Recognition from ISPs
Recognition from ISPs
Your router's MAC address is typically what connects you to the ISP, and your user account gets updated when you upgrade your plan. This means if you switch to a faster connection, your speed will reflect without needing physical changes. I recently upgraded from a 100Mbit link to a 1000Mbit one—completed quickly. However, I’ll need to replace my Linksys EA6500 because its max throughput is only 670Mbit.
IP addresses are offered in groups to service providers. This data is openly available, making it simple to identify which IP belongs to whom. That’s why Netflix blocks VPNs from using their platform—they know which IP ranges belong to VPN services. You can’t simply switch your IP address with your ISP because those addresses are handed out by a DHCP server on their network, and you don’t have access to that setup. While many providers offer static IPs, these are assigned by the ISP itself. Altering the local address assigned by your router doesn’t change the ISP’s provided internet address. In terms of connecting to another ISP, it’s the modem that receives permission. For companies like Comcast, you must supply them with the modem’s serial number and MAC address, which are linked to your account. Once the MAC address is verified, the DHCP server assigns an IP. The only legitimate way to connect to a different ISP’s system would be by registering your modem with that provider—otherwise, it would violate laws.
When using DSL, you're linked through a cabinet or telephone exchange to your ISP, either physically or digitally (similar to a VPN). This ensures all traffic from your modem/router stays within your ISP's network. Because routing rules are in place, changing your IP address won't work. Your ISP's routers are set up for their assigned IP ranges, so traffic meant for another ISP's address would go to the Internet through those routers instead of returning to your connection.
I get the concept, but for instance when I switched modems and began configuring them, I was automatically linked with my ISP without realizing the change. What I see is that my phone line remains tied to my account rather than the modem’s serial number or MAC address. So essentially, should I switch ISPs later, the old one will remove my record while the new one adds it back to my account and assigns bandwidth to the line instead of the modem itself.