Dumb question of the day: Buying a used cable modem.

[CrackRabbit]

I am probably going to be signing up for Comcrap cable modem service in a week or so and I don't want to pay to rent a modem from them. I found a Arris TM402P at Goodwill for $8, but before I bought I wanted to make sure that cable providers don't hold MAC addresses to accounts or list them as lost/stolen. Doing such a thing would make it worthless.
Anyone with any clue?

Thanks

<---- N00b

 

[JackMDS]

Lol, so you do not mind buying stolen property as long as it safe to use?

I doubt that the ISPs are able to maintain such a list, in most cases they do not even bother to ask for their so called rented equipment when a contract is not was terminated too early.

What you have to make sure is that the thingie is compatible with the service.

If it does not work give it back to Goodwill and consider that you a good Will. Hey it is like being a Saint for $8.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Lol, so you do not mind buying stolen property as long as it safe to use?

I doubt that the ISPs are able to maintain such a list, in most cases they do not even bother to ask for their so called rented equipment when a contract is not was terminated too early.

What you have to make sure is that the thingie is compatible with the service.

If it does not work give it back to Goodwill and consider that you a good Will. Hey it is like being a Saint for $8.

Sorry didn't mean to imply I would mind using it if were stolen. I just wanted to know if ISPs in general locked macs to accounts.
Kinda like buying a used cell phone, if it is stolen or the former owner hasn't paid their bill you wouldn't know until you tried to register it or inquired about it.

 

[blimey]

You should ask people who have Comcrap in your area. I have heard of cable company ISPs 'locking' to the MAC of the first device that does a successful authentication on the account. I don't think it is too common though. The dd-wrt and tomato router firmwares have the option to clone another MAC address just for this purpose. Some other off-brand routers have the MAC clone option too. So, check locally if you want to be sure - but it is probably not the case.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: blimey
You should ask people who have Comcrap in your area. I have heard of cable company ISPs 'locking' to the MAC of the first device that does a successful authentication on the account. I don't think it is too common though. The dd-wrt and tomato router firmwares have the option to clone another MAC address just for this purpose. Some other off-brand routers have the MAC clone option too. So, check locally if you want to be sure - but it is probably not the case.

No need for any thing special what so ever, I do not remember in the last 4 years seen any Cable/DSL Router that does Not have MAC cloning capacity.

 

[Modelworks]

Cable modems have to have a config file uploaded them via tftp from the cable company in order to work. I have seen modems that belonged to people that had not paid there bill or had kept the modem when it belonged to the company.

They do indeed keep a list of banned/blocked mac addresses.

Cable modems have their own built in MAC address, besides passing on the MAC of the associated computer or router.

Cloning of mac addresses will not get you past this point.

 

[nweaver]

renting is better (imho) then buying, as if something goes TU, they have to replace it instead of you. You also know their modem will be functional and compatible.

 

[spidey07]

You can't say TU here. Language filter.
:laugh:

 

[nweaver]

Hey, TU is an official networking term, it has to be allowed in the networking forum, otherwise I can't tell you how everything is at my job.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nweaver
Hey, TU is an official networking term, it has to be allowed in the networking forum, otherwise I can't tell you how everything is at my job.

meh, I always called it four paws.

As in sticking four paws up in the air.

And LOL at "official networking term".

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: nweaver
Hey, TU is an official networking term, it has to be allowed in the networking forum, otherwise I can't tell you how everything is at my job.

meh, I always called it four paws.

As in sticking four paws up in the air.

And LOL at "official networking term".

tell me you have never used the term TU to explain the status of a device to one of your coworkers. I'll call you a liar

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: nweaver
Hey, TU is an official networking term, it has to be allowed in the networking forum, otherwise I can't tell you how everything is at my job.

meh, I always called it four paws.

As in sticking four paws up in the air.

And LOL at "official networking term".

tell me you have never used the term TU to explain the status of a device to one of your coworkers. I'll call you a liar

cowokers? I said it to the VP of one of my customers.

"Well sir, it just went TU. Not much more I can do."

 

[nweaver]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: nweaver

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: nweaver
Hey, TU is an official networking term, it has to be allowed in the networking forum, otherwise I can't tell you how everything is at my job.

meh, I always called it four paws.

As in sticking four paws up in the air.

And LOL at "official networking term".

tell me you have never used the term TU to explain the status of a device to one of your coworkers. I'll call you a liar

cowokers? I said it to the VP of one of my customers.

"Well sir, it just went TU. Not much more I can do."

exactly. It's a highly technical term.

 

[zig3695]

why do you need to change anything? the cable company does tie accounts to the mac, but when you go to set up the connection they will get the mac then. i dont understand what the problem would be...

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: zig3695
why do you need to change anything? the cable company does tie accounts to the mac, but when you go to set up the connection they will get the mac then. i dont understand what the problem would be...

The thing is if the modem goes TU, then it's the cable companies problem and not yours. Rent the modem.

That way the provider knows EXACTLY what they are dealing with, know every single bug in the software and certify it with their system.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Damn... Well I guess I will just rent the damn modem. I don't feel like worrying about dealing with a used one having the wrong firmware or a banned mac.
Thanks guys.

 

[sswingle]

I used to work for Cox and we ran into issues all the time where someone would sell a modem on ebay or somewhere but not call us to get the MAC removed from their account. Then the poor guy that bought it would call and we couldnt set it up because it was on someone else's account.

 

[Kremlar]

What the heck is TU, and why can't I figure it out??

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Kremlar
What the heck is TU, and why can't I figure it out??

It's a highly technical term describing a hard failure of a device. You'll figure it out. Soft failures count as well - but either way the box ain't coming back.

Similar to "the box went four paws"

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Kremlar
What the heck is TU, and why can't I figure it out??

'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This parrot is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!"

Now think about it some more.

 

[nweaver]

the "U" stands for up...figure out the "T"

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: nweaver
renting is better (imho) then buying, as if something goes TU, they have to replace it instead of you. You also know their modem will be functional and compatible.

I gotta back you up on this.... I've had four cable modems go bad completely.... or somewhat bad/flaky, and am glad that I simply took/rent the modems from the provider.... Saved me tons of $$$.

You buy your own you become SOL.

 

[spacejamz]

I bought my cable model for $40 new from BB...Comcast (now Time Warner) in my area charges $4 a month for the modem...

has been running fine for 3 years.../knocks on wood now....

 

[nightowl]

For those looking for TU... check out urban dictionary. I just switched out my Motorola cable modem to a new one. Everything is running nicely on my Cisco 815 now. It was just a pain to find someone at TWC who actually knew anything about a MAC address so that I could set up my new modem.