Need walkthrough on installing cable modem (Comcast)

[joea64]

This call is going out to anyone who has a Comcast account and has successfully set up their connection on their own. I have a stack of hardware here - Linksys Etherfast cable modem model BEFCMU10 version 2, Linksys 10/100 LAN PCI card model LNE100TX version 5.1, and all the attendant ancillary hardwares (cables, splitters, etc.) plus a Comcast cable account with the necessary login information just obtained today. The only thing I don't know is how to put it all together. Comcast _could_ send a technician but the earliest day they can do this that I can afford to take the time to wait for a technician is next Saturday. So what do I need to do, and in what order? None of this stuff has actually been installed yet, mind you, it's still in the boxes.

-Joe-

[hiredgoonz]

Basically the coaxial cable that comes to your house will need to be split so that you have a cable for your TV or cable box and a cable for your modem.

Make sure the modem is unplugged and your computer turned off.

Next step is to install the network card in your computer. Follow the instructions that come with it or refer to the main part of the pcguide. I'm not going to type out instructions for installing a PCI card...too tired :)

After setting up the NIC, leave the system off.

Hook the coax. up to the modem and then connect one end of an ethernet cable to the modem and the other end to the network card in your computer.

Turn on the computer and the modem.

Now this is where it gets tricky...it should just work. Comcast doesn't register the mac address of your NIC or even your modem as far as I can tell, so once the modem has been turned on for several minutes, it should connect to the comcast network.

Using Windows network properties, enter the necessary login info. The steps for this depend on what version of Windows you are using. You may not even need to enter any info. You should set the network properties so that the system obtains an IP address automatically as well...

Good luck...

[aussieolie2]

Actaully Comcast do register the MAC Address. I have had many problems with them, including lies, mistakes, and rudeness.
To cut a very long story short; my cable modem started to cut out, i got it replaced with a newer one, still the problem was at my house (obviously haha, considering I had tested the connection of several PCs, swaped everything, done a process of illim, and reinstalled everything). I was told that they could see my modem and that my pc was responding to them, i seriously had the modem unplugged and the PC off!! both from the coax and power.
They eventually phoned me after 3 weeks of problems to appologise, a file that is uploaded to your modem (not so on the older modems), is sent to it. There is a seperate file per type of modem and model. On their database I had the wrong model number so I was being sent the wrong file. - I am not sure if this is all true, but after they phoned everything was working fine (that is after the 300th reset & calibration).
I wonder if this packet file thingy controls ur IP addresses that are assigned thru the modem. Very interesting lol.
I managed to get a free months internet after speaking to them.
The majority of the techs are rude and demotivated.

a non-comcast supporter ;)

Olie

[hiredgoonz]

Not trying to question your info. but I don't think that comcast in my area registers mac addresses. Here's why:

They never even saw my new modem. It was shipped directly from the manufacturer to me. My router would be a similar situation.

Now maybe when I hooked the modem up for the first time, it registered itself with their server, but that doesn't seem very smart on their part, too easy to abuse a system like that...

I think here, since they've gone digital cable full-force that they simply use the IP of your house/cable box/modem to authenticate...

[joea64]

Originally posted by hiredgoonz
Not trying to question your info. but I don't think that comcast in my area registers mac addresses. Here's why:

They never even saw my new modem. It was shipped directly from the manufacturer to me. My router would be a similar situation.

Now maybe when I hooked the modem up for the first time, it registered itself with their server, but that doesn't seem very smart on their part, too easy to abuse a system like that...

I think here, since they've gone digital cable full-force that they simply use the IP of your house/cable box/modem to authenticate...

Everything's installed and working now. I don't have digital cable, but had no special problems while installing (did need to split the cable but it was a breeze with the splitter included in the HSI welcome kit). As I'm on the "own your modem" plan I bought a Linksys cable modem and did have to call in the MAC number, but that posed no particular problem either apart from having to do one reboot before everything was ready to get underway. Since then, service has been just about perfect. I do need to find a good firewall program, though. I experimented with Tiny Firewall but it doesn't seem to work well in conjunction with Netscape, had two freezes in a row while using the two together. Recommendations?

Incidentially, even though I'm on "regular" cable, not digital, there doesn't seem to be any login required except to Comcast's own member services page/homepage once the MAC number and serial number of the modem are registered; connection is instant upon system startup as long as the modem is powered up and connected and requires no login process. I suppose the cable modem is recognized in the same way that the home system recognizes that my cable converter box belongs to a valid and paying customer.

-Joe-

[hiredgoonz]

Try zone alarm. Even the free version works very well, although I know people who like black ice...

[classicsoftware]

Dont skimp....
Buy a Linlksys router it works better than any software firewall....

[hiredgoonz]

No offense, but a linksys router ain't gonna do much about vb scripts, trojans, active-x exploits, etc...

Even with the router, I would strongly recommend a software firewall...