Chapter 4 Troubleshooting the Cable M odem
How Do I Arrange for Installation?
Call your service provider to inquire about professional installation. A professional
installation ensures proper cable connection to the cable modem and to your PC, and
it ensures the proper configuration of all hardware and software settings. Contact
your service provider for more information about installation.
How Does the Cable Modem Connect to My Computer?
The cable modem connects to the 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet port on your PC. To
use the Ethernet interface, your PC needs Ethernet cards. These ca rds are available
from your local PC or office supply retailer, or from your service provider. For best
performance over an Ethernet connection, your PC should be equipped with a
Gigabit Ethernet card.
After My Cable Modem Is Connected, How Do I Access the Internet?
Your local service provider becomes your Internet service provider (ISP). They offer
a wide range of services including email, chat, news, and information services. Your
service provider will provide the software that you will need.
Can I Watch TV and Surf the Internet at the Same Time?
Absolutely! If you subscribe to cable television service, you can watch TV and use
your cable modem at the same time by connecting your TV and your cable modem
to the cable network using an optional cable signal splitter.
Can I Use my Existing Phone Number with the Cable Modem?
Telephone numbers are portable in some areas. Contact your telephone service
provider for more information about using an existing telephone number.
How Many Telephones Can I Connect?
The RJ-11 telephone-style connectors on the cable modem can each provide
telephone service to multiple telephones, fax machines, and analog modems. The
maximum number of telephone devices connected to each RJ-11 port is limited by
the total Ringing Load of the telephone devices that are connected. Many telephone
devices are marked with a Ringer Equivalent Number (REN). Each telephone port
on the cable modem can support up to a 5 REN load. The sum of the REN loa d on all
of the telephone devices attached to each port must not exceed 5 REN.
