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Robe · Oct 20, 2002, 04:37 PM

I am getting a new cable modem - finally! I have a graphite ABS and two Tibooks and one Imac in my network. All have airport cards installed. Here is my question: anything I need to know in advance to set this up so all computers can access the internet? I am planning to use the airport admin utility from my ti667 to set up the ABS to use the cable modem - is that all there is to it? I am prepared for the cable tech to have NO CLUE as to mac support.

Ti667 - 10.2.1
Ti400 - 9.2.2
iMac - 9.2.2

Thanks in advance

mac-at-kearsarge · Oct 20, 2002, 06:06 PM

No, fi you have all those systems connecting to the BS now, without, problems, you should be all set. When the "tech (note the quoatation marks :-) ) simply connect the BS to the cable modem, set the WAN side to DHCP, and you should be all set. The tech may ask for your computers MAC address (give him the MAC address of the BS. that's it.

Robe · Oct 21, 2002, 04:17 AM

Originally posted by mac-at-kearsarge:
No, fi you have all those systems connecting to the BS now, without, problems, you should be all set. When the "tech (note the quoatation marks :-) ) simply connect the BS to the cable modem, set the WAN side to DHCP, and you should be all set. The tech may ask for your computers MAC address (give him the MAC address of the BS. that's it.

Thanks for the quick reply - the only problem: I have the graphite BS and therefore, no WAN port, just an ethernet port and a phone jack. Is this still OK? Like I said, everyyhing is working now with the dial up connection.

fulmer · Oct 21, 2002, 10:50 AM

since all your macs have airport, then you're all set.

connect cable modem, connect base station, power them on. configure base station. however, you shouldn't need to really set it up, because you won't need to have a user name or password for logging in to your cable 'net service. plug and go.

ringo · Oct 21, 2002, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by Robe:

Thanks for the quick reply - the only problem: I have the graphite BS and therefore, no WAN port, just an ethernet port and a phone jack. Is this still OK? Like I said, everyyhing is working now with the dial up connection.

Not a problem. Just use the Ethernet jack on your ABS to connect to the cable modem.

Use the Airport Admin Utility -> go to the "Internet" tab -> Choose "Ethernet " from the "Connect using" drop down menu.

ghporter · Oct 21, 2002, 08:30 PM

I hope you don't have a problem, but if you do here's something to think about. Some cable companies have a problem with customers using AirPort products, even just to give a single iBook some mobility. That's a business problem, by the way; when they detect an AirPort base station connected to the cable modem, they refuse to provide a connection.

I'm not saying that this will happen, but it could. If it seems that the connection works with a computer connected directly to the modem, but doesn't when the graphite is plugged in, you probably have this problem.

The best solution for this sort of hassle is to purchase a "gateway router" that allows "MAC address cloning." Linksys makes a 1 port gateway router that does this, the BEFSR11, which is fairly inexpensive. In addition, this product is configured through an internal web page, so it's platform idependent.

msuper69 · Oct 21, 2002, 10:43 PM

Don't tell the tech about your home network. Just have him/her connect the cable modem. Then plug it into one of your Macs via the Ethernet port and set the Mac for DHCP.

After the tech leaves, set all the Macs for AirPort, plug the BS to the cable modem, use the AirPort Configuration app to set Internet to Connect using Ethernet, Configure: using DCHP.

This will work as long as your ISP doesn't register the MAC address of the device connected to the cable modem. If they do, swapping out the Mac for the BS will require a call to the ISP to let them know you had to connect a new computer to the modem. If you're getting RoadRunner or Earthlink cable, they don't track the MAC addresses, at least not here in Columbus.

fulmer · Oct 22, 2002, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by msuper69:
This will work as long as your ISP doesn't register the MAC address of the device connected to the cable modem. If they do, swapping out the Mac for the BS will require a call to the ISP to let them know you had to connect a new computer to the modem.

yeah, sometimes ISPs can be weird about stuff like that. however, before calling them, power down your cable modem, let it sit unplugged for a couple minutes, then power back on with the new Mac or router or whatever, and the cable modem shouldn't hassle you about a MAC address.

Robe · Oct 22, 2002, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by fulmer:

yeah, sometimes ISPs can be weird about stuff like that. however, before calling them, power down your cable modem, let it sit unplugged for a couple minutes, then power back on with the new Mac or router or whatever, and the cable modem shouldn't hassle you about a MAC address.

Thanks for all your help everyone - I really appreciate these forums. The big day is friday; I am sure I will be posting back here if I have any problems with the "tech"!

Robe