I'll be honest: Cable modems aren't glamorous technology. In fact, you probably haven't thought about yours since it was installed.

It's easy to forget how important, and impressive, your cable modem actually is. It handles your Internet traffic 24/7 for years, usually without a hiccup. Some modems even pull double duty as your wireless router.

Beyond that, there is another good reason to think about your cable modem. If it's more than a few years old, you might not get the Internet speeds you pay for.

Don't guess at your Internet speed. Find out how fast it is in seconds with this free service. 

Cable companies are busy upgrading their networks for faster speeds. Naturally, to access these faster speeds requires a newer cable modem.

The newest standard for cable modems is DOCSIS 3 - although DOCSIS 3.1 is coming soon. DOCSIS 3 can have data download rates of 160 megabits per second, or better - four times faster than DOCSIS 2. Sounds great!

But don't run out and grab a new modem just yet. Check with your cable provider to see if your connection uses DOCSIS 3. If your neighborhood network isn't up-to-date, a new cable modem can wait.