Cox

[Bill Clark]

The price for the cable modem is about average.  On Road Runner you don't
have to buy the cable modem.  They just
lend it to you, no contract.  So the Cox deal doesn't sound like a deal to
me.
With Southwestern Bell DSL you had to buy the DSL modem for about $150 if I
recall,
but you could avoid that charge as well as the install charge by committing
to a 1 year
contract.  That might not be the case anymore, as that was when they first
started deploying
DSL.  If you can get your own cable modem, sometimes high-speed ISPs only
allow certain MAC addresses on their network, then I would shop around.  Or
try to avoid the $199 fee by signing a contract.  Usually the contract
stipulates that if you discontinue service then you have to pay for the
modem.

As for the Linksys, the price is pretty competitive.  However keep in mind
that it is not a
FIREWALL!  The linksys only does NAT which offers you the most basic least
amount of protection against intrusion.  The linksys devices have very
popular due to their low price and the perception that they are protecting
people wiley hackers.  If you want protection then you will need some other
device such as a watchguard, sonicwall, gnatbox(expensive), or some other
comercially available firewall appliance.

If you like to get your hands dirty and have a spare PC with two ethernet
cards and linux you can install any number of firewall type solutions.  Such
as IPCHAINS, LRP(Linux Router Project), SINUS, and many others.

Hope this helps.

-----Original Message-----
From: Duston, Hal [mailto:hdusto01 at sprintspectrum.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 11:12 AM
To: 'Kclug'
Subject:

> ----------
> From: 	Duston, Hal[SMTP:HDUSTO01 at SPRINTSPECTRUM.COM]
> Sent: 	Thursday, April 19, 2001 12:12:22 PM
> To: 	'Kclug'
> Auto forwarded by a Rule
>
Forwarded from/for Tom Margrave,

Message follows:--------------------

Ok,  I am leaving KC this weekend and heading for
Chesapeake VA.  I have Cox Cable set up on 4/30 to
come out and install Cable TV, High Speed Access,
and Digital Phone.  I am not sure what I should
get for this install.   Question are to follow:

1. The Cox wants to sell me a cable modem for $199,
is that a good deal or should i get something else?

2.  I will have a need for a hub /switch  I was think
about Linksys BEFW11S4 - EtherFast Wireless AP +
Cable/DSL Router w/ 4-Port Switch at www.linksys.com.
(buy.com has it for $248.95) Any Comments or
suggestions?

This home network stuff is new to me.  I will have
to have a VPN with my home office in CA.  I will have
a p120 with 48 meg of RAM RH 7.0 machine and at least
3 M$ machines on this network.

Any comment are welcome.

Tom

End message:--------------------------

Hal Duston
hald at sound.net