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AR15.COM
8/18/2002 11:55:59 AM EDT
They will be here in the A.M.  to install.  I've heard great things about the speed, and some not so great things about security.  Any advice from any of you that have cable modems or may be "in the know"?

Thanks,
Kiwi
8/18/2002 11:59:02 AM EDT
[#1]
Make sure you don't have anything important to do for the next week....

When I got cable it was like an entirely new internet experience.

Make sure you have some sort of firewall softwear.  I use norton's seems to work well.
8/18/2002 12:03:26 PM EDT
[#2]
Get Zonealarm (download it free from the web) or get a router.
8/18/2002 12:07:40 PM EDT
[#3]
Don't let them install they're bullshit software.
8/18/2002 12:10:32 PM EDT
[#4]
Get Zone Alarm. I have norton and it is a bit of a PITA sometimes.  You can also install a router to act as a firewall as well.  Have fun, I could never go back to dialup.
8/18/2002 12:12:25 PM EDT
[#5]
In addition to ZoneAlarm, get a hardware firewall (D-Link or Netgear, or Barricade).  You will get scanned alot.

If you can, do the setup yourself and skip their software.
8/18/2002 12:14:57 PM EDT
[#6]
Keep a towel and some lotion by the computer.  You are about to rediscover the wonderful world of porn.

[;)]

the_reject
8/18/2002 12:17:31 PM EDT
[#7]
o.k.  everybody seems to agree on "zone alarm".  But I am kind of niave about technical sorts.  What is a "router" and where do I get it?


P.S. I Love the dancing jugs[;)]
8/18/2002 12:38:10 PM EDT
[#8]
Avoid Cox! [:(!]

Don't let them leave until you have tested e-mail.

If they are installing a network card, find out what brand/type, you may want to get your own instead.

Again, avoid Cox! [:(!]

Enjoy!
8/18/2002 12:54:28 PM EDT
[#9]
I've got Cox here in AZ, I've always disliked Cox but this cable internet is great after dial-up. 1.8 mb a second right now.  Things that used to take an hour to download now are down in seconds.  Where I live the phone lines suck.
8/18/2002 12:54:57 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
o.k.  everybody seems to agree on "zone alarm".  But I am kind of niave about technical sorts.  What is a "router" and where do I get it?

View Quote


Don't bother with a software solution, go to WalMart and buy the LinkSys Router with built in 4 port switch.

If they ask you if you are going to add more computers, tell them no, you just wanted more security.

Then you can add more computers later if you want.
8/18/2002 1:00:20 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
go to WalMart and buy the LinkSys Router with built in 4 port switch.
View Quote


People who shop at Walmart get what they deserve.
8/18/2002 2:08:09 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Quoted:
go to WalMart and buy the LinkSys Router with built in 4 port switch.
View Quote


People who shop at Walmart get what they deserve.
View Quote


Yep, the best price on a NIB Ruger 10/22, Winchester 1300 12GA, Winchester White Box 9MM, LinkSys router, and various other items, but I know what I am looking for and don't waste my time trying to get some gimp to help me.
8/18/2002 2:12:07 PM EDT
[#13]
Don't let them install their crappy software, whatever it is. Insist they rather configure your existing software instead.
8/18/2002 2:13:11 PM EDT
[#14]
Buy ZoneAlarm Pro 3.0!
8/18/2002 2:16:45 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
Don't let them install they're bullshit software.
View Quote


agreed!

just tell them to configure the networking on your operating system, you don't need any jack off spyware poping up ads left and right, especially not at 40+ bucks a month


8/18/2002 2:17:44 PM EDT
[#16]
Eat at Joe's!
8/18/2002 2:27:47 PM EDT
[#17]
And before they leave, make sure it works!  Had good old Comcast come out two days ago and hook me up and it has never worked.  Keep telling me to wait so they can get me in the computer.  I hate Comcast so much but they are the only choice here

Keving67
8/18/2002 2:37:33 PM EDT
[#18]
to anyone out there who has a high spedd connection, dsl,cable, or other means, i would highly recommend going to [url]www.dslreports.com/tools[/url] and running a speed test....then run the tweak test....then do whatever the tweak tests tells you to do...then download DRTCP  and do another speed test. When i first got cable i was doing about 256-300 kbps. after i tweaked with Dr TCP i  am now getting an average of 2469 kbps. Dr TCP basicaly changes your TCP receive window in your computers registry. here is what the Dr TCP menu looks like [url]www.dslreports.com/front/drtcp.gif[/url]
the best part about it...IT IS FREE!!! most computers come from the factory set up for dialup....the TCP receive window is generaly configured to run at lower speeds..this free program lets you change the number easily, and gives you much better performance. IMPORTANT*** the only number you should have to change is the TCP receive window. the number for that window should be 65535. good luck!!
8/18/2002 3:02:54 PM EDT
[#19]
Thanks for all of the good advice guys.  I appreciate it.

Kiwi
8/18/2002 3:27:51 PM EDT
[#20]
Install Zone Alarm.  This will prevent the scum suckers on your ISP's LAN from peeping into your hard drive and possibly doing you evil.  After you install it, watch the action for awhile.  It is amazing how many folks try to look at your hard drive.  I watched for awhile, then just turned off the tattle-tail 'cause it was always buggin me about some slug trying to get nosy.

Then install Norton AntiVirus and make sure you have the "scan e-mail" function enabled.  This will prevent you from catching one of those nasty Klez viruses and maybe passing it on to your friends.  Right after I got my modem, I began to get hits all the damn time.  Norton and Zone Alarm fixed all that crap.

Have fun!  [beer]
8/18/2002 3:51:35 PM EDT
[#21]
Get yourself an SMC 7004ABR Barricade router. No speed loss issue with it depending on what your cable modem will be. Also like EX11B said, go to DSLReports.com Join up in one of their broadband forums. Here's a forum for RoadRunner [url]http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cable,rr[/url]
8/18/2002 7:01:40 PM EDT
[#22]
Visit speedguide.net to make it run real fast.

Bill3508
8/18/2002 7:12:29 PM EDT
[#23]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Don't let them install they're bullshit software.
View Quote

agreed!
View Quote


Also agreed!  When RoadRunner sent their tech to install my cable modem, I was naive enough to let him run his "test" program on my pc.  He left saying it was working.  It wasn't.  After repeated attempts at various levels to reconfigure the network settings, I resorted to a reformat.  I've configured dozens of Windoze & Linux boxes for the network at my office, and I've never seen one as hosed as this.  Even uninstalling & reinstalling TCP/IP didn't help. As long as you're connecting with an ethernet cable using your existing network card, they need to install [b]nothing[/b].  Don't let them fvck up your computer.
8/18/2002 7:33:12 PM EDT
[#24]
Quoted:
Do you really need a router? I heard some people say that they couldn't be hacked if they went through a router, but I don't believe it. If you're going to share your connection with another computer in the house, just get an additional network card and a crossover cable. You'll need Windows 98SE or better to do it.
View Quote

You'll need 2 NICs on one PC. One for the cable modem and crossover cable. Besides, Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is not a way to go. You should just get a router, this way you don't need to have one of the computers on all the time. Plus a router uses less energy, and it won't slow down your connection in most places. The PC with 2 NICs act as a server. If you have a slow server, then your connection is slow. Routers use NAT. Here's the info on NAT [url]http://www.howstuffworks.com/nat.htm[/url]