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Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

jeffreymartens.com

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Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#11

Post by sjg007 »

jmartens wrote: post #5
M_Grey wrote: post #3

At a guess this is a result of Comcast using the absolute, most mindbogglingly cheap hardware on the planet Earth. Second to that I would guess some kind of incompetence, and only after that would I seriously entertain what amounts to theft.

You are probably right about cheap equipment and incompetence, but isn't it still fraud if they sell you something that they knowingly can't offer? If I rent a car and pay extra for a 4WD, but the 4WD doesn't work, I want my money back. Is this different?

It's the same. You can sue for breach of implied warranty. They may try to get out of it by saying 'speeds up to'. But if the device can't do that then yes you'd have a good argument.

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#12

Post by jwilliams »

r1ch wrote: post #9

"Pretty poor coverage" sounds like the author was relying on Wi-Fi for connectivity. I wouldn't trust an ISP-provided combo modem/router to do anything more than the bare minimum when it comes to wireless, most likely a single chain 2.4 GHz network (and 5 GHz if you're lucky). Replacing it with Google Wifi which is a Wave2 802.11ac 5 GHz device with Beamforming will make a world of difference. Intentionally supplying…

I'd wonder about the same. Easy to test by plugging the Google router into the Xfinity one.

The other factor could be the Xfinity wifi sharing feature (customers can connect to other routers). Could be causing some issues or interference.

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#13

Post by loser777 »

It's almost hilarious how cheap and bad the Xfinity modem/router combo is. Any kind of configuration via the web interface is a dice roll on whether or not the settings actually take. If you're lucky, your configuration changes get applied, but don't expect them to be displayed.

I guess whatever little money it cost to build went into the annoyingly bright white LEDs on the front of the case.

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#14

Post by closeparen »

jmartens wrote: post #5
M_Grey wrote: post #3

At a guess this is a result of Comcast using the absolute, most mindbogglingly cheap hardware on the planet Earth. Second to that I would guess some kind of incompetence, and only after that would I seriously entertain what amounts to theft.

You are probably right about cheap equipment and incompetence, but isn't it still fraud if they sell you something that they knowingly can't offer? If I rent a car and pay extra for a 4WD, but the 4WD doesn't work, I want my money back. Is this different?

My speedometer goes "up to" 180mph, but my car will certainly never get there. Is Volkswagen guilty of fraud? (Well, not in this particular case...)

They said 4WD, not "up to" 4WD. OTOH, they only say "up to" n mpbs.

If you want guaranteed minimum speeds, you can pay an order of magnitude more for a business class connection.

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#15

Post by manyxcxi »

The best thing anyone can do is swap out the junky cable modem + WiFi router combos they rent to you. They're horrible under standard usage, bad when lots of clients are connected, bad wifi range, low memory, require frequent reboots, etc.

For about $70 (about 5mos of rental charges) you can get a Surfboard barebones Docsis 3 modem that will vastly outperform whatever junk they rent out.

After that you could get a TP-Link Archer C7 for sub $80 that will have good range and performance for that price point.

So within about the first year you've broken even with vastly superior components and you'll be able to take them with you to any cable provider you wind up using in the future.

I get why most people don't do this, they don't even know it's possible, but I'm amazed when colleagues in the industry are still running the company hardware.

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#17

Post by BostonEnginerd »

Comcast's business practices aren't great, but I will give them credit. I get every Mbps that they claim I am supposed to get. This is plugged into my router (Turris Omnia) and my cable modem (self-owned Arris SB6190).

http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest/13090043

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#19

Post by colemannugent »

On the subject of class actions: it's most likely impossible.

In their terms of service they will undoubtedly state that you agree to go to arbitration rather than court, and they have you explicitly waive your right to a class action.

Also the terms of service makes it very clear that the speeds they quote on their ads are essentially entirely theoretical.

Re: Comcast internet speed improved with non-Comcast hardware

#20

Post by johnbellone »

nodesocket wrote: post #2

I'm with you, my Comcast bill is now $160 a month for internet and TV. However perhaps the old modem was not DOCSIS 3.0 and the new one is? I'm guessing the new modem is just better hardware thus the increased throughput. No grand conspiracy. Go buy your own DOCSIS 3.0 modem from Amazon and stop paying the monthly rental.

I just decided to jump on the cord cutting bandwagon. My bill was ~$180 and I was able to get it down to $97 for the "best Internet". My cost for PlayStation Vue is $29.99 plus $15 for HBO. It streams to the PS4 and Amazon Fire TV. I am very happy with the change simply because I am not giving Comcast more money than I have to.
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