A client is unable to use NTL broadband to access the internet. She was
told by NTL that in order to use their service she would have to disable
Norton Internet Security (I take that to be the Norton Firewall). This
doesn't seem right. Has anyone else experienced a problem with NTL & NIS
and how was it resolved?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway

Bill Ridgeway wrote:
I've only 'experienced' NTL broadband in one case.

My advice: Avoid.

If you can't avoid it, either make the engineer activate it, or,
assuming that the engineer has the IT skills of a teapot, take the disc
that came with the modem, install the drivers (only), and throw it away.
Call the helpdesk, and tell them that you have attempted to activate
the service with the disc and it failed. Assuming that you still have
the will to live by the time your call is answered, they will tell you
to go to http://some.numeric.ip.address, and _that_ registration will
actually work, instead of falling over with 'Error' (useful diagnostic
text, that, and no chance of 'retry').

Once registered, it actually seems to work.

We had to turn of Norton's firewall while installing, but I re-enabled
it afterwards (because I have lost count of the number of times I've
sent details of virus-infected zombied customers to NTL's abuse desk)
and there is no way in hell I am going to leave a windows PC with a
direct IP connection with no firewall (albeit a toy firewall).

They provide an 'Internet Security' disc. I did look through it, and it
seems to install another toy firewall, of a type I didn't recognise.

With either service enabled, and with both services enabled (an odd
setup, that), web browsing seemed to work ok.

Judging by the blinkenlights on the cable modem, packets were appearing
on the local ethernet at a rate of several a second. This may be SMB
broadcasts from others on the same subnet, or virus activity. I didn't
have an up-to-date packet sniffer to dissect them at the time (and I try
and avoid using windows where possible, unless I'm being paid..)

Jim

On Tue, 1 Nov 2005 20:17:56 -0000, "Bill Ridgeway"
<info@1001solutions.co.uk> wrote:

I have experienced many problems with Norton stuff in general (these
days) .. the last of which being Via Voice that wouldn't install till
we took NAV / NIS off completely.

NAV seems not to play well with loads of things and not just other AV
progs?

That and the numerous machines I have seen where NAV just baulks or
locks up when you try do a scan and it finds a virus <shrug> (maybe
it's frightened)? ;-)

So, because they are easy and seem to work (alongs with the Windoze
updates of course) I like ZoneAlarm and Avast!

Probably not the best but free, easy to use and in addition to the
Windoze firewall and M$oft (Giant) AntiSpyware tool thing that's
probably enough (moreso if behind a router).

Nortons stuff used to be good .... ;-(

All the best ..

T i m

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 01:37:24 -0000, MinusNet <me@privacy.net> wrote:

Oh indeed .. like a virus itself!

I mean, *why* do they have to have their own special modem 'dialler'
... when most of the other ISP's just made use of the 'built in' one?
This was a real pain when sorting a system as you couldn't just make a
new dial-up networking connection etc?

On the flip side it is a fairly 'self healing' interface now .. "I
can't detect your network connection, would you like me to search for
it for you" type of thing .. good for the no-technical user, till
*that* bit goes wrong of course ..!

All the best ..

T i m

avoid installing any drivers and use the ethernet port.

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 17:58:50 -0000, "nick" <no@reply.thx> wrote:

Another good point.

Of the friends I have on NTL, most of them were pointed towards the
USB connection (in fact isn't there usually a paper label blanking the
ethernet port?).

As / when I see them I generally swap over to Ethernet and remove all
the Broadjump / NetMedic stuff?

All the best ..

T i m

In article <oldim1tfu3siha293c56t26o7fpejkcape@4ax.com>,
news@spaced.me.uk says...

Strangely enough if you look at the NTLworld website, there is a section
on USB vs Ethernet, and NTL do actually recommend Ethernet. See
http://www.ntlworld.com/helpsupport/ethernet/

--
AG

Remove removes from address to remove anti-spam measures.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alan Gauton E-Mail agauton @ postmaster.co.uk

Never for me the lowered banner, never the last endeavour!
(Damon Hill - 16th June 1999)

On Thu, 3 Nov 2005 10:22:51 -0000, Alan Gauton
<agauton-remove@postmaster.co.uk> wrote:

Maybe their engineers don't know of that link Alan?

Nor the moden suppliers that stick the label over the ethernet port?
;-(

One person had even 'thrown away' the ethernet cable 'because they
didn't need it' ?

Ho hum ..

T i m

"Bill Ridgeway" <info@1001solutions.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dk8iha$gi9$1@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
i have several PCs behind a netgear router (a WGR614 with 1/3rd off as the
box had been opened) - which needs to use Ethernet to the cable link
(initially to a Pace set top box, then to a Samsung).
doesnt seem to matter which security package you put there, as long as you
know how to make it work for file sharing - i have used several on my PCs
and other that were here to use the link or for care and attention.

i have seen a lot of issues with USB links to the STB or a cable modem (NTL
supply different kit depending on whether you take their digital TV as
well).

You have to allow the USB "dialler" to access the USB link, and i believe
that causes problems sometimes.

USB is limiting in other ways - you cant use a long cable, the drivers are
inefficient and buggy, you cant share the broadband unless you leave the PC
on etc etc.

so - use Ethernet from the STB and preferably a router (to allow sharing and
minimise incoming crud). Cabling is easier, most PCs have come with Ethernet
for a few years now, and USB ports can be used up on everything else you
hook into.
Regards

stephen_hope@xyzworld.com - replace xyz with ntl

"Bill Ridgeway" <info@1001solutions.co.uk> wrote in message
news:dk8iha$gi9$1@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
What's the nature of your client's problem, Bill? Does the machine get an IP
address? Is it on cable modem or set top box? Is it a new setup or has it
worked in the past?

In general NIS seems to work as well with NTL as it does anywhere, but
that's not saying much these days - as has been pointed out elsewhere in
this thread, Norton used to be OK, but I've found it to be a real PITA
lately.

It might be worth checking to see if the firewall is blocking outgoing
traffic from your client's machine, either for some applications or all
applications. I saw one box a few weeks ago where Norton firewall was
systematically blocking IE from accessing the internet even though it was
set to "always allow" or whatever the exact wording is.

It's so long since I saw this box that I can't recall exactly what I did to
resolve the issue:-( I know I went through various steps including removing
IE from Norton's permissions altogether and letting it redetect it. I also
ran AdAware and Spybot over the machine - I have an idea that things
improved after they'd removed a load of crap, but I can't recall if that was
enough to fix it. You could also try uninstalling and then reinstalling
NIS - if it will let you. I've seen that cure this sort of problem before,
but if NIS has got itself in a serious tangle it may not be willing to
uninstall completely :-(

Rob.