Cable Modem Connection

With great anticipation I am due to be hooked up next week to a Cable Internet System. I have so many questions but will only asked a couple here.

The Cable company would love for me to accept their Professional Installation Service at $149.95, and I bet they would! They have what they call, "Self-installation (Fast connect Kit)" for $29.95. Haven't found out what all this includes as it states I will have to furnish my own USB Cable or NIC Card.

NIC card in PC and have both USB 2.0 and 1.1 available. Now which connection should I use? I can easily connect a USB but after searching the Forum it seems USB is not recommended to connect a Cable Modem.

I don't how to physically connect to a NIC. I have a cross-over cable connected to the networked PC in my home which occupies the only connection I see. Is that the one to connect to? If so, then that means I will need to get a Router with another cable to go to the second PC, yes?

Sure would appreciate some guidance with this.

WIN XP Home, presently dialup.

 

Hello Mudd
Yes, if you want to have both of your computers connected to the internet via the cable modem, you will have to get a router.

Here is a nice tutorial that should help you:

http://www.cable-modems.org/articles/linksys_review/

The router you will see there is the one I use here.

I would strongly urge you to use the NIC connections instead of the USB ports.

You will need two (2) straight through cables and the router that will be connected to the output of the cable modem.
Your cross over cable will no longer be needed.

Here is another nice tutorial:

http://www.linksys.com/tech_helper/cabling.html

Daddad

 

Daddad

Thanks. I was expecting that. So I will again go to the attic and string a cable. It's about 60 feet from one PC to the other. Fortunately I have the cable.

Appreciate the reply.

 

You'll love it...

I just got roadrunner cable a week or so ago. The other day I downloaded a 219 MB file in about 7 minutes...

 

Breakout

You sure know how to make a person's mouth water!!!

 

And watch music videos in full screen mode, and listen to radio stations in 128bit without waiting for it to rebuffer every 20 seconds, and, oh, okay...I'll leave you alone.

Heck, you probably won't be able to sleep,now...hehe

 

Breakout

You are aware that there are penalties for cruelty to old people, aren't you? I believe this would qualify!!

I am anxious and look forward to getting there.

 

The above will happen ONLY if the machine that the Cable Modem is hooked to has the capability of doing it. And I believe that also includes the OS on the machine.

Breakout

You make it read like just the new Cable Internet alone will do all of that It will not.

You need the proper equipment and software to do it. If the machine does not have the proper type of media player it would not do it. Windows Media Player 6.4 I believe won't do it. WMP 9 may do it.

And there are days that the Cable Internet is no better than Dial-UP. And the Interent loading itself has A LOT to do with how things go.

As I found out just a short time ago you need the proper Splitter and it must be installed BEFORE any TV splitters. I was using the same Radio Shack 4-way splitter that was used for the TVs.

It also takes a different cable from the splitter to the Modem.

The last TW Tech that was here changed/relocated the splitter and cable using TW parts and things are MUCH better. Both Internet and TV.

But what really angers me is that My wife is sitting here watching her Soap Operas and I have no Internet. GRRRRRRR !!!!

Botttom line

Cable Internet is only as good as the equipment it is hooked to.

But overall it is much better than Dial-up

I do also.

The Router also adds a bit of protection.

BillyBob

 

True...you may have to upgrade that 386-25mhz...

I also should add that your download speed will depend on who you're downloading from. It seems some servers limit there bandwith to around 70.kbs or so.

I've had everything from 10.kbs to 380.kbs. I have one site that I always get over 300kbs and others that can't get above 70kbs or so. So, I'm pretty sure who you're downloading from makes a big difference.

 

Breakout

Just to save space I will not add as a quote your last reply.

But I will say

And will add. Not only the site but the Internet loading in general will have a great effect on the whole thing.

Earlier today this site was here before I got my finger off of the mouse button so to speak. Now it is taking at least 10 to 15 seconds to get here.

BillyBob

 

Enjoy reading all the post you people are putting here. One point expecially interested me. That was the way the line is split. Because I have ancient cable in my place they (Cable People) said they would rewire my place with as many drops as I wanted, using the newer type cable. I saw it on a roll, it was white and looked slight larger in diameter. Didn't catch the number on it.

He also stated that they would use a Multiple splitter in the attic. Running a line from the splitter to each drop. They would centralize the splitter so that each drop was as equal as could be.

I asked about bringing the line to my PC direct and then going from there to the other drops. The Cable Co won't do that. If I want it that way I'll have to do it on my own with all expenses on me

Think I do as they stated. I've visited two homes that have the new Cable service and one is getting around 175KB when downloading from Micro UpDate Site, used the SP1a as a test. The second home was getting about 125KB on the same site. The Cable company did their wiring as I described. I'll be happy with that.

 

Be sure you're ready for cable

Because when you use it, you'll never go back to dialup. Bills go unpaid,kids are hungry,your late for work a lot.......LOL You'll love it!

 

Blufx

Surely you overlooked my post about "Cruelty to Old People!" People are making my mouth water so much, my lips are getting chapped!

I am anxious. This is first opportunity I have had for Broadband. I'm sure I will be happy with it.

Thanks for the nudge