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Setting Up
Your Cable Service
Your cable company may send a technician to install your service or they
may send you a self-install kit. The process is pretty much the
same either way.
- Most cable companies will not support a home network. Install
the system on one computer and get it working before setting up the
network.
- If you tell the cable company you are sharing the connection they
may provide extra IP addresses and bill for them.
- If you do set up a home network you must be able to revert to a single
computer connection to troubleshoot the service.
Prepare for your new connection
Television cable is bulky and can be unsightly if run on the surface.
It can also be damaged if it is placed in a doorway, where the door can
close on it. Plan the installation carefully before the cable technician
arrives.
- Determine where the cable modem will be located. It should be
near your computer or your Internet sharing router.
- The easiest place to "split" the connection is near an existing
TV connection, however, the technician can cut the line to install a
splitter almost anywhere.
- Be preapared to pay extra for a total in-the-wall installation.
- You will need an Ethernet card. If the cable company does not
furnish one purchase a modern 100 MB PCI type Ethernet card. If you
try to save a few bucks on an older 10 MB model you could find you have
trouble getting drivers for it.
- For a single PC you can also use the USB connection found on some
cable modems.
Configuring your new service
If a technician does the installation they will register your modem and
configure the computer. If you do the installation you will have
to attend to these details. Several things are necessary to complete
the installation, regardless of who does it.
- A technician should check the RF level on the line. A low RF
level can cause major problems with your Internet service. If your TV
reception is poor the Internet connection may be unusable.
- The modem needs to be provisioned, or registered. Its model,
serial number, and "MAC Address" (a unique serial number)
must be entered into the cable company's computer.
- Once the modem is provisioned it should connect to the cable network.
This can take a while, as long as 1/2 hour. This is a good time
to set up the computer.
- If you plan to share your broadband connection you should install
the service on one computer to ensure it is working. If you have
problems your provider will want you to be working on a single machine
when they help you troubleshoot..
- Be sure to set up you e-mail accounts. The cable company should give
you information needed to do this.
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