sniper33
join:2006-03-05
|  Just bought cable modem and comcast (problems already)
Alright, hello guys/gals. New here and was reading through some of the posts already here, and it seemed like you all knew what you all were talking about.
Ok, yesterday (Saturday) I went out and bought a Motorola SB5120 cable modem, along with the Comcast self-install kit. Before then I had AOL Dial-up for the past few years ('97), but had cable tv for alot longer then that. Well I get everything hooked up for the modem and installed it onto the PC. But only the Power and PC/Ativity lights stay lit, Recive flashs on and off, and when that one is full on then send is the one that is flashing.
And with Comcast, I put the CD into the tray and a window pops up saying for me to close down all my active applications, virus programs, and firewall then to push OK. Well I do all that and after I push ok nothing happens. Even when I go into My Computer and double click the icon nothing happens, also went into the cd and double clicked the install icon (nothing yet). The CD drive reads other CD's just fine, so I was wondering if it was the disk that was messed up or something, but then again it does read it to show that one warning.
I called 1-888-Comcast last night after I tried a few things. Went through a small process with the lady on the phone, and she said that my modem wasnt showing up on her computer (after I gave the modem's address and such). She had me unplug the modem and try again and nothing. Asked her about the CD problem, and she said that it was only to activate the account (which she could do over the phone).
Guess another prob. When I bought the stuff, the guy at Best Buy signed me up for a $19.99/month for six months service, and then $42.95 after that. But I got an email from ---@bestbuy.com saying:
Description: Comcast High-Speed Internet - Cable Customer
Provider: Comcast
Qty: 1
Price: $42.95
Now why does it read as 42 instead of 19? Will it show up on the bill as 19.99 or are they gonna be charging 42 (meaning I wont be getting my 19.99 for six months).
Basically it came down to her suggesting sending a Tec over to the house Tuesday morning. But I think there was some charge or something. If it is something simple that I can fix myself then that would be great, cause then I could cancel the tec guy and save some money.
Sorry for the long post, but alot went down last night...and then I kinda ramble when trying to get my thoughts out there. Thanks to the people that will be able to help me out with this problem. |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
 ·Comcast
| There *MAY* be a trap on your line and Comcast will need to come out and remove it.
Screw that CD! You don't need that... software on your computer. Once the modem fully locks(syncs), call Comcast and have the CSR provision the modem and away you go!
Sounds like you will need a truck roll, sorry.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05
| What would be a trap that you are talking about?
So the CD isnt needed then, but how do I get the user name and passwords set up without the CD? Lol and what is CSR (customer service rep?).
Lol but from the sounds of it, guess there is no avoiding the guy on tuesday. Well I guess the little few day wait will be worth it... dail up user going up to broadband will be a big difference.
Thanks for the help. |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05 | Also, what about the price? Should I just wait to see the first bill, and if it is 19.99? |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| reply to sniper33
The trap is a amall filter that connects at the tap and filters out stuff you aren't paying for(HSI/Digital), and your cable drop is connected to it. Once removed, your cable modem will connect.
There may not be a trap and your signal may just be out of range... either way, the truck roll should cure it.
As for the crap CD, not needed! Once the modem connects, you will see the "Walled Garden"(only page you will be able to see). When you call to have the modem provisioned, they will walk you through the process.
Yes, CSR is Customer Service Reresentative. 
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05
| Alright thanks for explaining that stuff to me. So once I get to the garden call them up and follow their process...got it.
umm..truck roll would mean the guy from comcast coming to the house i suppose. But thanks for the help, youve been...well helpful.
I was gonna exchange the modem and cd to bestbuy to see if it would work then, but if I have the trap then it wouldnt make a difference. Also glad that I dont really have to exchange now, cause it might of messed up the rebates that I got (which would of made both the modem and comcast start-kit free). |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| Make a cup of coffee and set you cup on that CD! That's all it is worth!  ;):D
When you get it up and runing, we will try and squeeze all of the speed out of it for you!
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05
| I dont drink coffee though
Messing around with AOL befoer it gets dumped for Comcast, and started wondering. Is there gonna have to be something installed on my PC for it to work? Like with AOL has the whole aol browser and things. How would I access stuff, would I just click on IE/Firefox and then thats it?
Lol I know I know I got alot of questions, just wanna be prepared for the big day. |
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globalgreg
join:2002-08-25
Kaysville, UT | Nothing else needed...just your Firefox (HIGHLY recommended over IE). |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05 | Alright thanks. Yeah thats why I use Firefox, IE is used by other people lol. Dont want them messing around with my bookmarks.
But its good to know that I wont need something else installed on my pc to be able to use the comcast service. |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| Yeah, Comcast is just a connection, you get to choose what to use or not use.
ANY browser will work, and no software is needed to access the internet.
You don't even have to see the Comcast.net home page if you don't want to(I have Yahoo as my home page in SlimBrowser, and BBR as my home page in Opera). 
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05 | How good is Opera and SlimBrowser? Was thinking of getting another browser for the others cause IE seems to mess up everynow and then. |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
| SlimBrowser is IE based... IE on steroids.
Opera is the most secure browser available for a Windows machine. See my signature for link.
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05 | Well I went to that site and checked out the screenshots of it, and it seems pretty much like FireFox. Ill download that after I get my Comcast connection taken care of, cause downloading with dial-up hasnt been the best the past few days. |
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rody_44
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA
·Comcast
| people tend to jump at traps being the problem. some times it is and then you wont get charged. often its just to many splitters hooked to the line. how many tvs are in the house? do you know how old your cable is and who installed the cable? what do the splitters look like on your cable where it enters the house? these are the things that will decide whether or not you get charged for the install. |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05
| Four Tv's going through the cable. Dont know who installed it, but it was roughly around...10 years ago maybe. So if they have to install things to the house, how much is that gonna end up running? As well as how long it takes for them to go through the whole process. |
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rody_44
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA
·Comcast
1 edit | reply to sniper33
probably around 30.00 to run a line. are all 4 lines run from 1 location. any idea what markings are on the splitters before the cable modem. not the one from the self install kit but before that. they should be able to get you going when they come out. |
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sniper33
join:2006-03-05 | cant really tell about that. all the cords come up from the basement, and im not to sure where they are there. If it is about 30 to install, then what about this $39-$49 I hear people talking about when having the tec's come to the house? |
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jjsk8r85
join:2005-02-17
Belleville, MI
1 edit | reply to sniper33
you need to make sure you have all RG6 coax(or at least to the first splitter, then to the modem), or quad shield rg59 at the least, and minimal splitters. the modem should go on the closest splitter the pole/tap (in terms of line) |
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rody_44
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Quakertown, PA | reply to sniper33
a line cost around 30. they will probably charge you a install fee which is usually 49.00 when charged. many get free installs but not when you go thru a reseller. |
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