[ale] Cable modem recommendation

[scott mcbrien]

Here's the one I'm currently using with Comcast:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XC6GJ0

Getting them to activate it was easy, called the tech support phone
line, told them I had my own modem, they asked for the MAC address of
it, sent a reset signal or two, and it was done.  Took about 30'ish
minutes.

-Scott

On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 10:31 AM, mike at trausch.us <mike at trausch.us> wrote:
> On 04/02/2012 10:08 AM, Michael H. Warfield wrote:
>> On Mon, 2012-04-02 at 09:47 -0400, mike at trausch.us wrote:
>>> On 04/02/2012 08:33 AM, Lightner, Jeff wrote:
>>>> Does anyone know if there is a special device required for Comcast
>>>> telephone and if so would they be charging an extra monthly fee and
>>>> if so if one can buy one rather than rent as they can with cable
>>>> modem?
>>
>>> It is indeed some form of VoIP.  That said, just like many of the VoIP
>>> providers, they typically require that you use an MTA that is provided
>>> by them and therefore provisioned through them.
>>
>> Well, there's some variation in the degree of "required".  AT&T Uverse
>> very strongly wants you to use their RG (Residential Gateway) to provide
>> HPNA network over coax, video over IP, phone VoIP, wired networking and
>> wireless networking.  But their RG is a serious POS.  It goes dain
>> bramaged every once in a while requiring a reset, sometimes loses
>> setting like static mappings, has a dhcp server that's total junk, and
>> doesn't support a lot of things I would personally consider mandatory in
>> a modern device.  (The set top boxes - STBs - even run Windows ME for
>> crying out loud - stone knives and bearskins.)  You CAN replace it with
>> one you buy off the shelf I read on article on a person's experience
>> getting it up and running.  It wasn't a pleasant experience since the
>> AT&T people are not familiar with provisioning the devices and are not
>> encouraged or encouraging to pursue it.  But they will, if forced.  He
>> got his running.  It can be done.  It likely won't be easy.
>
> DSL networks are very different from cable networks.
>
> In DSL networks, authentication occurs using your personal credentials,
> usually over some form of PPP (PPPoE is what AT&T uses, if memory
> serves).  It is a PITA, but it is possible to do absolutely anything you
> want; they cannot make you use a particular device, all they can say is
> that your device must not interfere with the telco's network.
>
> OTOH, cable networks use MAC addresses for authentication (wonderful,
> isn't it?).  A residential Comcast customer that has no services other
> than Internet (or Internet and TV, the important thing here being that
> they do not have the Voice package) can go out to the store, pick up a
> cable modem, install it, and then call Comcast.  Comcast will require
> that you read the MAC address of the device, and then they will
> "provision" it, which involves sending a configuration file to your
> local node or hub or whatever it is on their network that your modem
> actually talks to.  Then, the cable modem will be able to grab a
> configuration file and you'll be out of the walled garden.
>
> Now, I have been told that the business class side works a little
> differently; they use some form of PKI to provide authentication for the
> routed tunnel that you obtain through them.
>
> In the case of AT&T and having a routed block, they will just send your
> routed block over your PPPoE session, once established.
>
> I have no clue how to determine what my current cable modem is doing,
> because I haven't the ability to capture or monitor the coax side of the
> network.  If I could only do that...
>
>>> I don't know what Comcast's rules are; I'm not sure if they allow you to
>>> swap out for your own dedicated devices or not.  I know that many other
>>> providers do not, because of the recent requirements that they provide
>>> certain services in the same way as landlines (e.g., 911 service).
>>> Therefore, they likely require that you use their own device so that
>>> they can control the configuration and such.
>>
>>> The advantage to Comcast's MTAs (which are built-in to the cable modem
>>> itself) is that they have a battery back-up contained in the box, too.
>>> This makes them bigger and heavier, of course, but it means that during
>>> short power outages, you still have telephone service.
>>
>> The AT&T unit has an external battery backup that includes it's DC
>> supply.  I would consider that a plus to having a built in one.  As most
>> of us know all too well, those gel cells go bad after a few years and
>> are worthless.  Then you replace the battery or the UPS or the device.
>> I would much MUCH rather have a separate UPS that alerts you when the
>> battery is failing or needs replacement.  The one on the AT&T unit isn't
>> anything to brag about but it doesn't have anything serious to carry.
>> If it died, they could easily replace it without swapping my whole RG or
>> ripping it apart to replace.
>
> Agreed.
>
> All-in-one devices are horrible.  Evil.
>
> The current cable modem that I have is also a router/gigabit switch.  I
> cannot disable most of its functionality, and I can't do complex things
> with my address space, because this thing sucks so horribly.  If only I
> had control of my own IPv4 network... oh, well, that's what IPv6 is for!
>  :-)
>
>        --- Mike
>
> --
> A man who reasons deliberately, manages it better after studying Logic
> than he could before, if he is sincere about it and has common sense.
>                                   --- Carveth Read, “Logic”
>
>
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