Recommended Modem/Router Combo

[profoundnoah]

Hey guys. I've recently decided to save some money and go out to buy my own router/modem combo. I'm mainly doing this because our ISP (Comcast, Lord Help Us) is charging us an extra $12 a month to rent their router, which has some pretty terrible wifi in my room. I currently have it hooked up to my computer via ethernet, but it would be appreciated if someone could tell me a good router/modem combo for ~100-180 USD. I've looked at the motorola surfboard extreme on best buy, but when I went to amazon, I saw a lot of bad reviews on the product.
TL;DR
Switching to Save Money.
Comcast ISP.
Budget: 100-180 USD
Has To Have Modem and Router Combined.
Is this recommended? http://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorola-surfboard-extreme-docsis-3-0-wireless-n-cable-modem-and-gigabit-router-black/9962417.p?id=1218202944998&skuId=9962417

 

[kanewolf]

First, you should purchase a device that matches (or exceeds) your service level from Comcast -- http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/ Second, I don't recommend combo units because the router can't be reused if you change ISPs. Get a stand alone modem and then a good N900 or AC1200 router.
The router chooser and router ranker on www.smallnetbuilder.com can help you pick a router.

 

[profoundnoah]

Thanks for the help, but do you have any recommendations on a modem? Sorry, its just that we're running errands soon so I just need to ensure some things are alright. I picked this router http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/router-chooser/detail/1971/tplink-archerc5 and will probably order it off of newegg, as long as it is comcast compatible. Will I need to buy a modem as well to provide phone signal/cable signal too? Im more experienced in the PC field, and I just want to make sure that I'm doing this right.

 

[kanewolf]

WHOA... If you are using the Comcast device for phone, I believe you are stuck with it. I don't know of any non-Comcast routers that will give you Comcast phone.