Help! I'm getting Digital Cable!!!

Trip

Trip

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Hey: I'm getting comcast digital cable in two days and I'm really worried. Do they have to connect something to my TV? I have a huge big screen TV and it's practically impossible to move. Also: is it complicated to install/setup?
I've never done anything like it and I'm real worried. Anybody who uses digital cable or even comcast contact me quickly and let me know what you think of it!

Thanks!!!
 
Leave it all up to the installer to figure it out. Though you might want to keep a casual eye on them. It is entirely up to the cable company to find all the right leads and connections, and if you ask them to put the receiver in a certain spot (within reason) they'll do that.
So if you say to them "I'd like it to sit over there on top of the VCR, and I want it plugged into AV-3 on the telly" then they'll probably be happy to do it.

(NB: My experience is with cable TV companies in Australia, and its generally true. They'll put the system wherever you want it and hook it up however you ask, provided its within reason.)
 
I'm using Comcast. :) It's easy to set up. They don't connect anything to your TV. They send you the cable modem, and cords to connect it up (two coax cables, a coax splitter, a USB cord and an ethernet cord - the USB option won't work with OS X).

The cable modem (unless they've upgraded in the last 5 months) is a Motorola SURFboard cable modem.

You don't even really need the installer. It can be helpful if you don't feel like doing things yourself, but you don't have to do it.

Basically, just hook the coax cable cord into the back of the cable modem, connect the ethernet to it and your computer, open up the Network preference pane, select ethernet as the port you're configuring, and select Using DHCP in the Configure: drop box.

Err...dang...I dunno which DNS Server you would use for Utah...I'm in Delaware. Maybe you'll have to use the installer after all.

'Less you're using that old tip of mine to run your own caching-only nameserver. Then you could plunk 127.0.0.1 in the DNS Servers box, then hit apply at the bottom. That simple. :)

Actually, it'll pick a DNS Server even if you don't enter one...but it may take a second for the connection to start working that way.

Your call. It's all pretty simple either way.

Note that the installer will do a few other things. The only one I can think of at the moment is that it adds your Comcast email address to Mail.app. Umm...I think I had a few problems getting the installer to complete the installation when I tried it, but everything was actually working anyway so I didn't bother with it.

The interface for the thing is ugly too. :p
 
Hey darkshadow, did you read the first post, no mention of cable modem or internet, just digital cable. Comcast supplies the DNS info automatically anyway (you don't need to figure out which number to use) I would echo symphonix, let the cable guy (or whoever) figure out the physical stuff. No real setup for you at all. I've been with Comcast vid for <since Comcast took over in central Delaware> and cable modem for nearly two years, no real complaints over that time.
 
I've got comcast digital cable. The box is just like any other cable box. It just plugs into the coax hookup on your TV. It might even have AV hookups too. I can't remember.

Piece of cake, don't sweat it. Nothing special about it. Just more channels. I actually find that the Digital Cable box's software is lacking compared to DirectTV. Comcast is too difficult to navigate. Pain the arse!
 
Here's my major problem: we have two computers that need the connection and a TV. They're all in different rooms which are pretty well seperated in the house, how can we get wiring from each of the rooms without making it ugly or messy?
 
cable modem next to the TV. Get Airport/WiFi and a couple of wireless cards and viola! Or you can just run cable along your baseboards. All depends on locations of computers and distance from cable coax connection for cable modem. Just hook your router/airport into the cable modem and run cables/wireless signal form there.


Goodluck!
 
I have Adelphia digital cable and my brother just accesses the Internet through the AirPort card on my iMac. :)
 
We could use airport on my ibook, but my mums computer is one of those old imacs, which don't have airport spots.
 
What about those wireless USB adapters? Did they ever release mac drivers for those. I seem to think they did. You coudl try that or just run a cable from the airport to the lone iMac. But I HIGHLY recommend you get airport for your ibook. You'll wonder how you got by without it.
 
Trip: I think the earliest iMacs, which didn't have the airport slot, can still be fitted using an adapter. It is $20 US. Just search for "airport adapter" on the Apple store site.
 
Well turns out: my mums computer got the connection, but:

1) I didn't.
2) Can't use airport because of quality/price.
3) Can't share connection because she doesn't want wires running through the house.

This is highly depressing. No joke. :(
 
Are you saying you can't afford airport? You can get a cheap 802.11b access point for $80. Then just get the airport card for $99. I know it's $200, but I promise that its worth it. Just save if you've got to. You can't go without broadband. Dialup is like crawling through mud.

Do whatever you have to, even if it means selling some other stuff on ebay. :) Or just be a scrooge and horde your money till you have enough. It'll be worth it!
 
Trip: Are you still living at home? Why doesn't your mom want cables running through the house if the idea is to share the connection and you can't run Airport? If you're sufficiently talented, you can hide the cables so they're unnoticeable.
 
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