Virgin Media (Ex-NTL Area) - Cable Broadband Questions

[cfuser]

Hi,


I have a couple of questions about Virgin Media cable broadband (ex-NTL area).

Specifically, I understand they now only supply new users with standalone ethernet cable modems (no problem here as never intended to use USB) (also would be broadband only / without a STB anyhow).

However, as well as wondering about the MAC binding issue (I understand this is less of an or no issue now - power cycle modem, etc.), I was hoping someone would clarify if the following scenario would work. In the absence of sufficient length of cat5 could I insert a hub or switch in the middle of a run of cable from the cable modem to the pc? I.e. cable modem --> hub or switch --> the one pc that will use the cable modem?

My instinct / thought is that the answer is probably not - perhaps a bridge would be needed. But any input appreciated. (I wonder a little bit because if the cable modem is not routing how can it necessarily determine the remote machine as being further on down the road through a hub or switch rather than being directly connected into a computers ethernet port - but I guess maybe it comes down to the "routing" [as in switch routing tables / maps {not NAT type router stuff}] / "relaying" function of the hub / switch).


Best wishes,




A Cableforum Fan


P.s. I understand this is pretty much the best Virgin Media / cable / cable broadband site / forum / resource. Is that right, are their others worth knowing about? Thanks.

[Druchii]

Pretty much the best resource i know of Welcome to the fourm by the way!

Personally i'd say it'd be just fine either way, with or without a hub/switch, after all, they're not seen on the network are they? So the modem won't even know. If i wasn't in such a rush this morning i'd test it for you. I still might, once i've got the bath and tidying up out the way

[Paul K]

Shouldn't impact it at all as the switch does nothing with the data if I recall correctly.

[flowrebmit]

Although I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't work, it isn't worth doing unless you already have a Switch laying around.

I see the main disadvantages being

1) that you won't be able to use any of the other ports on the Switch in the future, because the one IP address given to you by the modem sets the local LAN IP range of addresses available, and you can't allocate other IP addresses in that range because they are part of the NTL network and have been allocated to other Cable subscribers.

2) With a Switch you would not get the benefit of a Firewall (as you usual get included with a broadband router).

[cfuser]

Hi,


Thanks for the inputs.

Consensus seems to be that it should work. I do have an old hub around and I hope and envision to be able to use that creatively to swap between "attached" PC. I.e. unplug one PC when wishing to use the other with the connection (both don't need to be connected at once). I think this should work - doesn't sound like their would be any MAC issues and with most modern OS's it seems easy enough to set an overide MAC address that would match the other / original PC if necessary.

I think it would arguably be substantially suboptimal!

Focusing on the router alternatives, one interesting dimension, is that I understand some ADSL routers will permit usage as a generic router through options to disable the internal ADSL modem and enable one of the inbuilt (commonly 4 port) switch ports to act as an ethernet WAN interface (for the internet input side to the router for it to feed out via the remaining switch ports).

This is quite an attractive option as preserving any router investment through future interoperability with ADSL services as well as with an NTL ethernet cable modem.

In particular, their is one rather interesting device I have seen on eBay, which is a combined ADSL2, NAT router, VoIP ATA and wireless AP for £20. However, I need to identify if this family of products supports these (I believe / understand) more rare features of being able to disable the internal ADSL modem and opt to use one of the ethernet switch ports as a WAN interface.

Thanks again for the inputs and any further input or thoughts always appreciated and welcomed. I take it that with the current generation of Virgin Media cable broadband services (and modems) MAC bonding is not an issue (or at least not "really" an issue - i.e. can be easily reset, etc.).


Best wishes,



A Cable Forum Fan