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Cable Modem Users - Geek Alert

Bob Peale

Bob Peale

angeli ribelli
Joined
Sep 4, 1999
Posts
10,535
In case you're interested, CompUSA is having a sale on the Best Data Smartone Cable Modem (Model # CMX110). After instant savings and rebate it's $99.99.

When I first got service, modems were $299.99 and rental was $15 a month...the calculated payback time was wicked long.

I've had the modem over 15 months, no problems. At $99.99, my payback time just shrunk to 8 months...damn near moved into the disposable range! And configuring was a snap!

I know the modem is on the supported lists at both Roadrunner and Excite@Home.
 
OK - stupid question time. When you sign up for this, doesn't the cable company provide a modem for you? I don't understand.

I have been contemplating switching to cable since I am sooooooo disgusted and frustrated with my slow dial-up connection. It is unreliable and did I mention S-L-O-W?

I have been leery of a static IP though with an 'always-on' connection from cable. Doesn't that increase security risks? Or is that just being silly and overcautious?
 
No, you're not being overly cautious. But a properly configured firewall can do wonders for your security. It's not that hard to set up...

QUOTE]Originally posted by Barb Dwyer
OK - stupid question time. When you sign up for this, doesn't the cable company provide a modem for you? I don't understand.

I have been contemplating switching to cable since I am sooooooo disgusted and frustrated with my slow dial-up connection. It is unreliable and did I mention S-L-O-W?

I have been leery of a static IP though with an 'always-on' connection from cable. Doesn't that increase security risks? Or is that just being silly and overcautious? [/QUOTE]
 
Barb Dwyer said:
OK - stupid question time. When you sign up for this, doesn't the cable company provide a modem for you? I don't understand.
Click to expand...

If the cable company provides it, it is for a fee (usually $7 - $20).

Barb Dwyer said:
I have been leery of a static IP though with an 'always-on' connection from cable. Doesn't that increase security risks? Or is that just being silly and overcautious?
Click to expand...

It's rarely a static IP in the truest since. Most cable and dial up systems assign IPs the same way, using DHCP; it's just with cable, you can capture that IP longer. In may cases, the system will still recycle the IP after a while.

As for vulnerability, there are several very good PC firewalls out there, and in my case I actually have a router and hardware firewall running in my house. To date, I haven't experienced any problems.
 
Bob,

I have Roadrunner and have a question for ya. Since I subscribe to the service and they have provided a modem, if I were to buy a modem would I simply call them and ask for a rebate on my service bill each month? Don't know if you have an answer to that question, but what the heck.

And yes I too have a cable modem router AND a firewall (for backup of course).
 
Chuck meister,

If you look at your bill, you should see two charges every month...one for service and one for the modem rental. If you buy your modem and return the one they provided, the monthly modem charge goes away.
 
Will look into it, though I must admit I never see the bill that long. When I get my bill each month I review the amount and toss it away.

What kind of router are you using btw?
 
HomePortal 100

Liked it fora couple of reasons. Does both NAT and Packet filtering, plus acts as a hardware firewall and a DHCP server.

On top of all that, gives me the ability to convert my telephone wires to a home network via HomePNA, so all 3 floors of teh house are wired and I don't have to be in proximity of the hub.
 
whadda think about Link-Sys? I have this one Linksys 4-Port Cable/DSL 100BT Router BEFSR41......I think that's it.

Works well and does what I need it to and it was cheap-o ($96)
 
It works decently, but I didn't like having to get cables to the box or the fact that it doesn't do packet filtering.

It's a very solid performer though...
 
DSL here, and never a worry about if it's going to be up or not, just great service in my area I guess, phone company 2 blocks away from my house.

Static IP also, so I can run my own website from my house, no banners or any other shit like that. Plus all the space I can fit into my system hard drive wise.

Firewall software sucks far as I can tell, maybe just my system, or the way I did or didn't set it up right. I think my gateway has built in firewall though, so maybe that what's wrong.

Anyone know the up & downs between Cable & DSL? Since I don't have cable, satellite instead, I don't know these things.
 
I use Zone Alarm Firewall.......free on the Net.

I don't know the differences between cable and dsl as I have cable and have only heard bad things about DSL. Though I must admit and say anything is better than dial up. ;)
 
Chuckus said:
whadda think about Link-Sys? I have this one Linksys 4-Port Cable/DSL 100BT Router BEFSR41......I think that's it.

Works well and does what I need it to and it was cheap-o ($96)
Click to expand...

Buddy, that's one of the best routers for home you can get, and a DAMNED good price too!
 
lobito goto www.invado.com

it is a local place to me in Charlotte, NC

Check it out. I get lots of stuff from them, memory to hard drives.........there prices are reasonable and the service is good.
 
lobito said:
DSL here, and never a worry about if it's going to be up or not, just great service in my area I guess, phone company 2 blocks away from my house.

Static IP also, so I can run my own website from my house, no banners or any other shit like that. Plus all the space I can fit into my system hard drive wise.

Firewall software sucks far as I can tell, maybe just my system, or the way I did or didn't set it up right. I think my gateway has built in firewall though, so maybe that what's wrong.

Anyone know the up & downs between Cable & DSL? Since I don't have cable, satellite instead, I don't know these things.
Click to expand...

Biggest problem with DSL is that a lot of people can't get it. There is a very strict limitation that affects your ability to get surface, and throughput speeds degrade as the distance from the serving wire center increases.

On the other hand, Cable is just like your network at work. The more users, the slower the speed, although cable is much better about restricting the no. of users assigned to a hub.

They are comparable. Many say that cble is a cleaner signal, but I've worked with both and no proponents in both camps.

And you guys thought I was just a pretty headless body!
 
Bob Peale said:




And you guys thought I was just a pretty headless body!
Click to expand...

Nope Bob we knew better. And I concur with what you said. I think it is all relative. My cable modem fluctuates speed with amount of users on, i.e. during peek times it slows a bit, but in non-peek times man is it fast. Plus they do upgrade the hubs to match demand.
 
thanks guys, just wondered since I don't know anyone with cable modem.

And the utilities in my particular area are very good, power rarely goes out, phones almost always up, never anything down for more than a few hours at most. And as I said I live SO close to the actual phone compnay building, so speed problems are never thought about in my house.

Chuckus, I have a buddy who works for a small computer distributor where I am, and he gets me VERY good deals, just upgraded with an additional 256 mb dimm for $30, but I might check that other place out for shits & grins.

Oh and Bob? your Av still depresses the hell out of me, you or not!
 
No firewall = big problem

If you have a cable or DSL connection and don't use some type of firewall, you might as well leave your front door wide open and tell everyone it's unlocked. There are several good firewalls which can be downloaded for free. Once installed you will be shocked how often hackers try breaking in to your PC - it's not unusual for it to happen 5 or 6 times every day.

Go to www.download.com and get one there.
 
lobito said:
thanks guys, just wondered since I don't know anyone with cable modem.

And the utilities in my particular area are very good, power rarely goes out, phones almost always up, never anything down for more than a few hours at most. And as I said I live SO close to the actual phone compnay building, so speed problems are never thought about in my house.

Chuckus, I have a buddy who works for a small computer distributor where I am, and he gets me VERY good deals, just upgraded with an additional 256 mb dimm for $30, but I might check that other place out for shits & grins.

Oh and Bob? your Av still depresses the hell out of me, you or not!
Click to expand...

No problemo lobito. You 256 Meg (PC133 or what?) for $30? WOW what a deal. I got mine for $45 per 256 Meg of PC133.
I have a gig of RAM in my machine.......I can use 4-512Meg chips for 2 Gigs total........anyone know any cheap-o PC133 512 Meg Chips (for shits and giggles) not that I NEED 2 Gigs of ram mind you but what the heck.
 
Re: No firewall = big problem

miles said:
If you have a cable or DSL connection and don't use some type of firewall, you might as well leave your front door wide open and tell everyone it's unlocked. There are several good firewalls which can be downloaded for free. Once installed you will be shocked how often hackers try breaking in to your PC - it's not unusual for it to happen 5 or 6 times every day.

Go to www.download.com and get one there.
Click to expand...

Dead right miles..........dead right. Just leave the keys in the car next time........
 
HEY I leave my keys in the car ALL the time, what's wrong with that? At least I have the good sense to lock the door though. On the other hand, it costs me a fortune to call a locksmith.

And yes PC133 for the memory. I do graphic design for his company so I get GREAT bargains all the time.
 
Chuckus said:


No problemo lobito. You 256 Meg (PC133 or what?) for $30? WOW what a deal. I got mine for $45 per 256 Meg of PC133.
I have a gig of RAM in my machine.......I can use 4-512Meg chips for 2 Gigs total........anyone know any cheap-o PC133 512 Meg Chips (for shits and giggles) not that I NEED 2 Gigs of ram mind you but what the heck.
Click to expand...

Need is a relative term.

Extremely relative :)
 
I've had Cable Modem for about 18 months now. I'd never go back to a dial-in. Though DSL is just as good - depends what's available in your area.

I chose to pay the $5 a month rental fee rather then buy the cable modem itself. I recommend this because if they upgrade the system the modem you buy might not be compatible with the upgrades and when you "rent" it they will give you a new modem when they change their standards. Additionally, if you have any problems they will fix or replace it.

And yes - never go with an "always on" connection without a Firewall. There are several good products on the market - I recommend Symantec Personal Firewall though I use a hardware firewall myself. This is so I can have multiple computers online at the same time (My router box is also a firewall and an ethernet hub).
 
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