Getting NTL Cable Modem fitted on Saturday - owt I should know folks?

[rogeralpine]

NTL's "engineer" is coming Sat AM to fit my CModem - want to know whether there's anything I should know/request before they come along?

Don't really want to use any of their front-end software - can this be avoided? Don't have email accounts with dial up via them anyway, so no problem there.

Requested an ethernet connected modem as opposed to a USB one - is that the best choice? Currently my line is analogue - is there anything they need to activate at their end?

Anything else folks????

Cheers

/...I understand some biccies go down well ;) /

[Florence]

:welcome: to the forums :)

Ethernet is best..

this link might help you (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jayone/)

https://autoreg.autoregister.net/start.html

you might also find information that will help you on Robin walkers page.. Recomend you read his pages at some time (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/)

Plenty of Coffee and biccies go down well while they work..

[paulyoung666]

hi and :welcome: to the site rogeralpine , tea / coffee and biccies usually work well :D :D :D

seriously though , if you have any problems then pop along here and all the peeps will do their best to help you out :tu: :)

[Tezcatlipoca]

:welcome: rogeralpine :)

NTL's "engineer" is coming Sat AM to fit my CModem - want to know whether there's anything I should know/request before they come along?

Don't really want to use any of their front-end software - can this be avoided? Don't have email accounts with dial up via them anyway, so no problem there.

Yep, you can totally avoid installing any ntl software. The cd is only really necessary if you use a USB connection, as it has the USB modem drivers on it. The ntl software on the disc is not needed at all.

Have a look here:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=7603

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/register.html

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/register.html#ntlreg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/broadjump.html#without

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/broadjump.html#nocc

Requested an ethernet connected modem as opposed to a USB one - is that the best choice? Currently my line is analogue - is there anything they need to activate at their end?

Anything else folks????

Cheers

/...I understand some biccies go down well ;) /


Ethernet is definitely the best choice :tu:

USB is best avoided.


You'll need to register the modem once it is installed (unless the engineer does it for you). The procedure is described in the 1st two links above, & is easily done without the ntl cd. You'll need your welcome letter, as it should contain your PIN code for the registration. If you don't have one already, hopefully the engineer will bring it. If you end up in need of a PIN once you've had the modem installed, post back here, as some of the ntl employees who use the forum should be able to help you.

And yes, I think you're right about the biccies ;)


I'd also definitely second Kits' recommendation of the Robin Walker site: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/


:)

[Web-Junkie]

Not one to put a damper on your installation, but a few things that may help:

1. The telphone number of your local Trading Standards office might be useful.
2. Maybe the number of the Samaritans too if things go really bad! :Yikes:
3. Some of those plastic Hula Hoops kids play with would be useful too, you can practice jumping through them to get a feel of dealing with NTL when (not if) you get a problem :rolleyes:
4. Repeatedly shutting down your PC, unplugging your Cable Modem, waiting 10 seconds then plugging it back in before rebooting your PC. This will prepare you for NTL's unique 'High Tech' approach to troubleshooting!!
5. Going outside and talking to the brick wall would be invaluable practice when you are making a call to report a fault, repeating the same thing over and over would be good practice too!
6. No, you have not rung the British Amnesia Society when calling NTL to find out why the promised Engineer has not contacted you to arrange a visit, or why no one seems to have any information about the problem you reported over a week ago!
7. A repeat prescription of Blood Pressure Tablets when you see how much it's cost you in telephone calls and time of work when trying to get your problem fixed.
8. Some Birthday cards and Christmas cards to send to the call center people because you'll be ringing them that often you'll think you're ringing one of the family!

Ok, so I'm pulling yer leg a bit! But you knew that already didn't you :) You don't have to use plastic Hoola Hoops, you can use the wooden ones if you want :D

Welcome to NTL!!

[greencreeper]

Have a think about where you want the white box to be put - which wall. A cable will run from the white box to your modem, so it's generally best to have the white box near your PC. Prepare for a bit of drilling and dust. The engineer left muddy footprints over my carpet, so the odd sheet of newspaper might be advisable if it's raining.

[rogeralpine]

...phew, thanks for the warm welcome chaps and comprehensive replies - one of the best welcomes I've had on the web!:)

I'm tied up a work at the mo, so I can't say too much at the mo, but I have one further question about muiltiple PC's I have 2 other PC's I'd like to consider connecting - will the engineer help in this department ;) (a bung) or will I be left to my own devices?

[DeadKenny]

THE most important thing is to make sure the installer checks the power levels before he leaves and fixes it if they are up the spout.

Chances are it'll be some contract installer who's only trained to drill holes and connect cables (that's what I got anyway). Maybe call NTL and tell them to send an expert ;)

In fact, before he leaves make sure you can connect to the net okay and go to the modem's diagnostics page (http://192.168.100.1, user:root, password:root, for the NTL modems) and check the downstream/upstream levels and make sure they're within tolerance as described here...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/signal.html


If you don't get it right first time then you'll end up with the hell many of us have for years to come.

Chances are though he'll just want to drill the hole, fix the cable and clear off as quick as possible.

P.S. The installer/engineers won't touch your PC, it's all up to you in that department, and I doubt they'll give you advise on networking (especially the contract hole drillers as they probably know nothing about computers anyway ;))

[Tezcatlipoca]

THE most important thing is to make sure the installer checks the power levels before he leaves and fixes it if they are up the spout.

Chances are it'll be some contract installer who's only trained to drill holes and connect cables (that's what I got anyway). Maybe call NTL and tell them to send an expert ;)

In fact, before he leaves make sure you can connect to the net okay and go to the modem's diagnostics page (http://192.168.100.1, user:root, password:root, for the NTL modems) and check the downstream/upstream levels and make sure they're within tolerance as described here...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/signal.html


If you don't get it right first time then you'll end up with the hell many of us have for years to come.

Chances are though he'll just want to drill the hole, fix the cable and clear off as quick as possible.

P.S. The installer/engineers won't touch your PC, it's all up to you in that department, and I doubt they'll give you advise on networking (especially the contract hole drillers as they probably know nothing about computers anyway ;))


Definitely worth getting the signal levels checked :tu:


rogeralpine -

As for connecting other PCs: Yep, you're on your own with that. *Very* easy though.

All you need is a cheap NAT router, & a cat5 network cable for each PC you want to connect to it (has to be straight-through not crossover) [or a wireless card for each PC if you want to go wireless, & get a wireless router]

Good & cheap wired router - Linksys BEFSR41 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005KAC7/qid=1094594832/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_3_2/026-7301275-9632431), wired NAT router with 4 port switch.

Good & cheap wireless router - Linksys BEFW11S4 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005ARK3/qid=1094591046/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_3_5/026-7301275-9632431), wireless-B NAT router, with 4 port switch & wireless B access point.

Good & slightly less cheap wireless router - Linksys WRT54G (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008DOYO/qid=1094591046/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_3_2/026-7301275-9632431), wireless-G NAT router, with 4 port switch & wireless G access point.

All are easy to set-up, & easy to use.

[Web-Junkie]

I think NTL do not support multiple PC's, depending on the engineer he may or may not help!

I have a friend who's been running 3 PC's connected via a Linksys BEFW11S4 Router using Ethernet and CAT5 cabling for well over 2 years now with his Cable Modem. All 3 PC's have a Final Fantasy Online account and they hardly have any problems. Other than a current fault in our area that causes disconnections he's had no problem using a Cable Modem connection with 3 PC's.

He did try the wireless option but for some reason there was LAG in LAN games and other problems so he went for CAT5 and NICS!

He used to run Zone Alarm too, but due to problems either with the program or configuring he no longer runs it, just uses Norton Antivirus and Ad Subtract for blocking Ads/Pop Ups.

Only other problems you may face are routing the CAT5 cables from one PC to the router depending how far they are apart. Fortunatley you can buy ready made 'straight through' CAT5 UTP patch cables with RJ45 plugs in various lengths from 1 meter to 30 meters and you can also get CAT5 couplers that let you connect 2 patch cables together to extend them without having to rewire anything!

You can get 'crossover' cables, but ignore them, nearly all modern routers do the crossover bit for you so you just need the 'straight through' type cable! The only time you may need crossover cables is if you connect 2 PC's back to back via their Ethernet cards to play LAN games. You should be able to play LAN games between computers via the router if the game supports LAN.

[DeadKenny]

Oh yeah, if you're going for home networking, get the cable modem installed as close to the socket as possible, and extend from there yourself using CAT5. i.e. don't get them to install loads of coax to move the modem near your PC.

The reason being that you're better off with short runs of coax to improve signal quality. Long stretches of CAT5 is no problem (unless you go over 100m). Alternatively you can stick a wireless router by the modem instead of using CAT5 cabling.

[rogeralpine]

Well, I have the CM but does it work..................................


.............no it doesn't!!

I've run the ipconfig /all but I'm not certain whether the modem is even being pciked up??

I have some form of LAN?High Speed connection - moving over the network icon shows "1394 connection Speed: 400Mbps"

I'm making an assumption that my PC is not "seeing" the modem?

Any ideas chaps?

[Marge]

Whereabouts are you chuck ??

[rogeralpine]

Warrington!

[Marge]

check your pm's !!

[rogeralpine]

A very big thank you to Debsy (&NTL) - excellent service, very impressed. Solved my problem quickly and easily - brilliant!!!

[Florence]

Well, I have the CM but does it work..................................


.............no it doesn't!!

I've run the ipconfig /all but I'm not certain whether the modem is even being pciked up??

I have some form of LAN?High Speed connection - moving over the network icon shows "1394 connection Speed: 400Mbps"

I'm making an assumption that my PC is not "seeing" the modem?

Any ideas chaps?

Have you told the pc to never dial up?
(to do this go into settings and then internet options select the connection tab click never dial up. then click lan settings on the same tab. click automatically detect settings then check privacy tab set at medium for now.)

Followed Robin walkers information from the start?

Check what Robin tells you to do here (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/basicset.html)

Also how to register here again Robins page which is very helpful (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d.h.walker/cmtips/register.html)


If all else fails pm Bill C he lives somewhere near you and is extremely good at sorting out modem hiccups :D

Edited Debsy has sorted it :) enjoy your speed..

[Marge]

Glad everythings working for you now :tu:

[SMHarman]

Well, I have the CM but does it work..................................


.............no it doesn't!!

I've run the ipconfig /all but I'm not certain whether the modem is even being pciked up??

I have some form of LAN?High Speed connection - moving over the network icon shows "1394 connection Speed: 400Mbps"

I'm making an assumption that my PC is not "seeing" the modem?

Any ideas chaps?

The Lan connection you were seeing is a Firewire connection not a Ethernet one.

[rogeralpine]

Ah, cheers!