# Damn you comcast! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 13, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124 "2004-03-13T21:55:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/21 "2004-03-14T15:54:38Z")
I tried the modem at the other cable line in the den. Lights 1 & 2 blink just as they did in the computer room. My guess is a problem in the cable at the junction box outside my house. ---
**Author:** ![Squiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Squiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squiddy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/22 "2004-03-14T18:04:34Z")
Most cable modems can be accessed by a web browser. When I put [http://192.168.100.1](http://192.168.100.1) in the address bar, I get a lot of information on status, signal level, addresses and configuration. It may not help you fix a problem, but it might give you a better idea of where the process is falling apart. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/23 "2004-03-14T19:19:54Z")
> [@Squiddy](#): > > Most cable modems can be accessed by a web browser. When I put [http://192.168.100.1](http://192.168.100.1) in the address bar, I get a lot of information on status, signal level, addresses and configuration. It may not help you fix a problem, but it might give you a better idea of where the process is falling apart. I had a similar problem last summer. The modem was working okay, but I couldn’t access any websites (I was using IE then). He went to the MSDOS prompt and typed in “ping (and a web address)” and nothing happened. He then typed in “ping (and a numeric address like in your post)” and got a four line response indicating that the modem was indeed functioning. I just tried that and got the same results. His only help was for me to reinstall the OS. I did and evererything was okay until Friday. I have entered the site you recommended and it’s currently on “step 1 of 5”. How long does it normally take to complete? I’m going to be getting a new computer in two weeks (I finally decided on a Dell 8300) and will be restoring the other computer to its day one state, but I would like to hold off doing this until after I have the new machine up and running. ---
**Author:** ![Squiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Squiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squiddy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/24 "2004-03-14T19:54:55Z")
[QUOTE=I have entered the site you recommended and it’s currently on “step 1 of 5”. How long does it normally take to complete? I’m going to be getting a new computer in two weeks (I finally decided on a Dell 8300) and will be restoring the other computer to its day one state, but I would like to hold off doing this until after I have the new machine up and running.[/QUOTE] Each step shouldn’t take longer than a minute or two. We probably have different modems, my status is listed differently. I also have Comcast and have had the same problem as you (although not for awhile). It would fail at the ‘Register Connection’ step. In every case, after a phone call from me, the problem cleared up within a few minutes to an hour. I really doubt reinstalling your OS is the answer - usually the cable modem needs a good cold reboot from Comcast. Another possibility is the signal levels, but reinstalling everything won’t change that, it’s another cable company issue. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/25 "2004-03-14T20:08:00Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Right now 1 & 2 are blinking. Sometimes just 1 blinks for a while and then 1 & 2 blink. Sometimes all the lights go out and 3, 4, & 5 will light up for about a second and then 1 will blink, etc. I had the exact same problem with the RCA modem I got from Comcast last year. The problem I was having was that my modem kept going into stand-by mode involuntarily whenever it damn well felt like it. After a bunch of calls, they eventually just sent someone out to my house (an appointment for which I had to take the afternoon off, thank you) and replaced the modem with a Webstar. Internet hasn’t gone down since. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/26 "2004-03-14T20:13:19Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > I had the exact same problem with the RCA modem I got from Comcast last year. The problem I was having was that my modem kept going into stand-by mode involuntarily whenever it damn well felt like it. After a bunch of calls, they eventually just sent someone out to my house (an appointment for which I had to take the afternoon off, thank you) and replaced the modem with a Webstar. Internet hasn’t gone down since. I bought the modem outright last year. I didn’t want to rent one from Comcast. It worked out okay because Radio Shack had a $60 rebate deal going on (which ended up being $80 by the time the check came back thereby negating the $79.95 price). If I have to rent one, I’ll just have to suck it up. I think it runs about $3-4 per month. At the time I had to sign a one year deal so I can’t change to DSL without paying some godawful fee ($200, I think it was). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/27 "2004-03-14T20:16:16Z")
> [@Squiddy](#): > > Each step shouldn’t take longer than a minute or two. We probably have different modems, my status is listed differently. The only fields filled in are: Tuning: in progress…(step 1 of 5) Current state: not ready (or upstream parameters acquired) Highest state obtained: tuned ---
**Author:** ![Squiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@Squiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squiddy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/28 "2004-03-14T20:27:57Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > The only fields filled in are: > > Tuning: in progress…(step 1 of 5) > > Current state: not ready (or upstream parameters acquired) > Highest state obtained: tuned From all you have posted I think we can definitely conclude that it’s Comcast and not your computer. The fact that you can connect to your modem’s internal web server shows your TCP/IP etc., is fine. The log message from your modem seems to indicate that it’s sitting on the line shouting “Hello! Tell me what to do!!” and it’s not getting an answer from Comcast. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124/29 "2004-03-14T22:10:38Z")
> [@Squiddy](#): > > From all you have posted I think we can definitely conclude that it’s Comcast and not your computer. The fact that you can connect to your modem’s internal web server shows your TCP/IP etc., is fine. The log message from your modem seems to indicate that it’s sitting on the line shouting “Hello! Tell me what to do!!” and it’s not getting an answer from Comcast. Lovely. Now I’ll have to wait a week for the repair guy. I’m definitely going to ask for a credit! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-comcast/234124.md?page=1)