COMCAST Info

[USMC88-93]

The only devices that have the Xfinity hotspot are the newer and devices that have dual band capability (but not all of them).

From those devices you have:

1. A private subscriber 2.4Ghz network that you can personalize with a name and a private password (as well as choose the level and type of security you want on it)

2. a private subscriber 5.0Ghz network that you can personalize with an name and a private password (as well as choose the level and type of security you want on it)

3. a completely separate public WIFI network that you can in fact choose to have disabled. This network has its own antenna and in no way can gain access or cause a security concern for the private subscriber networks broadcasting from their own antennas on the router.


There are in some cases a lot of networks in the immediate vicinity of each other (Apartment complexes and town-homes etc..) In this instance sometimes you have multiple networks broadcasting on the same channel (Same frequency band) You can in this instance if you are experiencing degraded WIFI change the channel that the router is broadcasting on within the routers settings.) This is normally set so the router chooses its own channel.

There are cases that when new firmware is pushed to devices that the devices either become inoperable or degraded in some manner due to the firmware not being properly accepted by the device.
All devices these days have some sort of firmware or base operating system that is updated on some regular schedule. Even your television these days checks for updates when a network connection is present.

It is not some sort of nefarious effort on Comcast part to screw with you or your equipment. There is also a good percentage of equipment in subscriber homes that has come to the end of its service life (DOCSIS 2.0 modems are a good example of this) in those cases specifically if a customer has refused repeated attempts by the company to have the equipment swapped out the modem may be turned off to encourage them to schedule a service call but only after repeated efforts to swap the device are made with the customer.

If your devices repeated attempts to connect to an Xfinity hotspot around town are becoming bothersome than you need to forget or delete the network in your devices memorized network list. Or just turn off WIFI unless you need to use it, it is just that simple, if you then need access to the network at some point you just need to reconnect and enter a password and have it not memorize or store a password for Xfinity WIFI

Also related to your personal residence you can also either get into the devices settings or call in to request that the device be put into "Bridge Mode" in which case only one of the four ethernet ports on the back of the device will be active and you can plug in your own personally owned router with your own personal security and management settings. In this case the Comcast router then becomes a simple modem with one output available to output to customer owned devices and the wireless is totally disabled both public and private networks)


In a nutshell what you are complaining about is the new normal from all providers and if you are strolling around your neighborhood or anywhere else for that matter and you do not want your device to connect to available WIFI networks either turn off your WIFI or look through your memorized network list and delete those networks from that list that you do not want to connect to when they are in range. This will provide you with the added benefit of extending your mobile devices battery life. It is not a "problem" that you might have to turn off your WIFI when out and about in fact your carrier probably explains such issues within the 10,000 pages of contractual nonsense and recommends you turn off WIFI on your device when not in use to conserve battery life

You are going through a technological revolution where providers are creating infrastructure for WIFI Anywere and it is not something isolated to Comcast. Terrestrial phone and power companies, cellular, cable, and satellite companies are all trying to predict the future and survive in a wireless world. There is only more of this type of type of stuff to come that will undoubtedly cause the same presumption of some evil intent on the public's part.

I must add that I took a different route to solve my issues with a public WIFI network being available from a device in my home. I use a Comcast provided modem but own and mange my own wireless router. It would in my eyes be stupid to do it any other way, as I can choose my own router with the price point and features I want (They sell anywhere from $50 to $300 dollars) and I can manage the security and access features in the manner I wish (anywhere from an open network to the most modern security protocol). Solve your issue quick and easy in this manner.