What do I need for cable internet?

grsamf · 07-04-2003, 03:23 PM

It's been a while since I asked a question that reveals the depth of my lack of knowledge, so it's about time to correct any erroneous assumptions that I know anything. I am thinking about moving from DSL to cable for several reasons. The cable company in my area has basically free set-up and will provide a modem free (after rebates). The modem can connect either by USB or ethernet. Other threads here (one about a year old in particular) seem to indicate that ethernet is better than USB.

That leads to my question. The cable website says I may need an ethernet card, but I have a P4PE with LAN and RJ-45 port. Do I need anything else or will a cable modem work with the RJ-45? The cable folks have offered to sell me a card for $45 or so, which explains how they can do free installation. I may not know much, but I know better than that.

wcg12 · 07-04-2003, 03:30 PM

You have all you need with the built in P4PE Lan (RJ-45) connection.

rayray9 · 07-04-2003, 03:42 PM

You should be fine with the goods you have, look at the cable and make sure it is cat 5 or better RJ-45 type. Also check to see if the cable company will allow you to use a different modem in the future, my cable company gave me a problem with changing my mac id address from the modem I was originally under contract though. I've used either the usb or the ethernet connections and IMHO the ethernet works better for me. Look into wireless routers to if your running more than one rig or have get togethers with buds. There has been a debate over how many times the coaxial cable has been split, and the type of splitters used before it connects to the modem itself. Apperently the more splits and cheapo splitters has a great affect on the overall bandwidth. I grabbed my cable right outside the house and split it into two using an Ideal splitter with high banwidth, I'll get the part number for ya! One cable only does the modem (Linksys) and the other for the televisions. Finally the type of coax used also plays a role RJ-6 or RJ-59, Ill do some snooping around and see if I can link up some sites with info.

rjs735 · 07-05-2003, 09:58 AM

After having a usb and an ethernet cable modem.

My preference hands down is ethernet. Sharing is simpler for internet access sharing.

Just curios I also had dsl because of bandwidth. And moved and dsl is not available where I am now, SO cable is the only choice.

Dsl gives you essentially a dedicated line with set bandwidth. Cable is variable because of number of users on same service drop.

clown boy · 07-05-2003, 11:09 AM

*ive been useing the ethernet with cable modem,, i have 4 systems on line .. i use ethernet cards on 3 and the onboard asus on mine everything is working great ..the bps (i think thats what it is ) is like 3 million with a flux to 2.5 .... seems fast enough for me ..... if u use the onboard , make sure u load the drivers found on the cd ... gl....

grsamf · 07-05-2003, 11:16 AM

Right now I am just weighing the pros and cons of a switch and trying to calculate the costs, as well as figuring out the hassle of new e-mail address and all the other things associated with such a change.. I have been having some difficulties with my DSL and the rates for cable are marginally lower. I have been talking to the phone company and my ISP and together they tell me the problems will be solved, so I hope to stay with DSL. My contract is up this month and I want to make a decision before I renew it.

JoeFrat · 07-05-2003, 11:43 AM

Cable service really depends on how good your isp has zoned your area. If there are too many people in a given zone, the speeds will be horrid, sometimes as slow as a 56k connection! On the other hand, if it is zoned properly you can see download speeds in excess of a dedicated t-1, especially late at night when no one is on.

DSL really depends on how good the phone lines are to and in your home. If they are getting old in either case, you will have connection problems and poor performance. Otherwise it is very steady and doesn't slow down as much when there are many users on. I can tell you that I seriously doubt that the phone co. will change their old lines just because you are having connection problems, at least SBC never does around here.

I currently have comcast cable. It's been excellent from day one, but I had to re-install windows to get rid of the comcast installer crap that they use to activate the modem when you first buy it. I've had both and as long as they are working well I have no preference.

Ok enough about that. Get a router. Netgear is my preferred choice, due it's superior setup capabilities vs any linksys product, not to mention that the failure rate of the BEF linksys series for me has been 100% (10 of 10)in the last year. If you are security conscious, some kind of SPI(stateful packet inspection) firewall router is good choice, otherwise a basic router will protect you from most i-net attacks.

easternjane · 07-05-2003, 11:47 AM

Cable modem is great. I live in a neghiborhood where only 1 person has the cable modem on the hub im on. and there are only about 5 people in the neghiborhood who have it. So mine runs like a t-1 24-7. I have a friend who has dsl and he claims its faster than cable but when i went over their and played with his dsl. I was slow as hell. Id recommend cable modem anytime over dsl.

grsamf · 07-17-2003, 07:42 AM

I went ahead and got hooked up to cable. I can cancel after 30 days and it will only cost me a few bucks, so I didn't cancel my dsl yet. I'll see how I like the cable after a few days.

For the first few hours, it is no contest. dslreports shows my download at better than 1.5M. I downloaded on 18+M file in 2 min. and 3 sec. and a 23M file in 1 min 54 sec. The cable is 5 times as fast as my dsl was running and it will be a few dollars cheaper. Am I spoiled or what? I remember when my 56k dialup was "great."

One question: Some have suggested a router. I am running ZoneAlarm Pro. I know opinions about ZA range from it's a piece of crap to it's the best. But it seems to always have worked well for me and various web security checks show I am well hidden. I only have the one computer and all file sharing is turned off. What would I gain in security with a router?

JoeFrat · 07-17-2003, 07:49 AM

In your case probably nothing, except for more system resources.

07-04-2003, 03:23 PM	#1
grsamf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,739	What do I need for cable internet? It's been a while since I asked a question that reveals the depth of my lack of knowledge, so it's about time to correct any erroneous assumptions that I know anything. I am thinking about moving from DSL to cable for several reasons. The cable company in my area has basically free set-up and will provide a modem free (after rebates). The modem can connect either by USB or ethernet. Other threads here (one about a year old in particular) seem to indicate that ethernet is better than USB. That leads to my question. The cable website says I may need an ethernet card, but I have a P4PE with LAN and RJ-45 port. Do I need anything else or will a cable modem work with the RJ-45? The cable folks have offered to sell me a card for $45 or so, which explains how they can do free installation. I may not know much, but I know better than that.
(Offline)

07-04-2003, 03:30 PM	#2
wcg12 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 127	You have all you need with the built in P4PE Lan (RJ-45) connection.
(Offline)

07-04-2003, 03:42 PM	#3
rayray9 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 860	You should be fine with the goods you have, look at the cable and make sure it is cat 5 or better RJ-45 type. Also check to see if the cable company will allow you to use a different modem in the future, my cable company gave me a problem with changing my mac id address from the modem I was originally under contract though. I've used either the usb or the ethernet connections and IMHO the ethernet works better for me. Look into wireless routers to if your running more than one rig or have get togethers with buds. There has been a debate over how many times the coaxial cable has been split, and the type of splitters used before it connects to the modem itself. Apperently the more splits and cheapo splitters has a great affect on the overall bandwidth. I grabbed my cable right outside the house and split it into two using an Ideal splitter with high banwidth, I'll get the part number for ya! One cable only does the modem (Linksys) and the other for the televisions. Finally the type of coax used also plays a role RJ-6 or RJ-59, Ill do some snooping around and see if I can link up some sites with info. __________________ Inventor of the rotating heatsink and the solar powered flashlight!
(Offline)

07-05-2003, 09:58 AM	#4
rjs735 Virus? What I am not sick Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,822	After having a usb and an ethernet cable modem. My preference hands down is ethernet. Sharing is simpler for internet access sharing. Just curios I also had dsl because of bandwidth. And moved and dsl is not available where I am now, SO cable is the only choice. Dsl gives you essentially a dedicated line with set bandwidth. Cable is variable because of number of users on same service drop. __________________ Asus P4S8x 2.0 Ghz Celeron Ram 512MB WDC 80GB HD SATA WDC 80GB SATA Memorex DUAL DVD/RW Win98SE/XP pro Asus P2b-F Cel 450 Ram 256MB W98 SE Optorite CDRW WD 40GB Asrock P4combo P4 346 Xp Pro Sp 3 SATA HD SATA DVD/RW Foxconn 925EX 550 XP Media SP2 Sata HD Sata DVD/RW Foxconn 925EX 550 Xp SP2 Asrock 775Dual 550 Xp pro SP2 IBM T23 1.3hz RAM 512MB XP pro SP2 All systems are networked Konica Minolta Color Laser Samsung clp-315 Color laser Dlink 655 Dlink G650 Wireless
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07-05-2003, 11:09 AM	#5
clown boy just clownin around,, Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: new jersey Posts: 284	*ive been useing the ethernet with cable modem,, i have 4 systems on line .. i use ethernet cards on 3 and the onboard asus on mine everything is working great ..the bps (i think thats what it is ) is like 3 million with a flux to 2.5 .... seems fast enough for me ..... if u use the onboard , make sure u load the drivers found on the cd ... gl....
(Offline)

07-05-2003, 11:16 AM	#6
grsamf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,739	Right now I am just weighing the pros and cons of a switch and trying to calculate the costs, as well as figuring out the hassle of new e-mail address and all the other things associated with such a change.. I have been having some difficulties with my DSL and the rates for cable are marginally lower. I have been talking to the phone company and my ISP and together they tell me the problems will be solved, so I hope to stay with DSL. My contract is up this month and I want to make a decision before I renew it.
(Offline)

07-05-2003, 11:43 AM	#7
JoeFrat Registered Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,849	Cable service really depends on how good your isp has zoned your area. If there are too many people in a given zone, the speeds will be horrid, sometimes as slow as a 56k connection! On the other hand, if it is zoned properly you can see download speeds in excess of a dedicated t-1, especially late at night when no one is on. DSL really depends on how good the phone lines are to and in your home. If they are getting old in either case, you will have connection problems and poor performance. Otherwise it is very steady and doesn't slow down as much when there are many users on. I can tell you that I seriously doubt that the phone co. will change their old lines just because you are having connection problems, at least SBC never does around here. I currently have comcast cable. It's been excellent from day one, but I had to re-install windows to get rid of the comcast installer crap that they use to activate the modem when you first buy it. I've had both and as long as they are working well I have no preference. Ok enough about that. Get a router. Netgear is my preferred choice, due it's superior setup capabilities vs any linksys product, not to mention that the failure rate of the BEF linksys series for me has been 100% (10 of 10)in the last year. If you are security conscious, some kind of SPI(stateful packet inspection) firewall router is good choice, otherwise a basic router will protect you from most i-net attacks.
(Offline)

07-05-2003, 11:47 AM	#8
easternjane Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 518	Cable modem is great. I live in a neghiborhood where only 1 person has the cable modem on the hub im on. and there are only about 5 people in the neghiborhood who have it. So mine runs like a t-1 24-7. I have a friend who has dsl and he claims its faster than cable but when i went over their and played with his dsl. I was slow as hell. Id recommend cable modem anytime over dsl.
(Offline)

07-17-2003, 07:42 AM	#9
grsamf Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 3,739	I went ahead and got hooked up to cable. I can cancel after 30 days and it will only cost me a few bucks, so I didn't cancel my dsl yet. I'll see how I like the cable after a few days. For the first few hours, it is no contest. dslreports shows my download at better than 1.5M. I downloaded on 18+M file in 2 min. and 3 sec. and a 23M file in 1 min 54 sec. The cable is 5 times as fast as my dsl was running and it will be a few dollars cheaper. Am I spoiled or what? I remember when my 56k dialup was "great." One question: Some have suggested a router. I am running ZoneAlarm Pro. I know opinions about ZA range from it's a piece of crap to it's the best. But it seems to always have worked well for me and various web security checks show I am well hidden. I only have the one computer and all file sharing is turned off. What would I gain in security with a router?
(Offline)

07-17-2003, 07:49 AM	#10
JoeFrat Registered Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,849	In your case probably nothing, except for more system resources.
(Offline)

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