How to Hook Up Cable Internet

By Jack Gerard

Broadband internet can provide a high-speed connection at your home or business, and cable internet is one of its most common forms. Most cable-service providers will set up your cable internet connection themselves, sometimes for a nominal service charge, but it isn't difficult to set up the connection yourself. Your cable provider should supply you with a modem, but even if they don't, you should be able to obtain a reliable cable modem for relatively little cost.

Find a flat surface you can set your cable modem on, somewhere near a cable line. Make sure the location is close enough to an electrical outlet that you will be able to plug in your modem, and that you will be able to reach the modem with an ethernet cable from your computer or router.

Screw the coaxial cable from your cable connection into the back of your cable modem. Once the cable has been firmly attached, plug the ethernet cable from your computer or router into the appropriate ethernet connection slot. Once both cables have been attached, set the modem down on your flat surface so that it can't be accidentally knocked off if that surface gets bumped or run into.

Plug in the power cord of the cable modem. Chances are, the modem will have a standby button or other power switch, which will have to be pressed in order to turn it on and set it to active mode. You'll know that the modem is in active mode when the standby light is off and the other lights on the modem begin to light up as it makes its connection to the internet.

If necessary, set up your computer or router to work with the new internet connection. You may also have to run the network-connection wizard on any computer that will be connecting to the internet through your network if that network hasn't already been set up.

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