Connecting to a Cable Modem

Many cable television companies offer cable Internet accounts -cable connections to the Internet over the same cable that your television uses. Many refer to this service as broadband service. Downloading speeds can be fast, although the more people in your neighborhood who are using the cable, the slower transfers go. Cable Internet accounts have several advantages over dial-up Internet accounts:

• Speed Cable modems can communicate much faster than dial-up modems. Expect downloading speeds of 1 to 2 Mbps or more, and uploading speeds of between 500 Kbps and 1 Mbps.

• Separate line If you use a cable account, you don't tie up your regular phone line. If you currently pay for a separate phone line for your Internet connection, the cost of a cable Internet account won't be much more (depending on the phone and cable rates in your area).

Call your local cable company to find out if it offers an Internet service.

Getting Connected

To connect your computer to the cable system, you use a cable modem. It connects to a NIC (also used for connecting to a LAN-see Chapter 29) or (less commonly) to a USB port. Your cable company usually supplies the modem, along with the software and instructions for installing the cable modem and configuring Windows to use it. Some cable companies let you buy or lease the cable modem; consider leasing, because cable modem failure rates are reported to be high. As prices fall and quality improves , buying will eventually become more advantageous. The cable installer usually configures your NIC to work with the cable modem.

Configuring Windows for a Cable Modem

When your cable installer connects your PC to the cable modem, she usually also configures Windows to work with the cable modem. Windows communicates with the cable modem using the TCP/IP networking protocol, which you can configure. Choose Start Network, right-click your cable Internet connection, and choose Properties to see the Properties dialog box. Don't change the settings without information from your cable company.

Caution  

In the Properties dialog box for the cable Internet connection, make sure that neither the Client For Microsoft Networks check box nor the File And Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks check box is selected. If either is selected, deselect it- otherwise , other people in your neighborhood with cable Internet accounts may have access to your files and printer!