Comcast is forcing us to rent their gateway or be left vulnerable...
---
We wanted to let you know that Norton Security Online will no longer be available through Xfinity as of January 1, 2021. We’re dedicated to keeping your connection safe, secure, and private. That’s why we’ve ensured you have options to stay protected: You can add xFi Advanced Security to your Internet service or choose a new Norton plan.
xFi Advanced Security
When you rent the xFi Gateway, you’ll get xFi Advanced Security at no additional charge, along with the many other benefits that come with our xFi Gateway. Advanced Security protects your devices from cyber threats and delivers a smarter, personalized, and more secure home WiFi network.
---
Comcast is basically saying: "That's a mighty nice LAN you have in your home, it would be a shame if something were to happen to it.
So we are going to make you an offer you can't refuse, xFi Advanced Security for a small monthly extortion, er fee..." :hmm: :uhh: :huh:
↧
[Security] An update regarding your Norton Security Online...
↧
[Equip] Time for an Upgrade
Hi all... think it's time for an upgrade. My current Netgear CM700V and ASUS RT-AC66U router setup has been performing great (2.4 GHz WiFi is slow due to congestion in my neighborhood), but Comcast upgraded my plan to 400/20 from 300/20 a couple months ago, and the aging ASUS's 2.4 GHz radio has been getting flaky in the last couple weeks. Today it went out completely; fortunately the 5 GHz side was still working so I could use the ASUS app with my iPhone on 5GHz to access and restore it.
So I'm thinking of upgrading to a Netgear CM1150V (yes, we need voice, and don't need a 2.5E port) and a Netgear MK62 Mesh system to get better WiFi coverage in the front of our house and garage. I already have a Netgear Gigabit switch to handle all the wired devices upstairs in the loft / ham shack / server room.
Thoughts or suggestions?
Cheers and Happy New Year!
Dave
↧
↧
ex adelphia markets
just out curiosity how do you guys think if Adelphia still existed today would they make it in todays world or would they be dead already?
↧
Prepaid Internet... use existing or set up new Xfinity login?
This is a long shot question, as I'm sure what I'm doing isn't common....
Need to setup internet at a temporary location, but I'm an existing Xfinity postpaid customer at another address. Bought a Xfinity prepaid internet starter kit, modem fires up fine and goes to the walled garden page (https://www.xfinityprepaid.net/CustomerActivation/CustomerActivation), but get prompted:
----------------------------
To activate your service, you’ll need to create an Xfinity ID.
Even if you’re an existing customer, you will not be able to use your previous login info.
Create an Xfinity ID
ALREADY HAVE ONE? LOG IN
----------------------------
Talk about an ambiguous message with the existing customer part but then say "Already have an account? Log In!"....
I already have a Xfinity login (as again I'm a postpaid customer), but should I play it safe and set up another one using another e-mail address or alias or can I just use my existing Xfinity ID?
Just don't want to cause issues with my main account.... or maybe the system doesn't care.... Support for prepaid is pretty much just a FAQ page with no easy to find chat or phone number links....
↧
If I rent an XB7 'upgrading' a CM1100, will I increase the down?
On gig now. Current modem is a CM1100 and router is an Orbi Mesh RBR40 with two RBW30 satellites.
I am bordering on hitting the cap each month and am contemplating just renting an XB7 for the lower price for the unlimited and then selling off my equipment. I already have a 2.5gig ethernet card in my PC.
If I were to rent the XB7 (I believe I want the CGM4331COM?), would I (assuming my local area could actually support the speed):
1. Achieve about 1200megs download of the wired PC if I connected directly to the 'red' port?
2. Achieve faster than the 550meg or so WiFi speeds I get out of the Orbi (AC2200)?
I've kind of lost track of the XB7's capability at this point...
↧
↧
What is instant TV? Why is it on my account?
Currently I have internet only. I went online to check my data usage and see Instant TV in my account, I did not order this.
This is not posted in the TV section because I don't have TV.
I went on my Roku and checked the app and TV is working, all the channels I checked anyway. Strange.
↧
[Equip] Reusing an old cable modem for "new" account
I had an Arris SB6183 until 2017 when I swapped it for a Motorola MB8600 when I went on a Gig plan. The SB6163 hasn't been in my account since ~June 2017 and we moved in 2019 (I think I moved service, so kept same account)
I've decided to drop down to a 200Mb plan under my wife's name to get a promo rate.
We got her account setup and I connected the SB6183 w/ a splitter along side the MB8600... I was expecting to be directed to an activation page on the SB6183 but was shocked to see it got an IP and worked for normal browsing and even hit ~350Mb/s on a speed test.
How is this possible?
Did Comcast remember this modem used be associated to me account and allow it on? Logging into my account it still only see the MB8600 listed. To be clear, we never associated anything to my wife's account which is still pending some sort of order processing.
↧
Xfinity Wifi gateway DFS channels
Can anyone tell me which xfinity gateways support DFS wifi channels? Looking to replace a 10+ year old gateway (2.4ghz only) at a relative's home with new xfinity owned device, location is a condominium with lots of wifi interference. They have the lowest speed tier, so no need for gigabit support, but I do want the DFS channels available for them to use.
↧
[Equip] Which modem is better Arris T25 or S33
I just downgraded my triple play to a double play so I no longer need the T25 (could possibly sell it or give it to a friend as one of my friends is renting their gateway). Does anyone have any experience with the Arris S33. I have the performance pro plus.
↧
↧
Is This an Activation Issue or App Malfunction
Hello
Tried using Xfinity connect app to check voice mail on our home line, logged in with secondary account, says don't subscribe to Xfinity voice, i'm like what, of course we do.
Then logged in with main account and it worked, but shouldn't it work for both accounts?
XB7 Gateway
XG1V4 Gateway
and Xi5 wireless tv box
↧
Fiber coming down my street!
8/13/2020
so... i saw a truck outside with communications labeled on it, and i noticed they were working on the box behind the amplifier next to my house, so i asked the guys what they were doing, they are pulling strings to pull fiber through the neighborhood!
right now its just the thick rope, they are using a fish tape and a large air compressor to push it through the conduits.
they told me tomorrow they will use those ropes to pull fiber though, and they have 5000 feet to do. i asked them if they will take out the old coax, and they basically said it will get abandoned.
they are not the ones doing the fiber splicing, so maybe the fiber gets pulled, and just gets left alone for a while.
so i figured id just start my own thread to track (or not track) how long it takes to get what i assume will be rphy eventually.
assuming the signals will get better (snr) when they do finally do upgrades, but we shall see.
[att=1]
[att=2]
↧
Question about Gigabit tier package?
I recently ordered new internet service from Comcast, the 1 Gig plan. They've yet to complete construction of the new cable system in this area so I can't test it yet, but I was wondering what I should expect for the upload speeds. It looks like from my research that they do not offer symmetrical 1 gig down and up and the upstream is significantly less. Is this something they're looking to resolve in the future?
↧
Massachusetts Lawmakers Urge Comcast To Drop Data Cap
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2020/12/31/comcast-xfinity-data-cap-home-internet-massachusetts/
Good to hear that Massachusetts is fighting back. Happy New Year folks!
↧
↧
Equipment, speeds and xFi Advantage
I'm going to need to update my account to unlimited internet. I'm in Chicago so data cap is nothing new. Used almost 2TB this past month which was our courtesy month. I'm going to wait and see how much we use for the first week or two but I'm sure we will be over. I'm trying to decide if I should use xFi advantage and start renting their equipment or pay the extra $5 to keep using my own. My current equipment is an Arris TM822 connected to a Netgear r7000. I then have another Netgear access point connected via ethernet to improve wifi throughout the house. My current plan is 400Mbps Extreme.
I did a speedtest on a computer connected via ethernet as well as the Netgear webapp speedtest and both are getting roughly 270/22. I believe the Arris 822 is a docsis 3.0 and not 3.1. Am I not getting the full 400Mbps because of the modem? If so that probably would make it worthwhile to do Advantage and get their equipment.
My main hesitation to using Xfinity stuff is that a lot of the stuff through my house (A/V equipment) is hard programmed for IP addresses in the 192.168 range and I think the Xfinity uses 10.0 range. I could probably figure out how to reprogram everything but it would be a pain.
I guess my main question as I read this over is if my speed issue is the equipment (mainly the modem) and if I should just bite the bullet and do xFi advantage if I need unlimited internet anyway. Thanks.
↧
Upgrading upload speed for security cameras
Happy New Year everybody. May this year be way way better than last! Good riddance to 2020!
I'm not a network tech - just a former electronics R&D tech from the 60's, who's learned a little about this. :-)
We're in the Denver area and have Xfinity for voip phone and high speed internet. 2 adults, 2 PC's and 2 TV's. Been using a TM822G owned by us, with a Linksys AC1900 Dual Band Open Source WiFi Wireless Router (WRT1900ACS), which was originally higher power, but was reduced by a firmware upgrade. ( we have to cover an 80 ft long house ). The PC's use just their wifi and work fine, and I added a D-Link Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Range Extender & Access Point (DAP-1650) for each TV. Those all work fine.
But we recently switched to a new home security company, and got 3 cameras installed with it. It seems that they need more upload speed than the plan we have, which is 5Gbps. The security company suggests at least 10Gbps.
So I got with Xfinity and they suggested upgrading to 400/10 service. We did, BUT it got flaky immediately. Turns out that their chat people told me that the new plan doesn't work with the TM822G. Arghhh. So they put it back last night, but I don't know if they re-provisioned it again, because today's test stinks. ( They may have the day off today, and I certainly won't blame them for that. So do I. :-) )
But in the meantime, they referred me to a page with modem options, which they say they can set up for me, and if I want, I can even buy my own, or just keep theirs and rent.
SO my first question is, which of these is the best affordable option. And should I still use my Linksys router, or is one of their modems a better high powered choice for reaching the whole house? Remember that the security cameras are outside the house, up on the eaves, so they're now the most distant sources that must be reached. The Linksys has adjustable antennas, and I'm wondering if I can revert to the original firmware and restore the higher power, or if we need to. The TV's are fine, and the security cams are transmitting - not receiving.
Happy New Year, all of you.
↧
[Connectivity] MoCA adapters
Hi, so my situation is I have 2 x1 boxes. One of those boxes is a main dvr and the other is a secondary. I have a cable modem as well in one of the rooms. I use an xbox game console in the same room as one of the tv outlets. My question is, would it be reasonable to be able to have a MoCA adapter near the modem and one near the tv outlet for a hardwired connection for my xbox? Would it ruin my tv experience since x1 tv uses MoCA?
↧
[Install] No drip loop or grounding block
Was doing some work on a temporary residence that I'll be moving into shortly, and noticed the RG-59 cable drop coming into the house from the utility pole not only lacks a drip loop (or a box) on the outside of the house, but the cable also doesn't have a ground block on the outside or inside the house....it literally just comes in through a caulked hole into the basement and straight to a splitter. Knowing the past history of the house, I believe the cable was originally installed sometime in the 1980's.
I recently replaced the ancient Radio Shack splitter in the basement with a new one rated to 2500 mhz and it improved the signal levels at the Xfinity pre-paid cable modem from -15 dBmV to -5 dBmV.
I know I could probably just ground the new splitter to the cold water pipe similar to the existing telephone line setup, and even possibly pull back some excess cable slack back from the basement to the outside of the house to make a drip loop, but my question is whose responsibility is it really to fix these issues (ground and drip loop) mine or Comcast's?
↧
↧
Latency spikes, 5% packet loss, Unsure Upstream signal levels
I've been having Latency issues with Comcast/Xfinity for almost a year now.
Started around Spring time of 2020 and started to get really bad around summer, now winter is here and its 2021.
Originally I had a cm700 modem with Two X1 boxes and two standard digital setup boxes with SD channels (i.e. ch 4 - 72)
So typically I had a 4 way splitter installed by Comcast. 1 direct line to modem. 1 direct line to X1 primary box. 1 direct line to secondary X1 box. 1 direct line with a 2way going to the SD setup boxes.
For the past year I've been getting Intermediate packetloss its not huge or anything roughly around 5% to be fair. I've used ping plotter and regular ping terminal -t usually ping the Comcast servers.
I also get ping spikes as well highest I've seen was around 300ms.
I've had a guy come out and check my lines and replace some with the new R6 cables I think they was called, and each time they say my signals appear to be good and then replace the 4 way splitter.
Had one guy do a 2way into a 3 way with the modem at the 2way from tap and then the boxes on a 3way attached to the 2way each time a different guy came out they had different opinions.
Now to my understanding downstream is best between -8 / +8 best is closest at -0 or maybe it was -8 / +5 but that is considered perfect for downstream from what I recall them saying.
But as it comes to the upstream I'm not quite sure what the range should ACTUALLY be at to be honest. I think is where my issue might be. ( my downstream is fine btw )
I was on the phone one night for 3+ hours with a Comcast guy that pretty much said there is nothing they can do...the signals look fine and its prob my modem, and since I own the modem they can not look at my signals or get in to the modem and to see if the firmware needs updated, and I should maybe try a different modem.
Well I now have 3 modems now one is a DOCSIS 3.0 the cm700 I bought two DOCSIS 3.1 modems as well to test. T25 and SB8600.
So my main question here is what would the better setup be for a modem the standard 4 way splitter or a 2way with one to the modem and the 2nd to a 3way for the cable boxes?
Also what would be the actual best upstream signal for no packetloss or latency issues. I've read that 3.0 and 3.1 modems have a different range low of +35 to +47 max depending on 3.0 or 3.1
I notice with the different splitter set up I get different readings for the power levels in dBmV so curious to what upstream signal I should be aiming for the two way gives me around +47 upstream and the 4 way gives me around +50. So which is better??? I also hear from some old Comcast tech guys that I could try to use a coax drop amp but not sure which to buy if so because there are so many...passive return active return zero signal loss etc...I just want my latency issue to be fixed as I've tried tech support on Comcast and called in so many times and had guys show up and nothing has corrected the issue with my internet at all.
Now I will say the 3.1 modems seem to be better IMO and 3.1 seems to only work on the downstream from what I can tell. it lowers my ping by about 5ms and also has good bufferbloat with the AQM implemented in DOCSIS 3.1 but as for the UPLOAD on 3.1 I'm getting huge spikes in the loaded latency on my uplink with 3.1 and IDK WHY like massive bufferbloat I'm guessing AQM does not work for upstream and that kind of sucks because even tho with 3.1 the download is great and ping is nice once you use any of your upload speed at all even a little bit of it you get a lot of jitter and the loaded latency increases the ping by 80ms I've seen it spike up to 150ms but it balances out down to around 40ms after time. kind of worthless to be fair I might just go back to the cm700 3.0 router unless I can apply SQM with a special router down the line but I digress.
All testing was done with the modem connected to a single PC with Cat-8 Ethernet.
TL:DR What is a ideal signal level I should be getting for my Upstream. As I know this controls the latency ping mostly. I know its a range but I'm looking for perfect range here that I should be getting on my DOCSIS 3.1 modem so I can correct my latency spikes and packet loss issues finally as nothing the services guys have done corrected this issue.
↧
[Connectivity] Very unusual, "blocky" latency pattern since January 1st
Hello everyone!
Starting a few days ago, I observe a rather unusual "blocky" pattern on the latency monitor from my router (Unifi UDM Pro). Latency seems to be elevated, but only for a short time, and then drops sharply again. I can see the same on smoke ping. This behavior does not correlate with our usage pattern. I have no idea what could be the reason.
The modem levels seem to be very healthy, and since Comcast fixed their issues, our connection was very stable. Any ideas what this might be?
Location: Seattle, WA
Modem: Arris SB 8200
Xfinity Gigabit
↧
[WiFi] Suggestions for buying my own modem so that I can disable 5Ghz?
Hello,
Because of my home theater setup I need to disable 5GHz from the router provided to me by Xfinity. This is because the wireless rear speakers are cutting out when the router is on. Unplug the router, wireless rear speakers work fine. Turn on the router: rear speakers cut out.
Since Comcast/Xfinity does not allow for disabling 5Ghz, I cannot use my home theater.
I'd like to purchase my own modem, but the combo modem/router from Comcast/Xfinity will continue to broadcast 5Ghz wi-fi signal in my home, making the wireless rear speakers from my home theater useless.
Can anyone suggest a combo modem/router so I can plug in coax from Xfinity and disable 5Ghz?
Thanks,
Murph
↧