{"id":2038,"date":"2023-07-27T09:00:19","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T09:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routerctrl.com\/?p=2038"},"modified":"2023-07-27T09:59:45","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T09:59:45","slug":"comcast-xfinity-compatible-modems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routerctrl.com\/comcast-xfinity-compatible-modems\/","title":{"rendered":"What Modems Are Compatible With Comcast Xfinity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you sick of renting the gateway from Comcast Xfinity<\/a>? Thinking about buying your own equipment? You\u2019ve come to the right place. Our article about Comcast Xfinity compatible modems is here to help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of having your own equipment, explain the savings you can make by using your own equipment, and offer you our selection of the best Comcast Xfinity compatible modems.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Up until recently, using your own modems and paying to your internet service provider just for the service was not really an option. In December of 2019, the amendment to the Communication Act of 1934 was made, and this issue was finally resolved. According to amendment H.R. 5035<\/a>, you can now use your own equipment, and your internet service provider doesn\u2019t have the right to charge you renting fees.<\/p>\n

\"H.R.<\/p>\n

H.R. 5035 – Amendment to the Communication Act of 1934 (aka Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This Act was supposed to come into force in July 2020, but it was unfortunately delayed by the FCC<\/a> because the companies were not able to stop charging you renting fees. The new deadline was partially justified by the COVID-19 pandemic and partially by the lack of time and resources necessary to implement the law. The Act finally took full effect in December 2020. <\/p>\n

Before the act, some manufacturers used to charge renting fees, even if the customer refused to use their equipment. Today, you can say that you don\u2019t want to rent and you can buy your own modem\/router. And the manufacturer has to tell you if the modem\/router is compatible with their services. Some manufacturers, like Comcast Xfinity, will publish the list of compatible devices or offer an interactive service that will tell you if the device you want to use is fully compatible with Xfinity internet<\/a>. You just have to type in the device name and choose the services you’re using.<\/p>\n

But why would you go through all the trouble? Why would you buy a modem\/router\/gateway if you can rent it from Xfinity? Can you save some money in the process? Are there some other reasons to buy a modem on your own? <\/p>\n

To Rent or Not to Rent?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So, is buying a Comcast Xfinity compatible modem a good idea or not? Are you going to benefit from it? <\/p>\n

You could, but it\u2019s not that simple. Due to Xfinity\u2019s creative fee structure, buying your own modem, even though it seems like a cost-effective solution, it doesn\u2019t have to be. Sometimes, renting the xFi Gateway<\/a> is a better option. Let\u2019s discuss the benefits of renting, first.<\/p>\n

\"Renting<\/p>\n

Renting xFi Gateway VS buying Comcast Xfinity compatible modem<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Benefits of renting a modem from Comcast Xfinity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you decide to rent the Xfinity gateway instead of buying Xfinity compatible gateway, you will be charged additionally $14\/month (limited data \u2013 1.2TB data cap) or $25\/month (unlimited data). <\/p>\n

Because you pay this fee, you get unlimited tech support and device upgrades. You also get to control your wi-fi (parental control) and prevent certain devices from using your wi-fi through the Xfinity app. You will also get Xfinity advanced security that protects your data. <\/p>\n

With the xFi Complete package (the one with unlimited data), you can also get a free evaluation of your wi-fi network and extra xFi pods<\/a> in case your wi-fi network is not strong enough in all parts of your household. xFi pods will extend your wi-fi network and give you better coverage. You don\u2019t have to pay extra for the xFi pods.<\/p>\n

Another thing you get when renting a modem is access to Xfinity wi-fi hotspots \u2013 you get wi-fi access as a guest through the Xfinity wi-fi network wherever the network exists. That way, you can save mobile data and reduce the costs of mobile internet. <\/p>\n

Benefits of buying your own Comcast Xfinity compatible modem<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you rent the Xfinity gateway, it’ at least $14\/month. That’s $168\/year. For that kind of money, you can buy your own gateway and it will pay itself off within a year or so. Assuming that Xfinity replaces\/upgrades the gateway every 3years (which may not be the case), you will pay more than $500 just for renting the equipment over the course of those three years. <\/p>\n

So, if you buy the gateway on your own, you will save more than $330. And, if it works fine, you don\u2019t even have to make upgrades after 3 years \u2013 you can keep using it until it breaks. That way, you can save even more. That\u2019s one of the biggest advantages of buying your own Comcast Xfinity compatible modem. When you calculate the costs, buying seems like a much better idea than renting.<\/p>\n

But why do most people still rent their equipment? Is it just convenience or are there some hidden costs? <\/p>\n

Well, it\u2019s both. For starters, Xfinity doesn\u2019t offer any technical support (at least not the free one) if you are not using the Xfinity gateway. You also have to figure out how to troubleshoot the network on your own if there are some issues, and you have to find a way to control different aspects of your wi-fi network (like parental control). People simply don\u2019t like doing these things on their own. Some are simply not equipped to deal with gateways, modems, and routers, and some don\u2019t have the time for that kind of stuff.<\/p>\n

Recommended reading :<\/strong> Xfinity Router Blinking Orange: Meaning and How to Fix it<\/a><\/p>\n

The other reason why people rent is because buying your own equipment is not that much cost-effective. In some cases, it\u2019s actually more affordable to rent than to buy a gateway. We know this sentence is in contradiction with what we’ve just said seconds ago, but both claims are actually true. Are you familiar with the term data caps? It’s a well-known tool that enables internet service providers to earn more money by imposing restrictions on the transfer of data over your network. The ISP basically sets a limit on data transfer, and if you exceed that limit, you have to pay extra. The limit is usually set between 1GB and 1.5GB. In the case of Xfinity, it\u2019s 1.2GB. So, if you exceed the data limit, you have to pay $10 for every additional 50GB, until you reach the $100 limit. <\/p>\n

The problem with data caps is that you have to pay more for unlimited data if you’re not renting the equipment from Comcast Xfinity. If you’re renting the gateway from Xfinity, you have to pay $25\/month for unlimited data. You also get all the equipment and all the technical support you need. But if you\u2019re using your own gateway, you have to pay $30\/month, and you still won\u2019t get any technical support. This seems very unfair, but they still have the right to do it. <\/p>\n

This means that if you need unlimited data, it\u2019s actually more affordable to rent the gateway from Xfinity than to buy it. If you buy the gateway, you will spend, let\u2019s say $170 on it, and you will have to pay $30 every month. Over the course of three years, you will spend $1080. If you decide to rent the equipment, you will just have to pay $25 every month ($900 over the course of three years). So, you will be saving $180 over the course of three years if you opt for renting.<\/p>\n

Recommended reading : <\/strong>What Modems Are Compatible With Frontier?<\/a><\/p>\n

So, if you are confident that you and your family members are not going to exceed the 1.2GB data cap, buying your own modem is a more cost-effective solution. If you need an unlimited data plan, it\u2019s smarter and more affordable to rent. Which brings us to the next question \u2013 how hard it is to reach the 1.2GB limit within a month? The good news is that it\u2019s not that easy. According to Comcast Xfinity<\/a>, only a small portion of their customers use more than 1.2GB each month.<\/p>\n

Based on the research conducted by the DecisionData<\/a>, the average household broadband consumption in the US during 2020 was 344GB. So, it\u2019s encouraging that this number is quite far from the 1.2GB limit. What\u2019s not so encouraging is that the average data usage increases rapidly. In 2010, it was just 9GB, and in 2016, it was 97GB. As the popularity of 4K video streaming and game streaming grows, we can only expect the average consumption to keep growing. So, even though most households can\u2019t exceed that 1.2GB data cap right now, we can\u2019t claim that 1.2GB is going to be enough in three years. But then again, our ISPs may raise the data limit in three years. <\/p>\n

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To conclude this cost-benefit analysis, based on the available data, most Xfinity customers will benefit (they will save money) if they buy the gateway on their own. However, if you need unlimited data, it\u2019s smarter to rent. Also, if you don\u2019t want to deal with setting up the network or fixing the wi-fi issues on your own, just rent the equipment from Xfinity and save yourself the trouble. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Another very important benefit of using your own Comcast Xfinity compatible modem is related to the safety of your data. Remember those Xfinity wi-fi hotspots we\u2019ve talked about in the previous section. Well, those hotspots are actually Xfinity gateways and rental routers. Xfinity was even sued for using rental gateways as hotspots in 2014<\/a>, but they kept turning rental routers into hotspots. And they still do it. <\/p>\n

In 2018, there was a bug in Comcast’s website<\/a>. It turned out, that a person with the right set of skills could trick the website into giving him your router\u2019s location and your wi-fi name and password. They fixed the bug, but there\u2019s no guarantee that your wi-fi network is absolutely safe. <\/p>\n

Another problem with using rental routers and gateways as hotspots is the increase in electricity bills. It\u2019s not a huge increase (about $10\/year), but it\u2019s still an increase.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re using your own modem\/router\/gateway, Xfinity can\u2019t turn it into a hotspot.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As you can see, deciding between buying and renting is not that easy. Both options have their pros and cons, and you have to set your priorities before making a choice. If you want to save money and don’t need an unlimited plan, buy your own Comcast Xfinity compatible modem. If you need an unlimited plan, it’s more cost-effective to rent. If you care about your data, buying a modem\/router on your own is a smarter option. <\/p>\n

Whatever option you choose, one thing is certain \u2013 your ISP will find a way to make you think you made the wrong choice.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first honest ISP<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n