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**Stuart C** · 18-07-2005, 12:45

Further to Chris's post.

When you get cable installed, NTL or Telewest will install two sockets on the wall. One is a standard BT style phone socket, and you plug the phone into this. The other is the socket for your Cable TV and Broadband. The Engineer will plug your set top box and/or cable modem into this.

An STB (or Set Top Box) is basically a low powered computer that is designed to decode and display cable TV and/or provide a broadband connection . The STB also provides a limited web browser, and software for enabling Interactive TV.

As I said earlier, it can also, optionally provide a Broadband Internet Connection. This depends on your supplier and area. I believe Telewest always use an STB to provide the broadband connection, with NTL it may or may not be optional, depending on your area. So, with NTL, in some areas you get broadband through Cable Modem and some areas get broadband through STBs.

Cable Modems (also called Stand Alone Cable Modems, or SACMs) provide a Broadband internet connection. Depending on your setup, you may have a Cable Modem as well as a Set Top Box. In this case, the Broadband connection will come through the Cable Modem, and not the STB.

18-07-2005, 12:45	#3
Stuart C Cable Forum Team Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: It's Lahndun, Innit? Age: 37 Services: Virgin for TV, BT for phone and Be* for Broadband. Posts: 17,817	Re: How does cable installation work? Further to Chris's post. When you get cable installed, NTL or Telewest will install two sockets on the wall. One is a standard BT style phone socket, and you plug the phone into this. The other is the socket for your Cable TV and Broadband. The Engineer will plug your set top box and/or cable modem into this. An STB (or Set Top Box) is basically a low powered computer that is designed to decode and display cable TV and/or provide a broadband connection . The STB also provides a limited web browser, and software for enabling Interactive TV. As I said earlier, it can also, optionally provide a Broadband Internet Connection. This depends on your supplier and area. I believe Telewest always use an STB to provide the broadband connection, with NTL it may or may not be optional, depending on your area. So, with NTL, in some areas you get broadband through Cable Modem and some areas get broadband through STBs. Cable Modems (also called Stand Alone Cable Modems, or SACMs) provide a Broadband internet connection. Depending on your setup, you may have a Cable Modem as well as a Set Top Box. In this case, the Broadband connection will come through the Cable Modem, and not the STB. __________________ Just to make it clear if a post is bold and is from a team member, it's a moderating decision. If it's not bold or not from a team member, it's not. "This is an important announcement. This is flight 121 to Los Angeles. If your travel plans today do not include Los Angeles, now would be a perfect time to disembark.”