When you signup for a Cable Internet connection to the ISP, the modem will only be used or connected to a single Computer. It is likely that you would like to share the Internet with some computers within the household either using wired connection or wireless connection. It is therefore, having an Ethernet Cable modem will help you extending the network in the future.
SurfBoard SB6120 by Motorola is an eXtreme Broadband Ethernet cable modem. SB6120 is DOCSIS 3.0 and is also Euro-DOCSIS 3.0 based cable modem. SB6120 Ethernet cable modem introduces 4 downstream and 4 upstream channels bonding to allow the Cable operators to offer the customers advanced multimedia services with high speed data rates over 100 Mbps in each direction without upgrading their HFC plant.
How do you extend the Internet connection using this Ethernet cable modem? You have two options to extend the network for sharing the Cable internet connection with some computers within the house, using the wired network by adding the LAN Switch, and using the wireless network by adding the wireless router.
SURFboard SB6120 Ethernet Cable Modem
Wired Connection Using the LAN Switch
If you want to share the Internet connection with couple of computers or more, you need a Switch LAN and run network cable to each of the computers. Connect the Ethernet port of the modem with UTP cable to the Switch either using the UTP cross cable or straight-through cable. This Ethernet cable modem supports auto MDIX Ethernet port for auto negotiation.
Along with an optional Switch, the SB5102 Ethernet cable modem can serve as an Internet gateway for up to 63 computers. You need to consult the ISP about the IP address assigned to you and make sure that the ISP supports multiple user services.
If the ISP confirms that you can share with some computers in home, you just need to configure Windows TCP/IP property to obtain the IP address automatically. See also building the home network.
Wireless Connection Using the Wireless router
The easiest way to extend the network to share the Internet with the multiple computers within the house without cluttering the network cables is to use the wireless network router. With your Ethernet cable modem connected to the wireless router, you can extend the network wirelessly.
Have a look at the above network diagram; connect the Ethernet port (RJ-45) of the Ethernet cable modem to the WAN port (RJ-45) of the wireless router. The benefits of having the wireless network within the house that you can browse the internet with your laptop anywhere within the network coverage without the clutter of the wire, and you can make Internet Skype calls with your Wi-Fi phone anywhere to the world with your Skype account without turning on the computer.
SB6120 Ethernet Cable Modem diagram
Another benefit is that the wireless routers mostly support the DHCP service that will allow you provide the client computers the IP address configuration automatically. As long as your ISP has setup a single computer (proves to work) which connect directly to the Ethernet cable modem, you don’t need to worry if your ISP does not support multiple user service. The wireless router supports the NAT (network address translation) – a way to share a single Internet connection with multiple computers. Typically the wireless router supports the dual-firewall feature NAT and SPI. Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) will help you protect the network behind the Ethernet cable modem (behind the wireless router actually) against the Internet threats.
Therefore, it is recommended to use the wireless router connected to your Ethernet cable modem if you would like to extend and share the Cable broadband internet connection with multiple computers within the house.
See also the background about sharing the Internet connection.
SB6120 Ethernet Cable modem has the following high performance features such as:
- Supports both IPv4 and IPv6 to help you expand future network addressing capabilities.
- For security enhancement, this cable modem supports AES traffic encryption.
- It also supports Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 port) with auto negotiate and auto MDIX.
- For management purposes, this Ethernet cable modem can be configure remotely using SNMP and TFTP.
- For visual troubleshooting, the modem is included with front panel LED which help you view the line status
For a more flexible and easy installation and configuration, you can also consider the SurfBoard SURFboard SBG900 Ethernet Cable Modem and Router which includes the Cable modem and the wireless router integrated in it. A single device for all the requirements you need to build the wireless network in home.
Suggested articles to read:
- SB5101 SurfBoard cable modem
- The DIR-660 D-Link router – D-Link wireless router limited edition
- DSL modem router – a lists of many DSL modem with built-in router
- Directional wireless antenna – some of Hawking wireless antenna
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