Why power off cable-modem when setting up new router?

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sub3marathonman

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Apr 25, 2013
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It is in everybody's instructions, when setting up the new router, power off the cable-modem, then power it back on and wait for it to boot up before connecting the new router.

I look and ask what difference did that make? If you power it off and power it on again, why not just have left it on? Once the cable-modem is back on and booted up, isn't it at the same point as before?

And what happens if you try to set up the router without following this apparently essential instruction?
 
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abailey
Most cable modems remember the MAC address of the device they are attached to and will not allow a different MAC address to attach. Because of this if you put in a new router without rebooting the modem, the new router will most likely not get an IP address from the modem and thus will not pass traffic to the internet. Rebooting the modem allows it to register the MAC address of the new router you have attached to it and all should work. There really is no harm in trying it without rebooting. If it works, great. If it does not work then reboot it and that will usually let the modem register your new router. Every once in a while rebooting won't work either and you will need to contact your ISP and have then reset it for your new...
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abailey

abailey

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Mar 23, 2014
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Most cable modems remember the MAC address of the device they are attached to and will not allow a different MAC address to attach. Because of this if you put in a new router without rebooting the modem, the new router will most likely not get an IP address from the modem and thus will not pass traffic to the internet. Rebooting the modem allows it to register the MAC address of the new router you have attached to it and all should work. There really is no harm in trying it without rebooting. If it works, great. If it does not work then reboot it and that will usually let the modem register your new router. Every once in a while rebooting won't work either and you will need to contact your ISP and have then reset it for your new router.
 
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