Support NeoGAF

[VlaudTheImpaler]

Alright, so, I live in the states and am moving to the new house a few cities away within the same state this week and trying to get all utilities set up ahead of time.

Thing is, the only option for internet there is xfinity which I've never had to deal with before and apparently they require you to have a modem and are asking if I want to lease one?

What does this mean? Does my current router not support this? My current router is the Nighthawk X4.

If not, what would be the best thing to do? Would you guys advise me to lease the one xfinity wants me to or would it be better to buy one separately or is there a combo?

Basically what I am asking is what would be the best thing for me to get if I want an optimal setup for wired online PC gaming for me and wireless for the TV/Roku and a household that uses internet quite frequently since my wife is a professional blogger/research ghostwriter who is all over the house with her laptop. So for those that use xfinity, what is the best thing/s for me to buy?

 

[Massicot]

Grab any Docsis 3.0/3.1 modem and just tell them you want to use that instead. Don't pay for a modem lease.

 

[GrizzNKev]

If you intend to use it for more than a year, buy your own if the one you have isn't compatible. You should be able to look up which ones work.

 

[GalacticMouse]

Comcast's modems are $10/month usually (at least in my state) and are a modem/router combo. They're decent, but you should be able to find a modem that gets you the speeds you want to pair with your Nighthawk for around $75-100 so you'd be saving money in the long run.

If you're getting a landline through them, I believe you're forced to use their modem/router but it's included in the price since it's required.

 

[LinkSlayer64]

I am sorry for your loss, Xfinity is garbage, Comcast is the worst ISP. You can use any Docsis 3.0/3.1, and if you ever have issues, they will first try to blame that you bought a modem instead of using their own.

Make sure to learn to not take any bullshit with this company.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

Yeah, we are planning to be there for about 4 years or so but you never know so it might be longer.

I see that Nighthawk has some router modem combos would those be worth it or less complicated to set up?

I just really want to avoid Strict NAT crap and I've always hated dealing with networking.

 

[shandy706]

My new home doesn't have ANY cable providers to it, so I had "2 options". Satellite or DSL....lol...NO!

Anyway, I ended up getting AT&T Velocity (it's a router that supports 10 devices out of the box on your phone plan) with Unlimited Plus. Thankfully my house sits at the highest point in the neighborhood, so I get solid connections.

It's kind of random though...lol. Worst I've seen is 8Mb/s. My average has been 25-45Mb/s.

Once hit 165Mb/s and downloaded over half a gig in like 10 seconds...X-D. The DSL option maxed out at 5-6Mb/s through AT&T, no way I was doing that.

 

[omgwtfbentime]

I bought a netgear doscis 3.1 modem for $45 that works fine. Don’t waste your money on leasing their hardware, it’s not bad like it used to but it’s sure overpriced.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

I am sorry for your loss, Xfinity is garbage, Comcast is the worst ISP. You can use any Docsis 3.0/3.1, and if you ever have issues, they will first try to blame that you bought a modem instead of using their own.

Make sure to learn to not take any bullshit with this company.

Yeah, as soon as I saw that Comcast was my only option my heart sank. This is why I am asking here what the best thing to do is from those that have dealt with them. My other ISPs have never required me to have a modem in the house as far as I know it's always just been plug into the router and play.

 

[PreyingShark]

I am sorry for your loss, Xfinity is garbage, Comcast is the worst ISP. You can use any Docsis 3.0/3.1, and if you ever have issues, they will first try to blame that you bought a modem instead of using their own.

Make sure to learn to not take any bullshit with this company.

Example: To bridge your router with their modem you need to plug the Ethernet cable into a specific port. We did not know this so we were stuck with shit not working for hours while my bro kept calling customer service and trying their suggestions that naturally didn't work.

It took like 7 different customer service reps until someone asked what port our router was plugged into. Hope you're ready for the Customer Service Roulette(TM), OP!

 

[dragonzdogma]

I am sorry for your loss, Xfinity is garbage, Comcast is the worst ISP. You can use any Docsis 3.0/3.1, and if you ever have issues, they will first try to blame that you bought a modem instead of using their own.

Make sure to learn to not take any bullshit with this company.

How did you deal with this problem?

I'm on the same boat, I happen to sign up a contract with them for a whole 2 years of $39.99
for 70MBS - I tested my internet speed via speed test .net and my speed results are 1-3 mbs upload speed was 15mbs.

I normally get buffering Vudu, amazon or netflix looks blurry.

I called comcast and they told me is my modem,
I tried telling them prior to my contract I had speeds of 15 mbs on a 20mbs plan.

But they insisted on telling me is my modem or they can send a comcast rep but that if it's indeed my modem fault there will be a $99 dollar service trip fee.

What to do?

 

[Bsigg12]

Be sure to pick up your own modem. Don't lease.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

So I looked into the docsis routers you guys where suggesting.

Would one of these be good? Any reason for the 10 dollar difference? Would one of them give me less headaches?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH46MWW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H44UJF0/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[BondFancy]

How did you deal with this problem?

I'm on the same boat, I happen to sign up a contract with them for a whole 2 years of $39.99
for 70MBS - I tested my internet speed via speed test .net and my speed results are 1-3 mbs upload speed was 15mbs.

I normally get buffering Vudu, amazon or netflix looks blurry.

I called comcast and they told me is my modem,
I tried telling them prior to my contract I had speeds of 15 mbs on a 20mbs plan.

But they insisted on telling me is my modem or they can send a comcast rep but that if it's indeed my modem fault there will be a $99 dollar service trip fee.

What to do?

God copper lines suck. I paid for 300 mbps with Time Warner and would get 0.5 down mbps during peak usage. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do. I finally was able to switch to AT&T U-Verse Fiber. Night and day difference.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

They are asking me if I want professional installation or if I want to do it myself. Professional installation is $60.

If this is something someone here can tell me how to do then I'd rather do it myself.

I'm pretty sure they are talking about just hooking up the modem but I have no idea how to do any of that. Do you just plug in the cord? lol if that's all there is to it I'll be peeved if I pay $60...

EDIT: Just found this on Quora...

"You take the equipment that you got from the Comcast office, and you take it home.  You connect the modem/router they gave you to a cable line in the house.  You call the toll-free telephone number they gave you with the equipment, so they can activate the service after you've connected and powered the modem.

Then you pay them $30 for allowing you to do all the work."

I'm in for a wild ride with these people aren't I?

 

[Mozendo]

 

[Broken Hope]

Example: To bridge your router with their modem you need to plug the Ethernet cable into a specific port. We did not know this so we were stuck with shit not working for hours while my bro kept calling customer service and trying their suggestions that naturally didn't work.

It took like 7 different customer service reps until someone asked what port our router was plugged into. Hope you're ready for the Customer Service Roulette(TM), OP!

It’s standard for model/router boxes in bridge mode to only have 1 working port.

 

[Syriel]

Yeah, we are planning to be there for about 4 years or so but you never know so it might be longer.

I see that Nighthawk has some router modem combos would those be worth it or less complicated to set up?

I just really want to avoid Strict NAT crap and I've always hated dealing with networking.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH46MWW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Pick the max speed/cost that you need.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH46MWW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Pick the max speed/cost that you need.

Well... I ended up getting this,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0723599RQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Because when we went to sign up the Comcast guy told us that if we use our own modem that it needs to be DOCSIS 3.1 because of their super fast speed or it won't work when we hook it up. Is this true or did I just pay more than I needed to? Will the one I got work just as well as that netgear one? We only got the 75Mbps plan.

 

[Syriel]

Well... I ended up getting this,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0723599RQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Because when we went to sign up the Comcast guy told us that if we use our own modem that it needs to be DOCSIS 3.1 because of their super fast speed or it won't work when we hook it up. Is this true or did I just pay more than I needed to? Will the one I got work just as well as that netgear one? We only got the 75Mbps plan.

The $60 Netgear would have been fine, esp if you're only getting the 75Mbps plan.

 

[Gattsu25]

Well... I ended up getting this,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0723599RQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Because when we went to sign up the Comcast guy told us that if we use our own modem that it needs to be DOCSIS 3.1 because of their super fast speed or it won't work when we hook it up. Is this true or did I just pay more than I needed to? Will the one I got work just as well as that netgear one? We only got the 75Mbps plan.

If you care about fast speeds? True.


See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS#Comparison

 

[Chris_C]

Don't lease a modem. (You'll end up paying more over time)

Do some research to find compatible modems that are good for whatever speed plan you're interested in. I went with this for future-proofing reasons: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016PE1X5K/?tag=neogaf0e-20 (I got the 300Mbps plan, but may upgrade down the line).

It might be a good idea to avoid router/modem combos. Mainly because if something goes wrong with either side or if one side is outdated, the whole thing is affected.

 

[potatohead]

I bought a Netgear modem at Best Buy, I'm in Texas atm. Works great.

Just get one that supports wireless AC, it's fantastic.

 

[DirtyLarry]

Comcast was known as Comcrap in my area forever. They have really gotten shit together since the rebrand. I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised OP.
My parents use them, as does my brother in law and sister in law, and I can truly say I personally cannot recall a company who has turned things around as much as they have.
Full disclosure, I myself am on FIOS, but my parents recently moved and their only options were XFinity and DISH, and since I set everything up for them and I am their tech support, I have used XFinity now for hours, and seriously they are not the same company they were just a year ago.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

Comcast was known as Comcrap in my area forever. They have really gotten shit together since the rebrand. I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised OP.
My parents use them, as does my brother in law and sister in law, and I can truly say I personally cannot recall a company who has turned things around as much as they have.
Full disclosure, I myself am on FIOS, but my parents recently moved and their only options were XFinity and DISH, and since I set everything up for them and I am their tech support, I have used XFinity now for hours, and seriously they are not the same company they were just a year ago.

So how easy is self installation? Pretty sure I'm going to be doing this tomorrow or the next day since all of the stuff is getting delivered tomorrow.

Do I just plug the cable into the modem and then run an Ethernet cord from the modem to my router and then activate it online?

Comcast is apparently sending a self activation kit that is arriving tomorrow as well but I have no idea what is in it as they didn't even tell me they where sending it during the phone call so I didn't even know to ask. Just got the email a couple hours ago.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

So how easy is self installation? Have any of you who have Comcast done this? Pretty sure I'm going to be doing this tomorrow or the next day since all of the stuff is getting delivered tomorrow.

Do I just plug the cable into the modem and then run an Ethernet cord from the modem to my router and then activate it online?

Comcast is apparently sending a self activation kit that is arriving tomorrow as well but I have no idea what is in it as they didn't even tell me they where sending it during the phone call so I didn't even know to ask. Just got the email a couple hours ago.

Through Charter (Spectrum) I just hooked it up and went to an activation website, put in the information they needed and it worked.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

Through Charter (Spectrum) I just hooked it up and went to an activation website, put in the information they needed and it worked.

That sounds too good to be true. That would be amazing. I really hope it's that easy.

 

[rickz0rz]

That sounds too good to be true. That would be amazing. I really hope it's that easy.

That's how it was for me when I moved and changed to Cox. Literally plugged in the modem, ended up at their "walled garden" where the only thing I could see was the page to activate the modem. Did that, rebooted the modem and everything just worked.

 

[ThatOneMexican]

I wish I had Xfinity. A shit as you guys say it is. I just moved to southern California a few months ago. And the only provider in my complex is AT&T. The fastest speed they offer is 1.5megs, and the area I live in isn't bad. They've been telling me that they're doing a upgrade to the complex "soon". Which is kind of fucked up I think being in California. I lived in a small rural town in northwestern Oklahoma, where I had download speeds at about 850megs with my 1gig line.

 

[kubev]

Xfinity is garbage, Comcast is the worst ISP.

Yeah, I remember having slower (but symmetrical) speeds with Verizon FiOS when I lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I think my speeds were maybe 50 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up, and everything felt fantastic. YouTube loaded pretty much instantaneously. Meanwhile, in Pacifica, California, I have 200 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up, and it's just terrible. It doesn't feel nearly as fast as 50/50 through FiOS did, and its stability is pretty spotty at times. Even better, despite purchasing my own modem and only selecting Internet service while scheduling installation online, I had to contact Comcast month after month for bogus charges for TV service and equipment that I supposedly hadn't returned.

 

[TheContact]

A router will work with any ISP. You need a compatible modem however. Just find any docsis 3.0 (better yet 3.1 but no biggie if you just have a 3.0) and you’ll be fine. Some modems are compatible with xfinity in that when you set it up you just need to enter your Comcast credentials, but other modems you may have to call and read them the model and serial number. Above all, never fucking pay $10/month for their shitty all-in-one modem.

People talk shit about Comcast but I pay $75/month for 150Mpbs and I never have to call their support for issues

 

[Devilgunman]

I just set up my Xfinity service 3 months ago and this is how it goes

- buy a modem. I use Arris Surfboard sb6141.
- buy the plan online, coohse self installation.
- wait for the kit to come
- look up self installation procedure on YT and follow.
- somehow I couldn’t activate the service by myself so I gave them a call to activate the service for me.
- done.

Also don’t be surprise when the price jumps after a year or so.

 

[bchan555]

Do they let you buy their modem instead of lease it?

Buying and using your own modem is the best, but the minute there is a problem you're going to have go through hoops after telling them you are using your own hardware.

Even if its overpriced, might make sense to just buy their modem and sidestep that problem altogether.