3COM Cable Modem External User Manual

HomeConnect

Cable Modem External with USB Getting Started Guide

http://www.3com.com/

Part No. 10038811 Published June 2000

3Com Corporation 3800 Golf Rd. Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

No part of this documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as translation, transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from 3Com Corporation.

3Com Corporation reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content from time to time without obligation on the part of 3Com Corporation to provide notification of such revision or change.

3Com Corporation provides this documentation without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. 3Com may make improvements or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this documentation at any time.

If there is any software on removable media described in this documentation, it is furnished under a license agreement included with the product as a separate document, in the hard copy documentation, or on the removable media in a directory file named LICENSE.TXT or !LICENSE.TXT. If you are unable to locate a copy, please contact 3Com and a copy will be provided to you.

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGEND

If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described herein are provided to you subject to the following:

All technical data and computer software are commercial in nature and developed solely at private expense. Software is delivered as “Commercial Computer Software” as defined in DFARS

252.227-7014 (June 1995) or as a “commercial item” as defined in FAR 2.101(a) and as such is provided with only such rights as are provided in 3Com’s standard commercial license for the Software. Technical data is provided with limited rights only as provided in DFAR 252.227-7015 (Nov. 1995) or FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987), whichever is applicable. You agree not to remove or deface any portion of any legend provided on any licensed program or documentation contained in, or delivered to you in conjunction with, this User Guide.

3Com and the 3Com logo are registered trademarks, and HomeConnect and Connections are trademarks of 3Com Corporation.

Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and/or other countries.

All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.

All specifications are subject to change without notice.

ONTENTS

EFORE YOU BEGIN

Introduction 1 Cable Modem Features 1 Contacting Your Local Cable Service Provider 2 Preparing Your Workspace 3 You Will Need These Items 4

Supplied 4 Also Needed 4

NSTALLATION

USB I

Deciding Which Installation Process to Use 5 Using USB with the Windows 98 Operating System 5

Using the Cable Connections™ CD 12 Uninstalling the Cable Modem (Windows 98 Operating

System Only) 12

Using USB with the Windows 2000 Operating System 13

Uninstalling the Cable Modem (Windows 2000 Operating System Only) 17

Troubleshooting the USB Installation 18

THERNET INSTALLATION

Deciding Which Installation Process to Use 25 Setting Up the Computer to Use an Ethernet Connection 25

Configuring the TCP/IP Protocol 25 Connecting the Cable Modem 31 Using the Cable Connections

Troubleshooting the Ethernet Installation 32

ABLE MODEM OPERATION

Interpreting The Cable Modem’s LEDs 39

LEDs on the Front of the Modem 39 LED on the Back of the Modem 40

CD 32

Connectors and Switches on the Back of the Cable Modem 41

IEWING THE CABLE MODEM’S CONFIGURATION

UPPORT RESOURCES

Support Resources 47

World Wide Web 47 90-Day Free Installation Support 47 Technical Support Hotline 47 If You Are Still Having Problems 47 If You Need to Return the Modem to Us 48

EGULATORY INFORMATION AND LIMITED WARRANTY

Manufacturers Declaration of Conformity 49

FCC Declaration of Conformity 49

FCC Class B Statement 49 FCC Notice: Radio and Television Interference 50 UL/c UL Listing: 51 Canadian Notice: 51 INTERNATIONAL DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY 52

Electromagnetic Compatibility 52

Safety (Low Voltage Directive) 52 Special Notes: 53

Japan 53

Performance Specifications 53

Export Notices 53

License Agreement 53 3Com Corporation Limited Warranty 54

Hardware 54

Software 54

Year 2000 Warranty 55

Obtaining Warranty Service 56

WARRANTIES EXCLUSIVE 57

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY 57

Disclaimer 58

Governing Law 58

Introduction

You have just purchased a modem featuring a pioneering new technology, making Internet access possible at speeds previously only imagined. This external cable modem is one part of a comprehensive communications system that utilizes the cable television network to deliver high-speed data to your computer. Data is requested and sent over the cable television network at burst rates of up to 38 megabits per second (Mbps)*. This chapter explains how to prepare your computer system for cable modem installation.

* Actual speeds will vary depending on computer hardware, applications, service offered by your cable service provider, and network traffic.

EFORE YOU BEGIN

Cable Modem Features

■

Cable line bandwidth allows user data rates of up to 38 megabits per second (Mbps)*, faster than 56K analog modems, ISDN, or ADSL.

■

Two-way design means that the cable modem both sends and receives data over the cable line.

■

Plug-and-play USB operation ensures easy setup and installation.

■

DOCSIS-compliance ensures interoperability with cable suppliers.

■

3Com’s extensive technical support organization provides you with the quick answers you need to get up and running.

* NOTE: Please note that the following factors affect the speeds you may experience: (1) your computer equipment and configuration, including the speed of your processor, the amount of RAM on your system, and your available

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EFORE YOU BEGIN

1: B

hard disk space; (2) applications running simultaneously with the modem which use varying amounts of your computer’s resources; (3) the capacity of the Internet service you order from your provider; (4) the level of network traffic, which varies depending on when and where you go online.

Contacting Your Local Cable Service Provider

In order to use your cable modem, you need to set up an Internet access account with your local cable service provider.

Before contacting your provider to set up an account, have the following information handy:

■

The modem’s serial number. The serial number appears

on the white bar code label on the back of the modem

and consists of 10 characters preceded by the text

“SN=”. In the following example label image, the serial

number is 6LZ1377410.

■

Media Access Control (MAC) address. The MAC address

appears on the white bar code label on the back of the

modem and consists of 12 characters preceded by the

text “EA =”. In the following example label image, the

MAC address is 00104B377410. Write both of these

numbers in the following blanks for future reference.

Serial number: SN= __________________

MAC address: EA = __________________

You should now contact your local cable service provider and verify that:

The cable service to your home supports two-way

■

cable modem access. If your cable service provider

does not provide two-way service, this modem will not

Preparing Your Workspace

be able to communicate with your cable service provider’s Internet access service. You should immediately consult your cable service provider and place of purchase to determine the proper 3Com modem to use. You can also visit the following URL for additional information:

http://www.3com.com/cablemodem

You have a cable line near your PC and it has been

■

prepared for cable modem service. If you do not have a cable line in your home that supports two-way cable modem access, or if your current cable connection is not conveniently located near your computer, your cable service provider can install one. If you use your current cable line for cable television access, your cable service provider can also install an additional line for use with your cable modem.

Your cable service provider has set up your cable

■

Internet access account. Your cable service provider will set up an Internet access account that will allow you to send and receive e-mail, access the World Wide Web, and receive other Internet services. This account must be set up before you can use your cable modem.

cable

Preparing Your Workspace

■

Position your computer so that it is located near the wall cable outlet.

■

Position the cable modem so that it is located near the computer and the wall cable outlet. There should be plenty of room to guide the cables away from the modem without crimping them.

■

Do not restrict the airflow around the modem.

■

Ensure that the temperature in the room where the cable modem will be operating is between 0 and 40°C (32 and 104°F). Relative humidity should be between 5% and 90%, non-condensing.

■

Familiarize yourself with all of the materials supplied with the modem. Please read these installation instructions thoroughly before installing the modem.

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EFORE YOU BEGIN

1: B

CAUTION: Your cable service provider will provide a cable connection. Do not attempt any rewiring without first contacting your cable service provider.

You Will Need These Items

Supplied

■

Cable modem

■

Cable modem power adapter

■

Ethernet cable

■

USB cable

■

This Getting Started Guide

■

The Cable ConnectionsTM CD, which contains:

■

The software drivers necessary for installation using the USB port

■

Valuable free software products

See “Using the Cable Connections CD” for more information.

Also Needed

■

To use the cable modem’s USB port:

■

A PC running Windows 98 or Windows 2000 operating system. Currently, USB does not support the Macintosh operating system.

■

An active USB port on your computer.

To use the cable modem’s Ethernet port:

■

A PC running Windows 95 (or later), or a Macintosh computer running System 7.5 (or later).

■

An active Ethernet port on your computer.

■

TCP/IP protocol installed. See the following chapter for more information on installing the TCP/IP

protocol. Windows 95/98/2000 CD or diskettes. An active two-way cable line. An adjustable wrench for securing the cable line to the

modem.

USB I

NSTALLATION

Deciding Which Installation Process to Use

The 3Com® HomeConnect™ cable modem allows you to connect to the Internet using either the USB port or the Ethernet port. Be sure to follow the instructions provided for the port that you want to use.

Using the USB port to connect to the Internet allows you to install the cable modem more quickly and easily than connecting to the Internet using the Ethernet port, because you do not need to install a network interface card (NIC). USB, however, only allows you to connect one computer to the cable modem.

Using the Ethernet port allows you to use a hub to connect multiple computers to the cable modem. To do this, you may need to obtain additional IP addresses from your cable service provider.

CAUTION: You cannot use the USB and Ethernet connections simultaneously. Therefore, you should not have the USB cable and the Ethernet cable plugged into the cable modem at the same time. Having the USB and Ethernet cables plugged into the cable modem at the same time might prevent you from accessing the Internet.

See Chapter 3 “Ethernet Installation” to set up the Ethernet connection.

Using USB with the Windows 98 Operating System

To use the USB port with Windows 98:

1 Power on the computer.

2 Use the illustration on page 23 as a guide to make the

following connections:

a Connect the cable line to the cable modem’s CATV

cable connector. Be careful not to bend the wire in the

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NSTALLATION

2: USB I

center of the cable line when you connect it to the cable modem. After hand-tightening the CATV cable connector, use the adjustable wrench to firmly tighten it. Be careful not to over-tighten the connector or you may damage either the connector or the cable modem. If you plan to have the cable line connected to a television as well as the cable modem, you will need a cable line splitter (not included).

b Connect the USB cable line to the cable modem’s USB

port and to the USB port on the computer.

c Plug the cable modem’s power adapter into a wall outlet

or surge protector and into the cable modem’s power jack.

Windows detects the cable modem. The Found New Hardware screen appears.

3 When the Add New Hardware Wizard screen appears,

insert the Cable Connections CD into the computer’s CD-ROM drive.

Using USB with the Windows 98 Operating System

4 Click Next.

5 Select Search for the best driver for your device.

(Recommended) and click Next.

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NSTALLATION

2: USB I

6 Check the CD-ROM drive check box and click Next to

search for the necessary driver files.

7 If Windows finds an updated driver, select The updated

driver (Recommended) 3Com HomeConnect Cable Modem and click Next.

Using USB with the Windows 98 Operating System

8 Click Next. The computer automatically copies the

necessary driver files from the CD.

The computer finishes copying the driver files and prompts you to insert the Windows 98 CD into the CD-ROM drive.

9 Insert the Windows 98 CD and click OK. If the Copying

Files dialog box appears, make sure that you have inserted the correct CD and that you have pointed it to the correct path. In the following example, the path is E:\win98, where E represents the CD-ROM drive. If necessary, replace the E with the letter of your CD-ROM drive. After you point the Add New Hardware Wizard to the correct path, click OK.

2: USB I

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NSTALLATION

The computer automatically copies the necessary system files.

10 Click Finish after the computer has copied the necessary

files.

Using USB with the Windows 98 Operating System

The System Settings Change dialog box opens.

11 Click Ye s to restart the computer.

12 Verify that the cable modem is operating properly. When

the modem is operating properly, the cable modem Link Status and Power LEDs are lighted a solid green.

If you are powering up the cable modem for the first time, allow 15 minutes for this process to finish. See “Cable

2: USB I

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NSTALLATION

Modem Operation” for a more in-depth description of the front panel LED indicators.

Using the Cable

Connections

™

The included Cable Connections CD contains the software drivers necessary for installation using the USB port and valuable free software products.

After you have completed the entire USB installation process for the cable modem, you can install the Cable Connections CD. Installing the Cable Connections CD gives you access to the free software products.

To install the Cable Connections CD, follow the instructions on the CD.

Uninstalling the Cable Modem (Windows 98 Operating System Only)

To uninstall the cable modem:

1 Close all open applications.

2 Click Windows Start and select Settings.

3 Click Control Panel.

4 Double-click Add/Remove Programs.

5 Select 3Com HomeConnect Cable Modem. Make sure you

have selected the software you want to delete. If you

Using USB with the Windows 2000 Operating System

accidentally select the wrong software and click Add/Remove, the Windows deletes the software and you will have to re-install it.

6 Click Add/Remove. The system removes the 3Com

HomeConnect Cable Modem software.

7 The system prompts you to restart the computer. Click Yes .

8 Click Windows Start, then click Shut Down.

9 Select Restart the Computer and click Yes to restart the

computer.

Using USB with the Windows 2000 Operating System

To use the USB port with Windows 2000:

1 Power on the computer.

2 Use the illustration on page 23 as a guide to make the

following connections:

a Connect the cable line to the cable modem’s CATV cable

connector. Be careful not to bend the wire in the center of the cable line when you connect it to the cable modem. After hand-tightening the CATV cable connector, use the adjustable wrench to firmly tighten it. Be careful not to over-tighten the connector or you may damage either the connector or the cable modem. If you plan to have the cable line connected to a television as well as the cable modem, you will need a cable line splitter (not included).

b Connect the USB cable line to the cable modem’s USB

port and to the computer’s USB port.

c Plug the cable modem’s power adapter into a wall outlet

or surge protector and into the cable modem’s power jack. The Found New Hardware screen appears.

2: USB I

HAPTER

NSTALLATION

3 The Found New Hardware Wizard screen appears. Insert

the included Cable Connections CD into the CD-ROM drive and Click Next.

4 Select Search for a suitable driver for my device

(recommended) and click Next.

Using USB with the Windows 2000 Operating System

5 Check the CD-ROM drives check box and click Next to

search for the necessary driver files.

6 The Found New Hardware Wizard displays the search

results. Click Next to install the driver files for the cable modem.

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