FW Cable Modems (Internet)

[rgrimm]

Has anyone brought and successfully connected to FW Internet via the Cable?

If so, what brand/Model cable modem did you use?

Does anyone know the model of the Linksys Cable Modems you can 'borrow' from FW for internet access (perhaps someone current at The Fort who has one could look at the model number on it and post it)?

I am making a trip back to FW in December after being away for a little over a year (had sold my RV in 2013) and would rather just have/bring my own Cable modem to connect my personal RV router for my wireless access for my devices in and around my site.

Thanks,

Russ

 

[bama_ed]

Has anyone brought and successfully connected to FW Internet via the Cable?

If so, what brand/Model cable modem did you use?

Does anyone know the model of the Linksys Cable Modems you can 'borrow' from FW for internet access (perhaps someone current at The Fort who has one could look at the model number on it and post it)?

I am making a trip back to FW in December after being away for a little over a year (had sold my RV in 2013) and would rather just have/bring my own Cable modem to connect my personal RV router for my wireless access for my devices in and around my site.

Thanks,

Russ

Russ,

There's been past discussions on this. Using the search words "cable" and "modem" will get you some threads on it. Basically you need a Fort modem but lots of folks bring their own router to add on.

Bama Ed

 

[rgrimm]

Thanks Bama Ed.

I have used search for this just hadn't found a thread/post where a member had actually tried there own Cable Modem or not. Most of the posts seemed bit more generic. Sorry I brought the topic up again. I'll just use one of the FW 'loaner' Modems - if they have any available when I am there in December.

Thanks,
Russ

 

[bama_ed]

Thanks Bama Ed.

I have used search for this just hadn't found a thread/post where a member had actually tried there own Cable Modem or not. Most of the posts seemed bit more generic. Sorry I brought the topic up again. I'll just use one of the FW 'loaner' Modems - if they have any available when I am there in December.

Thanks,
Russ

Well that's true, no one actually came back from the Fort and said they tried and it did/didn't work. Guess you could try it when you are there later this year and let us know how it goes. Your's will be a definitive answer.

I stand corrected.

Bama ED

PS - loved all your pix on the Pic/Day mega-threa....

 

[Napria]

Look at post #10 in this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3277139

There's a link to the modem the poster uses.

Hope this helps!

 

[rgrimm]

Look at post #10 in this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3277139

There's a link to the modem the poster uses.

Hope this helps!

Thank you Napria.

I had read that entire thread a few days ago. Jbrostek's post (#10) is talking about a possible WiFi solution (mesh controllers/bridges) that Disney could use to implement Wifi access in the individual loops. The link to Walmart that was in his post was for a wireless Nano Router, a Resort room solution for a personal WiFi Access Point. The router component I have and have used at FW in the past. My thread here was focused more on the Cable Modem, the component that interfaces with the current Cable TV connection in the sites, to pull the DOCSIS signal (Internet) off the Coax TV Cable and convert it to an Ethernet connection.

As I thought about it - I will assume that Disney probably uses the unique MAC addresses of all THEIR Cable Modems to authenticate them on their network and those MAC addresses are held in a Database. So if I brought my own personal Cable Modem it would NOT authenticate as it's MAC address would not match any of those in the Disney/FW MAC address Database.

So I will do as everyone else and just 'borrow' one of Cable Modem Kits FW offers (if they have any available when I am at FW) until they implement a WiFi solution throughout the Loops.

Thank you everyone for your input, in a way it helped me answer my own question.

Russ

 

[jbrostek]

Resident telecom/network engineer weighing in. You can bring a router like the nano or even full fledged router to run wifi off the FW supplied modem. I have done it every year and we usually have just one router supplying wifi signal for our 3-4 sites in the grand gathering.

But the question of bringing your own modem and using it at FW will likely not work. The way cable modems work to avoid unauthorized users is an authentication method for the modem. That authentication method is based off the MAC address assigned to cable interface, this is usually a different mac address then the LAN interface of the modem. So unless you modify a modems software to allow it to spoof the mac address of another modem, it will not authenticate and come online. Even if you could do that, you run the risk of a user connecting the authorized modem you spoofed and the system will kick both modems offline due to duplicate mac address.

In all my years of going to FW, I have not had to wait a long time to get a cable modem.

 

[rgrimm]

Resident telecom/network engineer weighing in. You can bring a router like the nano or even full fledged router to run wifi off the FW supplied modem. I have done it every year and we usually have just one router supplying wifi signal for our 3-4 sites in the grand gathering.

But the question of bringing your own modem and using it at FW will likely not work. The way cable modems work to avoid unauthorized users is an authentication method for the modem. That authentication method is based off the MAC address assigned to cable interface, this is usually a different mac address then the LAN interface of the modem. So unless you modify a modems software to allow it to spoof the mac address of another modem, it will not authenticate and come online. Even if you could do that, you run the risk of a user connecting the authorized modem you spoofed and the system will kick both modems offline due to duplicate mac address.

In all my years of going to FW, I have not had to wait a long time to get a cable modem.

Thanks for your input. I have brought (and used) my own router within my RV since 2011 and it has worked well and has kept my DW happy to when we are in the RV. I will just use one of the FW Linksys Cable Modems for my routers internet access.

Now I just need December to get here a little quicker. Our first trip to FW was in December of 2011. In 2012 we made two more trips and just simply loved the atmosphere in The Fort. Then we sold our last 5th Wheel and Truck our 2013 Trips to Disney put us back at Disney resorts .............. we really missed The Fort and especially all the friendly people we meet there and that motivated us to find another RV.

Thank you everyone ..... can't wait for December and our return to The Fort.

Russ

 

[jbrostek]

No problem. 3 years ago we changed our normal 2 week vacation due to the oil spill and fears it would foul up the beaches. Thankfully that did not happen at our favorite location, but we chose to spend 2 weeks at FW instead. It did not cost us much more then a week of the beach, the tow to FW and then the week there. Jan 2015 will be our third year in a row of just doing 2 weeks at FW, even without the parks (we enjoy going there as well) it is that nice of a campground that we really love staying there.

I have gotten a little tricky myself these days, I have a newer cisco/linksys that we use on the CM, and then I have a older linksys running DDWRT acting as a mesh repeater to the main one, this is how with the site distances we can get wifi to cover 3-4 sites off a single CM.

 

[rgrimm]

No problem. 3 years ago we changed our normal 2 week vacation due to the oil spill and fears it would foul up the beaches. Thankfully that did not happen at our favorite location, but we chose to spend 2 weeks at FW instead. It did not cost us much more then a week of the beach, the tow to FW and then the week there. Jan 2015 will be our third year in a row of just doing 2 weeks at FW, even without the parks (we enjoy going there as well) it is that nice of a campground that we really love staying there.

I have gotten a little tricky myself these days, I have a newer cisco/linksys that we use on the CM, and then I have a older linksys running DDWRT acting as a mesh repeater to the main one, this is how with the site distances we can get wifi to cover 3-4 sites off a single CM.

Since I got back into RVing, I have been using a Amped 600mW Router/Range extender to connect to CG WiFi's when traveling and then all our devices (laptops, Kindle, Cells) just connect to it. This way I only have to connect/authenticate one device (the Amped) to the CG's WiFi and my DW devices just connect to our RV Network - just like being at home for her. Technology, its ever changing, while I am no longer strapped to it since retiring , I still like to have the ability to be connected while having my morning coffee.

Since we are FL residents and only 3 hours away from Disney, we usually make multiple trips to Disney during the year, so we have never stayed longer than a week at a time.

Russ

 

[jbrostek]

I think some of the luster and glamor of staying at FW would fade if we where able to go more then once a year. Being an 18 hour tow away just limits visits. But we also have some great places to visit around here for a long weekend. Williamsburg, Luray, the PA blue ridge mountains, and many more. But in the cold of winter (the day we left in Jan 2014 is was 9F with a -5 wind chill, thats COLD for VA) its nice to get down south for two weeks.