[SLL] Nationwide Internet: melting down?

[Ken Meyer]

The Comcast Service Agreement (SA) says that it is "theft of service" to
connect more computers without paying $5 for the first one and (I think)
$9.50 total for up to 5 total connections, but I THINK that this results in
an IP address for each connection.

However, when I picked-up a new modem the other day at the walk-in store on
N 94th Street, the person at the window asked if I had a router, which is
about the first question that you get from any support person these days.  I
said, "No", which is currently the case, but then I coyly asked, "So what is
the implication of that question for any future additions to my system."
Her response was, "You can use a router, but you have to register with a
single computer so that the registration process isn't confused by seeing
multiple computers."  I suppose that means that, if the router is set-up to
NAT the connections, the Comcast system will see only one and be happy, yes?

But the critical fact to me, as it was to Dan, was that she did not lecture
me about accounts.  Of course, maybe they don't want to get into an argument
at the window, and the enforcers will take care of that later, when and if
Comcast feels that it is not necessary to look the other way any more, in
order to compete with DSL that allow networking without extra cost.

When I put in the new router, I had to go through the registration process
again, but it seems that changes on the modem's inside connection doesn't
precipitate such a requirement.

One disconcerting thing about the registration process was that there didn't
seem to be any way to avoid the installation of their "Desktop Doctor"
software.  Oh well, said I, "I can probably root it out later, if
necessary."  It makes the capability to initiate "live chat" with the
support people very easy, and I got some competent help with resetting
passwords from a lady in Winnipeg.  But now the firewall is announcing that
some new programs want to access the Internet, which I deny, so I am
wondering what this program is actually doing.  I confess that I haven't
read the available FAQ thoroughly, but I defend the lack of RTFMing by being
cynical about the degree of total disclosure that might be provided therein.

Ken M.


-----Original Message-----

From: linux-list-bounces at ssc.com [mailto:linux-list-bounces at ssc.com]On
Behalf Of Dan Wilder
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 10:37 AM
To: linux-list at ssc.com

Subject: Re: [SLL] Nationwide Internet: melting down?

On Fri, Aug 10, 2007 at 08:46:52AM -0700, Ken Meyer wrote:

> Of course, Comcast residential doesn't allow servers, theoretically, and
> even wants you to pay for additional connections, which is a real crock.
> And when I call about an outage, they always ask early in the conversation
> whether I am running a router.  I'm not sure of the proximate significance
> of that query.

OTOH when I got Comcast installed, I asked the installer, "Once we get
this thing set up, how do I replace the Windows box we're doing the
setup on with a router?"

His response: "Unplug Windows, power down the cable modem, plug in the
router, power up the modem." Nothing about "well you're not supposed to do
that".

There might be a policy, but at least one pair of boots on the ground did
not seem to feel a need to mention it.

BTW I've replaced the router three times since then and there has never
been any difficulty.  I seem to remember a time you had to call Comcast
whenever the MAC changed.  No more.

--
Dan Wilder <dhwilder at gmail.com>