Changing a duff cable modem

[Monserrat]

I have one of the old NTL:Home 120 modems which has worked great in the main. I ran it for 1 year on the USB port and then a further 2 years off the Ethernet port. Now, the Ethernet port has gone to a point where the RJ45 cable no longer make very good contact. If you wriggle the cable, the ENET light will acknowledge briefly. The connection will not hold for very long though. I have used 4 RJ45 cables and and 2 different LAN cards, getting the same effect on all of them.

Here, I would probably have to contact NTL Support, but from previous experiences, I feel that I'll get patronised in the sense that they'll start asking about virii and spyware and Windows Updates - which I have carried out already. Also, I hate calling Indian call centres, having a hearing difficulty (I wear hearing aids).

What I've gone and done instead was buy a replacement NTL:Home 120 modem off eBay. I connected it up last night using the RJ45 cable. The correct lights acknowledged straight away. My browser now times out when attempting to access Google.co.uk, but if I "ping www.google.co.uk" on the command prompt, I get the correct reponse. I connected my old modem off the USB port and I had the connection back up and running again.

Is there an issue with a MAC that I need to address?

Thanks.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Monserrat

What I've gone and done instead was buy a replacement NTL:Home 120 modem off eBay.

That modem was not for sale as it still belongs to ntl. They'll need to know the MAC address in order to get it working but they'll smell a rat the moment you ask them to get it on their network.

[Monserrat]

KK.

Basically then, I'll need to convince one of the call centre agents that my original modem has a loose contact?

I do work in technical support myself and deal with Kazaa-infected customers all of the time. What is the best way in explaining that my computer is clean and not going through the hassle of running spyware etc checks?

As for the 'rat' business, is that the guy who sold the modem on eBay, or is that me for illegally obtaining a modem?

[sollp]

As Russ has already said, you would have been better off ringing NTL and getting them to replace the modem at the small cost of a phone call. Now you have paid between £10-40 for a modem that will not work.

So unfortunately you now have to phone and do it the correct way now.

In future do not buy items like Digi STB's or modems or Digital filters ect off of E-Bay as these do not work as they have to be associated with your acccount for them to work, and also be provided by NTL or telewest ect.

He shouldn't have sold it to you. I have come across this problem before, you need to be firm and sound confident in telling them that the connection on the modem is causing the connection between your PC and the modem is dropping due to the RG45 connector in the modem IS faulty.

Don't think the comment was personal. Just that NTL would not take kindly to being asked to connect an 'iffy' modem. Cable modems/STBs sold on Ebay are generally stolen property, and, even if not, are not eligible for connection. The 'rat' is the guy who sold the modem, assuming you were not aware of the position.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Monserrat

KK.

Basically then, I'll need to convince one of the call centre agents that my original modem has a loose contact?

I do work in technical support myself and deal with Kazaa-infected customers all of the time. What is the best way in explaining that my computer is clean and not going through the hassle of running spyware etc checks?

Here lies your first hurdle - if you call tech support and get thriough to India, more than likely they will insist you wait until they finish all the checks which allows them to fob you off with "It's your firewall/your anti-virus/spyware/your router" or similar. My advice would be to bear with them while they do all that and THEN ask for it to be changed. If you get no joy then post back here and we might be able to help.

Originally Posted by Monserrat

As for the 'rat' business, is that the guy who sold the modem on eBay, or is that me for illegally obtaining a modem?

The guy who sold it to you is in the wrong - you could easily say you bought it in good faith, which is what appears to have happened.

[Ignition]

Originally Posted by JohnHorb

Don't think the comment was personal. Just that NTL would not take kindly to being asked to connect an 'iffy' modem. Cable modems/STBs sold on Ebay are generally stolen property, and, even if not, are not eligible for connection. The 'rat' is the guy who sold the modem, assuming you were not aware of the position.

Cable modems on Ebay aren't stolen property, the STBs are on the other hand.

[Monserrat]

Thanks for all of your help guys. I'll do that now and take the correct route :-)

Luckily, the modem was only £8.50 + £4.50 P&P. A little money wasted I guess, but I do have a nice RJ45 and USB cable to keep as spare!

Again, thanks for all of your help guys.

[Mystical]

Originally Posted by Ignition

Cable modems on Ebay aren't stolen property, the STBs are on the other hand.

My modem says "THE PROPERTY OF ntl" on it...

[rinjuba]

I reported a similar problem with a flaky connection at the ethernet socket on my 120 modem, there was no lengthy diagnostic procees, service call was booked with 5 mins and modem swapped same day for a 250.

[Ignition]

Originally Posted by Mystical

My modem says "THE PROPERTY OF ntl" on it...

They don't collect them at the end of your contract, therefore they become yours to do with as you please.

[SLM]

Originally Posted by Ignition

They don't collect them at the end of your contract, therefore they become yours to do with as you please.

ntl modems ARE there property always have been always will be....they may not collect them but you look in the T&Cs and it says that it is the responsibility of the customer to make arrangements for ALL ntl equipment to be returned to them, however ntl pick most equipment up.

[Ignition]

Originally Posted by SLM

ntl modems ARE there property always have been always will be....they may not collect them but you look in the T&Cs and it says that it is the responsibility of the customer to make arrangements for ALL ntl equipment to be returned to them, however ntl pick most equipment up.

They can kiss my behind tbh, all the equipment was left in the property I vacated when I cancelled. If they're too lazy to go and collect their equipment that's their problem.

Besides the T+Cs no longer apply once the contract is ended (they are after all the terms and conditions of the contract, which becomes invalid when both parties agree it is closed).

No contract on me = no T+C, no collection of equipment means no rental is being paid which could certainly be taken to mean they don't want the equipment back. They've had ample opportunity to get it back, but chose to lose my written notice of cancellation instead so

Originally Posted by Ignition

They can kiss my behind tbh, all the equipment was left in the property I vacated when I cancelled. If they're too lazy to go and collect their equipment that's their problem.

Besides the T+Cs no longer apply once the contract is ended (they are after all the terms and conditions of the contract, which becomes invalid when both parties agree it is closed).

No contract on me = no T+C, no collection of equipment means no rental is being paid which could certainly be taken to mean they don't want the equipment back. They've had ample opportunity to get it back, but chose to lose my written notice of cancellation instead so

He is correct, once a contract has come to and end and has closed the terms & conditions of that contract can no longer be imposed!

[Russ]

If the T&Cs state the items remain the property of ntl then that stays in force even if the contracts ends.