Cable modem

[tkoster]

I am thinking of diving in to the high speed connection world and am wondering about what commitment is necessary to hook up our computers to a cable connection. I figure that I will have to get a router to hook up our multiple computers. Will I also need a cable modem or is that built in to a router?

Tim

[FoBoT]

the cable company might provide the cable modem as part of the package or charge an extra $10 a month to rent one. there are cable modems available for sale if you would prefer to do that

i would architecture your home LAN like this

cable line -> cable modem -> linux router/firewall/gateway box -> hub -> all the pc's

there are lots of choices on how to setup a linux router/firewall/gateway box. i use Coyote Linux (http://www.coyotelinux.com), a floppy disk based program that will run on a 486 pc

Freesco (http://www.freesco.org) is another floppy based router package

or you can of course build the linux box from scratch, if you have the time and inclination :)

good luck!

BTW - there are plenty of other ways to do this, this i just the model i prefer

[ 12 March 2001: Message edited by: FoBoT ]

[RageAHolic]

A cable modem is required...(I've not heard of a Router that included a DSL or Cable modem). I've heard of the Linksys router which is touted as a DSL/Cable router...but I don't think that it replaces the DSL/Cable modem.

Your ISP should provide you with a cable modem when you subscribe for their service... though I've heard of some ISPs that charge you an explicit rental fee for the modem (others don't charge anything, but you can consider it part of the montly connection fee). You may even have to purchase your own...these are the details that you'd want to get from your ISP.

But you will need a cable modem.

If you have a spare 486 with 2 NICs, and you check out the Internet Sharing NHF here at LNO, it might be cheaper and more educational to build a router out of a 486. Just another option....

[RageAHolic]

Hmmmmm...posted at the same time FoBoT :)

...By the way, if you choose to buy a cable modem...make sure that the modem is approved by your ISP and that they will provide tech support if you use something other than what they provide.

[ 12 March 2001: Message edited by: RageAHolic ]

[Tyr-7BE]

you'll be needing an ethernet card, but I've yet to see a cable company that doesn't supply that in the installation.

[Lorithar]

*grins*

And notes a heads up that noone has mentioned.
A) USB connected cablemodems and DSL modems are not well supported if AT ALL at this time in linux.

B) INTERNAL cable modems are a no go in Linux ...although they work well in windows, The companies that make them do NOT make linux drivers for them.


You want to make sure that whatever solution you go with, it is an external, ethernet connected modem.

[tkoster]

Thanks,

You told me what I needed to hear. Not necessarily what I wanted to hear but what I needed.

Tim

[JALU]

Well I can tell ya what I did. For one thing I have a cable modem that was provided by my ISP and they also provided a network card(in fact two, neither of which ever did work, but I had my own). The modem just plugged into the ethernet card, and worked, but since I wanted to run it on mulitple machines I bought one of the afore mentioned Linksys DSL/Cable Gateway Routers, which is also a 4 port switched 10/100 hud, as well as a firewall. Plugged all my numbers in, set it up to act as a dhcp server, which is a breeze, and there I was, every machine in the house was on the internet. Pretty easy. That was my experience, cost a little extra, but it was worth it. :D

[wtsamatta]

ack, my was a dumb *** :o when I had cable installed. I got raped $50 for a nic. All the equipment u need can be bought. I have at&t broadband<formerly mediaone>. If they want to rent u a modem, buy 1> they're about $150. It pays for itself in a little more than a year. As for the nic, they're about $15 at bestbuy.