How do I use my Cable modem in an alternate location?

[murleyj]

Hi everyone....Can anyone answer this? I wanted to get a fast isp to use at work. I was going to get Earthlink Cable...which uses Time Warner's cable lines here in Memphis. However they said I couldn't because they only do residential, and RoadRunner wanted some outrageous monthly fee for a commercial account.

So, I ordered the Earthlink Cable ( EL from here on ) for use at my home. I figured once I had a modem with a recognized MAC address it would all be fine. I mean i was thinking I could just take my modem to work and use it there since the ISP would just see the MAC address of the modem. I have a dedicated line (meaning a single line from the cable tap on the pole) with no splits or anything strictly for the modem. But when I plug up the modem (Motorola Surfboard 4200) the Power and Receive lights stay on green, the Send light blinks green slowly, but the ONLINE light comes on for about a half second at power up and goes out.

Anybody have a clue what's going on? We have digital cable at this address. But that is on a separate drop from the cable tap.
Any help is appreciated.

[mnosteele52]

What you are trying to do is not possible, you need to have internet service turned on at work which you don't have.... you can't just hook up the modem and have service.:(

[murleyj]

But there is nothing there to turn on.........I mean when the guys came out to hook up my service at home they just unboxed the modem. they didn't even climb the pole to do anything. So how did they "turn it on?" All they did was call the cable company from my home phone and read out the MAC ID...Can you explain please? Thanks..

[mnosteele52]

They put what is called a trap or (filter) on the line to block internet service, besides that mac address on the modem is for your home address.:)

[Old Fart]

Murley, the authorization for your modem to access the network (get you on the 'net) is done at the cableco's NOC (network operations center) When he called to give them the modem's MAC, on their side they threw the software switch for that particular modem to connect to them only on that particular node that runs to your residential area.

It may work at your neighbor's house if they have cable internet, but at another location served by a different node, it would not work.

BTW I'm originally from Memphis :p

[murleyj]

OKAY it's working....thanx for your input. But I'm up and running...had a bad connector in the line..Replaced it and POW!!!

I thought it would work because mac address is paid for and recognized by Cable company....

Thx anyway.

I'm a Dang Genuis!!!

[Kip Patterson]

With all respect to Old Fart and mnosteele52. in today's world there is a single DHCP server for an entire city, and modems are portable within that city. That leads to abuses such as Murleyj is perpetrating, but overall it simplifies administration and network organization.

Kip

[murleyj]

I really don't consider it abuse. No disrespect intended. But I am paying for this and I'm only using it at work and only 10 days out of the month.

[murleyj]

Also, let me add that I pay for DSL at home. I was going to go the DSL route work, but unfortunately the lines are not capable. So cable was my only option here. I am only at work 10 days a month so I didn't see the need to pay almost 3 times as much for a commercial account. I am not hogging the bandwidth.

Thanks for everybody's input...

BTW I was just joking about being a "Dang Genius", but I am kinda smart.

Again thx.

[legalmind]

Originally posted by Old Fart
Murley, the authorization for your modem to access the network (get you on the 'net) is done at the cableco's NOC (network operations center) When he called to give them the modem's MAC, on their side they threw the software switch for that particular modem to connect to them only on that particular node that runs to your residential area.

It may work at your neighbor's house if they have cable internet, but at another location served by a different node, it would not work.

BTW I'm originally from Memphis :p



This how it works in Phoenix.
I believe also in Las Vegas, Nv.