[ale] Question about cable modem connections

[Björn Gustafsson]

As I recall, to initially set up the cable modem you need to log into
a web interface on it and supply your Comcast email and password.
That "authenticates" the cable modem onto their network.  This is a
one-time setup that binds the modem to your Comcast account.

Unfortunately I believe the web interface in question only works with
IE.  I may be misremembering, but my recollection is that even with a
Windows box I couldn't use Firefox when I set up our new cable modem
this past spring.

It happens that I tested yesterday whether the cable modem is bound to
a particular MAC, and it is not.  I switched the modem between PCs and
a wifi router without needing to reconfigure it, or even reboot it.

2008/10/1 Joshua Kite <jwkite at gmail.com>:
>
> I'm not sure that really solves the problem that Jim brings up.  As I
> recall, cable modems traditionally grab the MAC address of the first PC
> which connects to it, and from then on ONLY that MAC address is accepted,
> which is why the router would need to clone the MAC address of that
> computer.  However, I also think that I've had no problems connecting other
> PC's directly to the modem, so Comcast may have changed their ways.
>
> I have Comcast, so I will take a few minutes for an experiment.  I'll take
> apart the network and connect my Linux desktop to the modem, see what
> happens, and report back.  Of course, whatever happens with my set up may
> not represent what will happen with hers, but it might give an indication.
>
> Josh Kite
>
> 2008/10/1 Warren Myers <volcimaster at gmail.com>
>>
>> You could preconfigure the router at your house, then send it with her.
>> Restarting the router forces it to regrab the IP address of the device it's
>> connected to (at least on the ones I've used).
>> WMM
>>
>> On Wed, Oct 1, 2008 at 8:32 AM, Jim Lynch <ale_nospam at fayettedigital.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Jim Kinney wrote:
>>> > All the cable modem crap I've dealt with require a registered MAC
>>> > address. So the installer sets up the box i.e. - plugs it in) and then
>>> > phones in to have the new device "approved" witht he MAC address of
>>> > the WINDOWS PC plugged into it. The modem does not provide dhcp. The
>>> > upstream cable service provides it.
>>> >
>>> >  I would recommend providing a broadband router of some sort (wireless
>>> > optional) as the WAN side by default is looking for dhcp service.
>>> >
>>> I'd never be able to get her to install and configure a router.  Surely
>>> I can just furnish her with the mac address if the ethernet card in the
>>> laptop, can't I?  I don't think there will ever be a time that more than
>>> that one computer is connected in that home, unless I'm there.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Jim.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Warren Myers
>> http://warrenmyers.com

-- 
Björn Gustafsson