Comcast Cable and Ubuntu Linux

[jen1963]

Do you have Comcast broadband and run Ubuntu? Then if you have have any service issues their service tech's blame Ubuntu for their crappy network and tell you to install Windows XP!
I have a thorough detailed account posted on my Blog (http://www.tuxwerx.com/Blogs/?p=149) at:
http://www.tuxwerx.com/Blogs/?p=149
So you know I'm not full of sh*t, a local newspaper saw Ubuntu in action and can verify it isn't Ubuntu's fault for Comcast's crappy network.
If the newspaper publishes this then Ubuntu is gonna look DAMNED GOOD in the news!
In fact, the reporter and Comcast techs were all happy to get free legal copies of Ubuntu!!
#-o

[nacho32]

post that on digg.com
may the force be with you :)

[ilrudie]

Comcast will blame anything when their service isn't working. I once had major problems with my comcast internet. They told me my router was causing the problems. Then it was my mac's fault. Then it was that I hadn't rented my surfboard cable modem from them but instead purchased it. The real culprit was the install guy bent the coax pin when connecting my cable at the street! They even tried to blame this on Bell South because one of their cherry picker operators must have done it. My advice for dealing with comcast is expect delays and never ever ever use their DNS.

[Mgiacchetti]

hmm since we're on the subject of comcast,

I have comcast.
I use internet and tv through them.

My digital cable is the problematic service here.
Occationally it will crap out to black, then go to the digi blocks, then back to normal. This happens more than once in a 30 second period, and lasts about 5-20 minutes.

I have had 4 (Four) techs out, they have each done their share of nothing (the last one finally re ran the cable from the pole to the box, but the problem is still here)

They tell me "well I dont understand why you are the only one experiencing this problem"
and that someone probably has an old vcr.

thing is, when this happens with the tv, the signal to noise ratio on the modem also drops from 38 to 22.

here's the rundown.
tech1 - contractor
it was the splitter so I replaced it. (although while he was still here, the problem started back up, after he "fixed" it)

tech2 - contractor
It was the ground, and I reran that (again same as above)

Tech3 - comcast service tech
I dont know what it is, there seems to be no problems but ill change your box out, those new white ones can be problematic (of course there are no problems when He was here, he was an actual comcast guy)

Tech4 - comcast line worker
I reran the cable from the pole to the box, so everything's new, and at the pole they had it just spliced together. (nope, i unplugged it because of a storm, and when i plugged it back in, the problem came back)


aside from the chat "specialists" that are hell bent on sending my digital cable box a "command that will fix the problem" which actually does nothing.

COMCAST IF YOU ARE READING THIS, FIX YOUR PROBLEMS

[3pinner]

thank you for saving me from switching to Comcast. I was actually considering it!

[colobix]

This is great news for Ubuntu.

[ilrudie]

thank you for saving me from switching to Comcast. I was actually considering it!

When the service works its fantastic. Getting it setup can be a little troublesome but once its up the HD is very nice and the internet is fast in my experience. I wouldn't completely avoid Comcast. For many they are the best option available even with the sub-par customer service factored in.

[overdrank]

Moved :)

[doorknob60]

My cable company (BendBroadband) told me I need XP, they wouldn't let me sign up with Linux. I installed Win2K on a computer, left it on, the cable guy didn't touch any of the computers at all :lolflag: All I did is plug it into my router and it worked :) BendBroadband is amazing, good service, never had any problems, and they're going all digital on Dec 31 this year :D That means more room for internet bandwidth, HD channels, all that good stuff :) They already more than doubled the internet speeds since most people are already on digital right now.

[finer recliner]

i dual boot windows xp and ubuntu. when comcast installed internet for me, he was dumbfounded when he saw linux on my laptop so i told him i would reboot to windows for him so he could diagnose an initial problem.

without even telling me, he started installing comcast software like an email client and internet doctor. the software also changed my homepage and default search engine in IE to comcast.com. i didnt even know comcast had a search engine! who said i wanted any of this crap?

i'd be more pissed, but i rarely boot into windows anyways. I let him fix my internet installation (which turned out to just be a loose wire...) and then kicked him out.

i've only been with comcast for a month, but i've already lost faith in their customer service. i have more encounters with them that i wont share with you today, but the company needs a lesson on respect.

[Methuselah]

Why do all ISPs stink?
It seem the options are very limited.

[kernelhaxor]

its comcastic!

[jen1963]

Tomorrow when I have the time, I'm going to rerun those speed tests with screenshots on Ubuntu 8.04.1 then I'm going to install XPuke and re run those tests with screen shots as well.
After I run these tests I'll post them on my Blog at Tuxwerx so everyone can see a side by side comparison of networking speed in Ubuntu vs XPuke on Comcast.
By the time I'm done with Comcast they will never blame Ubuntu again for their crappy network!!
:biggrin:

[sydbat]

Sounds exactly like Shaw Cable here in Canada. One reason we have nothing to do with them anymore...Bell ExpressVu for TV and Telus for Internet/phone...not that Telus is much better, but their techs seem to get the "alternate" OS idea...

[Dremora]

You probably just got an ignorant support rep, Comcast only trains them for Windows and Mac, just tell them to activate your modem on their end, they eventually will.

Comcast's modems even run Windows internally, you'll notice all the modem's configuration pages say .aspx at the end of them.

That Powerboost thing is all marketing, I haven't seen it do anything at all, and if you read the agreement you signed, it says you can get "up to" whatever plan you got, the more people using the shared bandwidth in your area, the less bandwidth you get.

[tbroderick]

thank you for saving me from switching to Comcast. I was actually considering it!

For what it's worth, I have Comcast cable, phone and internet and have no complaints with service.

[Gaudentius]

My digital cable is the problematic service here.
Occationally it will crap out to black, then go to the digi blocks, then back to normal. This happens more than once in a 30 second period, and lasts about 5-20 minutes.


I had this problem a few months back. Only some of my HD channels would give me problems as far "digi-blocks" and stuttering. It ended up being that I had coiled my extra cable and I guess the attenuation along with some possible feedback with the cable acting like an antenna was making my service all hokey.

After shortening the cable to a more usable length, my HD has been "Comcastic"!

GD

[dracule]

one modem I had just quit, then 2 days ago they repalaced it and the new one resets EVERY time I connect via wifi through my router. I dont know what is wrong, so i am exchanging it. but it sucks because my laptop is now useless.

[Dremora]

one modem I had just quit, then 2 days ago they repalaced it and the new one resets EVERY time I connect via wifi through my router. I dont know what is wrong, so i am exchanging it. but it sucks because my laptop is now useless.

Spoof the MAC address of one of your computers on the router, Comcast modems attack routers, this will disguise it as your PC.

[stmiller]

I think this is a case of the user knowing more about computers than the 'tech support' on the phone. Unfortunately this is the case with most large ISP phone tech support.

[phrostbyte]

Comcast techs seem to be really good (bad?) at passing the blame. I doubt the tech you talked to even knows what Ubuntu is!

[cody50]

Since when does providing you with an IP address have anything to do with your Operating System preference?

*facepalm*

[Dremora]

Since when does providing you with an IP address have anything to do with your Operating System preference?

*facepalm*

Because the Windows/Mac disc is supposed to activate your modem and help you get a comcast.net email account.

I had them activate the modem on their end.

I'd never use an ISP email account anyway.