can you set up a static IP address with a cable internet service?

[jackhammer80]

i'm trying to set up my port forwarding for utorrent and have followed what portforwarding says to do with my particular modem but i can browse the internet after i have done this. portforwarding.com says to get the correct DNS servers from my ISP to correct this problem but they told me you cannot set up a static IP address on a cable system and therefor cant use the DNS servers. does anyone know if they are correct or completly wrong? any info would be greatly appreciated thanks.

[jewelisheaven]

They're lying to you. Also there is some miscommunication, do you have one or two boxes between ISP -> computer? Usually the FIRST is a modem. It may also be a modem/router which creates NAT, i.e. gives you a LAN address (10.x.x.x 172.16.x.x or 192.168.x.x). If that's not the case you may not need to deal with forwarding? How does http://distribution.openoffice.org/p2p/ work? Does it turn your network status icon green?

[jackhammer80]

Open office is barely downloading at all my status is yellow and im am trying to open a port that is why i need to set up a static IP address and the only thing stopping me now i'm hoping is the correct DNS numbers. i have 1 box in between the computer and ISP and im a little confused as to whether it is a router as well as a modem. its a motorola sbg900 surfboard but ive hooked it straight up to the computer via ethernet cable. so your telling me my ISP is full of it and that i can set up a static IP address and they can give me the correct DNS server numbers to use on a cable internet setup?

[jewelisheaven]

Well ok if there's only ONE box between you it's possible you don't cant forward because it'sonly a modem. However http://www.portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/Motorola/SBG900/Utorrent.htm says it's a gateway, i.e. modem+router. Are the pictures not what you see in the modem setup?

[jackhammer80]

no everything looks the same and i think it is a modem/router. my trouble is that when i set up a static IP address on my computer in the internet protocol (tcp IP) as per the directions on portforwarding.com i cannot there on open a/any web site/page besides my modem/routers interface page and by the way every firewall is either down or allowing utorrent to operate. portforwarding goes on to say at the end that if this is the case it is most likely the DNS servers i am using/entering and that i should call my ISP to get the correct DNS servers and here is where i have hit a brick wall because my ISP says you cannot do it with a cable service. im going to call them again but im not quite sure what to say to get the numbers i need from them if they are infact lying to me which would not surprise me. got any more ideas champ?

[jewelisheaven]

OHHHHH

Here's what you do. You don't need them for anything especially if they're being stupid.

To start you'll need to run start->run->cmd /k ipconfig /all when you're using DHCP from the modem. :/ From the pictures again, it looks like the information you want may already be there under the main toolbar from the login page as "status" or configuration". If not, here's what you do... goback to your network connection, then change it from manually assign IP to "dynamically obtain IP" ... do the same for DNS, though I think they can be separately configured... but to be sure, set both as "automatically obtain". Then refresh the connection or whatever you need to do. You'll see the DHCP IP. Run the cmd/k ipconfig /all again. What should be there are two "DNS Servers" there. Those are what you fill in manually when you have your IP static .

There is ONE caveat. Should your DNS change on you, you won't notice it at first, except pages will time out. If/when that happens you just have to try cmd/k google.com. If google does not resolve, you know you need to revert the connection again and get the new server IPs.

If that was not clear or you get stuck please tell me where you are stuck

[jackhammer80]

thanks heaps for all your help but i have done all of that and but when i manually put type in the DNS servers and the static IP and the rest i am still connected to the internet but cannot browse anywebsites, nothing comes up and portforwarding.com says this is because i dont have the correct DNS servers and i need to get them from my ISP

[jewelisheaven]

If the IPs you're using/set as DNS are the ones which show up when you're doing everything via DHCP it should work What did you set your default gateway to?

[jackhammer80]

currently the DHCP system is in operation but for me to portforward i have to set up a static ip address which will bypass the dhcp auto set ip address. all the information i need i get from going to to cmd ipconfig/all i take the current ip address 192.168.0.3 and change it to a static ip which is out of range of the dhcp and i chose 192.168.0.136. the subnet mask and default gateway stay the same but the dns servers i got when i got everything else from cmd ipconfig/all dont work they dont allow me to browse the net

[jewelisheaven]

That is odd... and suggests you are being passed through another proxy If you're sure the DHCP range doesn't go to 150, then I'd try settings DNS to the gateway IP (192.168.0.1).... maybe that'll work?? <hope>

[oUrTorrent]

hmm, I've never seen cable ISP's use dynamic IP's before...granted they do change the ip once in a great while, but it usually stays the same for months or years at a time as long as your ISP doesn't do some big change or overhaul. if you're using DSL it is normal to have a static ISP. I'm sure you can reserve a static IP with your ISP if you want one but don't have one. it might cost extra, but no more than 5$ a month at most.

trying to use an IP address not assigned to you in a cable network can cause problems, whether it is in use or not. your DNS servers should always have the same IP address.