Theoryshare - The Broadband Experts

Did you know your ISP might be providing you with less than the optimal online experience?

Even among technology enthusiasts, and information technology professionals the DOCSIS cable mdoem standard which governs how a cable broadband system operates is widely misunderstood. In some cases this lack of understanding can even be seen in cable systems in the form of widespread slowdowns and security holes. To make matters worse manufacturers of consumer cable equipment have completely locked down these devices often times making it impossible for users to diagnose their own problems. Theoryshare is a website dedicated to the understanding of these systems so that our users can enjoy the optimal broadband experience. One of the most important ways that our users can understand the DOCSIS standard, diagnose problems with their connection, and take control of their equipment is through the use of a diagnostic cable modem also known as a premod cable modem by some others.

Diagnostic Cable Modems are cable modems in which the factory installed software has been replaced with modified and upgraded 3rd party software. This 3rd party software greatly enhances the functionality of the modem it's installed on. This diagnostic software allows the user to check critical modem paramaters such as signal levels, and configuration details in ways simply not possible with stock firmwares.

For example users often wonder if their ISP is actually making a "best effort" to ensure the speeds that they are paying for. One way this can be verified with a diagnostic modem is by checking the configuration file which has been loaded into the modem. This file establishes speed limits for a customer modem. Often during times of heavy usage all customers will not be able to reach their caps. However in some cases customers will find that their caps are lower than the speeds they are paying for meaning that customers would be unable to get the speeds they are paying for even under ideal conditions.

Another feature prominant on the SB5101 series in particular is access to the modem filesystem in conjunction with SSH shell access. Combined with the unix-like nature of cable mdoem firmware, this feature effectively allows users to prepare and run their own homebrew code on their cable modem. This allows users to add features for just about any use you can imagine.

Some of the modems which can be modified for diagnostic are listed below:

Motorola - SB3100 ,SB4100, SB4200,  SB5100, SB5101, SB6120

RCA - DCM315, DCM425

Scientific Atlanta / Cisco - DPC2100

Ambit - U10C018 (Ambit 250)

Visit the tutorials section of the site for more information on the modification of these modems. Or visit the Online Store section of the site to obtain modems preloaded with diagnostic firmware.

As you can probably imagine there is a great multitude of uses for a diagnostic cable modem, far to many discuss in this document. Unfortunately cable modems like most electronic products can be converted and used for illegal means. DVD records and VCRs can be legally used to watch purchased or rented movies, or they can be used to illegally copy these movies. Personal computers are crucial to business, and can be found in almost every home. PCs can be used for many legal means such as surfing the Internet, sending emails, or creating documents. PCs can also be used for illegal means, such as hacking into networks or identity theft.

All of Theoryshare's products are intended to give our customers and users the ability to control, modify, monitor, and diagnose their home and business networks at a much lower cost than other alternatives. Our products and tools all users to maximize the efficiency if their Internet connections and networks.

For instance Theoryshare products may be used to determine if there are wiring faults or other network problems within a user's home or business. Additionally our diagnostic interfaces are much easier to use than competing products, making them an attractive alternative to products costing many times as much.

At Theoryshare, we also realize that our products may be converted to illegally access cable networks, steal Internet service, or for other illegal means out of our control. We strongly prohibit any illegal use of our product under any circumstances.

Under no circumstances will Theoryshare or its employees tolerate any discussion of illegal activities on our user support message boards, nor will we instruct anyone on using our products for illegal means.

In lay terms, cable modem modification should not be used to steal data services. You must pay for cable internet service to use our products, and if you are using them on an ISPs network you MUST verify that your ISPs Acceptable Use Policy does not prohibit the use of modified products prior to using our modems or software.