Comcast broadband

[TwoBills]

Broadband is finally available in my area. Is it better to install a cable modem or just add a card for more USB ports and rent comcast's modem? Is that how it works?
My other concern is the fact that I will now be "on" 24/7. Up till now I've been using the free AVG and some common sense to keep the bugs out, but cable changes that. I've heard that a hardware firewall is the best solution. What does this mean? Router? Switcher? What do I need?
I'm running a 700mhz machine w/320mb of sdram. ME os. Is this going to limit me in any way, as far as the broadband is concerned?

 

[ozziegn]

Originally posted by: TwoBills
Is it better to install a cable modem or just add a card for more USB ports and rent comcast's modem?

huh?

I dont exactly understand your question.

are you asking if its better to use an ethernet card or run the modem through a USB connection instead?

either way, you have to "install" the cable modem cuz w/o it you wont have broadband at all. but if it were me, I'd run the modem through an ethernet card and forget a USB connection.

as for the firewall thing, I'm a sworn user of the Kerio Personal Firewall. its free to home users and it has always done an excellent job of providing me with protection against people on the outside. of course just like anything else, it isnt fullproof but its better than nothing at all.

some people will swear by Zone Alarm but I cant stand that firewall. its too protective at some times and blocks content that doesnt need to be blocked. yes, I do know that all that stuff is adjustable within it's control panel but its always been a pain in the @ss to me so I've learned to avoid Zone Labs products altogether.

so in a nutshell, all you need is a network (NIC) card so you can hook up the cable modem via ethernet cable and you'll be all set. but whatever you do, DO NOT let Comcast install their software on your machine. its unnecessary and you DO NOT need it.

good luck.

 

[corkyg]

I have had Comcast cable Internet now for almost 18 months. It has been very good. I use the modem they suggest - just rent it - it is an RCA and has performed perfectly in every respect. I keep it plugged into a small UPS box for stability.

Since I feed three computers, it goes directly to a Linksys Router/Switch (NAT), and then to each computer. Each computer has a NIC - and that provides pretty good security. On top of that, I run ZoneAlarm Pro on each system, and have XP SP2's internal firewall as well. It all works with no probs - I call it "Defense in Depth."

Since all computers are in the same room, I already had Cat5 cables and a LAN. It was easy to add the cable modem to the network. I have thought about wireless, but that would be a frivolous investment for this configuration - lower performance and worse security simply for a gee whiz effect.

 

[vapidtransit]

Renting a cable modem is like throwing your money away.

Best Buy and Circuit city will give you a free cable modem if you sign up for new service. I'm not 100% sure but I think the service they sign you up for is comcast.

They'll make you sign a 1 year contract but that's not a big deal considering that after 1 week of having cable, you will happily remove your phone modem from your PC and burn it.

 

[TwoBills]

Great answers, all. I am beginning to achieve clarity. One more question, please bear with me.
I've ordered the nic card from Newegg.
I have an offer from Comcast for cable internet for $20 for the 1st 3 mo. (reg. $43). I'm guessing Best, etc. are going to want full price to get the "free" modem. So what I was thinking was to buy a modem (rental is $36/year). Most modems are $50 -60, but I've found one at Tiger for $20 (after rebate). This is a D-Link, DCM 200. Anybody know if this will work w/Comcast? Any way to tell?
Gonna stop at Best Buy just to check out their "free" modem and to see if they'll honor the Comcast offer. We'll see.

 

[Mike2002]

You will be able to get the modem for free even after Comcast gives you the first three months for 20 dollars. The modem is free after mail in rebates just to let you know. I would go that route and get one of the Motorola Surfboard modems that Best But, Circuit City, etc. will have on the shelf. I have had a Motorola Surfboard 4200 or 4100(not quite sure) for about a 1.5 years with Comcast and it has done a great job.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: vapidtransit
Renting a cable modem is like throwing your money away.

Best Buy and Circuit city will give you a free cable modem if you sign up for new service. I'm not 100% sure but I think the service they sign you up for is comcast.

They'll make you sign a 1 year contract but that's not a big deal considering that after 1 week of having cable, you will happily remove your phone modem from your PC and burn it.

The only problem with the "free" offers, is the cable modem that might be included. When my father ordered cable modem service, he ended up getting the Best Buy deal with a Linksys cable modem; said modem was crap and couldn't handle more than about 10 concurrent connections at once(breaking BitTorrent and most other forms of file sharing). If you go this route, see what modem they're selling, and do some research on it, as it may very well be another lemon.

 

[tyanni]

Go into Circuit City and mention that you heard of a plan where you can get 6 months of Cable Internet from Comcast for 20 a month. My CC was offering that, and they might let you do it too.

Oh, and it included a Free Cable Modem too.

 

[styrafoam]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: vapidtransit
Renting a cable modem is like throwing your money away.

Best Buy and Circuit city will give you a free cable modem if you sign up for new service. I'm not 100% sure but I think the service they sign you up for is comcast.

They'll make you sign a 1 year contract but that's not a big deal considering that after 1 week of having cable, you will happily remove your phone modem from your PC and burn it.

The only problem with the "free" offers, is the cable modem that might be included. When my father ordered cable modem service, he ended up getting the Best Buy deal with a Linksys cable modem; said modem was crap and couldn't handle more than about 10 concurrent connections at once(breaking BitTorrent and most other forms of file sharing). If you go this route, see what modem they're selling, and do some research on it, as it may very well be another lemon.

In every add I have seen recently the modem has been a motorola. Even if they don't have the free modem with sign up deal modems only run in the $60 range. It will pay for itself in a years time.