cable modem
8 ResultsDictionary
cable modem
A device used to connect a single computer or a network to a cable company's service for Internet access. The same physical cable coming into the house or office also provides TV and voice (VoIP)...
Dictionary
Definition: cable modem
A device used to connect a single computer or a network to a cable company's service for Internet access. The same physical cable coming into the house or office also provides TV and voice (VoIP) service.
Compared to analog dial-up, cable Internet dramatically increases the bandwidth between the user's computer and the Internet (see broadband). In order to prevent users with lower-cost cable access from hosting high-traffic Web servers, the upload speed is approximately five times slower than the download speed. Cable operators also routinely change IP addresses assigned to users to prevent Web hosting (see DDNS).
Connect Via Ethernet or USB
Cable modems typically connect to the computer or network router via an Ethernet port; however, some cable modems have a USB port for hookup to the computer but not the network.
Cable Internet is a shared service, and the individual user's speed will vary depending on how many customers are sending or receiving data on that cable segment at the same time. For example, when kids come home from school in the afternoon, many neighborhood users experience slower speeds. See DOCSIS, cable Internet, Internet appliance and MSN TV.
A Cable Modem System
Internet packets are combined with standard TV programming in a cable modem system. The cable modem termination system (CMTS) is responsible for packet to RF conversion, routing, bridging, filtering and traffic shaping (see CMTS).
THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.
Sponsored White Papers, Webcasts & Resources
-
Optimize the Virtual Environment without Draining Your Resources
Today's virtual environments need specialized optimization routines to prevent resource conflicts. Learn how V-locity 3 Virtual Platform Disk Optimizer can optimize your virtual environment...
-
How to wrestle with a home network and win
I sometimes wonder how the average consumer avoids going crazy when confronted with modern home networks. Things can get especially ugly when you add consumer-grade networking hardware and buggy...
-
Intel buys Texas Instrument's cable modem business as part of set-top box strategy
Intel has made it clear that it wants in on the market for consumer electronics devices that connect to your HDTV, and it's made a major move towards its goal with the announcement today that...
-
Frugal Friday: Residential Broadband Woes, Jacko, Windows 7 vs Snow Leopard pricing, Red Hat, Virtualization, Cleversafe
Frugal Networker Ken Hess and I discuss my 22-hour cable modem downtime ordeal, Micheal Jackson, Windows 7 and Snow Leopard upgrades, Red Hat's stellar business performance and RHEL clones,...
-
US broadband users pay $34.50 a month on average
Home broadband users reported that their monthly payment for internet service was $34.50 - 4% less than the figure of $36 per month reported in December 2005.2 This decline in monthly broadband...
-
One Router to Connect Them All
Sunday afternoons are the few times I actually get some peace and don't have to think about major IT problems. I fire up my Weber smoker, throw on a couple of racks of ribs, fire up a bucket of...
-
-
The harsh reality of suburban broadband
Like millions of other Americans and many of New York City's "bridge and tunnel" crowd, I live in the 'burbs. While I do a great deal of travel for my full time job, I am also classified as a...
-
Comcast may be seeing subscriber pressure
Comcast reported its second quarter earnings Thursday and the financials results were fine. The subscriber numbers, however, may indicate increased competition. The cable giant reported a profit...
-
Cracking open a Motorola DVR
TechRepublic cracks open the Motorola DCT6412 III digital video recorder (DVR).
Additional Results
-
Comcast, Cox, Time Warner partner on metro Wi-Fi
Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox and Time Warner Cable partner on free-if-you're-a-customer wireless under the name "CableWifi."
-
Verizon's HomeFusion LTE service could be a financial win
Verizon's HomeFusion LTE service opens up new markets for the telecom giant and can deliver some nice financial gains.
-
Free Thunderbolt cables offered with top-capacity drives
Thunderbolt cables aren't like the low-cost commodity USB and FireWire cables that come free with external hard drives or cameras or printers or whatever peripheral you might name. Now, for the...
-
The HDMI cable ripoff and why retail is really dying
Would you spend $100 for something when you can get it for $10? Of course not. What about $500, when you can get it for $2.50? No way. But chain retailers think you will.
-
NimbleTV streams cable TV to any device, legally
NimbleTV, a new start-up that takes existing cable TV packages and streams them online, isn't the future of television that everyone is waiting for. Nor is it trying to be.
-
Vodafone to buy Cable & Wireless for $1.67 billion
Mobile phone giant Vodafone is set to buy Cable & Wireless Worldwide for $1.67 billion.
-
IKEA targets cable clutter with integrated HDTV entertainment system
IKEA wants to take over your living room a bit more decisively with its UPPLEVA home entertainment system.
-
ACTA suffers major blow following European rejection call
ACTA could be 'dead in the water' after the treaty's rapporteur said in his recommendations to Brussels that the European Parliament should reject the agreement.
-
More on the Thunderbolt cable availability front
According to industry insiders, there's no crisis in finding Thunderbolt cables, despite my personal experience of the other week. But the cables may remain specialty items for a while.
-
Infiniti LE concept is 100 percent electric, 85 percent ready for prime time (photos)
Infiniti debuts a zero-emissions concept that should also require zero cables thanks to its wireless charging system.
-
Backroom only for Thunderbolt cables
The speed available from Apple's Thunderbolt I/O technology is amazing. But good luck finding a cable when you really need one.
-
Coat hanger wire is just as good as a high-quality speaker cable
Believe it or not, coat hangers can be used as audio cables, and the sound quality is almost indistinguishable from systems with expensive cables.
The best of ZDNet, delivered
ZDNet Newsletters
Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox
Vendor Showcase
Facebook Activity
