Xfinity wants to open up your home wifi to the public!

[Guytronic]

What do you folks think about this?
Bad thing-good thing...?

We are XFINITY users and I'm not sure about this plan.

How Will Xfinity's? Huge Wi-Fi Plan Affect Customers and Competitors

 

[Laura Knotek]

I wouldn't want people to camp out on my lawn if they found my hotspot.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 920 using Tapatalk

 

[Guytronic]

LOL....true plus I agree.
Now I know why Xfinity pumped the connection speeds for us at no extra cost.


Evidently there is an option to disable other Xfinity subscribers from using/sharing.
Kind of an intriguing idea...I dunno why Xfinity doesn't just offer area wide for subscribers.
Sure would shrink the data use for mobile users.

Had this feeling for a while that Comcast has been looking for a way into the mobile device communications area.
Wi-fi is the key for them.

 

[ratsttam]

Their new routers have a cable user guest hotspot. you need to sign into it with your own xfinity account. From what I read about it, if you've got a 20mbps service, if someone is using 5mpbs, it just increases what the router is taking in, and not affecting YOUR 20mpbs.

 

[anon6002755]

This idea sounds good in theory but sounds like it could be a mess in its execution. plus i don't wanna share anything. Also their router didnt play nice with my phone so it got replaced with a modem with separate router.

 

[DaveGx]

Sure. Cut my bill by at least half.

 

[Guytronic]

Welp...

Looks like this is happening here in our area starting next week.
We were notified by Xfinity a couple of days ago.

When I look at available Wi-Fi around our home there are numerous "HOME XXXX" Xfinity routers around us.
Hoping this will be a good thing and not turn into a boondoggle...

...fingers crossed...

 

[Laura Knotek]

Welp...

Looks like this is happening here in our area starting next week.
We were notified by Xfinity a couple of days ago.

When I look at available Wi-Fi around our home there are numerous "HOME XXXX" Xfinity routers around us.
Hoping this will be a good thing and not turn into a boondoggle...

...fingers crossed...

I hope that doesn't slow down everyone's network due to congestion.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Their new routers have a cable user guest hotspot. you need to sign into it with your own xfinity account. From what I read about it, if you've got a 20mbps service, if someone is using 5mpbs, it just increases what the router is taking in, and not affecting YOUR 20mpbs.

But that could still cause issues with all the additional network traffic in a neighbourhood.

 

[Guytronic]

The letter we received from Xfinity assured (grain of salt) subscribers internet service in-home won't be affected.
I'm wondering what the motivation is.
Reading thru the support forums on Xfinity there's a lot of complaining about service fee hikes as much as $49.00 a month!
Ours just jumped to $181.00 from $169.00, that was because the rip-off triple-play bundle deal expired.

I called 'em and used the "old retired-fixed income we need to drop features" scheme to get back down to $169.00.

 

[Guytronic]

This went live this week in our area.
I like it...

 

[Laura Knotek]

We'll see if it lasts. Comcast Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspots - eSecurity Planet

 

[Guytronic]

We'll see if it lasts.

Always a caveat it seems...
I can absorb a couple a bucks a month for the convenience I guess.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Always a caveat it seems...
I can absorb a couple a bucks a month for the convenience I guess.

How would it be convenient to you if neighbours are able to use the guest account on your network?

 

[Guytronic]

How would it be convenient to you if neighbors are able to use the guest account on your network?

Hmmm...
That would be an impact on us in that case as far as bandwidth.

My understanding so far is that we're providing a connection solely to Xfinity subscribers via a second\separate router built in.

I was wondering also if doing this will force Xfinity to increase monthly limits.
When I'm on someone else's router does it count against my data on the network?

 

[Laura Knotek]

Hmmm...
That would be an impact on us in that case as far as bandwidth.

My understanding so far is that we're providing a connection solely to Xfinity subscribers via a second\separate router built in.

I was wondering also if doing this will force Xfinity to increase monthly limits.
When I'm on someone else's router does it count against my data on the network?

Those are all good questions.

I was under the impression that anyone could use the WiFi even if he/she was not a Comcast subscriber.

 

[Guytronic]

All the open "xfinitywifi" connections around us required me to use my original account and password to access.
Hope no one steals my complex password.

Best to change it again maybe...
The wife will get mad if I do it now she's in the middle of her holiday Zyngafest...lol

 

[Guytronic]

 

[palandri]

Turn the wifi off and use a different wifi router. If you can't turn the wifi off, supply your own cable modem. Go back to an AT&T DSL.

I don't have Comcast. I have a small cable company.

 

[Laura Knotek]

The problem is a lot of people don't have many options for ISPs where they live.

I can only get Time-Warner or AT&T. The Time-Warner plan I have is 50/5 Mbps. The fastest I could get with AT&T is 3 Mbps. :unhappy:

My mother lives less than 10 miles from where I live. She has WOW. If she didn't like them, she could also get Time-Warner, AT&T, or Cox.