USB connection to cable modem with no NIC

USB connection to cable modem with no NIC
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USB connection to cable modem with no NIC brianberns 08-12-2007
Posted by on August 12, 2007, 10:39 pm
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I have an RCA cable modem (model DCM 425) that is working fine (using
it now to post this message).

The back of the modem has a USB outlet. I have an old computer with no
NIC that I would like to connect to the Internet. I connected the
computer to the modem via a USB cable and installed the modem's
drivers, but I am unable to get any response from the network this
way. The computer is not even assigned an IP address.

Do I need a NIC installed in order to connect via USB to the modem? I
know I need a NIC for Ethernet, but I thought that the USB drivers
would suffice with no NIC. What am I doing wrong?

Thanks.

-- Brian


Posted by Gene S. Berkowitz on August 12, 2007, 11:45 pm
brianberns@gmail.com says...
> I have an RCA cable modem (model DCM 425) that is working fine (using
> it now to post this message).
>
> The back of the modem has a USB outlet. I have an old computer with no
> NIC that I would like to connect to the Internet. I connected the
> computer to the modem via a USB cable and installed the modem's
> drivers, but I am unable to get any response from the network this
> way. The computer is not even assigned an IP address.
>
> Do I need a NIC installed in order to connect via USB to the modem? I
> know I need a NIC for Ethernet, but I thought that the USB drivers
> would suffice with no NIC. What am I doing wrong?
>
> Thanks.
>
> -- Brian

You don't say which version of Windows you're attempting this with.
Windows setup has a nasty tendency to leave out support for things if
the hardware wasn't present during the initial installation.

That said, no, you should not need a NIC for the USB interface to work;
however, USB connections to cable modems are finicky at best.

NIC's are practically free these days (I have at least half a dozen
Intel NICs for the PC-AT bus lying around). Save yourself a headache
and get one...

--Gene

Posted by Ken Whiton on August 13, 2007, 9:49 pm
*-* On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 23:45:15 -0400,
*-* In Article MPG.21299dd2699aef17989881@newsgroups.comcast.net,
*-* Gene S. Berkowitz wrote
*-* About Re: USB connection to cable modem with no NIC

> brianberns@gmail.com says...
>> I have an RCA cable modem (model DCM 425) that is working fine
>> (using it now to post this message).

>> The back of the modem has a USB outlet. I have an old computer with
>> no NIC that I would like to connect to the Internet. I connected
>> the computer to the modem via a USB cable and installed the modem's
>> drivers, but I am unable to get any response from the network this
>> way. The computer is not even assigned an IP address.

>> Do I need a NIC installed in order to connect via USB to the modem?
>> I know I need a NIC for Ethernet, but I thought that the USB
>> drivers would suffice with no NIC. What am I doing wrong?

> You don't say which version of Windows you're attempting this with.
> Windows setup has a nasty tendency to leave out support for things
> if the hardware wasn't present during the initial installation.

The modem manual has instructions for establishing a USB
connection with Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, and XP, so it should be
expected to work with any of those OSs.

> That said, no, you should not need a NIC for the USB interface to
> work; however, USB connections to cable modems are finicky at best.

> NIC's are practically free these days

Agreed. I paid $15 for the Netgear card in this box about four
or five years ago, and got $10 of that back in a rebate, for a net
cost of $5.

> (I have at least half a dozen
> Intel NICs for the PC-AT bus lying around). Save yourself a
> headache and get one...

Ken Whiton

FIDO: 1:132/152
InterNet: kenwhiton@surfglobal.net.INVAL (remove the obvious to reply)

Posted by Bill M. on August 13, 2007, 12:18 am
On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:39:23 -0000, brianberns@gmail.com wrote:

>I have an RCA cable modem (model DCM 425) that is working fine (using
>it now to post this message).
>
>The back of the modem has a USB outlet. I have an old computer with no
>NIC that I would like to connect to the Internet. I connected the
>computer to the modem via a USB cable and installed the modem's
>drivers, but I am unable to get any response from the network this
>way. The computer is not even assigned an IP address.
>
>Do I need a NIC installed in order to connect via USB to the modem? I
>know I need a NIC for Ethernet, but I thought that the USB drivers
>would suffice with no NIC. What am I doing wrong?
>
>Thanks.
>
>-- Brian

I would have been surprised if the RCA modem's Ethernet port and USB
port would both have worked at the same time. My recommendation is to
add a NIC to the old computer, then connect both computers to a
router.

--
Bill

Posted by Ken Whiton on August 13, 2007, 9:49 pm
*-* On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:18:01 GMT,
*-* In Article fomvb39k0ndfkbnfj7qc2k538h4oefb028@4ax.com,
*-* Bill M. wrote
*-* About Re: USB connection to cable modem with no NIC

> On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:39:23 -0000, brianberns@gmail.com wrote:

>> I have an RCA cable modem (model DCM 425) that is working fine
>> (using it now to post this message).

>> The back of the modem has a USB outlet. I have an old computer with
>> no NIC that I would like to connect to the Internet. I connected
>> the computer to the modem via a USB cable and installed the modem's
>> drivers, but I am unable to get any response from the network this
>> way. The computer is not even assigned an IP address.

>> Do I need a NIC installed in order to connect via USB to the modem?
>> I know I need a NIC for Ethernet, but I thought that the USB
>> drivers would suffice with no NIC. What am I doing wrong?

Do you have the modem manual? The Table of Contents lists a "USB
Troubleshooting" section, but that's missing from the copies of it I
can find online. :-( You might also want to check here:

http://helpdesk.powergate.ca/index.php?id=19

and see if the drivers they have available for download might be newer
than what you have.

> I would have been surprised if the RCA modem's Ethernet port and USB
> port would both have worked at the same time.

According to the manual they're supposed to be able to, allowing
the connection of two computers to the 'Net without the use of a
hub/switch/router.

> My recommendation is
> to add a NIC to the old computer, then connect both computers to a
> router.

Ken Whiton

FIDO: 1:132/152
InterNet: kenwhiton@surfglobal.net.INVAL (remove the obvious to reply)

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