[dba-Tech] Modems

Dear Group,

Back in the day I knew quite a lot about Hayes modems. How to use +++ and
all of the AT codes. Had 'em nailed.

Now, of course, Hayes doesn't appear to make modems anymore, and I've got a
cable modem. It's connected to our 3Com  OfficeConnect hub so that our home
network shares the modem.

My problem is that I can't figure out why in tarnation our sons' PC can no
longer connect to the GoreNet. There may be multiple problems here, but I've
tried to narrow down all of the possibilities.

I'm not asking so much for specific advice to follow as to what you cable
modem users have done to educate yourselves in the arcana of sharing cable
modems on a LAN. My w/s and my wife's w/s connect just fine. I've tried the
standard things like taking everybody off-line and shutting down and
unplugging the modem for 60 seconds...as well as connecting the modem
directly to our sons' PC. No dice.

I think I'm at the point where I need to think about re-installing Windows
XP home on their confuser...however we upgraded from Windows ME to XP Home.
I'd kinda like to go down to the bare metal and install XP Professional
instead (my and my wife's workstations are Win 2000 Pro)...but I don't have
an extra $130 or whatever it costs to purchase an XP-Pro upgrade.

Maybe I'm just looking for a crying towel...it just seems to me like
everything is hidden from view in Windows XP Home. There are so many layers
"protecting" me, the poor, dumb user, from the intricacies of modern GoreNet
communications.

I just have never seen a nice book or even a web site that explains any of
this stuff. Do any of you turn to a nifty web site that answers your
trouble-shooting questions about networks and modems? Or do I need to attend
one of those $1,500 classes to earn a certification in modern modem
phrenology?

Steve Erbach
Scientific Marketing
Neenah, WI

"Eventually, socialists run out of other people's money."
-- Lady Margaret Thatcher