Converting to Cable internet. What do I need

[oldbutdumb]

I just decided to switch from telephone DSL to a cable network for high speed internet. I got a good deal on a Linksys cable modem at Newegg ($39.95) but even though it has both an ethernet connector and a USB connector, I understand that I can't hook both my wife's computer and mine to the same modem. Right now my DSL modem permits me to connect the USB to my wife's and the ethernet to mine and both work on DSL. What exactly do I neet to get both hooked up?

 

[pkme2]

the cable company installed my earthlink service and came with its own ethernet hub. All I had to do was buy my wireless Broadband router and wireless cards and walla! Hookup and install to my rigs and Cable Internet was up and running.

Your present modem router just plugs into the cable modem without any conversion. My old Data link router did the same and I plugged in my various ethernet cables to my rigs and they all worked.

 

[Zepper]

You will need a router. You hook your cable modem and your computers to the router as it has a built in switch. There are low cost routers out there just for the purpose. If your cable modem has a firewall in it, you may want to disable it as the router will usually have one too - don't need both. And usually you can pay a bit more to the cable company and get a modem/router combo when you sign up for the service - if you'd rather go that way.

.bh.


.bh.

 

[mikeford]

Just to clarify, Cable modem -> Router/switch ->> as many computers as you want.

Technically the cable company would like to charge you for each computer, so the cable modem is a VERY fussy device that remembers the internal ID of the first device you connect it to, and requires a pesky reset procedure if you change the device. With a router, the router is the ONLY device the cable modem "sees", and it keeps track of assigning IP addresses and making sure the right PC gets the right traffic from the internet.

For most people just plug it all in and it works. Unfortunately if you ever need tech support from cable, the very first thing they want you to do is plug ONE computer directly into the cable modem for testing.

 

[DBSX]

This also depends on the cable modem, the cable company, and the router. I use Comcast HSI and I made the error of telling them I wanted to hook up several computers to the internet. So they had me get the "networking kit". It worked out in the end, as the modem/router is pretty good, plus it only cost $5 more per month. But I am only allowed 5 IP addresses. And the modem/router is set up as the DHCP server, I can't change this setting. So, bottom line, I can still only connect 5 computers regardless of what router I use since the modem/router sets the IPs. You can (should) have only one DHCP server per network.

You also need to be sure that the cable modem you buy is going to be compatible with your cable provider. So providers have requiremetns that must be met by any "3rd party" modem you use.

\Dan

 

[RallyMaster]

Computers connect to a router and router is connected to modem. You connect everything with Cat5/6 cables.