Is Comcast running a racket on charging for additional IP addresses?
December 2, 2009 8:42 AM Subscribe
I currently have Comcast High Speed internet. I have two additional IP addresses assigned to my account, which they charge me monthly for. Is this necessary, i.e., if I had the that option taken off my bill would only one of my home computers be able to connect to the internet, vs the four that currently do with the Comcast option for only two additional licenses (which means only three total should be able to connect)?
If it matters, the cable modem is connected to a wireless router (Apple Express) and all the home computers are Macintoshes.
Best answer: To oversimplify: If all you want to do is get four computers online, you only need one IP address, which will be used by your router. I have up to four devices online via my router (two computers, Xbox 360, iPhone) and I've only ever had a single IP address on Comcast. You're actually only using one of your IP addresses: whichever one the router is using. Ditch the rest.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:45 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:45 AM on December 2, 2009
Just make sure that the static ips arent bound to other otpions on your account. On cablevision static ips comes with business boost so you get rid of the static ips you get rid of the 30/5 speeds. (on cablevision)
So make sure your static ips arent tied to other features of your service.
posted by majortom1981 at 8:52 AM on December 2, 2009
So make sure your static ips arent tied to other features of your service.
posted by majortom1981 at 8:52 AM on December 2, 2009
My house has Comcast, with a PC which is hooked up to the router and a wireless connection for my Mac laptop. We have one IP, and haven't had any issues with connection, or Comacst figuring out that we have two computers. I would imagine and Airport station would function exactly the same, and one IP should be sufficient.
posted by itsonreserve at 9:41 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by itsonreserve at 9:41 AM on December 2, 2009
You do not need the extra IPs, although if someone else configured your network there is a possibility that things are set up to use them. I have seen configurations where VOIP gateways are set up using a separate external IP address, because this simplifies NAT/firewall configuration.
But if the only thing plugged into the cable modem is your Airport router, you'll probably be fine. It's only if you went there and looked and saw a bunch of other equipment plugged into the modem (via an additional hub or switch, besides the Airport router) that you would need to be concerned.
(Out of curiosity, how did you get Comcast to give you the separate IPs? I tried for years to get a couple of additional IPs without paying for some ridiculous service bundle, and never had any success. I am quite jealous.)
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:45 AM on December 2, 2009
But if the only thing plugged into the cable modem is your Airport router, you'll probably be fine. It's only if you went there and looked and saw a bunch of other equipment plugged into the modem (via an additional hub or switch, besides the Airport router) that you would need to be concerned.
(Out of curiosity, how did you get Comcast to give you the separate IPs? I tried for years to get a couple of additional IPs without paying for some ridiculous service bundle, and never had any success. I am quite jealous.)
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:45 AM on December 2, 2009
Presumably you're using Network Address Translation.
That's what I run on my LAN. One of my computers is connected to my Comcast cable modem. The others are connected to that one. That one uses the one permanent IP that Comcast issued to me. The others all use IPs in the range of 192.168.x.x which is a reserved block intended for local use.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:43 AM on December 2, 2009
That's what I run on my LAN. One of my computers is connected to my Comcast cable modem. The others are connected to that one. That one uses the one permanent IP that Comcast issued to me. The others all use IPs in the range of 192.168.x.x which is a reserved block intended for local use.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 11:43 AM on December 2, 2009
Unless you are running some sort of server that requires a static IP, you shouldn't be paying for IP addresses, they should all be dynamic.
If you need to access your home network via a fixed address, use a free tool like DynDNS.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:45 AM on December 2, 2009
If you need to access your home network via a fixed address, use a free tool like DynDNS.
posted by blue_beetle at 11:45 AM on December 2, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
The only "computer" that Comcast sees in your house is the Airport. Whether one or sixty-seven computers connect to it doesn't matter, they all appear as the same IP address.
posted by rokusan at 8:45 AM on December 2, 2009