constant disconnections. oxio's steps:
- Connect an Ethernet cable from your router's WAN or LAN port to a LAN port on the oxio gateway router.
- Turn off DHCP on your router. If both routers hand out addresses, they conflict, and devices drop in and out.
- Give your router's Wi-Fi network a different name from the oxio network.
- Connect your devices only to your own network. On devices that previously joined the "oxio-xxxx" network, tell them to forget it so they don't jump back.
Step 2 is the one to double-check. If your Wi-Fi keeps dropping after you add a second router, DHCP running on both is the first suspect.
Where do I change settings on the oxio router?
It depends on the model, per oxio's help article. The Adtran 841 and oxio WiFi Pod use the oxio WiFi app (iOS 15 or Android 9 and up), where you log in with your oxio credentials. The eero 6 uses the eero app. Neither can be opened from a computer. If you don't own a smartphone or tablet, oxio's Customer Care can change settings for you once the router is connected to the modem.
Where oxio fits
Here is what I'd tell a friend. Since 2020, as an oxio customer, I've never had to think about the modem: it arrives, it's included, and nothing about it shows up on my bill. What I think about is the router, because that's the part you can swap. If you want your own, oxio lets you, as long as you remember the two caveats above.
New to oxio? Enter at signup for the first month free, and check the 60-day guarantee details before you decide on equipment.