Cable Internet Connection Sharing Woes

chevy4x4trucks · April 13, 2002

After problems w/ my DSL provider (ameritech, and I would NOT recommend them to anyone) I got roadrunner cable. Now, my problem is that it won't share the internet connection. I looked at the manual and it shows that you just plug it into your hub, or in my case a switch. Well, I did that and all the computers in my room are coming off of the same switch and it still is a no go. Only one of the computers is working (the compaq of all things) and the rest won't work. I checked the properties of the TC/IP on them all to make sure it was set to obtain an IP addy automatically. I'm lost, it just doesn't make sense.

Please help me

BTW, for those who are wondering, I can definetly see a speed difference, but it may look more impressive since my DSL service was running at dialup speeds for the past month.

gandolphxx · April 13, 2002

Do you have a Linksys cable/DSL router - I think thats what your going to need - roadrutter wont assign more than one DHCP address [what I have been told] :baa:

bassdog · April 13, 2002

gandolph is right, DHCP will only assign one IP. Jon, you need a router, not a hub / switch.

gmcjoe · April 13, 2002

I'm running the comcast cable into a linksys wireless router. The desktop is hard wired to it and the laptop can go out into the yard and still get 75% signal

They are right, a router is the way to go. Linksys has the 4 port router for $79.99 or so. I actually got the best price a few months back at amazon.com of all place.

Tobes · April 13, 2002

Well.....The setup he has would work if he purchased several IP addresses from the provider. But to run it off of just one IP address and use NAT, then yes he will need to purchase a router. The Linksys is just as good as any. Get one with a 4-port hub and it should almost be plug-n-play.

chevy4x4trucks · April 13, 2002

dang, looks like I'll be taking a trip to best buy this morning then. Better break out the credit cards ???

I'll let you know how the whole setup goes then. It's going to suck considering theres 8 computers in the house, which means I'd need an 8 port down here, and another one upstairs.

Tobes · April 13, 2002

If you already have a hub then you can hook it into the router. You can chain up to three of them together. Just hook the uplink port to one of the router's ports and voila, you now have more ports. just make sure the hub is hooked up with a crossover cable if it does not have a uplink port. Some of the newer ones will let you switch between "normal/uplink" on the port. Good luck

chevy4x4trucks · April 14, 2002

Done and done, I picked up a 4 port router from best buy (smallest they had) and hooked up the modem to that and the router to the switch and voila, I had internet again. I went to cancel my DSL on ameritechs home page and when you confirm the cancel it gives you an error that the page doesn't exist. Even in the death of my account it's going to be a PITA. Oh well, I'm going to call them monday, at least I can really complain about there service then.

But for those who think that DSL will be faster than cable, it is not.

gandolphxx · April 14, 2002

Glad that it is fixed - amazed that your DSL allowed multiple DHCP addresses - sure ain't the case with SWB. :baa:

Z71GUY · April 15, 2002

But for those who think that DSL will be faster than cable, it is not.

Ummm, not true. Depends on what kind of DSL service you pay for...also try using your cable during PEAK usage in your area....You will loose speed during this time.

Eric

chevy4x4trucks · April 15, 2002

I kid you not, this past month my DSL speed ran steadily at dial up speeds, no matter what time I was online. I did a speed test where dial up's average was a 5 and DSL and cable ranged from 125-150 and I got a 6.

Here's an clipping from roadrunners web page:

The DSL companies say that cable modems are "shared" and will slow down when too many people in my neighborhood come online. Is that true?

What the DSL companies want you to believe is that cable modems will slow down when more users come online and that DSL does not slow down because it is "dedicated", not shared. One DSL provider even built a series of marketing campaigns around this message. However, the DSL provider was instructed by a court of law to stop running the campaign because the message was not true. It is not true because a properly designed and managed cable modem system (such as Road Runner's) accommodates the popularity of the service.

There are two other things you should know about DSL and speed. The first is that DSL slows down the further you live from their facilities. The second is that DSL's "dedicated" connection is only for the short distance between your home and their facilities. From that point on, it is pooled with all other traffic. The truth is, ALL Internet technologies are shared, including DSL, and no one can guarantee or control speed, due to variables inherent to the Internet. However, it is one of Road Runner's major priorities to take all the appropriate steps regarding design, management and capacity that maintain a high-quality, high-speed online experience for our subscribers.

I don't know how true it is, I mean, they could be lying as well, but all I know is that this works and the DSL did not. By no means do I mean that all DSL service will suck in comparison, but if you live in Milwaukee don't get ameritech DSL. I know of a few people who had it and hated it. They use crummy software to connect, while with the cable it's always there. And that means a lot fewer headaches from other members of the household bothering me that the internet doesn't work. Maybe some DSL services are different, but I like the ease of not having to leave a computer running 24hrs a day sharing the DSL connection and also being able to go to work or sleep w/o worrying that it'll disconnect for some unknown reason. From what I've head TDS Metrocom actually has there act together and there serivce works. Ameritech, IMO, does not.

Z71GUY · April 15, 2002

I believe your service was running slow...thats all up to your DSL provider and thier sub-stations. It sounds like you have a bad local DSL service around there....I'd do the same thing you did....dump'em...

Eric

chevy4x4trucks · April 16, 2002

Yeah for 50 bucks a month you should get better speeds than dial up. I called them tons of times for some tech support and got the same answers each time, restart it, unplug the modem, reinstall the software. It got very annoying.