Free Motorola Surfboard Cable Modem Offer! FREE CABLE MODEM! When You Order Internet Service with Comcast, Cox or Charter

Comcast $100 Cash Back!
High-Speed Internet. 1st 6 mos for $19.99. Free Modem and speeds up to 12 Mbps.
www.comcastoffers.com

Road Runner High Speed
$29.95/mo for 6 months. Free Modem and Installation.
www.roadrunneroffers.com

Charter High-Speed® Internet
Charter Deals: $19.99 for 6 Mo Special.$50 Cash Back. Free Modem.
www.charterspecials.net

Cox High Speed Internet
Discount Intro Pricing, No Contract. Plus a Free Cox Fast Connect Kit!
www.coxspecials.com

Mediacom Broadband Internet
Up to 128 times faster than Dial-up. Only $19.95/mo for 12 months. $50 Cash Back.
www.mediacomonlineoffers.com

Configuration Questions

Questions and Answers

Back to Questions & Answers main page

What kind of computer do I need?

A fast cable modem connection will be hampered by a slow computer. That's especially true if you plan to use multimedia applications like streaming video and audio. If you can afford it, choose a machine with more, rather than less, horsepower; a large monitor that's at least 17 inches; and a high-quality video and audio card.

  PC Macintosh
Processor Pentium 166 MHz or higher equivalent PPC 603 or higher
RAM 32 MB

32 MB

Available Hard Disk Space 250 MB 250 MB
Video Card

SVGA with 2 MB or 16 Bit Color Depth

32 Bit Color
Operating System Windows 95 or Higher OS 8 Or Higher

Back to the top

How is a cable modem connected to a computer?

A cable modem connects to a computer through a standard 10Base-T Ethernet interface. A wire -- called Category 5 cabling -- is run from the cable modem to an Ethernet card installed in your computer. Data is transmitted between the cable modem and computer at 10 million bits per second (mbps).

Cable modem products under development also offer a Universal Serial Bus (USB) option. Assuming you have a USB port on your computer, you can connect a cable modem without installing an Ethernet card.

Back to the top

Does my computer have to be in the same room as my TV?

No. The cable company will install a dedicated cable line for your computer, wherever it is in your home.

Back to the top

Can I connect more than one computer to a cable modem?

Yes, a cable modem can deliver Internet access to several computers, assuming they're connected via a local area network (LAN). Cable modems typically have an Ethernet output, so they can connect to the LAN with a standard Ethernet hub or router. In this configuration, each PC must have an assigned IP address, which the cable ISP usually sells at a premium of $5 to $10 a month per PC. You also can run several PCs through a single IP address using Network Address Translation (NAT) software, such as WinGate, or through an Internet-sharing device. If you plan to use your computer's file- and printer-sharing functions, we encourage you to install a router or Internet-sharing device with a firewall between the cable modem and your LAN. That will ensure maximum protection from hackers and other intruders. See our Home Networking section for more information.

Back to the top

Can I connect a cable modem to a laptop computer?

Yes. Just install a PCMCIA Ethernet card in your laptop to connect to the cable modem's Ethernet interface.

Back to the top

Featured By:
Cable Modem

About Us

Cable Service

Topics

Modem Information

Content Guide

Download Guide

User Support

Site Details

Features