what do i need to activate my modem
If y'all're using cable Internet, check your bill. Yous might be paying around $15/month "equipment rental" fee.
If so, replacing the ISP-provided equipment with a cable modem of your own will eliminate that monthly cost. Over time the saving volition more than pay for the hardware yous need to buy upfront.
Using your modem brings about other advantages, too. You and so can pick a router, or a mesh organisation, with features and performance grades to your liking. And in many cases, retailed hardware can improve connection speeds.
This post will walk you through the process of replacing cable-provider-supplied equipment with your own. Earlier continuing, make sure you lot castor up on the Cablevision modem standards.
Dong'southward note: I originally published this mail on February fifteen, 2018, and updated it on Jan 8, 2022, with up-to-date information.
How to replace the ISP-Provided gateway with your own modem (and router)
Some of you lot might be happy with your Internet access provider-supplied hardware and don't mind paying the extra for the convenience and some potential perks. That's fine with me. But in that case, you should check out my take on how to go the best out of that gateway instead.
Actress: Why you'd want to use an Internet access provider-supplied gateway
While it'due south clear that it's best to use your equipment, there are some benefits to using a gateway provided by your Internet provider.
Here are a few examples:
- Ease of use: You don't need to do anything. The provider will set up the home network work for y'all and manage the hardware, including firmware update, troubleshooting, etc.
- Less cluttering: Yous only have ane hardware box instead of two. (A retail gateway applies, too.)
- Hassle-gratis hardware replacement: If the gateway dies, telephone call the provider, and you lot'll get a replacement pronto — all free of charge. The provider besides upgrades the equipment when need be.
- Easy management: With some providers, y'all tin can manage certain aspects of your abode network, like changing the Wi-Fi password, via your online account. (That is if you're OK with the potential privacy risks.)
- Unlimited data cap: Some providers, such equally Comcast Xfinity, give yous half the cost ($25 vs $50) of unlimited monthly information cap when you employ their gateway.
In short, using ISP-proved equipment is non all bad. The benefits are enough to justify the monthly "rental" fee for some.
For those who want to take command of the equipment, keep in mind that what you're about to read is based on an Xfinity Net plan. Yet, the process is similar if y'all employ any other residential cable Cyberspace service, such every bit Fourth dimension Warner Cable, Cox, Charter, and so on.
Finally, while this is near replacing an existing gateway, information technology also applies when upgrading a modem or setting up a new service.
With that, allow'south get our easily muddied with 3 parts of replacement that Isp-supplied equipment with your own.
A. Identify your current cable Internet's modem/gateway
If you're about to replace a provider's equipment, there are two things to keep in mind.
Kickoff, are you lot currently using a modem or a gateway? Most users have a gateway instead of just a modem. If so, they volition need a new Wi-Fi router in addition to a new modem, or they tin get a retail gateway. A network needs a router — a gateway combines a modem and a router into a single box.
Second, exercise yous also utilise telephone service with your cable internet provider? If then, you will need a telephone-capable modem/gateway, which is typically more than expensive.
Generally, I recommend getting just the Internet from the service provider and fugitive a package deal. Afterward that, use a different Phonation over IP phone service, or simply your cell phone, and a streaming TV programme, such as YouTubeTV.
That said, this post will focus on the scenario where you get simply a Cable modem. Nonetheless, if you go a retail gateway, the procedure is similar.
B. Get yourself a modem
To know which modem yous should get, cheque out this post on Cablevision vs Cobweb. However, this determination depends mainly on the broadband connexion download speed. Specifically:
- 500Mbps or slower: Go a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. A DOCSIS 3.1 ane is non necessary and might not work.
- 500Mbps to sub-Gigabit: Either will do, but it's a meliorate idea to get with DOCSIS 3.1.
- Gigabit for faster (Gig+, Multi-Gig): DOCSIS 3.ane.
Need to make a quick decision? Below are my recommendations.
These are not the only options, but any will brand a safe selection. You tin can observe more of those I've reviewed hither. Hit the push button beneath to encounter them.
Recommended Cablevision modems past broadband tiers
Best modem for a sub-Gigabit connectedness: Netgear CM600
Pros
Fast and reliable performance for sub-Gigabit broadband
Supported by multiple cablevision providers
Affordable and relatively compact
Articulate status lights, useful web interface
Cons
No Gig+ or Multi-Gig support
All-time modem for a Gigabit connexion: Motorola MB8600
Pros
Fast and reliable performance
Supported by multiple cable provider south
Optional WAN Link Aggregation and multi-Static-IP support
Cons
No Multi-Gig network port
Best modem for a Multi-Gig connection: ARRIS Surfboard S33
Pros
Fast and reliable performance, up to 2.5Gbps of broadband speed
Compact and nice-looking design
Can handle two condition IP addresses
Cons
Ambiguous, impractical unmarried status low-cal
C. How to set a new Cablevision Modem
No thing what you get, exist it a elementary cable modem, a phone-capable modem, or a gateway, the setup procedure is the same. You need to activate your equipment on the provider's network.
These steps, by the way, apply only to when you lot want to activate a residential Net plan. You'll likely need to telephone call the provider if you take a business concern plan. Also, they utilise mainly Comcast'southward Xfinity Cablevision Net programme, but the process is similar if y'all use some other Cable provider.
Update
Initially, I recommended that you apply a computer connecting to the Modem via a network cable and perform the activation via a web browser.
Nevertheless, since mid-2021, Comcast has slowly phased out this activation method in favor of the Xfinity mobile app. Specifically, I found out that the spider web browser no longer worked during the testing of the Netgear CM1000.
While the old method might still work for some, using the app is the way going forward.
Cablevision Cyberspace setup: What you need
To actuate a piece of new equipment, you demand two things.
- An Internet-connected telephone or tablent with the Xfinity mobile app on it. You can download the app from the App stores of Apple or Google.
- An existing account with Xfinity. You should take 1 when you sign up with the service. This account includes an username (an electronic mail address) and a countersign. If yous have multiple users in your business relationship, make sure you use the e-mail of primary user.
- Note the MAC address of the modem. The MAC accost is generally printed on teh side or bottom of the modem. See the photograph below for an example.
Steps to replace / install a Cablevision Internet cablevision modem
Once more, relatively specific steps apply to those with a Comcast Xfinity Internet program. If y'all use a dissimilar provider, the process varies though likely similar.
I. Remove the old hardware
Remove the existing gateway or cable modem. (Make certain y'all return the equipment afterward to have the rental fee removed from your business relationship.)
II. Connect the new hardware
Place the new modem in the identify of the old equipment.
- Connect the service coaxial cable into your new Cablevision modem (or retail gateway).
- Connect the Cable modem'southward LAN port to your router's WAN port.
- Connect them both into ability and turn them on.
A bit of troubleshooting
Look at the lights on the cable modem. You want to expect till the Online led (sometimes labeled as Signal or Sync or Information) is on solid.
The colour of this low-cal varies depending on the modem, but it tends to be white, blueish, or green, and it almost always takes the symbol of a tiny earth. If this low-cal doesn't turn on, that means at that place's no Internet signal. Check to make sure the coaxial cable is plugged in correctly, or call the provider.
When the lights are in good shape, you're ready for activation. If the signal lite is non solid, check the cable, or call the provider to report the issue.
III. Activation
Typically, no thing who your provider is, yous tin call their technical back up line, give them a new modem's MAC address and go information technology activated for you.
However, you lot can also do that yourself, at least when you apply Comcast Xfinity.
Here are the steps — make sure your mobile device (phone or tablet) is connected to the Internet, likely via cellular signals.
- Run the Xfinity mobile app, sign in with your account, so tap on the head and shoulder icon (tiptop left corner) to open the Account department.
- In the Account section, roll to Activate xFi Gateway or Modem. Tap on information technology.
- Tap on Your Own Modem.
- Tap on Start Activation. The app now will run you through a few steps on connecting the hardware, which nosotros already took care of in the previous section. Keep tapping on Next to run through it and and then on Ready to Get at the end.
- Enter the MAC address of the modem in the box. Enter merely the numbers and letters of the MAC — ignore the dashes (-) or colons (:) that carve up them. Make sure yous don't make a fault. Then, if a MAC is D4-FB-6A-7C-31-B4, you enter just D4FB6A7C31B4 and nothing else.
- Click on Side by side and expect for the activation to finish.
The activation process will have from five to 10 minutes to stop. During this time, the modem will restart, even a few times. Once information technology's completed, manually restart your modem and your router, and mission accomplished.
The final step
And that's information technology. Now your new equipment is set up.
Using your own modem, yous have the option of replacing the router — and upgrading your home network — whenever y'all'd like.
And when you do, note that you should restart the cable modem after yous plug the new router into it for the two to work well with each other.
The takeaway
Cable providers mostly want you to use their equipment. The fee aside, that allows them to have some or complete command over your network, depending on the equipment being used.
That said, using your own modem and router allows you to have over the command, as well as the responsibilities in regard to your security and privacy.
Both sitatuions have their pros and cons, merely the latter is a no-brainer for me personally.
Source: https://dongknows.com/how-to-set-up-a-cable-modem/
Post a Comment for "what do i need to activate my modem"