Internet access limit?

Question

My new (cable) net provider is only allowing single computer connection. They're not allow me to use a router.

So every time I want to use/change to a different computer I have to call them to "clearhost."

How is this possible? Is there anyway they can detect me when I use a router? Is there any workaround?

Thanks.

The thing is, they're the only fast and cheap provider available in our area.

And they will terminate our connection if they found out we share the connection.

So is there really any way they can detect the presence of a router?

Answer 1

If you have a NAT router (and actually set up to do NAT) then they shouldn't be able to tell the difference (nor should it use more than 1 of their IP addresses) because it will just look like everything is coming from and going to your router (which then transparently takes care of sending all the packets to the correct computer).

What you can do depends on what type of cable modem you've got, it might have a built in router which should work fine (though if you can't get it work you're on your own as their tech support won't help you). If it just connects to Ethernet then hooking it up to a standalone router might work while a USB model will need to be connected to a computer (that can be configured as a router).

As for how to configure the router, you might want to look in the manual.

Most ISPs do limit home customers (who get cheap rates) to just one computer although a lot of people use NAT to get more than one computer on the net (I do it myself) and as long as you're only using the 1 IP address, aren't putting unacceptable stress on their network (i.e. not maxing your connection out every second of every day) and aren't spamming or breaking the law they aren't going to care about what you do (some ISPs have said that they don't care about using NAT routers).

Answer 2

No they can not detect the presence of a router, only the connection. The routers MAC address looks just like a computers MAC address, so as long as you dont let the cable company in your home to physically inspect then they will not know that the router is connected instead of a computer.

All I can say is if you want cheap internet service then you get what you pay for.

Answer 3

try using the router it should work just fine I dont think they can find out about it and if they do whats the worst they can do to you tell you to stop

Answer 4

They are using Mac Auth (locking mac), if you cant use external router then make your pc as router

by using Internet Connection Sharing

Identify your pc as main pc

Install new ethernet on your pc

Connect the Second Ethernet to new switch / hub

Other computer can be connected to switch

Activate ICS on your ethernet (first ethernet) then the second ethernet automaticly set to ip 192.168.0.1

Then put ip 192.168.0.* to other ex :

Pc 2 :
Ip : 192.168.0.2
Netmask : 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.0.1
DNS : same with main pc

Pc 3 :
Ip : 192.168.0.3
Netmask : 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.0.1
DNS : same with main pc

Try to ping it , if reply then mean success

Look here to enable ICS

http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=icsmu0.jpg

Answer 5

use a router and don't tell them. that's the workaround

Answer 6

change to a different isp. they should have no say on if you use a router.

Answer 7

wow, what a crappy service. Find a new company to do business with.