[Hippo]

Ok, my parents are thinking about getting some kind of broadband connection, and just saying that AOL would still work, swung them over. Thing is, they swung after I made some assumptions based on talking to several people, 2 of which actually sounded like they knew what they were talking about... I had said that if we bought a cable modem, and plugged it into our standard cable (you comcast people would probably know more), and conected it to the computer, the internet would work, leaving them to install AOL on their laptops, where as i could just go to AOL.com to check my mail... Thing is (and this is why i specify comcast) I don't know if the modem will be able to connect to the internet without having a special cable adaption or something... ie: standard cable (wires and service) handle the cable internet also? Im hoping that it does, since comcast is a good amount more expensive then AOL dialup, whereas aol broadband is half the cost of dialup...

bring me good news people...

[Star Dragon]

I pay $46 a month  to have my coputer hooked by ethernet cable to cable model and cable model to cable line (that's it)

AOL kept calling me for broadband offer I said no way! Plese cacell my AOL dial-up account

AOL broadband is an EXTRA service for existing broadband customers who adandoned AOL dial up. Remember you re NOT just paying for internet access, AOL is it's own world, (that offers absolutely nothing I need) I need access to the web, not a kid friendly envoriment where my movements and associations are tracked) god knows there's enough spyware out there today doing just that!

I'm afraid you have to bite the bullet and pay for BOTH! Or you are dum[ing AOL for the broadband speed, or sticking to Dial up to have your AOL universe...

Teh choice is easy, give AOL the boot! l8tr!

[mikhael]

Hippo, here's how it works on most cable systems:

From your wall, a standard coax cable (the same kind you use for your TV) goes to the back of the cable modem. From the cable modem, either a USB or Ethernet cable goes to your computer (or a cable router if you intend to share the connection).  That's all it takes.

Don't buy a cable modem unless you must. Generally, your cable internet provider will supply the modem. You should buy a cable router (There are several. Just make sure its got at least three ports, and has a decent firewall).

If you've got any questions about the workings of the cable internet system let me know. My job before cisco was working for Time-Warner in the broadband division.

[Hippo]

Originally posted by mikhael
Hippo, here's how it works on most cable systems:

From your wall, a standard coax cable (the same kind you use for your TV) goes to the back of the cable modem. From the cable modem, either a USB or Ethernet cable goes to your computer (or a cable router if you intend to share the connection).  That's all it takes.

Yeah, thats what i said to swing them... But my assumption was that it would still ba able to use the connection WITHOUT having to get a comcast connection... sortof like school networks: you just have to run IE and you're online (though the schools use networks)... I was hoping that the whole comcast deal was for the email and modem wich they rent for $3-5 a month... so unless im mistaken, i will have to buy into comcast or some other cable provider?

[IceFire]

No they actually hook up/enable stuff on your cable line that they can just as easily disable.  Its not a service thats out there regardless of if your using it....the guys here actually split the cable connection, ran a new line, and ran that into the back of the cable modem (which way paid for outright - none of the renting crap).  The cable modem then goes over to Ethernet and plugs into your computer/router.

[Hippo]

well, i have a free cable line running in... but don't know if the internet would actually work on the cable that connects to the TV cable... and you all seem to lean towrds the fact that i'd have to buy the service...

[Setekh]

Happy to hear you're getting broadband, man.

*sniff*

[Hippo]

only if it woks without getting a service... which im doubting now...

[Drew]

Yup, the cable service isnt like a regular phone service. The comcast dudes have to actually install special physical hardware into your house.  The base comcast service is like $35 a month + the modem charge. The cable dude have to mess with that box outside your house and (maybe) drill a few holes. They will supply you with a modem, a ethernet card, and all the cables you need.

[Hippo]

darn it...

[Kazan]

drill special cabling for a cable modem ? BULL****

however you do have to pay for your connection - tell your parents this

Keeping AOL is INSANE tell them everyone expert you talk to on the net tells you this

[Flipside]

Tell them an ex-AOL member told you to! Trust me, I was with AOL for 4 years and now I am on DSL uncorrupted by application data for AOL. I've actually felt safer online since leaving AOL because I don't get people IMing me all the time, my spam count is practically zero, and I can identify the cause of any I get, and I don't get , excuse the swearing, led by my hand through a field of bull**** being told 'Welcome to the Web'

Flipside

[Hippo]

I've tried, and i've tried, and i've tried, and they don't see any problem with AOL, since they don't download stuff, just send email, and don't know ANYHING about the computer... I had them going for a while that AOL was slowing dialup so we would have to get DSL or something else, but they don't want to dish out the $40 some odd dollars for comcast...

[Drew]

Originally posted by Kazan
drill special cabling for a cable modem ? BULL****

depends how your house was built. And where your computer is.

[mikhael]

At most they'll have to install an outlet. No special cabling is required. They may have to remove a high bandpass filter from your house line at the tap, but most likely not. Depends on if they have addressible taps in your cable plant or not. Also, unless your local cable plant is odd (and this isn't entirely unheard of) there's no difference between your regular TV cable line and your cable modem line.

To get cable broadband in the house you have to register your cable modem with the cable company. Their hardware will only accept a network connection from known cable modems. There's no getting around that.  Your best bet is to convince your parents to get AOL Broadband. Yes, you'll still go over AOL's private network before getting to the real internet, but you can ignore the AOL software after you've logged in. That's how I've got my parents set up. My dad uses standard tools to access the internet, while my mother still uses AOL's software.

[IceFire]

Originally posted by Kazan
drill special cabling for a cable modem ? BULL****

however you do have to pay for your connection - tell your parents this

Keeping AOL is INSANE tell them everyone expert you talk to on the net tells you this

Not special cabling...its just coax and the main line for my cable is in a completely different part of the house so they did do a bit of drilling to get the coax into this room.  But it was just to illustrate that its not just plugging the thing in...you do get to do a little wiring generally and they do have to activate the system as you said.

Misinterpretation apparently.

[Kosh]

AOL kept calling me for broadband offer I said no way! Plese cacell my AOL dial-up account

I'm sure that AOL charging $70 per month (that's what I heard the price was) for broadband might have had something to do with it.....

[diamondgeezer]

Bah, I saw the thread title and thought it would be about revoking Razor's internet connection

[Triple Ace]

AOL is a freakin rip off get, something else.

[Hippo]

[q]At most they'll have to install an outlet. No special cabling is required. They may have to remove a high bandpass filter from your house line at the tap, but most likely not. Depends on if they have addressible taps in your cable plant or not. Also, unless your local cable plant is odd (and this isn't entirely unheard of) there's no difference between your regular TV cable line and your cable modem line.

To get cable broadband in the house you have to register your cable modem with the cable company. Their hardware will only accept a network connection from known cable modems. There's no getting around that. Your best bet is to convince your parents to get AOL Broadband. Yes, you'll still go over AOL's private network before getting to the real internet, but you can ignore the AOL software after you've logged in. That's how I've got my parents set up. My dad uses standard tools to access the internet, while my mother still uses AOL's software.[/q]

This intregues me... By "register the modem with the cable company" do you mean use the service that comcast (cable TV and local broadband people combined) provides? Or simply register the modem with them so that they would lenghthen the bandwidth to accompany the internet AND TV?