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kittyfire · 06-04-2004, 02:48 PM

Bah, just typed a long response and lost it. Now I'll just do the cliff's notes version...

The reason you can't run more than one modem is because of the way cable internet service is provisioned. You have an always on connection so you don't sign on with a user name and password. Instead, the mac address of the modem is registered and connectivity is granted to that device. Each modem has a unique mac so if you try to use another modem, it will not be able to connect since that mac address isn't recognized by the cable system. It's the same when people get new modems then call in all upset their internet isn't working. Their internet is fine. There's just a new device with a different mac address trying to get online and it will never get online until that new address is registered.

Most cable companies will let you use more than one modem but to provision more than one modem... that is, to register more that one mac address in the system for you... they charge you for each mac address registered and they charge the full subscription price. So yes, it would double the charges to use more than one modem.

If people want more than one IP address... and they don't want a router IP, but an internet IP... then they have to use a hub. One modem and a hub so they can get additional IPs. If there's more than one person in the house who is a gamer, that's usually what they have to do as some online gaming services will not allow a 192 or 172 IP and with a router you can only DMZ one computer... that is, place it outside the router's scope of responsibility so it doesn't get an IP from the router.

So much for the cliff notes version...

With DSL some people use routers that are able to use their existing phone lines to network their computers together with a special router and adapters that go to the phone outlets in different rooms. Now, I don't know if they make a router that can take a cable internet signal as the uplink then use the existing phone lines to network. If they do, that may be an option for you if the wireless doesn't work properly. If they don't... well if they don't they're losing money because I can see where that'd be advantageous to a lot of users.

Honestly, I think this reply is even longer than the original one I typed.

06-04-2004, 02:48 PM	#28
kittyfire Member (8 bit) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 139	Bah, just typed a long response and lost it. Now I'll just do the cliff's notes version... The reason you can't run more than one modem is because of the way cable internet service is provisioned. You have an always on connection so you don't sign on with a user name and password. Instead, the mac address of the modem is registered and connectivity is granted to that device. Each modem has a unique mac so if you try to use another modem, it will not be able to connect since that mac address isn't recognized by the cable system. It's the same when people get new modems then call in all upset their internet isn't working. Their internet is fine. There's just a new device with a different mac address trying to get online and it will never get online until that new address is registered. Most cable companies will let you use more than one modem but to provision more than one modem... that is, to register more that one mac address in the system for you... they charge you for each mac address registered and they charge the full subscription price. So yes, it would double the charges to use more than one modem. If people want more than one IP address... and they don't want a router IP, but an internet IP... then they have to use a hub. One modem and a hub so they can get additional IPs. If there's more than one person in the house who is a gamer, that's usually what they have to do as some online gaming services will not allow a 192 or 172 IP and with a router you can only DMZ one computer... that is, place it outside the router's scope of responsibility so it doesn't get an IP from the router. So much for the cliff notes version... With DSL some people use routers that are able to use their existing phone lines to network their computers together with a special router and adapters that go to the phone outlets in different rooms. Now, I don't know if they make a router that can take a cable internet signal as the uplink then use the existing phone lines to network. If they do, that may be an option for you if the wireless doesn't work properly. If they don't... well if they don't they're losing money because I can see where that'd be advantageous to a lot of users. Honestly, I think this reply is even longer than the original one I typed.