RCA DCM305 User Manual

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CABLE MODEM

CAUTION Disconnect power before servicing.

CAUTION To ensure reliable operation and to prevent overheating, provide adequate ventilation for this modem and keep it away from heat sources. Do not locate near heat registers or other heat-producing equipment. Provide for free air flow around the cable modem and its power supply.

CABLE INSTALLER:

This reminder is provided to call your attention to Article 820-40 of the National Electrical Code (Section 54 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1) which provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specifies that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close to the point of cable entry as practical.

DOCSIS compliant

This product was designed according to Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications. It will operate on any DOCSIS-compliant Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) cable system and offers DOCSIS Baseline Privacy to promote secure internet transactions.

Power cord Requirement

This product must be operated with the supplied line cord or with a line cord meeting

IEC227 H03 VV-F or IEC227 H03 VVH2-F having conductors with a cross-sectional area

not less than .75mm2.

Operating Information

Operating Temperature:0˚ - 40˚ C (32˚ - 104˚ F)

Storage Temperature:-30˚ to 65˚ C

If you purchased this product at a retail outlet, please read the following:

Product Registration

Please fill out the product registration card that came with this product and return it immediately. Returning the card allows us to contact you if needed.

Keep your sales receipt to obtain warranty parts and service and for proof of purchase. Attach it here and record the serial and model numbers in case you need them. The numbers are located on the back

of the product.

Model No. ____________________________________ Serial No _____________________________________________

Purchase Date: _________________________________ Dealer/Address/Phone: _______________________________

Safety Information

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2

Cable Modem Features .................................................................................................................................................. 2

What’s on the CD-ROM .................................................................................................................................................. 2

Accessing the Diagnostics Display through the CD-ROM ............................................................................................. 2

Computer Requirements ................................................................................................................................................ 3

Cable Modem Overview ..................................................................................................................... 4

What the Modem Does .................................................................................................................................................. 4

What the Modem Needs to Do Its Job .......................................................................................................................... 5

Before You Begin ................................................................................................................................. 5

Contact Your Local Cable Company .............................................................................................................................. 5

Connecting the Cable Modem ............................................................................................................ 7

Connecting the Cable Modem to a Single Computer .................................................................................................. 7

USB Connection - Using the Installation Wizard .......................................................................................................... 9

USB Connection - Without Using the Installation Wizard ......................................................................................... 12

Using Windows 98 SE for USB Connection ................................................................................................................. 13

Using Windows 2000 for USB Connection .................................................................................................................. 16

Using Windows Me for USB Connection ..................................................................................................................... 19

Using Windows XP for USB Connection ...................................................................................................................... 20

Ethernet Connection to One Computer ...................................................................................................................... 22

Connecting More Than Two Computers to the Cable Modem .................................................................................. 23

Activating the Cable Modem ............................................................................................................ 24

Initialization Mode ....................................................................................................................................................... 24

Using the Cable Modem .............................................................................................................................................. 26

Indicators – Operational Mode .................................................................................................................................... 25

Buttons .......................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Reset Switch .................................................................................................................................................................. 26

Other Status Indicators ................................................................................................................................................. 26

Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................................ 27

General Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................. 29

USB Troubleshooting ......................................................................................................................... 31

FCC Information ................................................................................................................................. 42

Quick Reference ................................................................................................................................. 43

Service Information ........................................................................................................................... 44

Glossary .............................................................................................................................................. 45

Table of Contents

Introduction

Cable Modem Features

• Capable of receiving data at rates of up to 3000kbps‡ (3 Megabits per second, over 50 times faster than 56K)

• Able to send and receive data over the cable line

• Able to connect 2 computers through Ethernet and USB at the same time

• Plug-and-play operation for easy setup and installation

• Compliance to DOCSIS specification

• ON/OFF button to connect and disconnect access to the internet

• Message waiting notification capability

• Diagnostics via LED or HTTP server

• Able to receive automatic software updates, if initiated by your cable company

‡

The following may affect the speed of your cable modem: your computer equipment and configuration (processor speed, amount of RAM, available disk space); the number of programs you are running at the same time; the capacity of your ISP; network traffic levels; the number of Ethernet or USB devices in use on your computer. Your cable company may or may not fully support the speed capabilities of this modem.

What’s on the CD-ROM

Insert the cable modem CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive to view troubleshooting tips, the internal diagnostics, and other valuable information.

Note: You will need to use the CD-ROM to install the USB driver if you are connecting via the USB port.

CD-ROM Contents:

• Links to RCA web sites

• Electronic file of the instruction book in additional languages

• USB drivers

• Usage and troubleshooting tips

Accessing the Diagnostics Display through the CD-ROM

A button on the CD-ROM menu called “Look at Diagnostics” (found under the “About My Cable Modem” menu) launches your browser and displays status and diagnostic information stored within the modem in HTML format.

Your PC must receive an IP address assignment from the Cable company’s server, over the cable network. You may want to “bookmark” the IP address in your browser after the diagnostics page is displayed.

Computer Requirements

Personal computer with the following minimum system requirements (note that the minimum requirements may vary by cable company):

An Ethernet card makes it possible for your computer to pass data to and from the internet. You must have an Ethernet card and software drivers installed in your computer. You will also need a standard Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet card to your cable modem.

The Universal Serial Bus is a high speed bus that enables your computer to communicate simultaneously with a variety of peripherals. However, if you have other peripherals that send and receive a lot of information, such as speakers, printers or scanners, we recommend using an Ethernet card to support this modem.

IBM PC COMPATIBLE MACINTOSH**

CPU Pentium preferred PowerPC or higher

System RAM 16MB (32MB preferred) 24MB (32MB preferred)

Operating System Windows* 95/NT/98SE/2000/Me/XP, Mac OS** 7.6.1 or higher

Linux

Available Disk Space 125MB 50MB

Sound Card Required N/A

†

Video VGA or better (SVGA preferred) VGA or better (SVGA built-in preferred)

CD-ROM Drive Required Required

†

Mac Users: Mac OS or any other OS other than Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, or XP are not currently

supported for USB installation. Please use the Ethernet connection.

*Windows is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation.

**Macintosh and the Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.

Ethernet 10BaseT or 100BaseT 10BaseT or 100BaseT

USB Port USB (Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP only) N/A

†

Introduction

Placing the Rubber Feet on the Cable Modem

Option 1: Attach the pads to the indentations on the back

Option 2: Equally space the feet on the bottom of the unit

Cable Modem Overview

What the Modem Does

The digital cable modem serves as a two-way, high-speed bridge between your personal computer and a cable Internet Service Provider (ISP). It converts information that originates from the Internet or your computer into electronic messages that can be transported over the same wires your cable company uses to transport video signals.

A set of rubber pads have been packaged with your modem. These pads (or "feet") can be attached to keep the modem from sliding around on your desktop. You have 2 options for placing the pads:

Option 1: Attach the pads to the four slight indentations on the back of the modem.

Option 2: Attach the pads to the “rudders” on the bottom of the cable modem. Be sure to equally space the pads for best results.

This illustration shows a cable company that offers DOCSIS-compliant internet services.

Computer InternetCable Modem

Cable Company

What the Modem Needs to Do Its Job

• The Right Cable Company: Make sure your local cable company provides data services that use cable TV industry-standard DOCSIS-compliant technology.

• The Internet Service Provider (ISP): Your cable company provides you access to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). The ISP is your gateway to the Internet. It provides you with a pipeline to access Internet content on the World Wide Web (WWW).

Check with your cable company to make sure you have everything you need to begin; they’ll know if you need to install special software or re-configure your computer to make your cable internet service work for you.

Contact Your Local Cable Company

You will need to contact your cable company to establish an internet account before you can use your modem. You should have the following information (which you will find on the sticker on the modem) ready:

• The serial number

• The model number of the modem

• The Media Access Control (MAC) address

Record your information here:

Serial Number:

Model Number:

MAC Address:

Cable Modem Overview

Before You Begin

Please verify the following with the cable company:

• The cable service to your home supports DOCSIS-compliant two-way modem access.

• Your internet account has been set up.

• You have a cable outlet near your PC and it is ready for cable modem service.

Note: It is important to supply power to the modem at all times. Keeping your modem plugged in will keep it connected to the Internet. This means that it will always be ready when you are. To disconnect your computer from the Internet, press the ON/OFF button.

Important Information

Your cable company should always be consulted before installing a new cable outlet. Do not attempt any rewiring without contacting your cable company first.

Note: Graphics used within this publication are for representation only.

Before You Begin

Connecting the Cable Modem to a Single Computer

This section of the manual explains how to connect your cable modem to the USB or Ethernet port on your computer and install the necessary software. Please refer to figure 1 to help you connect your cable modem for the best possible connection.

Attaching the Cable TV wire to the Cable Modem

1. Locate the Cable TV wire. You may find it one of three ways:

A. Connected directly to a TV, a Cable TV converter box, or VCR. The line will be connected to the

jack which should be labeled either IN, CABLE IN, CATV, CATV IN, etc. B. Connected to a wall-mounted cable outlet. C. Coming out from under a baseboard heater or other location. See Figure 1 for the wiring example.

Fig. 1: Basic Home Wiring

TV converterTV converter

Modem

TV TV

TV converter

Cable drop

New 2-way splitter, one leg direct to modem, other leg to IN on next splitter, such as RCA DT2SP (call 1-800-338-0376 to order).

New cable wire

= Splitters

Notes: For optimum performance, be sure to connect your cable modem to the first point the cable enters your home.

The splitter must be rated for at least 1GHz.

Connecting the Cable Modem

Fig. 2: USB Connection

CABLE

RESET

ETHERNET

USB

9 V D C 8 0 0 m

Important Connection Information

The cable modem supports both Ethernet and USB connections simultaneously.

Coaxial Cable

AC Power Supply

Note: Only use the power supply provided with this unit. Using other power supplies may damage the unit.

Note: Graphics used within this publication are for representation only.

Below are important points to remember before you connect the cable modem:

• You should have a Windows® 98 SE (Second Edition), Windows Me (Millennium Edition), Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating system to use the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

• For Ethernet connections, go to page 22.

USB Connection - Using the Installation Wizard

If you received an Installation/Quick Start kit with the purchase of your modem, you should use the software provided in that kit. If not, the cable modem CD included with your modem contains the drivers, Installation Wizard, and other information you need to install your cable modem. The Installation Wizard serves as your step-by-step guide to connecting and configuring your cable modem.

1. Before you begin, close all open applications and dialog boxes as they may interfere with your cable modem installation.

2. Insert the RCA cable modem CD into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. A menu of options appears (Fig.3).

3. Click “Install RCA Cable Modem.”

If the options menu does not automatically appear:

A. Go to the “Start” menu on the Windows menu bar, then click “Run.” B. Type the letter of your CD-ROM drive followed by :\rca.exe (for example: d:\rca.exe). C. Click “OK” to begin installation.

4. The Installation Wizard checks your computer to make sure you have the minimum configuration specifications required to install the cable modem (Fig. 4).

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

(continued on next page)

Connecting the Cable Modem

+ 23 hidden pages

RCA DCM305 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual