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Comcast hacking

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Ian Gulliver
2019-04-15 02:36:21 +00:00
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<!--# set var="title" value="Comcast hacking" -->
<!--# set var="date" value="April 5, 2010" -->
<!--# include file="include/top.html" -->
<p>I finally gave up on my principled stand against traffic shaping and switched to Comcast when I moved. The 10x speed for the same price over Speakeasy might have had something to do with it. It's been an interesting road getting it working as I wanted, and here's the notes list:</p>
<ul>
<li>D-Link modems don't work (well, at least). The one I got needed a custom firmware to work with Comcast according to D-Link's website, and the instructions for flashing the firmware included running a local TFTP server, then telnetting to the modem. Connection refused. Classy, guys. Took it back to Fry's, noticed that every single D-Link and Linksys cable modem box had a returned sticker on it. Bought a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6120-SURFboard-eXtreme-Broadband/dp/B001UI2FPE">Motorola SB6120</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS">DOCSIS</a> seems to support remote firmware flashing. The modem comes up with a firmware with the string "walledgarden" in the name, and all your connections get redirected to Comcast's activation page. The redirection is only DNS-level, though; switch to <a href="http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/">Google Public DNS</a> servers on your router/DHCP server/computer and you can surf just fine.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Learn/HighSpeedInternet/speedcomparison.html">Speed</a> seems to be enforced per-account, not per-link. That means that they can't apply any speed package to you until you go through the activation wizard, which registers your modem's HFC-side MAC address with Comcast. The "walledgarden" speed actually appears to be Comcast's Ultra package (22/5mbps). That means that if you're not signed up for Ultra or Extreme (50/10), but chose Performance (12/2) or Blast! (16/2) instead, it's actually in your best interest to not activate.</li>
<li>If you have to activate, the technician workflow is way easier: no installing software that messes with your network settings, and it works in Linux.</li>
</ul>
<p>More on the great wireless network project coming soon.</p>
<!--# include file="include/bottom.html" -->

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<li>2016-Feb-15: <a href="2016-02-15-cable-modem-channel-party.html">Cable modem channel party</a></li>
<li>2016-Feb-01: <a href="2016-02-01-how-to-enrage-your-cable-modem.html">How to enrage your cable modem</a></li>
<li>2016-Feb-01: <a href="2016-02-01-hall-of-2-4-ghz-shame-2016-edition.html">Hall of 2.4 GHz Shame, 2016 Edition</a></li>
<li>2010-Apr-05: <a href="2010-04-05-comcast-hacking.html">Comcast hacking</a></li>
<li>2010-Mar-26: <a href="2010-03-26-fun-with-map-visualizations.html">Fun with map visualizations</a></li>
<li>2010-Mar-09: <a href="2010-03-09-karaoke-project.html">Karaoke project</a></li>
<li>2009-Sep-11: <a href="2009-09-11-confusing-bind-with-cnames.html">Confusing BIND with CNAMEs</a></li>

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<!--# set var="title" value="Comcast hacking" -->
<!--# set var="date" value="April 5, 2010" -->
<!--# include file="include/top.html" -->
I finally gave up on my principled stand against traffic shaping and switched to Comcast when I moved. The 10x speed for the same price over Speakeasy might have had something to do with it. It's been an interesting road getting it working as I wanted, and here's the notes list:
* D-Link modems don't work (well, at least). The one I got needed a custom firmware to work with Comcast according to D-Link's website, and the instructions for flashing the firmware included running a local TFTP server, then telnetting to the modem. Connection refused. Classy, guys. Took it back to Fry's, noticed that every single D-Link and Linksys cable modem box had a returned sticker on it. Bought a [Motorola SB6120](http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6120-SURFboard-eXtreme-Broadband/dp/B001UI2FPE).
* [DOCSIS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS) seems to support remote firmware flashing. The modem comes up with a firmware with the string "walledgarden" in the name, and all your connections get redirected to Comcast's activation page. The redirection is only DNS-level, though; switch to [Google Public DNS](http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/) servers on your router/DHCP server/computer and you can surf just fine.
* [Speed](http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Learn/HighSpeedInternet/speedcomparison.html) seems to be enforced per-account, not per-link. That means that they can't apply any speed package to you until you go through the activation wizard, which registers your modem's HFC-side MAC address with Comcast. The "walledgarden" speed actually appears to be Comcast's Ultra package (22/5mbps). That means that if you're not signed up for Ultra or Extreme (50/10), but chose Performance (12/2) or Blast! (16/2) instead, it's actually in your best interest to not activate.
* If you have to activate, the technician workflow is way easier: no installing software that messes with your network settings, and it works in Linux.
More on the great wireless network project coming soon.
<!--# include file="include/bottom.html" -->

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1. 2016-Feb-15: [Cable modem channel party](2016-02-15-cable-modem-channel-party.html)
1. 2016-Feb-01: [How to enrage your cable modem](2016-02-01-how-to-enrage-your-cable-modem.html)
1. 2016-Feb-01: [Hall of 2.4 GHz Shame, 2016 Edition](2016-02-01-hall-of-2-4-ghz-shame-2016-edition.html)
1. 2010-Apr-05: [Comcast hacking](2010-04-05-comcast-hacking.html)
1. 2010-Mar-26: [Fun with map visualizations](2010-03-26-fun-with-map-visualizations.html)
1. 2010-Mar-09: [Karaoke project](2010-03-09-karaoke-project.html)
1. 2009-Sep-11: [Confusing BIND with CNAMEs](2009-09-11-confusing-bind-with-cnames.html)