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View Full Version : 3Com Cable Modem with HP NIC

Laser2001
03-11-01, 07:05 PM
I just got cable internet and I bought a top-of-the-line 3Com cable modem (yes the one that looks like a shark's fin) I have a Hewlett Packard Pavilion 8590C. Cable internet just became available in my area about a month ago and I live in the middle of no where so I'm pretty sure that there aren't many people on my grid. I tweaked my registry and did some bandwidth tests but the most I got was 2.55 MB/sec. I thought I would've got more speed, so I was wondering if adding a 3Com NIC instead of the default HP one would make it faster.
glc1
03-11-01, 07:19 PM
Being that 2.55 megaBYTES/sec is impossible on cable, I assume you mean 2.55 megaBITS/sec? As for as cable performance goes in generall, there is no set standard. It varies from provider to proivder and area to area. W/ that said, who is your provider, where are you located, and what are your caps?
Laser2001
03-11-01, 07:35 PM
Yes, I mean 2.55 megabits/sec. My provider is AT&T / Road Runner. I live in Western Massachusetts. What are caps? Should I change the NIC or will it not go any faster?
glc1
03-11-01, 07:48 PM
caps = provider implemented limits, which cannot be exceeded (contact your provider for your caps)
Changing the NIC most likely won't do a thing for you, though, you can try.
Use the performance archive at dslreports.com (http://www.dslreports.com/archive) to compare w/ others in your domain/zip.
Laser2001
03-11-01, 08:10 PM
There was only 1 other person in my area but they had dsl. Do you know any good DefaultRcvWindow numbers? I found that changing it affects the speed a lot.
fail66
03-11-01, 09:59 PM
Not the Dreaded Shark fin. Entirely to unstable, mine ket falling over all the time till I velcroed it to my desk. Also there are several different models of the Sharkfin, Model 221, I believe, won't work on USB very well. You have to download the neweset drivers and firmware to get it to work. Also the model 223 have problems with the chipset, and most were recalled. I'll stick with my Toshiba.

My 2 cents
Laser2001
03-12-01, 04:51 PM
Mine's Product Number 3CR29220 or The HomeConnect Cable Modem External. It does have usb support but I use ethernet. I don't know if usb would be faster or not, I haven't tried it yet.
glc1
03-12-01, 04:55 PM
Originally posted by Laser2001:
I don't know if usb would be faster or notDoubt it. USB adapters/modems generally have more stability and compatibility problems due to drivers. Also, they take up more CPU cycles than NICs.

[ 03-12-2001: Message edited by: glc1 ]