About Cable Modem Drivers Tips
Read these 8 About Cable Modem Drivers Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Broad Band tips and hundreds of other topics.
To USB or not to USB
USB ports can be buggy, and they don't like sharing cable modems with other devices, nor do they like supporting multiple users. If you have the latest Motorola cable modem driver or Webstar cable modem driver, better make sure you have no device conflicts. Driver cable modem downloads won't work if your USB doesn't.
Ethernet cards, as stated previously, don't require drivers, but unlike Macs, PCs normally aren't Ethernet card-equipped, whereas every PC has a USB built in just waiting for your driver cable modem installation. However, the Ethernet card might require its own driver installation if the system doesn't recognize your hardware.
Cable Modem Driver Conflicts
Other device drivers can conflict with, say, your Winstar cable modem driver. Investigating device driver conflicts and a possible driver cable modem problem is one of the first steps you can take to resolve cable Internet connection problems.
In Windows, drivers for, say, routers can conflict with, say, your Motorola cable modem drivers.
You have options in the event of a cable modem driver warring with, for example, your external SCSI driver:
• Uninstall and reinstall the original cable modem driver software
• Check for the latest version of the driver
• Uninstall and reinstall your router or SCSI driver
• Check for the latest versions of all device drivers on your computer
Motorola Cable Modem Drivers and Windows
Motorola's SURFboard(R) SB4100 and SB4101
USB driver (v2.0) were the first cable modems to earn the Microsoft Designed for Windows logo for Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, and Windows XP. While modem drivers cable are considered dodgy by many users, who advise switching to a PCI card, the Motorola cable modem driver was designed for Windows use. The Webstar cable modem driver doesn't have this distinction; however, the Webstar 2000 Series USB Drivers are Windows 2000 and Windows XP certified.
The only way to make sure the Motorola cable modem driver, or any cable modem driver, functions well with Windows is to get the latest version of the driver for your particular cable modem. Also, Motorola's cable modem driver has DOCSIS 2.0 status, so make sure your cable Internet provider's network system also is approved for DOCSIS 2.0.
Motorola Cable Modem Driver Installation Problems
Can't connect to the Internet? You've checked the cables, and you don't have the modem plugged into Ethernet and the USB port at the same time. Make sure you have the updated version of the Motorola cable modem driver, available from www.broadband.motorola.com. Typically the driver is available on your computer.
If you're using USB with Macintosh, you'll have a problem since most Macs don't ship with USB ports, and Motorola doesn't offer a cable modem driver for Mac USBs.
Windows Standby and the USB Cable Modem Driver
When Windows XP is in Standby or Sleep mode, your USB cable modem driver may be too. Whether you're using Linksys, 3Com, Toshiba, or Motorola, your cable modem driver, including the Windows Certified Motorola cable modem driver and Webstar cable modem driver, may not recover if you've put the USB root hub into standby.
To wake up your driver cable modem, you can use updated drivers and patches.
You can also configure Windows XP by going into the Power Management tab in your USB Root Hub Properties in Device Manager and unchecking the box that says “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
Windows XP and Cable Modem Drivers
More about cable modem drivers:
If you have certain cable modems, this is one tip you can't afford to miss when dealing with driver cable modem difficulties.
However, if you're a Winstar or Motorola customer, you can skip this tip, since the Winstar cable modem driver and the Motorola cable modem driver don't have Windows XP issues.
Until 2002, Alcatel's SpeedTouch USB wasn't XP-compatible, but Alcatel wised up and released a Windows XP cable modem driver. Ntlworld also posted a Windows XP version of its driver. However, there may be cable modems out there with drivers that haven't been updated. Approach with extreme caution.
Best Performance Cable Modem Drivers
About cable modem drivers: The driver cable modem that's the latest version, from the manufacturer's Web site, will always perform the best, whether the cable modem is a Toshiba, Linksys, or Motorola product. Also, if you're working with Windows, the best cable modem driver is the one that's approved for the later versions of Windows. That includes everybody. However, the Bill Gates Windows Advantage goes to… the Motorola cable modem driver and the Webstar cable modem driver.
Wireless Internet, Motorola and Webstar
Going wireless isn't always easy since earlier cable modem drivers aren't WiFi-equipped. However, you can download a Webstar cable modem driver package from Webstar's tech support site that addresses compatibility with wireless or 802.11g devices.
Motorola's SURFboard® SBG900 Wireless Cable Modem Gateway is completely wireless, so naturally it includes one single wireless Motorola cable modem driver that instantly downloads when you click on the “USB Drivers” link on broadband.motorola.com.
If you're not a Webstar or Motorola user, consult your manufacturer's Web site to see if it offers a wireless driver cable modem, and even if you can upgrade to a wireless cable modem. For example, Toshiba introduced the first cable modem and wireless router combination with CheckPoint Firewall-1 Technology.
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| Jennifer Mathes, Ph.D. |
