Cable Modem Help

[Kroze]

My friend have cable modem installed and for the next few days, I get to stay over his house to watch it for them (They're going on vacation.) I'm planning to bring my Computer over there and use their cable modem line. My question is... How do i install it without installing the Comcast @home software? The modem is using USB connection instead of Ethernet (Cat5). Is it possible to install the modem and use it instead of installing the software that came with @home?

 

[michec]

At the very least, you would need the @home CD to get the drivers for the USB modem. If you know what modem it is, you might be able to download that stuff from the manufacturers website.

I've never used cable modem before, so I'm taking a wild stab here. I would think that all the @home software does is set the IP, Gateway, DNS, and subnet mask info for you. If you can find out the values for those items (i.e. turn on your friend's computer, right-click on &quot;network neighborhood&quot;, highlight &quot;TCP/IP -> <<INSERT USB NETWORK ADAPTER HERE>>&quot;, select properties, and copy down the info under the &quot;DNS Configuration&quot;, &quot;Gateway&quot;, and &quot;IP Address&quot; tabs) and configure your computer with those values, it should work if you plug in the USB modem into your computer.

Again, I'm just guessing here, but it seems like it would work if you did that.

 

[Mapidus]

You don't need the @home software to use the service. All it has is either netscape or ie and a program that sets the proxy for those.

For the USB modem, it most likely has an ethernet port also. If you use the ethernet port you do not need drivers. If the modem is usb only then you will need the drivers from the cd that came with the modem.

If they have a static ip then all just enter the information they have in their network control panel TCP/IP configuration. If they are using DHCP then you will need to set your hostname to what they were assigned. You might have to set the workgroup to @home also, not sure about this though.

 

[frankroh]

Actually, you don't need to do any of the networking settings (DNS, subnet, IP Add., etc.) if you use DHCP. Just install the modem driver and make sure when you run the Create Internet Access&quot;, set your Internet Access as through LAN and name your computer with the appropriate host name.

I have AT&amp;T @home and I'm assuming Comcast @home is no different since @home is the ISP.

 

[frankroh]

Work group doesn't make any difference I believe. Also since you will be going through DHCP, proxy settings can be left empty as well.

 

[Kroze]

All i see in their Network setting is the Computer name thing &amp; Workgroup is @home. It also mentioned it in the manual. They're using WinME...I'm using Win2k. How do i change the workgroup and computer id (WHich is required according to the manual). IS that all to it for Win2k? Install the modem, set the workgroup + computer Id?

 

[Mapidus]

Yeah, looks like they are set up for @home DHCP.

In w2k you can change this by right clicking on My Computer then choosing properites. This brings up the system control panel. Choose the Network Identification tab. Then click properties. Then enter in the hostname that they have in the computer name box. I know you need to have this hostname set. Not sure if workgroup has to be @home or if you can have your own, but I guess it does not hurt to put @home into the workgroup box, unless you really want another name there.

Also, under you tcp/ip options, set obtain ip automatically and obtain dns automatically.

 

[Kroze]

Cool is that really all? I think i'm going to do them a favor by removing that crappy @home software that they installed. It keep popping up ads everytime. It should be the same for WinME right? (Workgroup + Computer ID). DO i have to type something like Winipcfg and then click on release and then renew? I don't know what's that for but it mention in the manual. (IPCFG in win2k)

 

[Mapidus]

The release and renew commands in Winipcfg in WinME and ipconfig in W2K are used to release and renew DHCP allocated IP addresses. You likely will not need to do this. Also, some modems remember the MAC address of the NIC previously connected, so if when you first hook up your system you don't get an ip, power cycling the modem and either using ipconfig to grab an ip or restarting your system migh help.