US Cable Support > Comcast HSI > [Business] Does Comcast Business still allow non-SMC modems?

[Business] Does Comcast Business still allow non-SMC modems?

LOL. Your asking this question at the right time.

I JUST (as in 1 week ago) got business class installed. And, I still have my SB6120!

It's a battle, that's for sure. And it was a real nightmare to get it working; they couldn't get the account activated correctly when they tried to do it their "normal" way. All you have to do is deactivate you old account, and wait until you get into the "walled garden" config on the modem (where the only place you can go is the "Activate Service" page). Once you've gotten that; you're set. Enter your business class account number, and "Wham", you're on the Internet, using business class, with your preferred modem.

Frankly.. All your friend has to do (AFAIK) is pull out the SMC and put in his own modem. Connect a computer directly to it; let it go into the Walled Garden config, and then enter his business class account number. Probably be very, very easy if the 6120 isn't currently activated on another account.

Why Comcast is such a PITA about this; I have NO idea.. They've given up years of revenue from me; I would have switched to business a LONG time ago if they would have just told me that it was possible to use my own modem. Or, even if they just had a purpose built MODEM (not router) for business use. But for me, the idea of introducing another Layer 3 device into my network just makes me cringe.

I already have an ASA, Riverbed and a virtual NetScalar, all of which have routed interfaces. You should have seen the techs face when he saw my configuration.. I think the idea of putting the SMC in and making it work might have made him a bit queasy!

It worked, thank you very much!

Great, glad to hear it!

Just so others can benefit from your experience, did you do the same thing that I did? Took an unactivated 6120, allowed it to get into the "Walled Garden" and then entered your business class account number? I just want to make sure that other people can use this thread as a reference for how to connect the SB6120 to a business class Comcast connection.

Thx!

Good idea. My friend had previously used my old SB 5101 on his residential account (which he canceled the day after his Comcast HSI starter business class account was activated).

I followed your advice, and unhooked the SMC 8014 from the Comcast coax feed, and replaced it with the Motorola Surfboard 5101 cable modem.

Connecting a laptop directly to the cable modem, it was in the Comcast walled garden. I selected "I'm a Technician" from the menu choices (the other was "I'm a customer" or something like that). This asked for the customer account number, which I entered. It then presented a list of devices available for activation on the account. The Surfboard was in green the SMC was in red (I'm not certain if that meant it was already activated, going to be deactivated, or if it just wasn't online at the time). I had it activate the surfboard and after about 2 minutes it indicated completion and was online with Comcast.

We then disconnected the PC (which did have it's firewalls up during the entire experience) and connected his router after that we power cycled his cable modem and his entire network was back online with Comcast business despite the fact all the tech and sales reps refused to activate the modem for us.

It was more painful to ask Comcast and wait on hold for a technical support person to deny us (over several calls) than to just activate directly via cable modem and a laptop (it could have been a PC / desktop / MAC). I believe the activation (even counting laptop hookup through router hookup and cable modem power cycles) took less time than any call to Comcast. Your method has the advantage of being faster than calling to ask permission plus the added advantage of working.

NOTE: I added a bit of unnecessary terms to aid anyone in a future google search. I hope this helps. The thread is about how to activate a Comcast HSI business class capable modem and replace the Comcast provided SMC 8014 without having to interact with Comcast customer or technical service. The goal is to bypass the SMC 8014, and allow the customer to use his or her own modem and router. This post is in mid April of 2010.

Thanks
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"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."

Yes, that's pretty much, to a "T", exactly what I did. Frankly, if you're ordering business class, I wouldn't even go through the fight about the SMC. Just let them come and install it. As the installers pull out your driveway, throw it (the SMC) in the trash and put on the modem that you want and just go through these steps. There's no problem that I can see with using my own modem with business class; the problem is trying to ORDER business class without the SMC. I spent days trying to find out if they would allow a non-Comcast modem with business class. When I finally got a "Yes" from them, it then was another battle royal when the installer came (and had the SMC, even though I must have told the business reps about 1000 times; I wanted to use my own modem). Just don't even fight the battle. Order business class.. Get the SMC, and then just disconnect it and put in a good modem!

I'm going to add a few more Google terms (great idea), I researched this for hours trying to find a definative answer; I'd like to allow others to skip this step!

Comcast Business class with SB6120. Comcast Business class with customer provided modem. Comcast Business class without SMC gateway. Comcast Business class DOCSIS 3 customer owned modem.

Thx, and hope this was helpful!

Excellent thread! This SMC is complete junk. Now what kind of modem to buy to replace it and where to buy it from. I moved over from business class AT&T DSL so this is my first time using business class cable.

I have the 6120 and am very happy with that modem. It's D3 capable (even though I still am in a D2 area) so it's ready for the future. It was faster than my old modem, even before I moved to business class. I'd recommend it without hesitation; however, to qualify that; I've only owned it for a few weeks. It's been rock solid though; and I move a LOT of data every day; I push that thing full speed (up and down) for hours on end every day.

Where to buy it? Whoever is cheapest! I think I paid 90 for mine, IIRC.

reply to scooby

reply to EG

Thank you all. I will plan on picking up a 6120 and give this a try. Keeping the SMC around is useful as a backup just in case (plus there is no additional charge for it).

reply to pandora
I just want to add that if you dont use the smc you will loose your static ips.

reply to pandora

reply to MRCUR

reply to pandora
Well that failed miserably. I just received my 6120 from Amazon today.

I hooked my laptop via ethernet and powered up the 6120. After what appeared to be a firmware update, i was greated by the "Walled Garden" page. After I clicked "I'm a Technician", I entered my business account number and the capcha code. It then looks up account and goes to a screen saying:

The following error has occurred:
We are unable to process this activation request as our records indicate your account status must be updated. Please contact 1-800-Comcast for assistance.

Any ideas?

reply to scooby
I don't think customers are normally able to use the Technician link on the Walled Garden. The first time I realized it was there was couple of years ago when I added CDV and the contractor used the link to provision the modem portion of the EMTA. A few weeks later I decided to move the internet back to my original modem and tried to us it but got a similar error. When I called to provision the modem the rep said the account has to be set up to use the Tech link and it is only done for the day a service call is scheduled. Maybe one of the Comcast employees here can verify how it works.