looking for advise from Mac users.

J

jsisteck

Registered
Hi all,
Im hoping you can help me. I have a job interview next week that I desperately want. It's an ISP broadband support position. I meet all of the requirements except familiarity with Macs. I've been reading tutorials on apple.com, but I'd like to hear from users. How difficult is it to set up a cable modem and a network on a Mac? I understand the Finder and Safari as they relate to Windows, along with the built-in ethernet option in system preferences (I think that's where it is). Have you encountered any problems with your ISP (especially Comcast) that you needed support for? Or problems that you were able to solve on your own? Any help would be greatly appreciated, along with anything that you think might help me that I haven't mentioned. Thank you.
 
Setting up a Mac with a cable modem is so simple that there really is no setup to speak of. As a minimum, you can plug-in the modem and then connect your Mac to the modem via Ethernet. Enable DHCP within the Network preference pane. I recommend connecting the modem to the WAN port of a router (Linksys preferably) and then connecting the Mac to one of the router's LAN ports. Having said that, I would be very uncomfortable with your representing yourself as giving Mac tech support if you know as little about Macs as you do.
 
Thank you MisterMe, for your reply. As for my lack of knowledge about Macs, this posititon is only for Internet help, not overall Mac OS assistance. Everything that you have explained deals mainly with hardware, and that is the same as windows, so Im good there. My main question is, "Have you encountered any problems with your ISP (especially Comcast) that you needed support for? Or problems that you were able to solve on your own?" I have an extensive knowledge of windows, and even I run into problems sometimes.
 
The only problem came before I bought my first router. I switched between my PowerMac running MacOS 9 and my PowerBook running MacOS X. When switching to the PowerBook, I could not connect. The problem turned out to be a known issue with MacOS X. The workaround is to power-down the modem, wait 30 seconds, and power it back up. This forces it to get a new IP-address and allows the MacOS X computer to access the 'Net. When I installed my router, this ceased to be a problem.
 
One thing you may need to be aware of is the network settings in System Preferences. On OSX, you can select or set-up a 'Location'. As default, OSX, is set to 'Automatic.' As MisterME mentioned, most of the time all the person has to do is set-up the modem, etc and perhaps do a reboot, and OSX takes care of the rest.

Be advised, and I have seen the case where, for what ever reason the location is not on default (Automatic), and a particular port (modem, ethernet) is turned off. Basically, it is best to ensure the person has Automatic set on!!!

OSX has a internet connection wizard program also. Using this will turn off the Automatic setting, in many cases, and may cause some confusion.

Here is a real example to clarify.
I got Verizon DSL, you have to go through the install CD. It changed my Location from automatic to one that the install CD set-up. When it did this, it disabled my Airport, which I was using to connect, and instead assumed I was using my Ethernet to connect. To get around this, I had to make sure Airport was selected as an available way to connect. It only took a second to fix, although must people are not familiar with the settings.
 
I've had Comcast for a number of years. On a Mac, it's basically plug & play. Other than using DHCP in the Network PreferencePane, there is no setup.
 
jsisteck said:
Hi all,
Im hoping you can help me. I have a job interview next week that I desperately want. It's an ISP broadband support position. I meet all of the requirements except familiarity with Macs. I've been reading tutorials on apple.com, but I'd like to hear from users. How difficult is it to set up a cable modem and a network on a Mac? I understand the Finder and Safari as they relate to Windows, along with the built-in ethernet option in system preferences (I think that's where it is). Have you encountered any problems with your ISP (especially Comcast) that you needed support for? Or problems that you were able to solve on your own? Any help would be greatly appreciated, along with anything that you think might help me that I haven't mentioned. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Well the best way is to have a quick reference book that you can look at. There is a series of books by the NYTime's reporter David Pogue called "Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Tiger Ed" or "Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Tiger Edition". If you buy one of these two books (from most any box book store) you could get quickly up to speed on the Mac.

Note: Both of these books have pretty follow up pictures to look at :)
 
I'll say this about the Mac OS, with regard to networking, in general. It's the simplest operating system I've ever used, in that regard. I've had more trouble (though not much) with getting Windows PCs to talk to each other than I have with getting my Mac and Windows PCs to talk. Setup with Comcast, my provider, was as simple as plugging the modem into the router, and the router into my Mac. As far as support (I just got off the phone with Comcast, in fact), I've never had a support issue where the OS was even an issue. They have only asked me about the OS once, and I told them it was a Mac. Beyond that, the conversations I've had with their support have never been OS-specific.

Others have suggested a few books, and I will echo their suggestions, because getting familiar with the OS, if only to sound like you know what you are talking about when someone like me calls, is never a bad thing. There is nothing more frustrating to me than calling a service provider and being made to feel like I am talking to someone who has never even heard of my OS. I give people a pass when it comes to Linux, but the Mac OS is common enough where techs ought to know at least very basic things. Do you have to go out and get Mac, and become a pro with it? No. But getting a basic book and just understanding basic terminology will go a long way when it comes to making the person on the other end of the line feel like you know what you are talking about.

Good luck with your new job. With various service-related problems (in my area) that I have with Comcast, from time to time, I may be calling you the next time something goes wrong.
 
Thank you all for your posts. Much appreciated. Like I said, I know the basics of the Mac as they relate to their Windows counterparts, I just don't know enough to toubleshoot the OS, if needed. I have an excellent knowledge of networking, though, and that seems to be the main focus of this position. Just wanted to be as prepared as possible for the interview. Thanks again.
 
While we're on the subject, I have a little question.

I've always heard that it's better to use an Ethernet modem with Macs instead of a USB one. Is there any reason for that, or is that just BS?

Personally, my modem has both USB and Ethernet plugs and I've always used the Ethernet – and it's just as you say, just connect it and it runs. But a friend of mine just signed the contract with an ISP provider and the package comes with an USB-only modem (SAGEM Fast 800). I found ther drivers on the Internet, but what do you think? Will it work fine, or is it better to replace it with an Ethernet modem?
 
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