I just signed-up for digital (high-speed) internet with my local cable company. I’ve rerun the cable connection back to one splitter and the shortest length of cable possible. Still, no signal. I have confirmed that the service has been activated, and the modem’s MAC address is correct.
I have a technician coming Friday, but is there anything else to try? Can I test for signal myself? And, if the signal IS REALLY too weak, is there an in-line amp that can boost the signal?
Any thoughts? If it matters, I am using the USB connection. And, the install software does recognize the cable-modem. Everything seems aye-ok, but something is still wrong, Major Tom.
You don’t say what OS you’re using, but if you’re using one of the flavors of 98, for instance, the USB connection may be the issue. Is your cable modem indicating a connection? Are you using a router? Are you using a bi-directional splitter (not the $.99 job from Wal*Mart)? Try connecting them modem directly to the incoming cable, without the splitter.
have you run the internet connection wizard? (under accessories/communications)
Have you tried connecting through the lan connection?
try a different usb port (some older machines in particular have 1 port intended for a single device while the other is intended to be plugged into a usb hub to provide additional ports)
OK, here’s more details: The OS is Windows 2000. I have a 500 MHz processor. I am connecting through a USB Hub. The installation software is provided by Comcast, my cable provider. I don’t see an “install wizard” pop-up, but Comcast’s software walks me through its own install instructions. At one point, it checks to verify the hardware connections and digital signal. While the hardware connections check-out ok, the signal keeps coming up something like “none found”.
I suspected the hub might be a problem, but I don’t thnk so. It must be the signal, wouldn’t you agree?
As for the splitter, it came with this house built in 1988. We’ve lived here about 3 years. The splitter is about 15-20 ft away form where the cable enters the house. It may be a cheapy splitter, but I have no such knowledge. (How would I recognize a high-quality splitter at Radio Shack v. Walmart, anyhow?)
And, why is it that the cable signal can run through hundreds of feet of cabling and mulitple splitters without trouble…but the internet needs as short a run as possible? Next thing I know, Comcast will be telling me to go buy some rare gold co-ax monster cabling, right!!!
Last, a stupid question about the lights on the cable-modem: There is a light for “power, receive, send, online, pc/activity, and stadby”…which should be lit when first installing? And, even if the correct lights are lit, or flickering, how would I override the install program? It won’t let me move past until this problem is fixed!
It’s a good bet that it is your splitter. I found out today that certain splitters are designed to handle a specific amount of bandwidth. Chances are, if this splitter is from 1988, it is not designed to handle the amount of data coming through your cable. Pop on down to Radio Shack, and get a high quality splitter. (Incidentally, if you have digital cable, the digital signal ALSO will not pass through a cheap splitter. Found this out the hard way!)
Win 2k should be able to recognize the modem without the ISP install software. I’m using Win XP Pro with a Comcast cable modem (using the Ethernet connection) and I didn’t have to install anything to get online. You just need to set up your Network settings. In fact (surprisingly) theinstall tech did this for me, and didn’t even bother with the installation CD (which they usually insist on using).
BTW, you also might want to consider abandoning the USB connection and using a LAN cable with a RJ45 connector into a LAN card. It is much easier to configure that way. (As a matter of fact, windows will do all the configuring necessary if you connect this way). If you have a newer computer, there’s a very good chance that you have a LAN card already installed. If not, LAN cards are cheap ($10-$15), and are easily installed in a PCI slot.
And now for a stupid question… You mentioned that the standby light is lit. Do you have your modem on standby? (With my modem, if it is on standby, all of the lights will go off… Dont know what your modem does. Might want to check it, anyway!)
I don’t think I said all the lights were lit…I just mentioned what the lights indicated. I meant to ask it as “which ones should be lit?” vs. “which should be lit?” Maybe the omission of this one word changed the intent of my words?
As for the suggestion regarding the splitter, I will visit Radio Shack, but I won’t have another chance until tomorrow evening, most likely. Perhaps the splitter(s) is/are antiquated? Could be! Oh, this reminds me…the digital internet install package CAME with a splitter. I should see if it is any better… I’ll keep ya posted!
