What is Time Warner Doing with these Rules they make?

[TruePaige]

So I installed this wifi network the other day.

Had to get a cable modem/router combo, because the ethernet port on the Time Warner modem was bad and wouldn't work with a stand alone router. Time Warner wants a large expanse of time to come out, and then would charge for a new cable modem anyway.

So I go ahead and get a Linksys for them, hook it up, everything on the network works, then all the screens start going to a page that says...

"Welcome to RoadRunner! Before you can use this service call and give the associate your MAC address listed below!"

...so long story short...the cables in their house, why would they need to prove it's them on the network?

 

[Beev]

I think every ISP requires your MAC address to be tied to your account...

 

[Fraggable]

Originally posted by: Sraaz
I think every ISP requires your MAC address to be tied to your account...

Zoomtown (Cincinnati Bell) and Roadrunner (Time Warner) don't do MAC filtering. You can plug any DSL/cable modem in and start using it. It's not ususual for ISPs to do that though. I've never really understood why, it's not like they're going to charge you by usage of the connection so what do they care what modem is on the other end?

 

[Beev]

Originally posted by: Fraggable
Zoomtown (Cincinnati Bell) and Roadrunner (Time Warner) don't do MAC filtering. You can plug any DSL/cable modem in and start using it. It's not ususual for ISPs to do that though. I've never really understood why, it's not like they're going to charge you by usage of the connection so what do they care what modem is on the other end?

That's odd, because I had to give Roadrunner my MAC address when I signed up with them in May.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: Sraaz

Originally posted by: Fraggable
Zoomtown (Cincinnati Bell) and Roadrunner (Time Warner) don't do MAC filtering. You can plug any DSL/cable modem in and start using it. It's not ususual for ISPs to do that though. I've never really understood why, it's not like they're going to charge you by usage of the connection so what do they care what modem is on the other end?

That's odd, because I had to give Roadrunner my MAC address when I signed up with them in May.

I didn't.

 

[AMCRambler]

Seems to me it would be a time saver when someone cancels their high speed. With MAC filtering they just take your MAC id out of their routers and you're shut off. Without that they'd need to send a tech out to the field to slap some type of filter back on the cable where it splits off to your house.

 

[aircooled]

Time Warner uses MAC filtering where I live. They make the connection live while you are on the phone with them.

 

[Specop 007]

Interesting. When my modems go bad I pull the old one, drive to the nearest center, exchange it go home and plug it in and it works. They update my account info with the new router while I'm there, but still I'm suprised you have to wait 3 days for a technician.

 

[vi edit]

Cable companies have dinked around with MAC addresses since their inception.

It was one of the reasons why I avoided Mediacom for years. Before routers were ever a reasonable option to home users you had to register any computer that you introduced to their network. It used to be the way that they limited access.

 

[alkemyst]

Like your phone, your cable comes from some area outside your home. It's surprisingly easy to tap it.

MAC requests I find a bit invasive...the main purpose is basically pointing all traffic made to one device. Should the MPAA come knocking on Joe ISP's door, they know where to send them.

 

[FoBoT]

just cancel your intraweb and go back to what we used before it was invented




oh wait...

 

[Anubis]

they dont do it here AFAIK

 

[imported_Baloo]

They care because any customer can buy a modem and hook it up to their network, but only customer swho pay for the service should have access. By mac filtering, you have to call them, they can then confirm you do pay for the service and enable your new modem to work on their network.

Otherwise, they have no way of telling that it legitimate - they cannot tell it is in your house until you call them.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
Interesting. When my modems go bad I pull the old one, drive to the nearest center, exchange it go home and plug it in and it works. They update my account info with the new router while I'm there, but still I'm suprised you have to wait 3 days for a technician.

The 3 days was for a technician to come and install a new cable company owned cable modem, the OP just needs to call and give them the MAC address for his third party modem.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: Baloo

Originally posted by: Specop 007
Interesting. When my modems go bad I pull the old one, drive to the nearest center, exchange it go home and plug it in and it works. They update my account info with the new router while I'm there, but still I'm suprised you have to wait 3 days for a technician.

The 3 days was for a technician to come and install a new cable company owned cable modem, the OP just needs to call and give them the MAC address for his third party modem.

That's how it should work.

I finished the network install, and the time warner guy wouldn't talk to me cause I wasn't the account holder, so she called back and that's what they said apparently, I'm going to tell her to call back.

i just thought it was odd, because my Verizon DSL isn't like that, maybe it's just cable internet providers?

 

[jersiq]

They may use Solaris DHCP servers for their DHCP leases.
Last time I set up a Solaris DHCP server, it requires the MAC address, which is usually populated buring the first boot request.
After the first boot request, the field is populated with the MAC address and I had to manually edit them by hand by either zeroing the field in the dhcptab, or populating the correct MAC address if the equipment was changed.

Can't say I'm too familiar with their network though.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: jersiq
They may use Solaris DHCP servers for their DHCP leases.
Last time I set up a Solaris DHCP server, it requires the MAC address, which is usually populated buring the first boot request.
After the first boot request, the field is populated with the MAC address and I had to manually edit them by hand by either zeroing the field in the dhcptab, or populating the correct MAC address if the equipment was changed.

Can't say I'm too familiar with their network though.

Sounds like a pain. 0.o

Seems like you'd be able to just add them right in under some type of Customer Data Management program.

But..companies never were the great technology adopters.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: TruePaige
So I installed this wifi network the other day.

Had to get a cable modem/router combo, because the ethernet port on the Time Warner modem was bad and wouldn't work with a stand alone router. Time Warner wants a large expanse of time to come out, and then would charge for a new cable modem anyway.

So I go ahead and get a Linksys for them, hook it up, everything on the network works, then all the screens start going to a page that says...

"Welcome to RoadRunner! Before you can use this service call and give the associate your MAC address listed below!"

...so long story short...the cables in their house, why would they need to prove it's them on the network?

It's just how cable modems work, they authenticate by mac address instead of username / password that dsl uses.

It's also why your linksys router has a user-definable mac address settings built into it, so when you change equipment, you do not have to call the cable company.

 

[Fritzo]

Most cable networks do use MAC filtering. Your router should be able to spoof the valid MAC address.