[Ready4Freddy]

R4F repeats to his own bad self:

"Seems to be far more common for cable folks to need to clone the MAC."

I guess that's because the cable co's record the MAC of the NIC they give you, and build that into your profile? The NIC MAC must then be cloned to the router to allow you to obtain an IP?

[js1138]

I guess that's because the cable co's record the MAC of the NIC they give you...

This gets complicated and depends on who you get the service from. Earthlink gives you a logon/password screen the firs time you connect. Then it remembers your MAC address. If you switch computers or install a router, you have to log on again.

Bellsouth DSL records your MAC address when you call them to set up the service. They do not have a logon screen, and you have to call them if you change cards. Bellsouth also tried for a long time to prevent sharing by giving customers the option of an internal modem or a USB modem, so you couldn't use a router. This became kind of futile when Windows provided internet sharing as a standard feature. My sister has a second network installed, attached to a wireless access point. The computer acts as the router.

[Chemist_Geek]

The NIC MAC must then be cloned

Paddywhack, and give the dog a bone?

[brianl703]

I have never used a NIC provided by Comcast, nor have they ever provided one or offered to provide one.

In my experience, all it takes to switch to a new NIC or broadband router with a different MAC is to power-cycle the cablemodem.

Comcast's TOS doesn't prohibit the use of broadband routers. It only stipulates that they don't support them [meaning that if you can't get it to work, don't call them for help].