# Questions about cable internet **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386 "2004-05-10T02:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/1 "2004-05-10T02:01:28Z")
I am moving in a couple of weeks for the summer to a sublet that has cable internet. What do need to connect to interent through this other than my computer? Do I need a different type of modem? I am using a Dell laptop Inspiron 600 if that makes a differnece. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/2 "2004-05-10T02:12:19Z")
Sitting not three feet from me right now is my cable-modem. It was delivered (for a fee) from the cable internet provider. I don’t think a standard modem would get the job done. I also have a switch because we have the three machines networked. The cable connection comes into my machine and then runs out to the switch and from there to the other machines. Not ideal but it works. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/3 "2004-05-10T02:43:25Z")
What you need is a broadband router. It plugs into your cable modem and each computer then plugs into that. So you’d also need an extra Cat5 cable for each computer. (You can also go wireless, but not everyone has a pleasant experience with that.) Such a router also acts as a partial firewall which is A Good Thing if you are naive about computers. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/4 "2004-05-10T03:13:04Z")
Since the OP only mentioned one computer, why would he need a broadband router? **Kel** , likely there will be a cable modem there already, and you just plug your LAN network cable into it. You _may_ have to configure your LAN settings, but hopefully not. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/5 "2004-05-10T03:45:46Z")
I wouldn’t assume that a cable modem will be there. Check with the landlord first. Many times they will have cable internet come into the building, and will already have a router installed. All you would need in that case is an ethernet cable. Alternately, they may only run the cable up to the unit, in which case you would need the whole deal, cable modem and all. The ISP or the landlord might provide the cable modem, then again they might not. If the landlord has a router installed, check with them to see what internet settings to use. If this is all the cable company’s equipment, check with them for what settings to use. If all else fails, try DHCP first, since most likely this is how they will want everything set up. If you do have to get your own cable modem, check the cost of renting it from the cable company vs. buying it on your own. I forget what my ISP charged, but it was only a few months before it became cheaper to own my own. If the cost is the same for 3 months then you might as well buy your own. Then when you are done you can either use it somewhere else or sell it. If the landlord has provided the cable modem and router, make sure you have a good firewall on your laptop. Remember that everyone else in the building will be on your local network, and if the landlord isn’t very computer savvy, they may be able to snoop on your internet traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/6 "2004-05-10T04:01:18Z")
Here’s the situation. The I am subleting a room in a house of students. There is wireless thoroughout the house and there is also a cable connection in the bedroom I am renting. I know I can connect using the wireless, but I think plugging into the cable is faster, is that right? I wasn’t sure if I would need additional hardware for my computer but it sounds like I don’t. I do have a McAfee firewall. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/7 "2004-05-10T04:11:52Z")
A wireless connection is more than fast enough to handle cable internet service - the internet connection probably isn’t more than 3 Mbps, and even a slow wireless connection is 11 Mbps. The only advantage of using a wired connection would be faster transfers between your computer and others in the building. ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/8 "2004-05-10T04:20:13Z")
> [@](#): > > The only advantage of using a wired connection would be faster transfers between your computer and others in the building. Will the wired coneection be more secure? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/9 "2004-05-10T04:56:22Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Since the OP only mentioned one computer, why would he need a broadband router? Simply for the firewall aspect of a router Declan ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2004, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-cable-internet/244386/10 "2004-05-10T06:32:42Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > Will the wired coneection be more secure? Yes, since someone has to be physically connected to the network to monitor your traffic. You can use encryption to protect a wireless connection, though. It’ll slow the connection down somewhat, but it should still be a lot faster than the internet connection itself.