Posted: 8/18/2017 12:51:10 AM EDT
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Finally dumping AT&T's crappy dialup (been getting 21.6K connections, fairly regularly, lately, and rain means a possibility of no internet for a few hours or a day or two).
Signed up for Comcast internet, and picked up the modem from their store. I have to wait until next week for them to switch on the service, but the new house is already wired. The modem came with no documentation, whatsoever, but most of it is pretty obvious. Jack for plugging in the power (came with a power cord). Jack for plugging in the cable (they gave me a cable - RG6, I think). Four Ethernet jacks (they gave me one Cat 5e cable). It also has WiFi (sticker on the side has the default information for connecting to the WiFi). Two phone jacks with some sort of plug blocking one of them off (they didn't give me a phone cord, even though I'm getting phone service from them  ).
and... Two USB jacks. 
That's the puzzle. After pondering a bit, I thought maybe a USB connection could be used for accessing it to change the default settings, but that would only make sense if there was only one USB jack, not two. I could just wait and ask them next week, when I call the number they gave me to tell them to turn it on, but that involves waiting. There's also the fact that asking technical questions in arfcom GD can result in not only getting the question answered, but getting answers to questions you never thought to ask. Anybody? |
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Sounds like you have a two in one modem/router with wi-fi.
To connect to such a device you would first connect the coaxial cable and plug the device in. Next you would either run an ethernet cable from your pc to the device or you would connect via wireless. The manual should tell you how to access settings on the device. |
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Dial up? Did I read that correctly? Is that even still possible? Around 6 years ago, they started sending junk mail, telling me how much money I could save, if I just switched to DSL. I didn't fall for it, since I knew that there was no way DSL would work on the phone lines in this immediate area. Thought it was really nice of them to tell me how much I could save, if I had a better internet service that they could not give me, though. A neighbor fell for it, and signed up. I told her it wouldn't work, when I heard that she had signed up, but she's a liberal so she doesn't listen to facts. Installation crew showed up, tried to connect with her phone line, then played around with other phone lines to see if any of the others could connect to DSL. In the process, they disconnected my line and left it disconnected. Then then told her it was impossible, and left. I then had to put in a request to have my phone repaired, while she ranted at AT&T sales. Repair guy comes out, gets the explanation of what happened, shakes his head while saying "you can't get a DSL connection, this far out", then reconnects my phone line on the pole. AT&T sales responded to her rant by sending out another installation crew... and they told her it wouldn't work then left (and left my phone disconnected, again). Repeat everything again. Repair guy (different one) shakes his head and says "sales should have NEVER told her she could get DSL this far out". I go tell the liberal that the next time an installation crew shows up, to tell them that disconnecting my phone could be very dangerous. She responds with a typical liberal style rant (it's been much quieter, since she applied for section 8 housing and got an apartment in a trendy neighborhood in town) blaming AT&T for not being able to provide services and me for having negative waves or something. Third installation crew shows up, and disconnects my phone, but I caught the bastards before they got away and had them reconnect it. The installation crew told her that there was no way to get DSL this far out, and that sales should have NEVER told her that she could have DSL. I've been asking them to replace the corroded lines in this area, for years. Some of the sections appear to have more service lines put in as splices to jump around bad sections, than pairs still working in the main cable. When I eventually got high enough to talk to someone that could say something other than "I don't know", I was told that they were not going to replace all that copper wire with new copper wire, when they were planning to upgrade to fiber in a few years. Last year, they did the fiber upgrade, but didn't run fiber "out here". Earlier this year, a repair guy told me (when he came out to "fix" my phone line, yet again) that they were replacing the worst section of line between me and where the fiber ended. Just the one section. |
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Sounds like you have a two in one modem/router with wi-fi. To connect to such a device you would first connect the coaxial cable and plug the device in. Next you would either run an ethernet cable from your pc to the device or you would connect via wireless. The manual should tell you how to access settings on the device. |
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Sounds like a trio: modem, wifi router, phone. You plug your own phone into it. Now I've got to dig around in a junk box and find a phone cable to connect the modem gizmo to the wall jack that I installed to connect to the phone jacks in the kitchen, shop and great room. I had already made Cat5e cables to connect the modem gizmo to the jacks for the Cat5e wiring I installed in the house, and Cat5e cables to connect devices to the other jacks, so the Cat5e cable that they gave me will probably end up in a junk box. I think they installed the USB jacks on the modem gizmo, just to mess with my head. |
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Except there's no manual. What is the make/model number on it? |
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Probably to hook an external hard drive to for network storage, just a possibility. The settings for the built-in router should be accessed through your web browser and a certain IP address (192.168.1.1 or equivalent) Hadn't thought about the possibility of network storage. |
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Yeah, but I didn't really need them to give me the RG6 cable or Cat 5e cable, so why didn't they give me a phone cable that I didn't really need them to give me. Now I've got to dig around in a junk box and find a phone cable to connect the modem gizmo to the wall jack that I installed to connect to the phone jacks in the kitchen, shop and great room. I had already made Cat5e cables to connect the modem gizmo to the jacks for the Cat5e wiring I installed in the house, and Cat5e cables to connect devices to the other jacks, so the Cat5e cable that they gave me will probably end up in a junk box. I think they installed the USB jacks on the modem gizmo, just to mess with my head. Most people just use their existing phone and have a few phone cords laying around. Just like all the Cat cable that people end up accumulating. If you really need one, might ask next time you are there. Then again, the majority of people that sign up for it never really use the phone portion, but it is bundled. Years ago, I signed up for it because it was part of a package and cheaper than what I was paying for just TV/Internet. After they made the switch on a Monday, I had to wait for a tech to drop off a new modem with a phone jack and make some changes to the junction box outside. The tech arrived on a Friday. After getting it hooked up, I found that the voice mail portion already had several messages, some junk rob calls, others were sales calls mentioning my name directly. Meaning that the cable company was nice enough to sell off my info. I ended up forwarding the calls back to Comcast and made it an outbound phone only. Soon I disconnected the phone and tossed it in a box never to use the phone portion again. |
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How much are they charging for a modem lease now a days? I've always bought my own for $60 and a the best router I could afford. I originally planned to buy my own, but finally said fuck it, if it's their modem, they can't argue that it's my equipment that causing the problem, if anything screws up. |
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Since you don't have any service for a week, this site will show you how to test all the ports.
http://www.fiftythree.org/etherkiller/ 
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USB ports are for hooking up external hard drives or printers. They can also be used to hook up a laptop that does not have an actual Ethernet port, becoming more common these days. Most people just use their existing phone and have a few phone cords laying around. Just like all the Cat cable that people end up accumulating. If you really need one, might ask next time you are there. Then again, the majority of people that sign up for it never really use the phone portion, but it is bundled. Years ago, I signed up for it because it was part of a package and cheaper than what I was paying for just TV/Internet. After they made the switch on a Monday, I had to wait for a tech to drop off a new modem with a phone jack and make some changes to the junction box outside. The tech arrived on a Friday. After getting it hooked up, I found that the voice mail portion already had several messages, some junk rob calls, others were sales calls mentioning my name directly. Meaning that the cable company was nice enough to sell off my info. I ended up forwarding the calls back to Comcast and made it an outbound phone only. Soon I disconnected the phone and tossed it in a box never to use the phone portion again. Quoted:
USB ports are for hooking up external hard drives or printers. They can also be used to hook up a laptop that does not have an actual Ethernet port, becoming more common these days. Most people just use their existing phone and have a few phone cords laying around. Just like all the Cat cable that people end up accumulating. If you really need one, might ask next time you are there. Then again, the majority of people that sign up for it never really use the phone portion, but it is bundled. Years ago, I signed up for it because it was part of a package and cheaper than what I was paying for just TV/Internet. After they made the switch on a Monday, I had to wait for a tech to drop off a new modem with a phone jack and make some changes to the junction box outside. The tech arrived on a Friday. After getting it hooked up, I found that the voice mail portion already had several messages, some junk rob calls, others were sales calls mentioning my name directly. Meaning that the cable company was nice enough to sell off my info. I ended up forwarding the calls back to Comcast and made it an outbound phone only. Soon I disconnected the phone and tossed it in a box never to use the phone portion again. I've probably got at least half a dozen phone cables in the junk box, along with some other types of cables (wouldn't be surprised if I've still got at least one of the adapters for connecting RG6 to the old two terminal VHF connections). They actually have things set up where things can be bundled however you want it. Just internet, just phone, just cable TV, or combinations. No discount for taking the cable TV that I didn't want, though I'm fairly certain they are still playing their games with how many channels you have to take that you don't ever watch. Quoted:
What is the make/model number on it? Device type: XB3 Model: DPC3941T |
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A USB connection for a laptop that doesn't have an Ethernet connection could be handy, but it also has WiFi, so it would mainly be useful if the laptop doesn't have WiFi or Ethernet. Do those currently exist on the market? I've probably got at least half a dozen phone cables in the junk box, along with some other types of cables (wouldn't be surprised if I've still got at least one of the adapters for connecting RG6 to the old two terminal VHF connections). They actually have things set up where things can be bundled however you want it. Just internet, just phone, just cable TV, or combinations. No discount for taking the cable TV that I didn't want, though I'm fairly certain they are still playing their games with how many channels you have to take that you don't ever watch. technicolor Device type: XB3 Model: DPC3941T |
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Since you don't have any service for a week, this site will show you how to test all the ports. http://www.fiftythree.org/etherkiller/ I'm going to try to keep the tinkering with the modem gizmo to an absolute minimum, at least for now. I want to enjoy having something faster than a 31.2k connection for a while, before I start messing with things. |
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5 second google search http://media2.comcast.net/anon.comcastonline2/support/help/faqs/wireless_gateway/wg3/WG3_UserGuide_HOW5220.pdf Eta, here's the info you need http://10.0.0.1 admin password |
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5 second google search http://media2.comcast.net/anon.comcastonline2/support/help/faqs/wireless_gateway/wg3/WG3_UserGuide_HOW5220.pdf
Thanks. I'll download it tomorrow, when I get a chance to use the WiFi at work with my tablet. |
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Too bad it'll take OP five days to download at 14.4k Quoted:
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5 second google search http://media2.comcast.net/anon.comcastonline2/support/help/faqs/wireless_gateway/wg3/WG3_UserGuide_HOW5220.pdf |
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Currently connected at 28.8k. Woo Hoo! The speed is such a rush! Quoted:
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Too bad it'll take OP five days to download at 14.4k Woo Hoo! The speed is such a rush!
I posted the login info above, if you can get a browser open via an Ethernet connection, that'll get you into the modem. |
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You must have the patience of a saint
I posted the login info above, if you can get a browser open via an Ethernet connection, that'll get you into the modem. Thanks. I'm tempted to connect it to power and see if one of my tablets (one running android, the other win8.1) will get a WiFi connection, but it would probably be safer to wait until I have the manual. I do have a tendency to wonder "what this does" and that has created some problems in the past.
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Ditch the stock modem they are slow. If you want all out speed I suggest getting something like this. I'm running one and haven't had any disconnects and my speed is much faster now then what I'm paying for.
Cable Modem |
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Ditch the stock modem they are slow. If you want all out speed I suggest getting something like this. I'm running one and haven't had any disconnects and my speed is much faster now then what I'm paying for. Cable Modem |
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I can't wait until the OP finds Pornhub, YouTube, and Amazon.com!
 
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How in the hell does internetting even work at 21.6k in 2017? I was on a 56k modem in like 1992. About a year ago, it dropped to 31.2k. I could still get a 40k connection once in a while, if it hadn't rained in the last week. Sometimes it was slower. Late spring or early summer of this year, it got to where 31.2k was a really good day for a connection, and 21.6k more common. If I get a 31.2k connection, I can barely do Amazon, but the pages load really, really slowly. Youtube? 
I've been planning the move to the new place for a few years, and knew that Comcast was available at the new place. Initially, I was going to wait to see if AT&T decided to actually give a shit about my area and fix their infrastructure, then decide which to use at the new place. After their fiber upgrade fiasco, I have my doubts that I would ever consider using them again. Not moving to the new place, yet. Just finally gave up on paying for this at the old place, and having real internet at the new place will make it easier to get my daughter to go over there and help with stuff like the kitchen cabinets, painting, etc. |
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Couple years ago, I could fairly reliably get a 40k connection. Sometimes a bit faster, sometimes a bit slower. About a year ago, it dropped to 31.2k. I could still get a 40k connection once in a while, if it hadn't rained in the last week. Sometimes it was slower. Late spring or early summer of this year, it got to where 31.2k was a really good day for a connection, and 21.6k more common. If I get a 31.2k connection, I can barely do Amazon, but the pages load really, really slowly. Youtube?
I've been planning the move to the new place for a few years, and knew that Comcast was available at the new place. Initially, I was going to wait to see if AT&T decided to actually give a shit about my area and fix their infrastructure, then decide which to use at the new place. After their fiber upgrade fiasco, I have my doubts that I would ever consider using them again. Not moving to the new place, yet. Just finally gave up on paying for this at the old place, and having real internet at the new place will make it easier to get my daughter to go over there and help with stuff like the kitchen cabinets, painting, etc. 
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JPN, if you have any trouble shoot me an IM.
I work for Comcast. I'm on the biz side, but I can still help. Sometimes it's nice to have a friend at the cable company 
ETA: If you can provide the make and model of the modem provided I can tell you exactly what the USB ports are for, and if they are enabled on your particular device in the firmware. |
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Ditch the company modem and buy your own with a separate router.
It's all fun and games until they reset your modem and wipe out all of your settings. Time warner gave me one similar to yours and I was only using it as a pass through to my router. Every few weeks they'd do something that caused it to reset to defaults which included the wifi security being non existent. If you look on Amazon you can get open box/amazon warehouse modems for under $60 |
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For some strange reason, I've currently got a 37.2k connection.
Got an email from Comcast, with a link to set up my account. Clicked the link, then found something else to do while the page loaded. I think it took over 45 minutes to set up the user name and password, verify my cell phone number, verify my primary email address, and... hmm... I think that's all I managed to do. I won't miss dialup. ETA: To be fair, taking my cell phone over to the window where I can get a signal, and leaving it there for a while to get the text with the verification code for my cell phone number, did add a few minutes to the process. |
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