Is there a vista-compatible DOCSIS cable modem? What is it?

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I would have normally waited for things (hardware, bug elimination, whatever)
to catch up to Vista, but if I wanted to get a laptop PC now, it seemed the
only way to get it was to get it preinstalled with Vista. I am not
upgrading, I am starting with everything brand new. Okay, today I talked to
my local cable internet provider today about options, and after talking to
them, it seemed a good idea to get my own DOCSIS cable modem, so I would not
have to rent it from them. So, I think I've wasted a lot of time doing web
searches, etc. to figure out if a Vista-compatible cable modem exists. I do
not want to set up a network. I just want to plug into a wall and surf the
internet. And so, to make things easier for me... does someone know a DOCSIS
cable modem that is proven to work with Vista? (Also, I forgot to ask if my
cable internet provider supports Vista now, am I going to have to play
freecell for the next six months?)
 
wantcablemodemconnection said:
I would have normally waited for things (hardware, bug elimination, whatever)
to catch up to Vista, but if I wanted to get a laptop PC now, it seemed the
only way to get it was to get it preinstalled with Vista. I am not
upgrading, I am starting with everything brand new. Okay, today I talked to
my local cable internet provider today about options, and after talking to
them, it seemed a good idea to get my own DOCSIS cable modem, so I would not
have to rent it from them. So, I think I've wasted a lot of time doing web
searches, etc. to figure out if a Vista-compatible cable modem exists. I do
not want to set up a network. I just want to plug into a wall and surf the
internet. And so, to make things easier for me... does someone know a DOCSIS
cable modem that is proven to work with Vista? (Also, I forgot to ask if my
cable internet provider supports Vista now, am I going to have to play
freecell for the next six months?)
Click to expand...


I don't think it matters, there is no software running in the PC for your
modem.
All the modem does is supply an IP to the PC pretty basic stuff. Try one if
it doesn't work return it.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: wantcablemodemconnection
[mailto:[email protected]]
Posted At: February-16-07 3:29 PM
Posted To: microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices
Conversation: Is there a vista-compatible DOCSIS cable modem? What is
it?
Subject: Is there a vista-compatible DOCSIS cable modem? What is it?

I would have normally waited for things (hardware, bug elimination,
whatever)
to catch up to Vista, but if I wanted to get a laptop PC now, it seemed
the
only way to get it was to get it preinstalled with Vista. I am not
upgrading, I am starting with everything brand new. Okay, today I
talked to
my local cable internet provider today about options, and after talking
to
them, it seemed a good idea to get my own DOCSIS cable modem, so I
would not
have to rent it from them. So, I think I've wasted a lot of time doing
web
searches, etc. to figure out if a Vista-compatible cable modem exists.
I do
not want to set up a network. I just want to plug into a wall and surf
the
internet. And so, to make things easier for me... does someone know a
DOCSIS
cable modem that is proven to work with Vista? (Also, I forgot to ask
if my
cable internet provider supports Vista now, am I going to have to play
freecell for the next six months?)
Click to expand...

DOCSIS Cable Modems connect to your PC using an Ethernet connection and
require no special software on the PC. I connect mine to a wireless
router but in your case you will simply plug it in to your Ethernet port.
I believe mine is made by Motorola but I would buy it from your cable
company to ensure it is compatible with their system.
 
Don't worry about that, just get a decent brand DOCSIS ready cable modem and
you should be golden. As previous posts have indicated, you do not need a
special driver for Vista. I am still using my cable modem that I was using
under Windows 2000......


"wantcablemodemconnection"
 
I am using a Motorola sb4200 works fine, I think the new one is a 5200.
The cable modem is not based on the OS/

"wantcablemodemconnection"
 
There may not be USB drivers for Vista for cable modems with USB
connections. But nearly all cable modems have Ethernet connections
(only a couple a few years back were USB only). You don't need any
software from an ISP to use a cable modem. If their installation
program does not work, they can manually provision you.

I would have normally waited for things (hardware, bug elimination, whatever)
to catch up to Vista, but if I wanted to get a laptop PC now, it seemed the
only way to get it was to get it preinstalled with Vista. I am not
upgrading, I am starting with everything brand new. Okay, today I talked to
my local cable internet provider today about options, and after talking to
them, it seemed a good idea to get my own DOCSIS cable modem, so I would not
have to rent it from them. So, I think I've wasted a lot of time doing web
searches, etc. to figure out if a Vista-compatible cable modem exists. I do
not want to set up a network. I just want to plug into a wall and surf the
internet. And so, to make things easier for me... does someone know a DOCSIS
cable modem that is proven to work with Vista? (Also, I forgot to ask if my
cable internet provider supports Vista now, am I going to have to play
freecell for the next six months?)
Click to expand...
--

Barb Bowman
MS Windows-MVP
Expert Zone & Vista Community Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/bowman.mspx
http://blogs.digitalmediaphile.com/barb/
 
Thank you everyone. I started to be concerned about the operating system
after I found a good looking modem, the d-link dcm 202 after doing a web
search. Under product specs, they have the operating system minimum
requirements, and I just wanted to see something saying that Vista will work.
I realize now this is making a big deal out of nothing. A big part of the
frustration is, since I am getting everything new, and my plan of getting XP
was thwarted, I just did not want to go through the thing of guessing what
will work, buying it, spending hours seeing if it is compatible, then
returning it for something else. Yes, I could ask my computer superstore
about this, but they are the ones that had every single PC in the place
pre-loaded with Vista, and I just wanted to know upfront. Although the cable
modem is not an issue, I want to get a printer once I get set up, and from
the posts, that might be a problem, but that will be the subject of another
post in the future, if necessary.
 
Thank you, now I know about ethernet Because I had to buy the laptop
preinstalled with Vista, I have a little chip on my shoulder about having to
"test" things to see if they work.
 
Thank you for your reply. --wantcablemodemconnection, aka Tracy

Kevin Young said:
-----Original Message-----
From: wantcablemodemconnection
[mailto:[email protected]]
Posted At: February-16-07 3:29 PM
Posted To: microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices
Conversation: Is there a vista-compatible DOCSIS cable modem? What is
it?
Subject: Is there a vista-compatible DOCSIS cable modem? What is it?

I would have normally waited for things (hardware, bug elimination,
whatever)
to catch up to Vista, but if I wanted to get a laptop PC now, it seemed
the
only way to get it was to get it preinstalled with Vista. I am not
upgrading, I am starting with everything brand new. Okay, today I
talked to
my local cable internet provider today about options, and after talking
to
them, it seemed a good idea to get my own DOCSIS cable modem, so I
would not
have to rent it from them. So, I think I've wasted a lot of time doing
web
searches, etc. to figure out if a Vista-compatible cable modem exists.
I do
not want to set up a network. I just want to plug into a wall and surf
the
internet. And so, to make things easier for me... does someone know a
DOCSIS
cable modem that is proven to work with Vista? (Also, I forgot to ask
if my
cable internet provider supports Vista now, am I going to have to play
freecell for the next six months?)
Click to expand...

DOCSIS Cable Modems connect to your PC using an Ethernet connection and
require no special software on the PC. I connect mine to a wireless
router but in your case you will simply plug it in to your Ethernet port.
I believe mine is made by Motorola but I would buy it from your cable
company to ensure it is compatible with their system.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you, and it is good to know that this community exists with microsoft
people answering the questions. Vista looks good, and I'm sure it will be
fine. Since maybe microsoft has an agreement with best buy to pre-load Vista
on all their PCs, or for whatever reason they are doing this, I'm sure I
won't have any trouble getting Vista-compatible peripherals that work without
problems based on the operating platform. Thanks again.
--wantscablemodemconnection, aka Tracy
 
"wantcablemodemconnection"
I would have normally waited for things (hardware, bug elimination, whatever)
to catch up to Vista, but if I wanted to get a laptop PC now, it seemed the
only way to get it was to get it preinstalled with Vista. I am not
upgrading, I am starting with everything brand new. Okay, today I talked to
my local cable internet provider today about options, and after talking to
them, it seemed a good idea to get my own DOCSIS cable modem, so I would not
have to rent it from them. So, I think I've wasted a lot of time doing web
searches, etc. to figure out if a Vista-compatible cable modem exists. I do
not want to set up a network. I just want to plug into a wall and surf the
internet. And so, to make things easier for me... does someone know a
DOCSIS
cable modem that is proven to work with Vista? (Also, I forgot to ask if my
cable internet provider supports Vista now, am I going to have to play
freecell for the next six months?)
Click to expand...


You need to speak with your Cable company's Tech Support about this. If they
do not yet support Vista, well try to find another Cable company which does.

By the way, with Cable modems, software is only needed for USB connections,
not Ethernet connections.

If you buy a cable-modem, you will have to call your Cable company's tech
support, and give them the MAC address of the modem.

It really depends on the speed of your cable connection. Slower connections
can usually get away with a DOCSIS 1.x modem. Faster connections need a
DOCSIS 2.ax modem, as well as an Ethernet connection, rather than a USB 2.0
connection.

It may be that only your Cable provider will be able to supply a cable modem
for their network. So before doing ANYTHING, speak with them. Cable modems
are seldom more than $5.00US/month for rental.

Only your Cable provider knows if they support Vista or not. But I see no
reason why they shouldn't. Ethernet is pretty much a standard across the
board as far as OSes are concerned.

Additionally, an USB connection between the modem and the computer will be
MUCH slower than using an Ethernet cable instead.
 
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