This document will provide you with an introduction to all of the features of your Broadband Cable Modem account in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) format. For anyone who is interested in taking full advantage of their Broadband Cable Modem account, this is the beginners guide for you.

I want to network my computer and game consoles to my High-speed Cable Modem. Can you help?

No. PenTeleData Technical Support does not offer support for personal home networking equipment of any kind, including routers, wireless products, hubs, game consoles, etc. Please contact the manufacturer of your particular device for additional assistance. In addition, you may be required to disconnect any additional networking equipment when speaking to our Technical Support Department in order to assist in the troubleshooting process.

How many IP addresses do I get with my High-speed Cable Internet Account?

The cable modem supplied by your local cable provider will grant 2 unique IP addresses and allow 2 computers to be connected directly to the modem at the same time. One computer will be connected to the modem via Ethernet and another via USB. Connecting more than two computers to your cable modem will require additional equipment.

Can I send faxes with my High-speed Cable Modem?

No. Since a telephone line is required to send a Fax transmission, this is obviously not possible with a cable modem. However, there are several commercial services on the Internet that offer faxing services over the Internet via the use of email; please consult a search engine for more details. Also, if you still have a Dial-Up Fax modem in your computer, you can configure it to be enabled only when you need to send faxes. This feature is usually installed as an available printer in the system and you simply "print" to the fax driver to send faxes. PenTeleData Technical Support does not offer assistance in any way for sending faxes using your high-speed cable modem service, nor do we support sending fax transmissions with your Dial-up modem.

If I have a High-speed Cable Internet Access account, can I still use my PenTeleData Dial-Up account to access PenTeleData?

Dial-up access is not included with a standard high-speed cable Internet access account. Unless you have specifically requested the addition of Dial-Up access to your high-speed cable Internet access account, you will not be able to dial in to a PenTeleData access number. This service is available for an additional fee; please contact your local cable company office for details.

If I purchase a cable modem and connect it to my existing TV cable, will it work?

If you are not a current high-speed cable modem customer, the first thing you need to do is contact your local cable provider and ensure that high-speed cable modem Internet access is available at your residence. Once you know that service is available in your area you can setup an appointment with your local cable office to have the high-speed cable modem service installed. You can purchase a cable modem from your local cable provider or you can lease the modem for a monthly fee. If you decide to purchase a modem on your own you want to make sure that the modem you are purchasing is "DOCSIS 3.0 compliant" (most recent cable modems are). You will then have to contact your local cable company and inform them of your purchase and provide them with the "MAC address" of your new modem in order for them to activate it on your account.

If you are a current High-speed Cable Internet customer and you purchase a modem, you will have to contact your local cable company and inform them of your purchase and provide them with the "MAC address" of your new modem in order for them to activate it on you account. Please note that PenTeleData Technical Support can only offer hardware support for cable modems which were actually provided by your local cable company.

Are cable modems faster than DSL?

Usually, yes. Although DSL is much faster than traditional dial-up access, cable modem speeds are generally much higher than DSL speeds. For more information about available speed packages and prices for your area, please contact your local cable office or visit their website.

How do I configure my computer to connect to my High-speed Cable Internet Account?

There are two methods which can be used to connect a high-speed cable modem to your PC: Ethernet or USB. If your PC already has an available Ethernet port, PenTeleData strongly suggests that you use this method as your connection. Ethernet is the most reliable way to connect your computer and does not require any additional software to be installed. The USB method requires additional device drivers which will be provided to you on a CD when your modem is installed. Please note that the USB connection method can NOT be used on Macintosh computers.

What are the minimum system requirements for High-speed Cable Internet Access?

While it stands to reason that the more powerful your computer is, the more benefits you stand to gain with a cable modem, you can use a cable modem with just about any computer system as long as it has a functioning Ethernet card OR USB capability AND meets the minimum system requirements as shown below

  Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7 Macintosh OS X (10.0 or higher)
Disk Drives CD-Rom 3.5" floppy CD-Rom 3.5" floppy
Processor Speed 166MHz or higher Power Macintosh G3 or higher
Operating System Windows 2000 or higher Macintosh OS X (10.0 or higher)
Memory 64 Mb or higher 64 Mb or higher
Required Hard Drive Space 650 MB or higher 800 MB or higher
Video Display 256-color Mac 256-color
Ethernet/USB 10 base T/USB 10 base T Ethernet Card
Additional Software Internet Explorer/Firefox/Chrome Internet Explorer/Safari/Firefox/Chrome

What is the difference between a 1-way and a 2-way cable modem?

A 1-way cable modem uses your TV cable line to download data from the Internet and a standard telephone line to send information to the Internet. A 2-way cable modem uses your TV cable line for both sending and receiving data and does not require the use of a telephone line.

Do I need to be home when my cable modem is installed?

Yes. When your High-speed Cable Modem is installed, the cable installer will need to run a cable wire from the outside of your home to the desired location of your cable modem. The installer will also connect the modem to your computer and ensure that your new cable modem service is functioning properly.

Do I need to have cable TV service in order to have a High-speed Cable Modem?

Not necessarily, as this policy is set by your local cable company office and may depend on where you reside. However, the cost of a cable modem will be significantly higher if you do not presently have cable TV service. For more information about pricing, please contact your local cable office or visit their website.

What is a cable modem?

A cable modem is a device that connects your computer to your local cable TV line and allows you to access the Internet at very high speeds. Since there is not a telephone line involved (with the exception of 1-Way cable modems), a cable modem is "Always on," which means that the Internet is always available to you.