Getting Online in a Basement Suite: Do I Need a Cable Modem?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and requirements for obtaining internet access in a basement suite where the landlords have existing cable internet service. Participants explore the implications of sharing an internet connection, the necessity of a cable modem, and the potential use of provided equipment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether they can simply buy a cable modem or if they must acquire it through the cable company, expressing uncertainty about the need for a personal account.
  • Another participant suggests that the landlords likely intend for the tenant to share their internet service, raising concerns about the implications of being an extension of someone else's service.
  • There is a claim that the cable company charges for IP addresses, but another participant disputes this by stating that IP addresses are not related to bandwidth.
  • A participant shares their experience of shared internet connections in similar living situations, noting that typically a direct internet cable is run through the wall, which seems to be opposed by the landlords in this case.
  • One participant mentions that if a new cable modem is purchased, the cable company will charge for it due to the hardware address keying, suggesting that a wireless connection might be a viable alternative without additional charges.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of a personal internet account and the implications of sharing internet service. There is no consensus on how the landlords' setup works or the policies of the cable company regarding multiple connections.

Contextual Notes

Unresolved issues include the specifics of the landlords' internet service setup, the cable company's policies on shared connections, and the technical requirements for using the provided equipment.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals living in rental situations with shared internet services, those considering setting up internet in similar arrangements, and renters seeking to understand their options for internet access.

davidg
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I'm living in a basement suite. The landlords upstairs have internet through cable and told me I'd also have it, but all I have is the outlet where a TV type of cable would normally go.

Can I just buy a cable modem from a store, or do I have to get it through a cable company? Do I have to pay the cable company money, or should I be able to just hook it up and use it? From what I understand the cable company charges you for the IP they give you because the number of IP's you have is related to how much bandwidth the system gets. Would the two modems be able to run on the same IP address?

A few days after I moved in, the landlords left a few things outside my door that I think they wanted me to use to create an internet connection with, but I have no idea how they expected me to use it. They left a wireless router, a small length of TV type cable and a wireless card without the required installation software. Is there a way I can use any of this to get online without a cable modem?
 
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Sounds like they intend for you to share their internet service, you would not have your own personal account. I don't know what the cable company's policy is on how many computers are connected on a single account, it may not matter. Do you really want to be an extension off their service?

From what I understand the cable company charges you for the IP they give you because the number of IP's you have is related to how much bandwidth the system gets.
No, the IP address has nothing to do with bandwidth.
 
Where I live a lot of people rent out their basements, and the internet connection is usually shared. In most cases an internet cable (the kind that plugs into your computer) is run through the wall, but my landlords seem opposed to that idea.

My cable TV is shared with them, but I'm not sure if they've split the line or if they're paying the cable company for two lines.
 
From what I know of this.
If you buy another cable modem the cable company will charge since they key to the modems hardware address.

If they don't want wire then consider a wireless connection. That would plug directly into the existing cable modem and normally not be charged for.
 

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