LITTLEBLACKDOG.COM

Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject:

No, there isnt a way to find that unless you had a data only trap and just scanned for which frequency still had levels.

I cant imagine that you had a service tech out, or called on the phone they wouldnt tell you, its not secret info.

From what I have heard the frequencies are generally similar on most networks. Ch 108 and 88, or their respective frequencies are common.

Many times the Data signal is actualy modulated onto a digital QAM. id have to check, but I believe we may be even using that 608Mhz range for more than just data, some of the higher channels, perhaps even HD channels may share it, as each QAM in the network is capable of 20Mbps digital transfer uncompressed, or somewhere thereabouts.

There most likely wont be empty channels in between, we use most of our high band frequencies consecutively.

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:12 am Post subject:

Why isn't the 'modem' considered the 'Gateway' instead of the 'router'??
It is the first device (a Gateway). If there was no router, then what is the Gateway?
Also, why is the MAC address of the computer what the CC wants to see (from what I have read), not the modems address? Why do they even need to know this?
To me, it seems to be the same as the Telco knowing all the telephone model numbers inside your house. Rolling Eyes

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 5:57 am Post subject:

I think you have some terminology confused, neither the modem or router are considered the "gateway" each device has a gateway IP, which is the initial IP hitting that device.

The gateway IP for the router is as far back as you can go from a PC, so we call that the gateway in that case.

If you were going staight from PC to modem, you could probably access the modem's gateway at something like 192.168.100.1, which would likely tell you signal levels and such.

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Also, why is the MAC address of the computer what the CC wants to see (from what I have read), not the modems address? Why do they even need to know this?

Im not really sure what you mean here with regards to the "modems address" The reason they need the mac is that is how the CMTS knows which cable modems are allowed to get online when plugged into a cable outlet. The modem only has that one unique way of identification. The CMTS has a list of active MAC addresses that are allowed to be allocated an IP. If you went and bought a modem from the store and connected it to cable, it would sync up, but not go online, as it was not registered in the cable companies CMTS.

It really is neccessary, if you were selling internet you wouldnt want everyone with a modem to be able to leech off you without paying. Laughing

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:54 am Post subject:

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each device has a gateway IP

Ok, "gateway ip". Most of the reading I have done including the manual for this route, the term "Gateway", "Default Gateway" and "Gateway address" are used over and over. A little confusing.

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Im not really sure what you mean here with regards to the "modems address"

MAC address of the modem.

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The reason they need the mac is that is how the CMTS knows which cable modems are allowed to get online when plugged into a cable outlet.

I completely understand this which is why I ask why do they need to know or have the NIC address? Hence the cloning the NIC address to the router.

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if you were selling internet you wouldnt want everyone with a modem to be able to leech off you without paying.

More than understood. Heaven forbid, it would cut into their bonuses. Rolling Eyes

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

If another cable company is requiring the NIC MAC to be registered thats very strange. I know my company doesnt log that information, everything is controlled by Modem MAC.

We can see the NIC mac but only of the device directly connected to the modem, be it a router's WAN port mac or a NIC's.

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:

It was my understanding that the CC sees the NICs' MAC and registers that #. If you change NICs' the connection (somehow) has to be updated.

Something like that anyway.

Leg Humper Joined: 16 Jan 2002 Posts: 5472

videobruce wrote:
It was my understanding that the CC sees the NICs' MAC and registers that #. If you change NICs' the connection (somehow) has to be updated.

Something like that anyway.

that is the case with comcast. That is why many able\dsl routers include a mac cloning feature.

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 10:29 am Post subject:

Not as far as I know.

On my system, you can take the same modem and connect 100 pc's to it right after the other, as long as you reset the modem each time.

The only thing we care about is that the modem you are using is being paid for.

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:48 am Post subject:

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The only thing we care about is that the modem you are using is being paid for.

That's the first bit of sense I have heard in the past few days (not just here, mind you). That doesn't seem to be the case with most systems from what I have seen.

AFAIC, it's NONE of the CCs' business what is past the modem! AS long as it isn't causing any technical issue with the system.

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 3:44 am Post subject:

videobruce wrote:
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The only thing we care about is that the modem you are using is being paid for.
That's the first bit of sense I have heard in the past few days (not just here, mind you). That doesn't seem to be the case with most systems from what I have seen.

AFAIC, it's NONE of the CCs' business what is past the modem! AS long as it isn't causing any technical issue with the system.

Well Bruce, it kinda matters, and if they ask you should be honest.

I sit on the phone doing general tech support for half my day, and I tell you, its the idiots who think it doesn't matter whats on that other end. 99% of the time, its the router, or a firewall thats causing the problem. The other half of my day, Im canceling trouble calls made in error cause the router was the cause of the problem.

As far as needing the MAC of a NIC, Comcast doesn't need that, and for as long as they've been in this city (at least 3 years) they've never required it. So, if they've required to have you NIC MAC, then you should question the motives of the person on the phone.

Bruce, what you have wrote seems to trouble me though. You never really said why you added the amp. Did a tech come out and suggest one? Or did you think that you needed one? Whatever the reason was, unless an actuall certified line tech suggested it, take it off, it will cause more problems.

Guide Dog Joined: 08 Nov 2003 Posts: 8402 Location: MN

sunkissezz wrote:
As far as needing the MAC of a NIC, Comcast doesn't need that, and for as long as they've been in this city (at least 3 years) they've never required it. So, if they've required to have you NIC MAC, then you should question the motives of the person on the phone.

Comcast doesn't require it here either, but if you change the device hooked up to most modems with out power cycling the modem, it doesn't pick up on the new mac...

Though comcast has been pissing me off recently... Their new "power boost feature" which is suppose to make your downloads start faster, doesn't work, and some how also made my connection go from 6Mb/s to 2-3Mb/s but I only have to deal with them until sunday, then I get to move some place where they can't hurt me any more (instead time warner will hurt me.)

EEps · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:41 am Post subject:

I use WhoAmI to check out my cable modem. Big Smile

You can even reset the MAC address listing...at least on my Motorola modem... Wink Smile

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:

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I sit on the phone doing general tech support for half my day, and I tell you, its the idiots who think it doesn't matter whats on that other end. 99% of the time, its the router, or a firewall thats causing the problem. The other half of my day, Im canceling trouble calls made in error cause the router was the cause of the problem.

So you don't misunderstand, I'm not against the support people trying to troubleshoot a problem, it's just the couple of calls to the local CC left me with the feeling I was intergreted. Mind you, this isn't the first call to tech support I have ever made (for other equipment), it was just the way it was handled by two different guys that seemed to sound more as the 'Cable Police' than a CSR. Maybe I'm reading between the lines to much, but what I sensed made me feel this way. Also I might add this wasn't my account (natually) and maybe they resented anyone else calling though nothing was said after I went through the ID steps (I did have their bill).

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if they've required to have you NIC MAC

I don't beleive that was asked.

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You never really said why you added the amp.

Addional sets and distance to one. The whole setup has changed many times over the years (just as a womans mind Rolling Eyes

) and sets get moved around and added. I have a SLM and know the signal was low. As it stands now, it's borderline.

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Though comcast has been pissing me off recently... Their new "power boost feature" which is suppose to make your downloads start faster, doesn't work, and some how also made my connection go from 6Mb/s to 2-3Mb/s

Probably from YOL (Yuppies on Line). Wink

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:06 am Post subject:

BamZipPow; Thanks for the link. I have heard of that many times before. So many programs, so little time..........

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

anglachel wrote:
sunkissezz wrote:
As far as needing the MAC of a NIC, Comcast doesn't need that, and for as long as they've been in this city (at least 3 years) they've never required it. So, if they've required to have you NIC MAC, then you should question the motives of the person on the phone.

Comcast doesn't require it here either, but if you change the device hooked up to most modems with out power cycling the modem, it doesn't pick up on the new mac...

Though comcast has been pissing me off recently... Their new "power boost feature" which is suppose to make your downloads start faster, doesn't work, and some how also made my connection go from 6Mb/s to 2-3Mb/s but I only have to deal with them until sunday, then I get to move some place where they can't hurt me any more (instead time warner will hurt me.)

Yea, the PowerBoost is a load of crap if you ask me. Its more of a download accelerator more than anything. What it is, the FCC won't let Comcast increase the speeds in certain areas because the competition isn't ready to increase, whereas in other areas, its as fast as 16mbps. In the areas that they aren't able to increase yet, they are doing the PowerBoost, and while it isn't the same, it can help if you download a lot.

As far as powercycling, yea....thats where the cloning feature can come in handy. If the router will support it, you can set it to clone the mac, and you won't have to clone. Another way out of this is a hub or switch, but if you don't have additional IP addresses, the other computers won't get online at one time (hence the reason for a router in the first place Shocked

)

Bruce, you say your signal is low. What signal, your noise ratio, your Upstream Power, Downstream Power? What kind of cable modem do you have?

If your Upstream power is lower that 53 dBmV, then its normal
If your Downstream power is lower than 10 dBmV then its normal

You have a motorola modem so open up your browser and in the address bar type in 192.168.100.1 That will bring you to the modem firmware page. There is a tab that says "signal". look at that, and it will tell you all that stuff that I put up above.

I'll screenshot mine tonight (which is normal) and show you what its supposed to look like, and what the levels are supposed to be.

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anglachel wrote:

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