First time getting cable internet

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: TuxDave

Originally posted by: DEMO24
Generally theres 1 input going into the house from the outside. And then after the cable guy leaves you then split it somewhere inside to go to the various rooms.

Fixed.

Comcast can be a pain when it comes to splitting since I think the service contract is only expecting a single receiver and you pay extra per extra computer etc....

No you don't. They just won't set up a router for you. My service was set up as directly to my laptop; after the moronic tech left, I just hooked my router up to my modem and cloned my laptop's ethernet MAC address to the router's WAN port. Haven't had any complaints from Comcast, except when they notified me via e-mail that there was a computer on my network broadcasting spam over port 25 and they temporarily blocked it off.

Overall, I can't wait to ditch Comcast in the Spring when I move out of my current apartment. I'll probably sign up for AT&T DSL, as it is much cheaper and I'll probably get the same speeds I currently get with Comcast (even though it is supposed to be "superfast").

 

[Terabyte]

Yeah, the installer won't setup the router for you unless you want to pay extra. All he/she does is make sure the line works with one computer directly connected to the modem. Now, if you have tv service, he/she will make sure the tv works...and yeah lol

When the tech left, I just connected the modem to the router, and everything worked. I didn't have to mess with the mac address or anything. I did configure the router to password protect the wifi network and etc though.

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: Terabyte
Yeah, the installer won't setup the router for you unless you want to pay extra. All he/she does is make sure the line works with one computer directly connected to the modem. Now, if you have tv service, he/she will make sure the tv works...and yeah lol

When the tech left, I just connected the modem to the router, and everything worked. I didn't have to mess with the mac address or anything. I did configure the router to password protect the wifi network and etc though.

I don't need anyone to set up a router. I don't have TV service w/ Comcast but may add it down the road when DirecTV contract is expired. Did you actually pay for someone just to come in and 'install' the modem? I just refuse to do that. Especially when they make you schedule a day and a 4 hour time block at their convenience.

 

[venkman]

Originally posted by: TuxDave

Originally posted by: DEMO24
Generally theres 1 input going into the house from the outside. And then after the cable guy leaves you then split it somewhere inside to go to the various rooms.

Fixed.

Comcast can be a pain when it comes to splitting since I think the service contract is only expecting a single receiver and you pay extra per extra computer etc....

or just go wifi

 

[Terabyte]

Originally posted by: SirChadwick

Originally posted by: Terabyte
Yeah, the installer won't setup the router for you unless you want to pay extra. All he/she does is make sure the line works with one computer directly connected to the modem. Now, if you have tv service, he/she will make sure the tv works...and yeah lol

When the tech left, I just connected the modem to the router, and everything worked. I didn't have to mess with the mac address or anything. I did configure the router to password protect the wifi network and etc though.

I don't need anyone to set up a router. I don't have TV service w/ Comcast but may add it down the road when DirecTV contract is expired. Did you actually pay for someone just to come in and 'install' the modem? I just refuse to do that. Especially when they make you schedule a day and a 4 hour time block at their convenience.

You usually do pay when they come to install the modem. How else would they get paid? But you could possibly get free install if you ask nicely. Or possibly get the fee waived. Try to ask them about it you schedule your install day.

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: Terabyte

Originally posted by: SirChadwick

Originally posted by: Terabyte
Yeah, the installer won't setup the router for you unless you want to pay extra. All he/she does is make sure the line works with one computer directly connected to the modem. Now, if you have tv service, he/she will make sure the tv works...and yeah lol

When the tech left, I just connected the modem to the router, and everything worked. I didn't have to mess with the mac address or anything. I did configure the router to password protect the wifi network and etc though.

I don't need anyone to set up a router. I don't have TV service w/ Comcast but may add it down the road when DirecTV contract is expired. Did you actually pay for someone just to come in and 'install' the modem? I just refuse to do that. Especially when they make you schedule a day and a 4 hour time block at their convenience.

You usually do pay when they come to install the modem. How else would they get paid? But you could possibly get free install if you ask nicely. Or possibly get the fee waived. Try to ask them about it you schedule your install day.

They already told me it was no problem - "service can be activated on the outside" and will be easy for me to hook up the modem and get going right away, no scheduling needed.

 

[T9D]

...

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: v1001
If you have a modem all you have to do it hook it up and call comcast. You can do it all over the phone and have it all ready with no tech ever coming out. Hook it up and see if you have any problems.

I've done it twice over the phone, it's very easy. No tech ever came out. In fact both times I've done it at like midnight. Phone techs are available 24 hours.

How do you know which cable jack to hook it up to? I have 2 downstairs and 3 upstairs.

Yeah, they told me I can just hook it up and call in w/ the mac addy on my modem and that will get it goin after they enter it in.

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: Brainonska511

Originally posted by: TuxDave

Originally posted by: DEMO24
Generally theres 1 input going into the house from the outside. And then after the cable guy leaves you then split it somewhere inside to go to the various rooms.

Fixed.

Comcast can be a pain when it comes to splitting since I think the service contract is only expecting a single receiver and you pay extra per extra computer etc....

No you don't. They just won't set up a router for you. My service was set up as directly to my laptop; after the moronic tech left, I just hooked my router up to my modem and cloned my laptop's ethernet MAC address to the router's WAN port. Haven't had any complaints from Comcast, except when they notified me via e-mail that there was a computer on my network broadcasting spam over port 25 and they temporarily blocked it off.

Overall, I can't wait to ditch Comcast in the Spring when I move out of my current apartment. I'll probably sign up for AT&T DSL, as it is much cheaper and I'll probably get the same speeds I currently get with Comcast (even though it is supposed to be "superfast").

For free they won't but the customer service representative and the local comcast guy told me that if you want multiple computers (on an official scale) you have to add it to your contract and they will set it up for you after you agree to pay more. So yes they "DID" but as someone else pointed out, maybe they relaxed this policy.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: v1001
If you have a modem all you have to do it hook it up and call comcast. You can do it all over the phone and have it all ready with no tech ever coming out. Hook it up and see if you have any problems.

I've done it twice over the phone, it's very easy. No tech ever came out. In fact both times I've done it at like midnight. Phone techs are available 24 hours. (oh forgot you don't have cable tv with them aready, you'll have to wait till they hook it up at the poll first though.

They also have "easy" setup software. Theoretically you shouldn't need a phone, but their software's garbage, and I had to call anyway.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: SirChadwick


How do you know which cable jack to hook it up to? I have 2 downstairs and 3 upstairs.

Yeah, they told me I can just hook it up and call in w/ the mac addy on my modem and that will get it goin after they enter it in.

You need to determine how the cables are run. You do not want to connect the modem to a jack that is shared somewhere else in the home with Directv. It could harm the cable modem or the directv reciever.

 

[T9D]

...

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: v1001

Originally posted by: SirChadwick

Originally posted by: v1001
If you have a modem all you have to do it hook it up and call comcast. You can do it all over the phone and have it all ready with no tech ever coming out. Hook it up and see if you have any problems.

I've done it twice over the phone, it's very easy. No tech ever came out. In fact both times I've done it at like midnight. Phone techs are available 24 hours.

How do you know which cable jack to hook it up to? I have 2 downstairs and 3 upstairs.

Yeah, they told me I can just hook it up and call in w/ the mac addy on my modem and that will get it goin after they enter it in.

As soon as you hook the modem up it will show if it's connected or not with green lights. Like 4 or 5 green lights. As long as comcast is hooked up at the street pole. You wont be able to use internet until you all and set up but it will show an active line on there. If there is only like one light on then you're probably hooked to your direcTV line and need to change lines since there is no way to reach the outside world on that line.

(I have your same modem too)

Bingo! Thanks... that's the answer I was lookin for.

Trust me, I'm not going to go around unhooking my DirecTV stuff to hook up Comcast. lol.

 

[Nik]

Originally posted by: Zedtom

Originally posted by: apac
FYI I suggest you ditch the surfboard for one of the new modems. When I had my surfboard my service never went above 3 Mbit (down). When I got a new modem, the speed jumped to 8 Mbit. Something in the old hardware/software was bottlenecking my bandwidth.

Could you tell us what you bought?

All you need to do is make sure your modem is DOCSIS 3.0 compliant. If not, it's most likely going to be DOCSIS 2.0 which will give you the lower speed.

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: Zedtom

Originally posted by: apac
FYI I suggest you ditch the surfboard for one of the new modems. When I had my surfboard my service never went above 3 Mbit (down). When I got a new modem, the speed jumped to 8 Mbit. Something in the old hardware/software was bottlenecking my bandwidth.

Could you tell us what you bought?

All you need to do is make sure your modem is DOCSIS 3.0 compliant. If not, it's most likely going to be DOCSIS 2.0 which will give you the lower speed.

The modem I have is DOCSIS 2.0. But that's good enough for me.

I've been using a freakin Sprint c597 usb aircard for the last few weeks.... talk about slower than dialup.

 

[Brainonska511]

n/m

 

[rgwalt]

Originally posted by: SirChadwick

Originally posted by: Terabyte

Originally posted by: SirChadwick

Originally posted by: Terabyte
Yeah, the installer won't setup the router for you unless you want to pay extra. All he/she does is make sure the line works with one computer directly connected to the modem. Now, if you have tv service, he/she will make sure the tv works...and yeah lol

When the tech left, I just connected the modem to the router, and everything worked. I didn't have to mess with the mac address or anything. I did configure the router to password protect the wifi network and etc though.

I don't need anyone to set up a router. I don't have TV service w/ Comcast but may add it down the road when DirecTV contract is expired. Did you actually pay for someone just to come in and 'install' the modem? I just refuse to do that. Especially when they make you schedule a day and a 4 hour time block at their convenience.

You usually do pay when they come to install the modem. How else would they get paid? But you could possibly get free install if you ask nicely. Or possibly get the fee waived. Try to ask them about it you schedule your install day.

They already told me it was no problem - "service can be activated on the outside" and will be easy for me to hook up the modem and get going right away, no scheduling needed.

The problem you may find is that the customer service rep who took your info for the install has no clue about anything, especially relating to how your house is wired. It falls on the installer to figure out how to get you service.

I just spent a month fighting with Comcast on how to get service to a new construction home that I recently bought and moved in to. The first time the techs came out to do the install they said that they would have to send someone else out to bury a line from the poll. These people never materialized, even after repeated phone calls. Also, they never got my actual address into the system. Finally, I decided that I would waste as much of their time and resources as possible by having them repeatedly send out installation techs until someone could connect my service. Fortunately I got a couple of guys that knew what they were doing to route cable to me from a different poll. Not the prettiest install, but the cable stretches across the alley in the back of the house, so I guess it is OK. I'm sure I will still have a few battles with them yet to come. Once Uverse is available in my area, I'm switching...

Good luck!

 

[xboxist]

I didn't read the whole thread, just your question and I know what you're getting at.

Your satellite tv service uses the same TYPE of outlet that the cable company would use. But they can't share a specific outlet, if that makes sense. A new line would have to be run parallel to the pre-existing coaxial line, if you wanted to keep your satellite and get a cable internet connection.

 

[imported_weadjust]

FYI you may get comcast basic channels for free when they hook up the internet. I pay for comcast internet only but get channels 2-99 in SD and the four network channels in HD. My TV provider is Directv but I hooked up the comcast line to the TV input on a couple of TVs. Directv is hooked up to the HDMI input. I switch over to comcast if I lose Directv due to rain fade or want to watch a couple of channels that are not on Directv.

 

[SirChadwick]

I'm thinking maybe I should just pay $200 to cancel DirecTV and just get the Comcast internet/cable plan.

I bet Comcast will want to charge a $100 fee just to come inside and look at my 1 cable jack in the living room to tell me they have to add a diplexer to get me both services.

Is that even worth it? I'm on the wire here.

 

[sswingle]

This is why I love Time Warner. They ran a new line to the house from the pole, brought it into the basement, split it to two tv's and the cable modem, installed the modem, installed the cable box, and I paid $0.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: Epic Fail
Your DirecTV line connects to the dish, it has nothing to do with cable.

this.

you are getting two completely different connections, there's no way to consolidate the two of them. your directv connection(cable) hooks directly to the satellite dish right outside your house, while the cable internet will be coming from a different connection(cable) provided by a different carrier (comcast in this instance).

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: SirChadwick
I'm thinking maybe I should just pay $200 to cancel DirecTV and just get the Comcast internet/cable plan.

I bet Comcast will want to charge a $100 fee just to come inside and look at my 1 cable jack in the living room to tell me they have to add a diplexer to get me both services.

Is that even worth it? I'm on the wire here.

If you're going to use Comcast for both internet and TV, a diplexer doesn't apply, all you need is a splitter. If you're going to use Comcast for internet and DirecTV for TV, you need to run another cable.

Got it?

 

[lokiju]

You'll want to get the lowest impedance coax splitter you can, lower impedance equals clearer signal through the split.

Most of the time on splitters there will be one of the split connections that has a lower impedance rating than the other, that'll likely be the one you want to use for the cable modem, especially if you're having reliability issues with the connection.

If you're signal is really strong in your home though then it might not matter all that much.

The more it's split from the main source coming into the home the higher each splits impedance is though.

In my home I have a central junction in my garage for all my network cables, phone cables and coax, in there is where the outside coax connects to but I had to bypass the splitter system the home builder installed due to the impedance levels being to high on it and went with my own higher quality (lower noise) splitters.

 

[SirChadwick]

Originally posted by: GeekDrew

Originally posted by: SirChadwick
I'm thinking maybe I should just pay $200 to cancel DirecTV and just get the Comcast internet/cable plan.

I bet Comcast will want to charge a $100 fee just to come inside and look at my 1 cable jack in the living room to tell me they have to add a diplexer to get me both services.

Is that even worth it? I'm on the wire here.

If you're going to use Comcast for both internet and TV, a diplexer doesn't apply, all you need is a splitter. If you're going to use Comcast for internet and DirecTV for TV, you need to run another cable.

Got it?

Yeah, I understand that much. The diplexer would be if I choose to go w/ DirecTV and comcast together. Trying to figure out if it's worth the hassle. Just wondering how easy it would be for Comcast to come out and run that 'other' cable and what it will cost me.