Hello everyone,
I have been getting many comments/questions about Comcast wireless connectivity (see two previous posts here and here). Here is my “quick and dirty” recipe for Comcast wireless sucess:
1) Disable the router function of your Comcast modem/router and get into bridge mode.
2) Connect your Comcast modem (now in bridged mode), to a good 802.11ac router (connect using Cat6 cable). 802.11ac is the most current wireless networking standard. It has taken something good (802.11n), and made it even better. 802.11ac is a faster and more scalable version of 802.11n. It couples the freedom of wireless with the capabilities of Gigabit Ethernet. Another nice thing about 802.11 routers is that you can use open source firmware (DD-WRT, Tomato, OpenWrt). You’ll receive quicker patches (code updates) from these open sources. Awesome!
3) Position your router in a central area of the house/apt./office if possible.
4) Properly configure your 802.11ac router. Here is an example of the basic set-up.
5) If your receiving device is not 802.11ac capable (most new computers, tablets and phones are 802.11ac compatible), don’t worry too much. According to tests performed by SmallNetBuilder.com , 802.11ac routers connecting to 802.11n devices delivered significant wireless improvement. So, you can stay with your 802.11n device or even better, upgrade the receiving device to 802.11ac (wireless NIC, dongle, etc.).
6) Enjoy gigabit wireless speeds!
Best wishes for wireless success,
Randy The Tech Professor
9:30 pm on August 3rd, 2015 1
If we are using a repeater on our Comcast network, because the range on the xfinity router is very poor, does it need to remain plugged via ethernet? We were under the impression that it could be configured to work wirelessly to extend the signal. Also, if we are using the repeater, do we still need to put it into bridge mode? The Comcast installer said no. But couldn’t get our speeds above 2mbps even though we pay for Blast. But, I digress… Thank you for your post! I look forward to hearing what advice you can give!
7:16 pm on August 5th, 2015 2
Hi Allison,
Repeater needs ethernet cable to first set-up and then no more (all wireless after inicial set-up). No bridge mode if using a repeater. My advice: Forget the repeater. Put the Comcast modem/router into bridge mode and connect a good ac router of your choice. Configure the ac router and you should be good to go. 2 Mbps download is ridiculous! Get Comcast to check the lines outside your home – there could also be a problem there. You may have a defective modem/router also.
Best wishes,
Randy Knowles
12:08 pm on August 11th, 2015 3
I have Comcast cable and when wired to my Comcast Wireless Gateway Voice (which I don’t use) and data modem, I get over 53MBPS which is what I pay for. If I unplug the same laptop and stay next to the router, I only get at best 27MBPS. Why is that and what can I do to fix? Is it as simple (but costly) as upgrading the router? Can I remove the Comcast router and get my own that will perform better and that I won’t have to “rent”? Will putting the existing Comcast rented Gateway in Bridge mode and getting a router as the one mentioned in your article get me up closer to those 53MBPS speeds on my wireless devices?
Thanks for any help you can give and I appreciate the information in your article.
9:22 pm on August 22nd, 2015 4
Hi Scott,
You might need to update your laptop Wi-Fi card, a better WiFi card can have a dramatic impact on performance with greater range and faster throughput. A card with dual-band support, which supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands would be ideal. Put the Comcast modem/router into bridge mode and buy a nice third party gigabit ac router. Connect the Comcast modem to your new router using Cat6 ethernet cable.
Best wishes,
Randy