Setting up your cable modem to connect to the Internet

Before installing your cable modem, please read this.

You need to connect the cable modem to a cable modem service that uses any of the popular DOCSIS standards – 3.0, 2.0, or 1.1. If you need to get cable modem service, please speak with your cable service provider.

Your cable service provider will need to know your modem's MAC ADDRESS and may need the account number of your cable service. Your MAC Address is printed on a label on the bottom or side of your modem and is called CM MAC (or RF MAC). Your account number can be found on your bill, or you can call your service provider to get your account number. You need to provide this information when you order cable modem service, or when calling the cable company after installing your modem, or by filling out the account setup web page that may appear when you first connect your cable modem to your provider’s network. You may also be asked for your cable modem's model name and number. If you need the modem's serial number, you can find it near the MAC address on the label.

If you are replacing an "old" cable modem, do this:

1. Disconnect the coaxial cable from the old cable modem and connect it to your Zoom modem. If the coaxial cable has a screw-on connector, turn the connector clockwise when tightening the cable onto the Zoom cable modem.
2. If there’s an Ethernet cable plugged into the old cable modem, unplug the Ethernet cable from the old cable modem and plug it into the Zoom cable modem’s LAN jack.
3. Connect the Zoom power cube between the Zoom cable modem and a live power jack. DO NOT use your old cable modem’s power cube on your Zoom cable modem. If your cable modem’s Power Button is not already pressed in, press the button in to turn on your cable modem.
4. Go to "Now that your cable modem is connected, do this.” below.

If this is a first-time cable modem installation (that is, you are NOT replacing an "old" cable modem), do this:

1. Connect a "live” coaxial cable from your cable service provider to your cable modem First check that the wire in the center of the cable’s connector is centered, straight, and clean. If the coaxial cable has a screw-on connector, turn the connector clockwise when tightening the cable onto the Zoom cable modem. (If you’re not sure a cable is live, you can see whether you get a good TV signal when that cable is used with a working TV set-top box.) Here are some ways you can get the live cable:
   • You have a cable TV cable ("coaxial cable”) with a male connector on the end that isn’t connected to anything. This cable may be coming out of a wall or connected to a cable TV jack.
   • There’s a cable TV jack in your wall. You can connect a cable TV "coaxial cable” between that jack and your cable modem. You may have a coaxial cable, possibly one that came with a cable modem starter kit from your cable service provider. If you don’t have a coaxial cable, you can get one at most electronics stores. You want one with a screw-in male F connector at each end, with a length that works for your installation.
   • If you don’t have an available cable TV cable or wall jack, use a coaxial "T adapter” or "splitter” available from most electronics retailers. Make sure you get one designed for cable modems and/or cable TV. The splitter should at least support frequencies up to 1000 MHz. (This may be identified as 5 MHz to 1 GHz or 5-1000 MHz.)  Supporting up to 2.3 GHz (2300 MHz) is even better if you ever want to use MoCA adapters, which can carry a router signal from one part of your home to another over the coaxial cable. Coax splitters typically have one female IN jack and two female OUT jacks. You can disconnect a live cable from your TV set-top box and screw it into the IN jack of the splitter. Then connect one coaxial cable from an OUT jack to your TV set-top box and another coaxial cable from the other OUT jack to your cable modem. You can see that this approach uses one splitter and 2 additional coaxial cables, each of which has male connectors on each end. Some electronics retailers carry the Zoom Cable Modem Connection Kit which has an excellent splitter and 2 coaxial cables packaged together at a reasonable price. You can also purchase splitters and coaxial cable separately if you prefer to do that, perhaps because you need a special length of coaxial cable.
2. Connect the supplied Ethernet cable between the cable modem’s yellow LAN jack and a computer’s Ethernet jack. We recommend that you do this even if you later plan to connect the cable modem to a router.
3. Connect the Zoom power cube or cord between the Zoom cable modem and a live power jack. If your cable modem has a Power Button or Power Switch, make sure the cable modem is turned on.
4. Go to "Now that your cable modem is connected, do this.” below.

Now that your cable modem is connected, do this:

It normally takes 5 to 30 minutes to establish an Internet link the first time a cable modem connects to a cable service provider. This allows the cable modem to connect to the appropriate channels for communication. You’ll see the DS, US, and Online modem lights on your cable modem flashing until the Online light stays steady green to signal success.

After the cable modem connects to your cable service provider, open your Web browser on the computer that’s connected to your cable modem. Then refresh the screen or try to go to a Web site. Many service providers, including Comcast, typically bring your browser to a registration page. In that case, follow the instructions on this registration page to register your modem.

Comcast Users Only: If the activation page does not appear please go to www.xfinity.com/internetsetup to activate your modem.

If no registration page appears after following the browser instructions above, you need to call your cable company to register your modem. Below is a list of some major cable service providers’ phone numbers to call if you need to activate your cable modem. Note that this list is subject to change.

Once your cable modem is registered either online or through a conversation with someone at your cable service provider, your service provider will provision your cable modem service. Typically this takes less than 5 minutes, but in some cases this may take up to 30 minutes to complete.To check that your cable modem is working, open your browser and go to a familiar Web site. If it works, Congratulations! Installation is complete for a single PC. If your cable modem is NOT working, please see the troubleshooting tips for help.

For Internet access using a smartphone, tablet, or other wireless device, please refer to an answer below (select the one for your modem model):

Model 5350: Connecting the Cable Modem/Router wirelessly to some device
Model 5352: Connecting the Cable Modem/Router wirelessly to some device
Model 5354: Connecting the Cable Modem/Router wirelessly to some device
Model 5360: Connecting the Cable Modem/Router wirelessly to some device
Model 5363: Connecting the Cable Modem/Router wirelessly to some device