Cable Modems, Comcast, and Wireless Routers AAARGH!!!!

[Celebration]

I almost titled this "I am an idiot, too" but oops that has been done.

So I paid the tech guy to come over here and set up the wireless router after I got Comcast. Okay I hate Comcast but there is just no good alternative here at all. Everything worked fine, but then I added a splitter to put a small television in the study. Yes there is enough juice to do that in the cable. Great, now I have a TV in here plus this faster connection, but the wireless router doesn't work. Obviously somehow I disturbed some settings.

Rather than pay the tech guy again, I have been reading various problems about the use of wireless routers with Comcast. Apparently they make you jump through hoops because they think wireless routers all over the place cost them subscription money. Still, though not tech savvy at all, I can follow instructions, and I found these instructions--

o Plug your computer directly into the cable modem.
o Use "ipconfig /release" and "ipconfig /renew" from the windows command prompt to get a new IP address from the cable modem.
o Unplug your computer from the cable modem.
o Plug your computer into the router, leaving the router unplugged from the cable modem.
o Use ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew to get an IP address from the router.
o Enter the router's configuration with your web browser.
o Tell the router to Clone your Mac Address. wait a few seconds.
o Plug the router into the cable modem.
o In the web interface, tell the router to ask for a new IP address from the cable modem. (This is the "DHCP Renew" Button) The cable modem should think that you are the PC that just spoke with it and will let your router work again. You might have to ask it to renew a couple times.

So my question is, how do I plug my computer into the router, leaving the router unplugged from the cable modem??? How is the router connected to the internet if not through the cable modem? I don't get it. I thought, well, I could connect the router directly into the cable line except for one very important thing-- there is no cable attachement on the Linksys as there is on the modem, there is only a broadband connection. Am I missing something?

I'm not scared to try this myself, but here I am stymied by something that seems very basic. Yes, I may be an idiot, too.

[CK_John]

1. I think the 1st step is to undo the splitter hookup and return to original setup, n/t

[Celebration]

2. I already tried that

It didn't help.

[CK_John]

3. I am not sure of the modems involved, it would help if you give make and model

of each and I'll look them up, to see the connectors in question. Also did Comcast supply software to set up your account. Because that is the current MAC address they have on record.

There is usually a small reset button that you can use to reboot. You need only power to the modem no other connection. Hold the reset down (a ballpoint is good) until the lights start flashing about 45 secs.

Also when I said original configuration, I meant before the tech guy introduced the wireless. Then you should have the computer connected to the cable modem only. That should still work.

[Celebration]

4. hmmmm

Unfortunately, I try not to pay too much attention to these things. Now that mindset has changed. Originally, the Comcast guy could not connect the wireless, so I got the outside tech guy to do it. I already tried the reboot because Comcast at least tells their tech service guys that much. I didn't do the reset button but did the unplug/plug thing.

As for the software, I don't know. All I know is that Comcast works now, and the wireless doesn't, and that tons of people have problems with this same issue, and that most of them suspect that Comcast is being sneaky and doing things to sabotage the wireless routers. I am not tech savvy enough to actually verbalize this conspiracy theory. I do know that the idea to fix it is to trick Comcast somehow into thinking that the address of the router is actually the address of the computer. Does that make sense at all? I am just trying to follow step by step instructions and I broke down at the point stated. I am starting to suspect that my tech guy used my old Bellsouth (ATT connection) to set up the router entirely differently from Comcast, and tricked Comcast into thinking the router was the computer.

If so, I am in a little bit of trouble because I am going to get rid of Bellsouth ASAP, and this could all happen again. I don't really think I am being paranoid because of the 'net searches I have been doing. There are a lot of trees and squirrels in my area, and I lose power some. So even if I get it back fine again, it could go out.

The router is just full of phone line looking connections, not any cable connections. I have a Linksys SRX200. Are there routers that exist where you can screw in a cable connection? I could go buy one, but don't want to if I don't need to.

The tech guy is nice, but he gets off subject and charges by the hour. I am kicking myself for not buying the connector for the TV before he came the last time.

PS-- It was with great difficulty that I tried to sound like I knew anything above. The tech guy will come back tomorrow or Tuesday if I don't get this resolved. But if I need a different router before he comes, I guess I need to know now.

[CK_John]

5. You should have cable from your computer to the one of the 4 yellow

ports on the SRX200 (this cable should have come with the SRX200) and a cable from the blue port of the SRX200 to the cable modem.

But that about as far as I can go, without being there.

[Celebration]

6. thanks

Well they are linked, for sure, or were, rather. But it is linked with the broadband looking wires. When I had Bellsouth, and it linked to my phone line, it was that type wire that hooked directly into the modem. Now that I have Comcast, what hooks into the modem looks like the wire that goes into the television set.

So, when the directions say to link the router to the computer, but not through the modem (to accomplish the "trick") I don't know what they mean. How do I link the router to the computer, find an address for the router, etc. etc. when there is no connection to the internet through the modem? It makes no sense to me. So, I thought, I could put the cable directly into the router from the wall, but for the fact that the router does not accept that type of cable (like a TV set). I'm not sure that would work anyway. I don't know if that is what was meant or not. I am just trying to understand that step. All the instructions on the 'net for accomplishing this trick have similar advice.

[CK_John]

7. Did Comcast supply a cable modem? Check link for a pic reference

Cable Modem reference
<&S7ImageFlag=0&Depa=5&Description=LINKSYS+BEFCMU10+Cable+Modem+with+USB+and+Ethernet+Connections>

If you ever connected to Comcast you will have something like this cable modem. They normal offer a free modem or a purchase offer depending on your contract.

[Celebration]

8. Yes they gave me a modem

The connections look something like this. But the router doesn't have any connection that looks like the one on the right in the picture. So I was wondering if that is why I got hung up on that particular step in the instructions (wondering if they wanted me to put that wire directly into the router).

[CK_John]

9. What is the make and model # of the modem they gave you and when you

refer to router which device are we talking about.

[Celebration]

10. Model

ArrisTM502G/CT

The wireless router is SRX200 (Linksys)

When it worked with the wireless a few days ago everything was fine. But the tech guy had to do a lot of fiddling with it and read things on the internet about linking the wireless router to the modem. So that's how I got the idea to do the same thing. LOL. Unfortunately I can't figure out how to leave out the Arris to connect to the Linksys directly. I am wondering if he didn't use my old Bellsouth modem to accomplish this. I could try that I guess, but I want this resolved permanently, in case I have a power outage. I'm getting rid of Bellsouth. I'm going to ask him when he calls, but he is a better tech guy than explainer.

[CK_John]

11. From what the product page, it should have a

A cable port
An RJ 45 ethernet port
AN USB port
A RJ 14 telephone port
And a power port

Link to product page you can download the specifications (pdf http://www.arrisi.com/product_catalog/listers/index.asp?id=385>

Usual setup: cable comes into house, a splitter sends one side to tv, one side to ArrisTM502G/CT, Then either an rj45 cable or a usb cable to computer for direct connection or a rj45 cable to connect to SRX200 blue port then a rj45 cable to your computer from one of the yellow ports.

(If using telephone over the net, then from your phone to ArrisTM502G/CT phone port).

I have to go out, I'll check back this evening. I don't know about the BellSouth but it may be dsl modem and not a broadband, and it just adds to the confusion. This info is based on the use of a decktop computer and other wireless computers used around your house.

[Celebration]

12. thanks so much

See, the directions for fooling Comcast bypass the entire modem that they gave us. That is just temporary while you get some sort of address for the router. Then you hook the whole thing back together like you stated above. It is this very temporary bypass of the Comcast modem that I can't figure out--I think I will wait for the tech guy, who may come tomorrow. This time I watch with eagle eyes.

The one caveat is that in the future if this happens I may need a new router and if I do, I would rather go on and get it before he comes tomorrow. I might be able to talk to him about this first. In any case I will post here what happens.

[CK_John]

13. I'm not sure what the tech guy is doing but you're going to need the arris for your phone.

Comcast has an Arris cable modem that comes with a wireless builtin. I think you need to call them and tell them your thought the free modem came with wireless and they may swap it out for you or sell you one. Be business like and discussion any changes with the price of the package.

Also ask them what you need to do after they send you a new cable modem.

The tech guy may get the wireless working but you may lose the phone. So have him plug in your phone and make sure it works.

Also Comcast system expects the Arris to be on 24/7, the computer can be shut down, but without the Arris no phone.

[Celebration]

14. Okay, but I still have a Bellsouth phone

I have no cable phone. But I will give them a call and see what they say.

[CK_John]

15. The standard package for broadband around here comes with VO-IP, internet and cable TV.

IMO, they all seem to use the same software, the different company names are mostly a bookkeeping function.