A modem question, please help befor DS and I have a tug-O-war!

[Lynn CC]

I rent a 3 Com Modem from Comcast at $3 a month. Which was fine until now. We need another USB port and the one we rent only has one in the back of the modem. Comcast says they don't have a modem with more than 1 port...
Can I buy one somplace? Someone else must use more than one port. I'm not too computer savy. DS keeps unplugging the internet to use his Playstaion online game, which isn't going to work for either one of us!
I was hoping someone here would know.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I'm not sure if this would work for you, but there are multiport USB devices that plug into your existing USB port. Basically, it takes the one USB port as it's input and has 3 or 4 USB ports as it's output.

It might be worth your while to research this.

Good luck.

 

[Lynn CC]

We have a netgear with 4 extra ports, but when I plug his cable line for the playstation in that it doesn't work. It has to be plugged into the USB on the Modem in order to work. I just don't get it

 

[battricia]

sorry i'm taking back my last response for a second (i just need some more information), the game system won't work with an ethernet cable? That is strange, it should work However if it doesn't, why don't you plug the computer in with an ethernet, and the game system in with the usb.
tricia.

 

[Tina]

The simplest solution will cost you about $10 from Best Buy/Circuit City/Microcenter. They make USB adapters with 2 to 4 ports on them that you can plug into your existing port. Or for about $50 you can buy a PCI card to install in your computer with multiple USB ports on them. This will get you up to the 2.0 USB standard. Also, if your computer has an ethernet port (network card), you can plug your modem into that (which is much faster than 1.0 USB) and free up your USB port. I find it odd that you even rent your modem from comcast. Most of the computer stores have them free after rebate.

 

[floridafam]

Well, I'm not sure what to tell you but I can ask DH when he gets home. He works for Comcast and we have their Internet.

All I know is that I am on the computer and my kids are playing a game on the Playstation as we speak.

I'll let you know what he says unless you get it figured out earlier.

 

[Lynn CC]

Thanks for the quick responses....I'd like to know what you DH says floridafam!

Looks like I may be heading to Best Buy....again.
Tina - I think it's time I bought one then,,,,thanks

 

[floridafam]

there are several possibilities here:

the 3com should have a USB and an ethernet port on the modem use the ethernet port for one computer and the USB for the other device(Playstation/Xbox)

i highly doubt there is one USB port on the modem and NO ethernet port- i have never heard of a cable modem with no ethernet port on it. If your PC(i'm assuming) does not have built-in ethernet, your can buy an expansion card for your PC. maybe $20 + a screwdriver and your son can follow the instructions for installing it with the POWER DISCONNECTED from the PC.

another option would be to purchase a cable gateway device or a router to connect to the cable modem. these will share the connection for you, but your son will have trouble online gaming from behind the router sometimes depending on the game...another story

The trick here can also be that cable modems recognize MAC addresses(the hardware address of your network adapter) and some will only allow one MAC address at a time-and the 3coms are problematic quite often.


Okay, that was my husband.

DH said Comcast has modems with both USB and Ethernet.

Does this make sense?

 

[Dan Murphy]

The modems are usually free, or close to it, with a rebate, but most always with new cable sevice as a requirement. Sort of like cell phones.

 

[crazelion]

If need more USB ports you can add USB ports to your computer.

I put in a Belkin hi spped USB 2.0 5-Port PCI card from Wal-mart for less than 30.00 dollars. Just pop open the tower with a screwdriver and slip the PCI card into one the expansion slots and screw the case back on.

One more tip make sure touch something get the static of your hands so won't cause hard to the computer.

Put usually can a cable modem free with service with a rebate from Circuit City and Best Buy.

I found it strange that have disconnet one to play the playstation game.