I know that one needs to use a router in able to do this but have recently read that Optimum has caused problems with people trying to hook up two PC's for web access etc. with one Optimum box. Optimum is saying that one needs a separate cable box for each PC used. Is this their enforced policy now? Not that I'm into doing anything illegal (it's not my business) but always thought that a decent router would do the trick and enable two machines to share web access concurrently.
I can do this easily at home, and with a dialup no less, using an AirportExtreme (wireless).
Has Optimum done something to prevent this now? This is the NY metro area (a suburb)
No problem here with two desktops and a notebook all running to a 4 port router which is connected to the modem. Also NY metro area. One account with multiple email addresses.
When you use a router, only one device is connected to the cablemodem. To the provider, they only see one MAC address, and only one IP address is requested. To the provider, this is no different than one computer, one X-Box or one anything that uses an Ethernet connection.
While they could theoretically compare the MAC address of the device to a table telling them what the device is, they cannot definitively tell whether you have one computer or a dozen computers behind the router. They could try to guess based on the amount of traffic, and they could try to do some traffic analysis, although they'd still be guessing, and spending far more money to make the guess than they'd collect even if your service agreement is definitively worded to address routers. (The service agreements I've read do not definitively address routers, but only the number of devices *connected to the modem*)
The is not likely to be any legal reason, and certainly is no technical reason why you can't use a router.
All cable companies have language in their TOS that would lead the consumer to believe that they MUST have one modem for each computer. It's a bunch of BS. A router looks like a computer to a cable modem. What you hook up to your router will only be known to YOU. -Dave
Thanks a LOT for that one. Whew! For a minute I was believing the cable company's line that they could detect by multiple IP or MAC addresses how many computers were on the line. As we are a small two person office with only one machine on a 56k dialup you can see why we need better access and DSL isn't available in that area. So now I've more toys to play with :)
Well actually, they CAN do just that, if you LET them. But if you install your hardware correctly, there is no way the cable company will know how many computers are on the line. Here's what I would suggest . . .
If you need professional installation, have the cable company install the cable modem on ONE computer. BEFORE installation, tell the cable company that you want to use your own cable modem, rather than rent one from the cable company. Then do just that . . . go buy yourself a decent cable modem. I'd suggest a Linksys brand BEFCMU10, V3 or higher. (the V3 is important) But you don't have to buy the Linksys. Just make sure that whatever cable modem you DO get is compatible with your local cable company and connects to your computer via an ETHERNET CABLE, rather than by USB Cable.
After the cable modem is installed and verified to be working OK, go buy yourself a decent router, such as Netgear WGR614 or similar. (Yes, I know that specific model is wireless, but it's easier to buy a wireless router up front rather than discovering later that you need one. And the wireless ones are cheap enough now, it doesn't make much sense not to buy one.) To install the router, do the following in exact order:
-Turn off all computers (power down)
-Unplug your cable modem (both power and ethernet cables . . . you can leave the cable line hooked up)
-Hook up ethernet cables so that router (such as Netgear WGR614) is between cable modem and computer number 1. Ethernet cable from cable modem should be hooked up to WAN port on router. Computer number one can be hooked up to any LAN port on router. Do NOT plug in power to router YET.
-Hook up power on cable modem
-Wait two FULL minutes
-Hook up power to router
-Wait two FULL minutes
-Turn on Computer number one and test Internet Connection.
-Assuming computer number one is working OK, you can now hook up as many computers as you want to, to the LAN ports of your router. Your cable modem only sees one "computer", your router. Your router is acting like it is computer number one. (!)
Most routers should be smart enough to configure themselves if you hook them up in the exact order listed above. In a worst case scenario, you might have to program your router to spoof the MAC of the computer that the cable modem was first installed on. You'd have to refer to the documentation of your router to learn how to do that. But in most cases, that shouldn't be necessary. -Dave
Also, with most firewall/routers, you can clone the MAC of one of the computers, so that even if the ISP checks MACs, it would appear to be a computer.
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