Comcast Users Struggle To Keep Rented Routers From Sharing Wi-Fi In June of last year Comcast announced that the company was launching a new, Fon-like effort that involved new router firmware that turns your gateway into a publicly-accessible hotspot. More specifically, updated routers would now offer two signals: one being yours, and the other being a "xfinitywifi" SSID signal providing free Wi-Fi to other Comcast users in your general area. Fortunately, users are supposed to be able to disable this functionality if they don't want to share their bandwidth with strangers, but Comcast says this functionality is enabled by default. The public usage also thankfully doesn't count against your Comcast usage cap (if you have one in your market), and Comcast will push more bandwidth your direction to compensate for additional strain on your line.

quote: ...My ability to turn WiFi off via the "Users & Preferences" page (does) not exist. Calling the 800 number and going to internet support gave me someone who only suggested trying to disable & re-enable bridge mode (which didn't eliminate 'xfinitywifi'). He then suggested I (get this!) read up on the Comcast customer forums on their website as "there are constantly updates to the firmware in our modems and this is probably just an update that has an issue at the moment." In other words, the routers are being updated frequently and that appears to be resetting opt out preferences, something less technically savvy users probably aren't going to notice. Of course there's an easy solution here: go buy your own modem and router/gateway, and save yourself both the headache of not being able to control your own devices -- and Comcast's per quarter. Unfortunately, I've seen more than a few customers complain that the ability to opt out of the functionality doesn't always work. This thread in our forums is a good example, with users noting Comcast hasn't been particularly helpful:In other words, the routers are being updated frequently and that appears to be resetting opt out preferences, something less technically savvy users probably aren't going to notice. Of course there's an easy solution here: go buy your own modem and router/gateway, and save yourself both the headache of not being able to control your own devices -- and Comcast's soaring monthly hardware rental fees, which net Comcast $300 million in additional revenue







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Most recommended from 143 comments



pende_tim

Premium Member

join:2004-01-04

Andover, NJ 8 recommendations pende_tim Premium Member Sorry, I Don'e See The Big Deal I have been reading the firestorm about Comcast offering free WiFi VIA a costumers router for the past few months and don't understand why it is such a big deal.



The WiFi is being provided to Comcast customers so if you happen to be in a area where you need WiFi you can get a connection. Suppose everyone turned off there Xfinity signal? Then except for a few commercial spots, you would be out of luck.



The privacy issue is a non issue as this establishes a connection that is totally isolated from the user's home network. There probably is a VPN of some sort setup back to Comcast.



This does not steal from your bandwidth as there is a separate speed provisioning for the Xfinity connection.



If you have a Comcast modem and pay rent to them for it's use, you will pay the same rental if the Xfinity is on or off.



This does not count against your caps as pointed out in the article.



So after getting past the hysteria, aside from possibly a few cents of electricity per month, whats the problem?

StuartMW

Premium Member

join:2000-08-06 2 recommendations StuartMW Premium Member This! said by Karl Bode: Of course there's an easy solution here: go buy your own modem and router/gateway, and save yourself both the headache of not being able to control your own devices... any ISP provided modem/router/ap. It's almost certain they can get into it, via backdoors, even if you change the Admin password etc. I also have my own router behind my ISP's modem. Exactly. I don't trustISP provided modem/router/ap. It's almost certain they can get into it, via backdoors, even if you change the Admin password etc. I also have my own router behind my ISP's modem.

imanogre

join:2005-11-29

Smyrna, GA 2 recommendations imanogre Member Class Action Lawsuit? I wonder if consumers have a possible class action lawsuit vs comcast for using their home as a public wifi hotspot without compensation nor consent?