I don't think you need to get the basic cable. You can just get their internet package. Basic cable is $13/month and has broadcast and the Catholic channel.
The price for cable internet is about $40/month, $30 if you buy your own cable modem from their approved list. Installation may or may not be gratis, depending on the current sale. They try to sneak in charges that their sales claim to negate, so watch out. They used to demand a sacrificial Windows box for their own software install. It backdoors the thing and is a general pain, so have something you don't care about. Some installers have brains enough to leave you alone if you don't have a windows box for them and Cox may have relaxed this policy. They give you dhcp for "normal" IS. I have not used their or anyone else's internet phone service, but I think they plug in their own little box and it should not have an effect on your NAT. My father in law is using Cox's phone service and a wireless wap. It all works well and he has had no complaints. Switching between Cox and dailup was as easy as configuring a new gateway for me. Smoothwall, which you introduced me to, should make that a snap. I used potato and woody.
