Cox@home questions!
Jean S. Barto
I'm thinking about getting Cox@home cable modem service, and I'd like to
know if I'll be able to use Entourage/Outlook Express to access my mail
account (instead of depending on their web-based mail!). I also hope the
service subscribes to newsgroups (like my current ISP, Mindspring/Earthlink
does).
Also, I'd like the service on 2 computers--my iMac, which is upstairs in my
home office, and my Dell Inspiron 3700 laptop, which is downstairs in my
living room. I *do not* want to move the Dell laptop upstairs--I want to
keep it downstairs. I have 10/100 Ethernet ports for both computers--built
in on the iMac, and through a removable *card* on the Dell laptop.
As I understand it, I will either have to pay for two modems (have each
computer connected separately to my cable), or use a *router* to somehow
connect the two computers. Does this mean that there would need to be a
*hard wire connection* between the router, and the cable modem (Ethernet, or
other type of computer cables)?? If this is the case, I'm not capable (or
do I want to) of running Ethernet cable all over my house, and doing all the
drilling, etc in my walls to run the cables properly.
If this is the case, I'll either have to get the Cox@home service on just
*one* computer, or pay a lot extra each month for 2 modems/2 separate
connections!
It's not really critical for me to have the computers networked--meaning, I
don't really need to *see* the Dell laptop on my iMac desktop, for example,
or vice versa--I *would* like, however, to have the Cox@home service on both
my computers.
Hopefully someone here on the newsgroups can suggest/advise me on this.
Although I've used computers for 13 years, I'm a true novice when It comes
to networking issues!
Thanks--
Jean Barto
Newport News, VA
Tom Stiller
<jba...@mindspring.com> wrote:
>Hello all--
>
>I'm thinking about getting Cox@home cable modem service, and I'd like
>to know if I'll be able to use Entourage/Outlook Express to access my
>mail account (instead of depending on their web-based mail!). I also
>hope the service subscribes to newsgroups (like my current ISP,
>Mindspring/Earthlink does).
Well, I have Comcast@home and I can use Entourage or Outlook Express to
access mail, though I prefer Claris Em@ailer. There are more than
30,000 news groups available so there's a good chance the ones you use
are included.
>
>Also, I'd like the service on 2 computers--my iMac, which is upstairs
>in my home office, and my Dell Inspiron 3700 laptop, which is
>downstairs in my living room. I *do not* want to move the Dell laptop
>upstairs--I want to keep it downstairs. I have 10/100 Ethernet ports
>for both computers--built in on the iMac, and through a removable
>*card* on the Dell laptop.
If the iMac is AirPort ready, there are a couple of choices:
1. Install an AirPort card in the iMac, opeerate it as a software base
station and install one of the available 11 Mbps wireless network PCMCIA
cards in tyour DELL and you're in business.
2. Add an Apple base station to the above and operate both computers
wireless
If the iMac is not AirPort ready, you can use the AirPort base station
with a wired connection (via an inexpensive hub) to both the iMac and
cable modem. The DELL would be wireless, as above. I ran this way for
a while, but recently replaced my hub with a Linksys BEFSR41
router/switch. This is a far simpler and more secure configuration to
setup and maintain.
>
>As I understand it, I will either have to pay for two modems (have
>each computer connected separately to my cable), or use a *router* to
>somehow connect the two computers. Does this mean that there would
>need to be a *hard wire connection* between the router, and the cable
>modem (Ethernet, or other type of computer cables)?? If this is the
>case, I'm not capable (or do I want to) of running Ethernet cable all
>over my house, and doing all the drilling, etc in my walls to run the
>cables properly.
See above.
>
>If this is the case, I'll either have to get the Cox@home service on
>just *one* computer, or pay a lot extra each month for 2 modems/2
>separate connections!
>
>It's not really critical for me to have the computers
>networked--meaning, I don't really need to *see* the Dell laptop on my
>iMac desktop, for example, or vice versa--I *would* like, however, to
>have the Cox@home service on both my computers.
>
>Hopefully someone here on the newsgroups can suggest/advise me on
>this. Although I've used computers for 13 years, I'm a true novice
>when It comes to networking issues!
>
--
Tom Stiller
PGP fingerprint = 5108 DDB2 9761 EDE5 E7E3 7BDA 71ED 6496 99C0 C7CF
Larry Bickford
> Hello all--
>
> I'm thinking about getting Cox@home cable modem service, and I'd like to
> know if I'll be able to use Entourage/Outlook Express to access my mail
> account (instead of depending on their web-based mail!). I also hope the
> service subscribes to newsgroups (like my current ISP,
> Mindspring/Earthlink
> does).
Why not just get Earthlink DSL service and Airport network the machines
from the single DSL router? Then, everything would remain just as you
are used to.
Assuming you can get the 768/128 DSL service (or faster), you might find
the DSL service faster (real, direct-from-internet downloading),
depending upon the current/local Cox cache system.
--LB
--
Larry Bickford, OD
Doctor of Optometry, Family Practice Eye Health and Vision Care
The EyeCare Connection
http://www.EyeCareContacts.com.invalid
Please note: Addresses are munged using the .invalid protocol to reduce spam.
Help fight spam! Use SpamCop http://www.spamcop.net
Jean Barto
DSL--so that's why I'm asking about Cox@home. I already have an AirPort
card in my iMac, and also the AirPort base station. However, I've had
problems with the AirPort setup in my iMac previously--specifically, the
signal is non-existent when I place the base station downstairs--I can only
get a strong AirPort signal with my iMac when the base station is located
*upstairs*--either in the same room as where the iMac is, or in either of
two other bedrooms. Two of the 3 bedrooms have coax cable in them (but the
cables are old and probably need to be replaced).
I haven't yet gotten a Farallon card for my Dell laptop, so I don't know yet
if a Farallon wireless card will pick up an AirPort signal when the base
station is located upstairs, and the Dell laptop is located downstairs.
I've put off getting it because I'm expecting that I'll have problems
getting it to work properly with the AirPort base station, because of the
base station being located upstairs (most likely).
The way I see it, for me to be able to use AirPort successfully, in order to
be able to use *one* cable modem for broadband access with *two* computers
located on separate floors of the same house, I'll have to have the cable
modem and AirPort base station placed near to each other, but also placed
near enough to my computer (probably the iMac), that I don't have excess
wiring around. This would then dictate that the cable modem and AirPort base
station would be located in the same room (home office) that the iMac is
presently located. It's not feasible either for me to move my iMac into any
other room upstairs, or downstairs, either. And then, I'll still run the
risk of not having the Farallon card being able to pick up a clear signal
from the AirPort base station, because the Dell laptop/Farallon card is
located downstairs.
I'm also still a bit confused about the actual *hookup/connection* with the
cable modem and AirPort--which one of these items actually connects to my
iMac (I think the cable modem, but I'm not totally sure), and then, which
one connects to the coax cable??
I also know (from prior calls to Cox@home in my area) that the Cox@home
technicians will simply hook up the cable modem, and attempt to configure
the TCP/IP or DHCP settings for *one* computer--they *don't do networks*,
AirPort or otherwise, and I'll have to struggle through those additional
configurations and settings myself, or pay another network technician ( one
or two acquaintances from my Mac user group) to assist me in configuring the
network and getting the settings right, after I get the Farallon card for my
Dell laptop.
So, although AirPort may *theoretically* work for a broadband small home
network, in actual practice, I can anticipate problems with it being able
to work as advertised in a typical 1500 foot 2 story house (like mine).
That's why I'm pretty much resigned to needing *two* cable modems for my
particular situation!
If anyone on the newsgroups can reassure me, and can actually give me real
working experience/data with a PC/Mac AirPort broadband small home network
(not just the urban legend), I'd feel a lot more warm and fuzzy about it!
Thanks again,
Jean Barto
Newport News, VA
"Larry Bickford" <larr...@eyecarecontacts.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:larrydoc-B24882...@news.west.net...
David Eppstein
> As I understand it, I will either have to pay for two modems (have each
> computer connected separately to my cable), or use a *router* to somehow
> connect the two computers. Does this mean that there would need to be a
> *hard wire connection* between the router, and the cable modem (Ethernet, or
> other type of computer cables)?? If this is the case, I'm not capable (or
> do I want to) of running Ethernet cable all over my house, and doing all the
> drilling, etc in my walls to run the cables properly.
It is also possible to pay cox@home for two internet numbers, have them
come in on the same cable modem, and use a hub to connect the computers
with the cable modem. The second number is only like $5 or $10 a month, but
you can avoid paying even that by getting a router. You do still need to
have some sort of network running from your computers to the cable modem,
of course, whether it's stringing ether (what I have in my house) or some
kind of wireless system.
I'm very happy with my cox@home service.
--
David Eppstein UC Irvine Dept. of Information & Computer Science
epps...@ics.uci.edu http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/
Dallas Klassen
First, I have connected multiple Macs through Airport to a cable modem.
Fortunately all the computers were on the same floor so I didn't encounter the
loss of signal issue you seem to be having. I did notice however, the further
from EM interference I could get the base station and each computer, the better
the signal strength. Obvious considering Airport uses a rf signal.
You are correct to be concerned about the farallon card not working with AP on
another floor if your mac can't do it now. Possible solutions would be
locating the base station in an area you suspect to be relatively free of
electric cables in the walls or on the floor, etc. Other issues could be what
the walls in your home are made of. They might be acting as an EM shield, in
which case there is nothing you can do about it. My suggestion, if you haven't
already tried it, is to place the iMac downstairs where your Dell is and move
the base around the upstairs to see if you can establish a solid connection.
If not, try the reverse. Leave the iMac in the HO and put the base down by the
Dell. If neither way works you will have to have an ethernet cable running
from a switch to the Dell. If you do hardwire your Dell into the network you
only need to buy a Hub or Switch, they can be purchase for as low as 29.95 and
109.95 respectively. You do not need a router since you have the Airport Base
Station. The ABS provides DHCP for all computers connected to your network
(wireless or otherwise). There are a few tricks to making the cable modem
recognize the ABS and allow all your computers to connect to the internet, but
they are not difficult to do.
If you require more information on this email me directly and I'll do what I
can to help.
macma...@home.com <--I have COX @Home myself, in the San DIego area.
I hope I was able to help a bit.
Regards,
Dallas Klassen
Jean S. Barto
I was able to get my AirPort iMac/PC network set up about 6 weeks ago--and
actually I can get a usable signal with my Dell PC downstairs--not nearly as
fast as when I'm using it upstairs, but it is certainly *much* faster than a
56K modem.
I haven't yet put any *networking* software on either system--I'm simply
sharing the cable modem bandwidth between both systems. I've been busy
doing other things lately, so I might take the plunge and install the
networking software that Farallon sent me 3 weeks ago as a *freebie gift*.
Jean Barto
Newport News, VA
"Dallas Klassen" <macma...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3AAD50AC...@home.com...