Safety Information CAUTION CAUTION Disconnect power To ensure reliable operation and to prevent before servicing. overheating, provide adequate ventilation for this modem and keep it away from heat sources. Do not locate near heat registers or other heat-producing equipment. Provide for free air flow around the cable modem and its power supply.
Table of Contents Introduction ............................2 Cable Modem Features ..............................2 What’s on the CD-ROM ..............................2 Accessing the Diagnostics Display through the CD-ROM ..................... 2 Computer Requirements ..............................3 Cable Modem Overview ........................4 What the Modem Does ..............................4 What the Modem Needs to Do Its Job ..........................
Note: You will need to use the CD-ROM to install the USB driver if you are connecting via the USB port. CD-ROM Contents: • Links to RCA web sites • Electronic file of the instruction book in additional languages •...
Introduction Your PC must receive an IP address assignment from the Cable company’s server, over the cable network. You may want to “bookmark” the IP address in your browser after the diagnostics page is displayed. Computer Requirements Personal computer with the following minimum system requirements (note that the minimum requirements may vary by cable company): IBM PC COMPATIBLE MACINTOSH**...
Introduction Placing the Rubber Feet on the Cable Modem A set of rubber pads have been packaged with your modem. These pads (or "feet") can be attached to keep the modem from sliding around on your desktop. You have 2 options for placing the pads: Option 1: Attach the pads to the four slight indentations on the back of the modem.
Cable Modem Overview What the Modem Needs to Do Its Job • The Right Cable Company: Make sure your local cable company provides data services that use cable TV industry-standard DOCSIS-compliant technology. • The Internet Service Provider (ISP): Your cable company provides you access to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Before You Begin Please verify the following with the cable company: • The cable service to your home supports DOCSIS-compliant two-way modem access. • Your internet account has been set up. • You have a cable outlet near your PC and it is ready for cable modem service. Note: It is important to supply power to the modem at all times.
The splitter must be rated for at least 1GHz. New cable wire New 2-way splitter, one leg direct to modem, other leg to IN on next splitter, such as RCA DT2SP (call 1-800-338-0376 to order). = Splitters Fig. 1: Basic Home Wiring...
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Connecting the Cable Modem Important Connection Information The cable modem supports both Ethernet and USB connections simultaneously. Note: Only use the power supply provided with this unit. AC Power Supply Using other power supplies may damage the unit. Coaxial Cable Fig.
Before you begin, close all open applications and dialog boxes as they may interfere with your cable modem installation. Insert the RCA cable modem CD into the CD-ROM drive of your computer. A menu of options appears (Fig.3). Click “Install RCA Cable Modem.”...
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The Installation Wizard prompts you to attach a coaxial cable to the connector labeled CABLE on your RCA cable modem, and to the wall connection for your cable service (Fig. 6). • If you’re using a splitter, click on “Installing a splitter.” The splitter diagram appears. (Fig. 7) When you’re finished, hit the “Back”...
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Connect one end of the USB cable included with your RCA cable modem to the USB port on your computer (Fig. 9). Connect the other end of the USB cable to the USB port on the cable modem (Fig. 9).
Insert the plug from the AC power supply into the power AC jack labeled 9VDC 800mA and the two- prong plug into the AC outlet. Insert the supplied RCA cable modem CD-ROM. Wait momentarily for the cable modem CD window display.
Connecting the Cable Modem Using Windows 98 SE for USB Connection Follow steps 6 through 14 if you have a Windows 98 SE operating system: When the “Add New Hardware Wizard” appears, click “Next” to initiate the search for drivers for your USB device.
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Connecting the Cable Modem 10. The search should find the driver for the “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” (Fig. 16). To confirm that this is the case, click “Next” to continue and proceed to step 12. Otherwise, see step 11.
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Connecting the Cable Modem 12. Windows should now prompt you to install the “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” driver. Click “Next” to install the driver. At this point, your PC needs to copy Windows 98 SE specific files. If these files are not located on your hard drive, you may need to insert your Windows 98 SE installation media (i.e., Windows disks or...
Connecting the Cable Modem Using Windows 2000 for USB Connection Follow steps 6 through 14 if you have a Windows 2000 operating system: When the “Found New Hardware Wizard” appears, click “Next” to initiate the search for drivers for your USB device (Fig.
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Important: Do NOT continue if the search finds “USB Composite Device” driver. Proceed to step 10. 10. Follow these instructions ONLY if the driver found was NOT the “RCA or Thomson DCM 3xx Cable Modem.” A. Click “Back” to return to the previous window.
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Connecting the Cable Modem 11. Windows should now prompt you to install either the “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” or “RCA or Thomson DCM 3xx Cable Modem.” Click “Next” to install the driver. At this point your PC needs to copy Windows 2000 specific files. If these files are not located on your hard drive, you may need to insert your Windows 2000 installation media (i.e., Windows 2000 CD-...
Hardware Wizard” did not automatically appear, your BIOS settings may not permit USB and/ or Plug-and-Play devices. Please contact your computer’s customer service department. 7. The automatic search should find and install the driver for the “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” (Fig. 26). Click on “Finish” to complete the process.
Hardware Wizard” did not automatically appear, your BIOS settings may not permit USB and/or Plug- and-Play devices. Please contact your computer’s customer service department. Your computer will install the drivers for the “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” (Fig. 29). Click on “Next” to complete the process.
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Scroll down the list until you come to “Network Adapters.” Double-click on “Network Adapters.” • The “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” should exist. If “RCA or Thomson USB Cable Modem” does not exist, the cable modem was NOT installed correctly. Go to Solution 2 on page 35.
Connecting the Cable Modem Ethernet Connection to One Computer Make the connections to the modem in the following sequence (Fig. 31): Connect one end of the coaxial cable to the cable connection in the wall, and the other end to the connector on the modem labeled CABLE.
Connecting the Cable Modem Connecting More Than Two Computers to the Cable Modem If you need to connect more than two computers or if you need to connect two computers, but USB is not available, you’ll need the following additonal equipment: •...
Activating the Cable Modem Initialization Mode After you install the cable modem and turn it on for the first time (and each time the modem is reconnected to the power), it goes through five steps before it can be used. Each of these steps is represented by a different pattern of flashing lights on the front of the modem.
Additional Information Buttons ON/OFF (INTERNET ON/OFF)* – Disconnects your computer from the Internet for added security. Also allows for continued status monitoring from the cable network at all times. Important: Do not press this button when transmitting data over the internet. The information will be lost and your Internet connection disabled.
Using the Cable Modem Reset Switch The reset switch can be found behind a “toothpick hole” on the back panel. It performs two functions: • Basic Reset – Press and release the switch to make it perform the same function as disconnecting the power from the modem. It will start up again in Initialization Mode, see page 24.
Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions What if I don’t subscribe to cable TV? If cable TV is available in your area, data service may be made available with or without cable TV service. Contact your local cable company for complete information on cable services, including high- speed internet access.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Trade Name: RCA Model: DCM305 Equipment Classification:...
Quick Reference Minimum System Requirements IBM PC COMPATIBLE MACINTOSH Pentium preferred PowerPC or higher System RAM 16MB (32MB preferred) 24MB (32MB preferred) Operating System Windows 95/NT/98SE/2000/Me/XP, Linux Mac OS 7.6.1 or higher Available Disk Space 125MB 50MB Sound Card Required N/A†...
Quick Reference Buttons ON/OFF – Turns the modem on or puts it in standby mode. Placing the cable modem in standby mode (the “off” position) allows for continued status monitoring from the cable network. Do not press this button when transmitting data over the internet.
Glossary 10BaseT – Unshielded, twisted pair cable with an RJ-45 connector, used with Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network). “10” indicates speed (10 Mbps), “Base” refers to baseband technology, and “T” means twisted pair cable. DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) – A protocol which allows a server to dynamically assign IP addresses to workstations on the fly.