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Is this group only for people on Long Island, or can anyone join?
Anyone who has an interest in cable modem usage is welcome to join the group, no matter where you live...even if you don't currently have the service in your area. The group, however, was primarily created to deal with the issues of Long Island's Cablevision Optimum Online (OOL) service. Recently, as OOL becomes available in other areas (i.e. NJ, CT, etc.) we are seeing members from those areas, which is not a problem. Also now service is added in parts of Brooklyn. www.optimumonline.com does not have accurate listings we suggest calling the WIZ directly or Cablevision.

Why is this a closed group with no "hotmail", "yahoo", or similar free email accounts allowed?
Since it is easy for someone to be abusive when they are anonymous, only people with a traceable email address are allowed to join. Besides your email address, only the info you supply to egroups is visible to others when you post.

What kind of people make up this eGroup?
Some members are very savvy technically. Many of us have a good working knowledge of computers, Windows, and communication protocols. Others are very knowledgeable in NT, Linux, and other operating systems. Some of us know very little about computers. Don't be shy about asking a question, as there is a very good chance that you're not the only one who doesn't know the answer! This is a very friendly group, and you will not be "flamed" for asking a question.

What, if any, are the rules for posting?
The only rule here is to treat other members with respect. Personal, hurtful attacks will not be tolerated. Please don't get on someone's case because you perceive they are not as intelligent as you think they should be. Adult language is OK, but please remember that we are in mixed company (age, race, sex, etc.), and that everyone has different standards...so let's not get raunchy.
Some guidelines:
When responding to a post, please try and remember to clip the eGroup ads from the top of the original post.
Include only the pertinent parts of the message you are responding to. This makes reading the email and digests much easier.
Take a look thru the posts to see if a question has been asked and answered recently before posting the same question again.

Does this eGroup have any affiliation with OOL and are there OOL people here as members?
The moderator of this eGroup has no affiliation with OOL, other than being a subscriber. From what I hear, OOL people DO subscribe to the group. I have no way of knowing who they are, but hopefully they use their affiliation to give us some factual info. We welcome OOL participation, as that can only lead to a more informed group and a better working system.
(UPDATE: There are now several OOL employees who are group members. They have been very supportive & are frequently solving problems for us. In addition, they give us great insight as to the workings of the OOL network.)

I read about "KB/sec" and "Kb/sec" and it's very confusing. Is there a difference between the two?
Yes, there is a difference.
K = Kilo, or 1000*
"B" (Big B) = Bytes
"b" (small b) = bits
8 bits = 1Byte
* NOTE: When speaking in terms of data transfer, 1KB = 1000 Bytes. If you are speaking in terms of data storage, then 1KB is equal to 1024 Bytes. Here's a better explaination .

In other words, a download rate of 350 KB/sec is equal to 2800Kb/sec.
As an example, when you are downloading something via the Netscape browser, a standard 56K modem will typically do it at a rate of about 4 or 5 KB/sec. as displayed in the download box.
Use caution when comparing the speed of DSL to cable, as DSL ISP's usually quote in Kb/sec, which make them sound faster. When you see such a quote, you must divide by 8 to get a compatible rate in KB/sec.

How fast can I expect to DL data over the internet with an OOL connection?
While "mileage may vary", you can expect DL speeds to be between 250 KB/sec and 600 KB/sec, with the average reported speed to be about 400 KB/sec. This translates to about 25 seconds for a 10 meg file. Your actual speed will depend on the number of people who are using the service in your area, and general internet traffic. These figures are for the new DOCSIS compliant modems. This is an increase from what the FAQs had previously stated. OOL seems to be upgrading it's network to keep pace with their growing number of subscribers. We thank them, and hope this trend continues.

Does OOL have a download (DL) or upload (UL) cap in place?
There is no official word about a DL cap, but OOL does have an UL cap of 128 KB/sec.

How is the cable modem hooked up to my PC?
Typically, the cable modem is an external unit with 3 connections on the back. One hooks up to a separate "brick" type power supply. The second is a male "F" connector (like the one on your TV) onto which you screw the CATV coax. The third is an RJ45 jack which looks like a large telephone modular connector. You insert a CAT5 patch cord into this jack (usually supplied with the modem), with the other end going to the Network Interface card (NIC) in your computer. If you don't have a NIC card in you computer, you must buy and install one (about $20), or buy an adapter which connects to one of your USB ports and has an RJ45 jack on it. The NIC card should be a 10BaseT or a 10/100BaseT card. The 10 refers to the transfer rate of the card in Mbps (million bits per second) with 10/100 capable of 100Mbps. For use with the cable modem, 10BaseT is sufficient since 10Mbps exceeds the speed of the modem. The "T" refers to twisted pair, which is the type of cable that is used with the RJ45 connector. In my opinion, and from posts I've read, you are better off with a NIC card rather than the USB adapter as the NIC card seems more reliable.

Do I have to run a separate CATV cable for the cable modem?
It is usually best to cut the cable and use a good quality splitter so that one half feeds the TVs in the house, and the other half goes directly to the cable modem Use RG6U cable, and do a clean job making up the connections using good F connectors and a good crimping tool. If it is very difficult to run a new cable to where the modem will be, I have had success using a splitter near an existing TV cable and running a new cable to the modem. Again, results will vary, with the dedicated route being the better choice.

Will I be able to use my Optimum TV while using the cable modem?
Yes, use of the cable modem has no effect on the TV, and visa versa.

Can more than one PC/Mac share the same cable modem?
OOL will tell you that you must get a separate modem for each PC/Mac you want hooked up to the internet, but many people "share" their cable modem simultaneously with 2, 3 or more PCs/Macs in their home. There are several ways in which this can be done, the most simple being to use the ICS feature of WIN98. You can also use software such as Wingate or Sygate to share the connection. Another alternative is to buy a hardware device called a cable router which plugs into the cable modem, with the PCs connecting to it. Linksys , Ugate , and others make these, and they cost about $150 to $300 depending on what and where you buy. Whatever method you use, you will need a NIC card or USB adapter for each computer.

I presently rent a LanCity / Terayon modem from OOL and have been told that I need to exchange it for a DOCSIS compliant modem before July 15, 2000. What's that all about?
If you have a LanCity modem, you should have received a letter from OOL explaining the situation. Basically, OOL is "upgrading" their system to the DOCSIS standard. Right now they are running more than one system, one IS DOCSIS compliant, and the others ARE NOT. Evidently, on July 15th., they plan on decommissioning the old system that is used with the LanCity, at which point those modems will no longer work. Evidently, if you have a Terayon TeraPro modem, it will continue to work past July 15, until they phase that one out too. Their goal is to become 100% DOCSIS compliant.
From past posts, it seems that there are 4 modems available at the WIZ for outright purchase, or continued rental. The old style 3Com CMX, the newer 3Com "Shark Fin" (because of it's looks), the the Motorola SurfBoard, and the Terayon TeraJet. Each costs the same, and from what is reported in the group, there seems to be no clear cut winner in terms of performance or reliability among the three. In other word, one will work as well as another. All 3 of these modems will probably be slower than what you are used to with the LanCity or the old TeraPro, but you will have no choice other than to use the new ones after July 15th. if you have a LanCity.
In some cases, OOL will deliver a complete package to your home which contains the modem, splitter, NIC card, RG6U cable, and a cat5 patch cord. This seems to be the case in areas where the service is first being offered.

Can I run an FTP, HTTP, or a mail server from my OOL connected computer?
Technically, it is possible, and is done. OOL Terms of Service (TOS) has recently been ammended (see Sec.32) to state (in part) that:
"Examples of prohibited uses include, but are not limited to, running servers for mail, http, ftp, irc and dhcp and multi-user interactive forums."

Does OOL have a news server?
Yes, OOL has a newserver for OOL subscribers and it's included with your subscription. It is located at "news.optonline.net". They have about 35,000 newsgroups available, DL speed is very good (as would be expected), and retention time is about a week for the non-binaries groups, and a couple of days for the binaries groups. Unfortunately, there seem to be more incomplete posts in the binaries groups lately. IMO, not bad for a package deal, but they could do better. There are other subscription new servers (i.e. Altopia , Newsguy , Supernews , Usenetserver , Newscene , etc.) which you can subscribe to (for a fee) if you need a more complete service.

Where can I find more info on setting up a home network?
Besides past posts from this forum, Tim Higgins has a great site with lots of info on LANs, sharing, and security. The Linksys site also has good info on networking. Of course, you can always do a web search for more info.

Speaking of security, are there any risks associated with using a cable modem?
Any time you're connected to the internet, whether thru a regular modem via your phone line, a cable modem, or DSL, you leave your computer files vulnerable for others to peek at, alter, copy, or destroy. When you make use of a service such as cable, or DSL, you can be even more vulnerable due to the fact that you are connected full time, and the people who are doing their mischief can do it much faster. There are, however, safeguards you can take to help secure your computer against most assaults. A basic understanding of TCP and the various communication protocols will go a long way toward protecting your files. Programs such as BlackICE Defender, Zone Alarm (free for private use!), and Norton Personal Firewall 2000 will help . Hardware firewalls can also shore up your protection. Actual configuration techniques are beyond the scope of this FAQ, but there are sites such as Gibson Research "Shields Up" and Secure-Me that will evaluate your computer setup and let you know how you rate in the security department. Again, Tim Higgin's security section has lots of good info, and there is a wealth of knowledge from some very technical people in pasts posts to the eGroup. Read group member Rich Troy's commentary on Cable Modem security.