telewest able to restrict bb access to one computer?

I'm not all that clever with bb but I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem for
a friend who uses telewest broadband, using a Cable modem - Model: Surfboard
SM4100 (I think). This modem connects to a WinXP laptop through RJ45 network
cables. The network cable goes from the laptop LAN port into a small hub,
and then another RJ45 patch cable goes from the hub into the back of the
cable modem and this 'first' laptop can access the internet fine. The thing
is, I can only get this one laptop to access the internet. There are two
other laptops, both also have WinXP Pro, also both patch cabled into the
hub but they cannot get access to the internet net through this modem. It's
just 'page cannot be displayed' time and again. So I took one of the laptops
home and plugged it into my hub and presto, it surfed the
net instantly through my internet connection (not telewest). So I can't
fault the laptop or the software on it. It's as though telewest have
succeeded in 'locking out' all laptops but the one. What's the trick here?
Is it telewest's intention to restrict access to just one PC or am I doing
something wrong? How do they do this? Can such restriction be overcome? I
looked at the TCPIP properties in the LAN connection on the laptop that can
access the internet and there are no DNS numbers at all or any info. I
couldn't see anything that demonstrates why one laptop could surf the net
and others can't.
Thanks for any help.

"net" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3fe352c0@212.67.96.135...
> I'm not all that clever with bb but I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem
for
> a friend who uses telewest broadband, using a Cable modem - Model:
Surfboard
> SM4100 (I think). This modem connects to a WinXP laptop through RJ45
network
> cables. The network cable goes from the laptop LAN port into a small hub,
> and then another RJ45 patch cable goes from the hub into the back of the
> cable modem and this 'first' laptop can access the internet fine. The
thing
> is, I can only get this one laptop to access the internet. There are two
> other laptops, both also have WinXP Pro, also both patch cabled into the
> hub but they cannot get access to the internet net through this modem.
It's
> just 'page cannot be displayed' time and again. So I took one of the
laptops
> home and plugged it into my hub and presto, it surfed the
> net instantly through my internet connection (not telewest). So I can't
> fault the laptop or the software on it. It's as though telewest have
> succeeded in 'locking out' all laptops but the one. What's the trick here?
> Is it telewest's intention to restrict access to just one PC or am I doing
> something wrong? How do they do this? Can such restriction be overcome?

I am not a Telewest user so I am sure someone will give a more detailed
answer but I believe Telewest use the (unique) MAC address of the network
card to identify the machine connected to their service

I believe you can register the MAC addresses of new computers via
http://selfcare.blueyonder.co.uk/

Regards
Sunil

As Sunil said, IIRC the cable bb providers lock the access to a particular
MAC address so you have two options as far as I can see

(1) use Microsoft Internet Sharing on the primary pc and make sure the
others connect via it

(2) buy a router that has the ability to clone the primary pc's MAC address

Cheers, Mike


"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:brvl26$82bu1$(E-Mail Removed)...
> "net" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:3fe352c0@212.67.96.135...
> > I'm not all that clever with bb but I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem
> for
> > a friend who uses telewest broadband, using a Cable modem - Model:
> Surfboard
> > SM4100 (I think). This modem connects to a WinXP laptop through RJ45
> network
> > cables. The network cable goes from the laptop LAN port into a small
hub,
> > and then another RJ45 patch cable goes from the hub into the back of the
> > cable modem and this 'first' laptop can access the internet fine. The
> thing
> > is, I can only get this one laptop to access the internet. There are two
> > other laptops, both also have WinXP Pro, also both patch cabled into
the
> > hub but they cannot get access to the internet net through this modem.
> It's
> > just 'page cannot be displayed' time and again. So I took one of the
> laptops
> > home and plugged it into my hub and presto, it surfed the
> > net instantly through my internet connection (not telewest). So I can't
> > fault the laptop or the software on it. It's as though telewest have
> > succeeded in 'locking out' all laptops but the one. What's the trick
here?
> > Is it telewest's intention to restrict access to just one PC or am I
doing
> > something wrong? How do they do this? Can such restriction be overcome?
>
> I am not a Telewest user so I am sure someone will give a more detailed
> answer but I believe Telewest use the (unique) MAC address of the network
> card to identify the machine connected to their service
>
> I believe you can register the MAC addresses of new computers via
> http://selfcare.blueyonder.co.uk/
>
> Regards
> Sunil
>
>

"net" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3fe352c0@212.67.96.135...
> I'm not all that clever with bb but I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem
for
> a friend who uses telewest broadband, using a Cable modem - Model:
Surfboard
> SM4100 (I think). This modem connects to a WinXP laptop through RJ45
network
> cables. The network cable goes from the laptop LAN port into a small hub,

You cannot use a Hub thats connected to the cable modem, but you can use a
Router. IE.... Cable modem >>>> Router >>>> Hub or PC or Laptop plugged into
Router.

The Linksys Etherfast Cable/DSL Router BEFSR41 works fine and is available
from www.amazon.co.uk for £36.38

"public mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:L_IEb.2959$(E-Mail Removed)...
> As Sunil said, IIRC the cable bb providers lock the access to a particular
> MAC address so you have two options as far as I can see
>
> (1) use Microsoft Internet Sharing on the primary pc and make sure the
> others connect via it
>
thaanks for your feedback Mike. I know how to share a dial up connection,
but how do you share a BB/LAN connection in WinXP? there's no dialup 'icon'
to configure...

"public mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:L_IEb.2959$(E-Mail Removed)...
> As Sunil said, IIRC the cable bb providers lock the access to a particular
> MAC address so you have two options as far as I can see
>
> (1) use Microsoft Internet Sharing on the primary pc and make sure the
> others connect via it
>
> (2) buy a router that has the ability to clone the primary pc's MAC
address

I have been told by a Telewest/BY user that they are allowed to register
multiple MAC addresses with them, using the URL I gave earlier, so its not
necessary to buy a router to clone an address...

I *think* NTL don't allow more than one MAC address though (:

Regards
Sunil

On 19/12/03 9:26 pm, in article 3fe36da2@212.67.96.135, "net"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
> "public mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:L_IEb.2959$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> As Sunil said, IIRC the cable bb providers lock the access to a particular
>> MAC address so you have two options as far as I can see
>>
>> (1) use Microsoft Internet Sharing on the primary pc and make sure the
>> others connect via it
>>
> thaanks for your feedback Mike. I know how to share a dial up connection,
> but how do you share a BB/LAN connection in WinXP? there's no dialup 'icon'
> to configure...
>
A half decent router will allow you to plug in the Pc with the registered
MAC address and have the router spoof that MAC address on behalf of all
connected PC's

"net" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3fe36da2@212.67.96.135...
>
> "public mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
> news:L_IEb.2959$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > As Sunil said, IIRC the cable bb providers lock the
access to a particular
> > MAC address so you have two options as far as I can see
> >
> > (1) use Microsoft Internet Sharing on the primary pc and
make sure the
> > others connect via it
> >
> thaanks for your feedback Mike. I know how to share a dial
up connection,
> but how do you share a BB/LAN connection in WinXP? there's
no dialup 'icon'
> to configure...
>
>

you don't, because you are using an ethernet connection. You
would need to either a) use the USB connection to the modem,
and enable ICS on that connection (since it appears as a DUN
connect icon) or better still b) buy a router, and connect
all pc's into that, with the modem connected via ethernet to
the WAN port on the router.

P.

"Sunil Sood" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:brvriu$81m4a$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "public mike" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:L_IEb.2959$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > As Sunil said, IIRC the cable bb providers lock the access to a
particular
> > MAC address so you have two options as far as I can see
> >
> > (1) use Microsoft Internet Sharing on the primary pc and make sure the
> > others connect via it
> >
> > (2) buy a router that has the ability to clone the primary pc's MAC
> address
>
> I have been told by a Telewest/BY user that they are allowed to register
> multiple MAC addresses with them, using the URL I gave earlier, so its not
> necessary to buy a router to clone an address...

thanks Sunil, but at the url you mentioned it also said (in red letters):
'Important: Even though you can have several devices registered with
blueyonder, you can still only have one device plugged into your cable modem
and working at any one time'

"net" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:3fe374c7@212.67.96.135...
> thanks Sunil, but at the url you mentioned it also said (in red letters):
> 'Important: Even though you can have several devices registered with
> blueyonder, you can still only have one device plugged into your cable
modem
> and working at any one time'

Ah - not being a customer has its drawbacks

Simplest thing to do then is invest in a router, get it to spoof the mac
address that is registed and connect it directly to the cable modem.

Then connect all the computers/laptops directly to the router via RJ45

Regards
Sunil