I just signed up for Comcast Internet essntials package for low income 25M mbps $10 a month. I was surprised when Comcast mailed me a dual band modem router model: dpc3941t Xb3 Box. Even More surprised when I called Comcast and was told me they don't charge rental fees on this So my bill will be $10 only. I've always owned my own equipment so that I don't have to pay rental fees. Hopefully I can get advice here if I should use their equipment or continue to use my own. Or If I should use this to replace my modem but continue to use this with my ither router. I notice it says it has moca on the back. Does that mean I can serve Internet to my Tivo minis via moca without having to use any moca adapters? Comcast told me this units ethernet was not gigabit speeds hopefully that's not right?
MOCA networking with comcast xb3 modem?
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
something else I thought about...
These Comcast modems transmit a xfinity WI fi signal that is immune to the 1 Tb monthly limit as I understand it. Does that mean if I use this xfinity modem and stream my Netflix shows via the public WI fi signal out of my modem, that won't count against my 1 terrabyte limit?
These Comcast modems transmit a xfinity WI fi signal that is immune to the 1 Tb monthly limit as I understand it. Does that mean if I use this xfinity modem and stream my Netflix shows via the public WI fi signal out of my modem, that won't count against my 1 terrabyte limit?
I think I'm going to try to set this unit Comcast mailed me into bridge mode and use my old router since this combo unit from Comcast router settings leave much to be desired. Mainly I don't like not being able to disable the 5 GHz wifi frequency completely. Hopefully enabling bridge mode will allow me to do so
Joined
·
1,877 Posts
I had the Technicolor DPC3941T XB3 gateway for a while a few years ago and found it a very solid performer. I used it for all three functions (modem, router, and MoCA bridge). Rental fee is normally $14 plus taxes so you are getting one whale of a deal at $10 all in if they do not wind up charging you for the equipment.
You can use it either way--it's up to you. I was satisfied with the gateway's built-in wireless radios in my home but YMMV. I would try out both setups and then decide which one works best for you both in terms of efficacy and user interface.
This model has four gigabit ethernet ports, but according to Comcast's specs maximum throughput is 700Mbps (IOW, it is not suitable for Comcast's gigabit HSI service); but that is irrelevant for your purposes since your rated connection speed is 25Mbps (although with this gateway you should routinely realize 30Mbps, or 20% higher than the announced speed tier).
Comcast Gateways
Joined
·
742 Posts
I doubt you'd ever run into it with an Essentials package, but be aware the DPC3941T modems use the Puma6 chipset, which suffers from the buffer drop problem when it gets overloaded. What is wrong with my modem ?
As for MoCa, all Minis include MoCa adapters integrated, so they will not require a separate adapter, assuming you have a modem (or TiVo host) capable of creating the network to begin with.
As for MoCa, all Minis include MoCa adapters integrated, so they will not require a separate adapter, assuming you have a modem (or TiVo host) capable of creating the network to begin with.
Joined
·
1,877 Posts
Thanks for that correction I have deleted that portion of my previous post.
Even though I found out how to turn off the 5 GHz radio on this comcast device, I still wasn't happy with it because I like to use the 2.4 GHz range to Wi-Fi-G mode only,not G/N combined which is the only option for comcast box. But now after I've put this comcast Box into bridge mode and use my own router I'm pretty sure this Comcast Box is still transmitting xfinity WI fi networks. After googling this, it appears to turn this off ,I have to use the Web browser after signing in to my Comcast account and Go into settings and "Disable Xfinity WiFi Home WI fi signals In Comcast Web site. I don't want to be transmitting unnecessary WI fi signals
Joined
·
742 Posts
Yes, you are correct. MoCa bridging depends on the modem performing routing functions which it will not be able to do in bridge mode.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If i decide to use the router function on this Comcast Box to restore mocha function, will I be able to provide Internet to my tivo cablecard bolt via moca thus freeing up an ethernet port on my router that currently feeds the Tivo? If so, then after this is done then my tivo mini in another Room will be able to be fed by moca instead of ethernet also right? And correct me if I'm wrong but while using moca, host Tivos can do ethernet bridging, but minis cant
The Xfinity account settings will allow you to turn off the xfinitywifi, and maybe XFINITY, signals. The Xfinity gateway I had was also broadcasting one or more signals with hidden SSIDs. At least one of those was for their home security system (which I've never had).
It's been about two or three years, but my research at the time showed that there was no way to turn off the broadcasts with hidden SSIDs.
I was having other problems with the gateway, so I purchased my own modem (Arris SB8200) and returned their gateway. The Arris SB8200 has performed nicely, no problems.
Do you know how to detect if my gateway is transmitting hidden networks? And if so, can thise turn those off also? If not I certainly would like to use my own modem however when I was on the phone with Comcast she seemed to think I had to use their modem. I also don't like this modem doesn't let me adjust the strength of the Wi-Fi signals to adjust how far it can reach
The gateway I tested, about two years ago, did not allow me to turn off the hidden WiFi signals. It even broadcast these when in bridge mode.
I'm a Mac guy. I use Apple's free Airport Utility, on my iPhone, to check my home's WiFi environment. Airport Utility is used to manage Apple's WiFi access point, but it also has a scan function that will display the SSID name, MAC address, RSSI level and channel setting of every WiFi signal in your environment. Note that one must visit the iOS system prefs for the Airport Utility to turn on the scan feature. Then you actually do the scan in the Airport Utility app.
I love using the scan feature in Airport Utility to see what WiFi channels my neighbors are using. Then I select a different channel.
There are probably dozens of WiFi analyzers for Windows and/or Android.
One other variable to me deciding to keep using my Asus AC-1900 router vs. using only the comcast xb3:
Does anyone know which router if one would be easier to manage network traffic to prioritize xbox gamers If this feature exists So my bit torrent activity doesn't mess with my xbox gamers?
Does anyone know which router if one would be easier to manage network traffic to prioritize xbox gamers If this feature exists So my bit torrent activity doesn't mess with my xbox gamers?
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
