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Comcast has a list of "supported" modems and routers. I've never had issues with those. They cost $100 ea, and I've had them for 3 years now. Also note, if you

Comcast has a list of "supported" modems and routers. I've never had issues with those. They cost $100 ea, and I've had them for 3 years now. Also note, if you use a comcast-provided modem, it will by default have an "xfinitywifi" network that it also broadcasts, which anyone with an xfinity account can connect to, using your bandwidth. You can opt out, but this is "one more thing to configure/tweak".

tssva 6y ago
The "xfinitywifi" uses bandwidth provisioned for its use and not the bandwidth provisioned for your use.
- the_jeremy 6y ago
  Fair. It does not contribute to your data caps or your provisioned speed with comcast. It does still use your router channels and provides the owner with zero benefit, so I don't understand why you'd ever allow it.
  - geocrasher 6y ago
    Zero benefit how? As a Comcast customer I can travel all over the place and connect to WiFi at high speed as long as I simply sign in once with my device, which authorizes my MAC address.
    - smabie 6y ago
      Yeah but you'll never connect your own xfinity wifi point. Even if you use xfinity wifi there's zero reason to not turn off the feature from your home router. Tragedy of the commons, etc etc
  - gizmo686 6y ago
    Because you like to use xfinitywifi and would feel bad disabling it while freeloading off of those who left in on.
    - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
      If there was some sort of social pledge to create a system of free public wifi networks for passers-by, I could get behind that. But xfinity-wifi is not for the public, it's only for people who pay Comcast. You're using your own airwaves and electricity—the latter of which costs you money—to provide a paid service, but don't get to share in the profit.
      - gizmo686 6y ago
        I'm an xfinity customer, so I am getting the benifit of their xfinitywifi program. If they modified their program so that accessing xfinitywifi requires using your router to host one (and it was compatable with my hardware, or they offered me theirs at no additional charge), I would sign up. As it turns out, they are offering a more generous program, where people can still get the benefits even if they opt out.
      - tssva 6y ago
        I don't know what "your own airwaves" is suppose to be. The electricity being used was already going to be used for your own use, so there is no additional cost to you.
        Wowfunhappy 6y ago
        > I don't know what "your own airwaves" is suppose to be. Sorry, I meant it's using channels/spectrum and creating interference. Admittedly less of a concern than power IMO, since a stranger could easily broadcast their own network too—they're open airwaves. > The electricity being used was already going to be used for your own use, so there is no additional cost to you. But that's not true, is it? Surely, if there's someone else using my router to download and upload data, I'd expect that router is going to be using more power and increasing my electricity bill by a small amount.
  - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
    It also uses your electricity.
- xoa 6y ago
  Are you confusing "bandwidth" with "data"? Or are you using "bandwidth" to mean actual EM spectrum? If the former, then you might be wrong about parent's point and "bandwidth provisioning" isn't even possible in many cases anyway. There is a maximum bandwidth a given modem and location can support for cable, and if someone is already paying for it that's that. Other people will in fact be eating into that bandwidth. Which may or may not matter for many customers who aren't actually pushing it anyway, but it's a real thing (unless Comcast has a good enough prioritization implementation that the owner can always get 100% on demand, though even a rough cap on guests would be good enough to at least make sure the owner is never starved). If the latter it's definitely an issue as well, a major complaint about it in congested areas is that it can take up the best channel itself.
znpy 6y ago
My provider does something similar. I don't mind, as I have a 1GBPS down / 200mbps up FTTH internet connection. In exchange for that I can get free and safe (no dumb open network with html login pages -- it's radius login based, tls backed authentication) wifi connection almost everywhere in my city. But I live in Europe. Edit: oh, and the modem rent is free.

tssva 6y ago

The "xfinitywifi" uses bandwidth provisioned for its use and not the bandwidth provisioned for your use.

the_jeremy 6y ago
Fair. It does not contribute to your data caps or your provisioned speed with comcast. It does still use your router channels and provides the owner with zero benefit, so I don't understand why you'd ever allow it.
- geocrasher 6y ago
  Zero benefit how? As a Comcast customer I can travel all over the place and connect to WiFi at high speed as long as I simply sign in once with my device, which authorizes my MAC address.
  - smabie 6y ago
    Yeah but you'll never connect your own xfinity wifi point. Even if you use xfinity wifi there's zero reason to not turn off the feature from your home router. Tragedy of the commons, etc etc
- gizmo686 6y ago
  Because you like to use xfinitywifi and would feel bad disabling it while freeloading off of those who left in on.
  - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
    If there was some sort of social pledge to create a system of free public wifi networks for passers-by, I could get behind that. But xfinity-wifi is not for the public, it's only for people who pay Comcast. You're using your own airwaves and electricity—the latter of which costs you money—to provide a paid service, but don't get to share in the profit.
    - gizmo686 6y ago
      I'm an xfinity customer, so I am getting the benifit of their xfinitywifi program. If they modified their program so that accessing xfinitywifi requires using your router to host one (and it was compatable with my hardware, or they offered me theirs at no additional charge), I would sign up. As it turns out, they are offering a more generous program, where people can still get the benefits even if they opt out.
    - tssva 6y ago
      I don't know what "your own airwaves" is suppose to be. The electricity being used was already going to be used for your own use, so there is no additional cost to you.
      - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
        > I don't know what "your own airwaves" is suppose to be. Sorry, I meant it's using channels/spectrum and creating interference. Admittedly less of a concern than power IMO, since a stranger could easily broadcast their own network too—they're open airwaves. > The electricity being used was already going to be used for your own use, so there is no additional cost to you. But that's not true, is it? Surely, if there's someone else using my router to download and upload data, I'd expect that router is going to be using more power and increasing my electricity bill by a small amount.
- Wowfunhappy 6y ago
  It also uses your electricity.
xoa 6y ago
Are you confusing "bandwidth" with "data"? Or are you using "bandwidth" to mean actual EM spectrum? If the former, then you might be wrong about parent's point and "bandwidth provisioning" isn't even possible in many cases anyway. There is a maximum bandwidth a given modem and location can support for cable, and if someone is already paying for it that's that. Other people will in fact be eating into that bandwidth. Which may or may not matter for many customers who aren't actually pushing it anyway, but it's a real thing (unless Comcast has a good enough prioritization implementation that the owner can always get 100% on demand, though even a rough cap on guests would be good enough to at least make sure the owner is never starved). If the latter it's definitely an issue as well, a major complaint about it in congested areas is that it can take up the best channel itself.

znpy 6y ago

My provider does something similar. I don't mind, as I have a 1GBPS down / 200mbps up FTTH internet connection. In exchange for that I can get free and safe (no dumb open network with html login pages -- it's radius login based, tls backed authentication) wifi connection almost everywhere in my city. But I live in Europe. Edit: oh, and the modem rent is free.