A question for those folks using Time Warner for Internet. I currently use T-W. Our setup is the Time Warner RCA cable modem, connected to a Linksys Router (older, no wireless), which is connected to a Belkin router that has both wireless and wired network access. Recently, the Linksys has been wedging, requiring a power cycle. I remember we retained this setup when we got TW internet because of some oddity with the RCA Cable Modem — it registered MAC addresses or something and wouldn’t talk to the Belkin.
Does this sound at all familiar to anyone? If I wanted to go about removing the Linksys from the loop, what’s the best way to do it? I can plug the Belkin directly into the RCA Cable Modem, or get a new modem entirely? Is this an issue of timing — that is, power-cycle both the RCA Cable Modem and the routers, replace/rearrange the routers, power them up, and then (and only then) powercycle the RCA cable modem.
Advice is appreciated. The Linksys is about 7 years old, the Belkin perhaps 3-4 years old.
I don’t know if they still do that or not. Back in the day, TWC did a weird version of MAC address filtering from their modems. Basically, they were trying to force people to ONLY use one device, thinking no one would go out and buy a router. HA!
What you may need to do is either unplug everything from the modem for 15 minutes, then plug in whatever you are wanting. Option 2 would be to have the Belkin spoof the MAC of the Linksys. I don’t recommend that, just because it’s a kludgy solution.
Oh, and look into getting your own cable modem too, instead of paying the $6/month to TWC. They have a list of approved modems. I bought the Motorola SB6141, which Amazon.com has for $69.99 with no issues. Payback is less than 1 year at this price.
(1) When you replaced your cable modem with one of your own, other than returning the TWC modem to them, did you need to make any other arrangements?
(2) Regarding the “unplug everything” solution — I presume the bring back up order is: bring back up the router, then the cable modem, or vice-versa?
In my experience Dan, you activiate the modem, router, then the computers IN THAT ORDER. Otherwise, the devices may not see each other properly.
1. After you buy and receive you modem, you unplug theirs, plug yours in, and call them to activate. It’s all in the same link that had the modem list. Do make sure, though, that you get the lease removed from your account when you return the modem. I have heard tell that people returned modems and they didn’t actually cancel the lease. *eyeroll*
2a – If you are keeping your existing modem, the modem can stay online the whole time. Unplug the Linksys router from the modem, wait 15 minutes, then plug in the Belkin (or whatever you were going to plug into the modem).
2b – If you are replacing your modem, unplug everything, plug back in the items you want, and then call TWC to activate the new modem. Order won’t matter in this scenario, because it’ll all be new to them.