I'd like to sign up for Comcast internet cable. Today I went to Best Buy to purchase the cable modem and self install kit but the boxes left me with some questions. the Linksys cable modem (model BEFCMU10) says minimum requirements are a CD rom drive and an RJ35 ethernet adapter. What is the CD rom drive for- am I supposed to install some software (and most likely it wont work on a Mac) and what does it mean an ethernet adapter- my iMac has an ethernet port but what is the adapter (the cord?). The install kit says it is good for up to OS 10.3. I have 10.43. Is it possible the box just hasnt been updated? I was hoping I could just take the comcast cable, plug it into the modem and then plug the modem into the computer. Will that work? Thanks for the help.

To install cable internet if you already have cable TV. you would normally do the following.....

Do Not Install any Comcast Software!!

1. Install a splitter (1 input & 2 outputs), may be in the box
2. One outlet to your TV and the second would go to your new cable modem
3. Install the cable modem on the end of the second cable
4. Connect the cable modem to your Mac with an RJ-45 patch cable (usually in the box with the modem)
5. Call the Comcast number furnished to have the modem provisioned, ie added to Comcasts network so it will actually function. At this point they probably will walk you through the rest of the setup. The tech will ask for the MAC Address of the modem which will be on one of the labels on the modem and usually the box

The only software you need is Safari which is already on your Mac.

You could also download Firefox from Mozilla.org and use that.

Again, Do Not install software from the Comcast CD

Good luck and have fun, further questions, call 248-546-9339

Brian Stone

Why did you buy a cable modem? Unless they have changed modis operandi, Comcast will give you one when you sign up. They did me. I've found cable modems to be quite short-lived. I'm on my 4th one. I average about one per year then it konks out. It's cheaper for me to pay Comcast the very small rental fee per month and just call them and have them send out a repair person for free to replace it when it goes out.

When I got mine, they came out, installed it and made sure it was working properly with their servers-- all for free.

My setup is like this: wire comes through the wall; note, this is not the same one that will give me TV. This wire does not deliver TV. It goes into the cable modem (which is not wireless). My Airport plugs into the cable modem. My Vonage VOIP device plugs into the Ethernet port of the Airport and all my computers connect wirelessly to the Airport. My phone line from my phone jack is plugged directly into the Vonage connector and ALL the jacks in my house act just like they did when I had ATT.

1...you don't have to install any software on your computer for the cable internet connection. If fact if you do, it might ( will ) mess things up.

2...you should be able to connect the TV cable coming into your house to the cable modem...then connect an ethernet cable from the cable modem directly to your iMac. For additional security, you may want to install a seperate router between your cable modem and your computer to act as a "firewall"

3...I just read Donna comments above concerning the rental versus buying the cable modem. I bought my cable modem a couple years ago and now it has more than paid for itself. Maybe I am just lucky that I have had zero problems with the one that I bought....fyi

Many PC's did not come with built-in ethernet, as most Macs have for some years, so a plugin card or "Ethernet Adaptor" was needed. Not for you. The CD-ROM will contain USB Drivers for Windows installs (not applicable to your needs), and probably a PDF version of the instruction manual, other than that probably nothing much of use to you. Don't install ANY software that Comcast might provide with a self-install kit. You don't need it or want it gumming up your machine. Pretty much all you need is the cable running into your house, the cable modem, the ethernet cable from the modem to your Mac, and of course, an activated internet account. Once you hook things together, you probably have some instrucion to call Comcast. They will have to "provision" your modem to be a valid node on their network. The process should be relatively painless, but no telling with Comcast from one day to the next. Of course, also in the equipment mix should be a router, if for no other purpose than to have a hardware firewall in place between you and the Cruel World. Not yet a great concern in the Mac world, but you never know.

In some locations Comcast will, even if you're doing a self-install, run a separate cable drop from the pole to your home's computer location.
If it appears that you have any connectivity issues you should insist on them doing this, rather than simply installing a splitter on an existing single drop.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chuck Reti,

If for some reason you have to do your own install, I agree, don't mess with the CD at all. You don't need that. If you call Comcast directly, they will walk you through the procedure, which basically only involves poweringdown the cable modem and the computer (of course after you have all the cables attached. Then you power them up in a particular sequence and the Comcast server can "see" you. It's a good idea to be talking to a live person when you do this, because they can see if their computers can "see" you right then and there.