Frequent Visitor
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14 Messages
Xfinity X1 Box and General Access
Please bare with me while I attempt to cover the issues / problems / attempted 'fixes.'
I often sit here looking at my blank TV for anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes after I turn it on in the morning. It worked fine last night. I can't believe that 'everyone' is experiencing a wonderful TV reception with no issues. I am not new with this service or this company. I have a customer of cable TV in Washington state since its inception. I grew up with black-n-white 'Howdy-Doody,' Brakeman Bill,' 'My Miss Wanda,' 'JP Patches,' 'Captain Puget' and others. I began my enslavement to cable TV with TCI cable. This eventually became Comcast and now Xfinity.
I have the little black X1 box and the xFi Gateway. I have internet and TV.
The TV has been blank now for forty (40) minutes. The Internet is fine. I have been through the Xfinity app and the 'Assistant' only to end up in a never-ending circle. I have had a technician come to the house (more than once).
Once the TV (little black box X1) gets a signal (?) or is 'warmed up' or whatever I finally get to watch what I pay approx. $200/month to access. I have been through all the 'hoops' that Xfinity desires of me. I unplug power to the X1; I unplug the Gateway; I disconnect and reconnect all the ethernet, coaxial and HDMI cables; I 'restart the Gateway'; I pray; I do black-flips; I plead with RA, the Sun god; I check the cable coming into the house; I check the connections from the pole-drop to the X1 black box and the Gateway.
What I have learned by process of elimination is that; I don't need to check the cables from the pole-drop to the X1 box / Gateway. I don't need to Restart Gateway; I don't need to unplug power / disconnect ethernet or coaxial from the Gateway >> I was watching this TV just 5 hours ago! The Internet part of this service is good. I rarely have an interruption in my Internet, except when I 'Restart the Gateway.'
So, (in basic, non-technical terms) the TV signal comes through the pole-drop cable to the junction at the outside wall; the cable goes across the house to the location of the Xfinity Gateway; the cable attaches to the Xfinity xFi Advanced Gateway XB10; the signal is then sent via Wi-Fi to the X1 black box; an HDMI cable carries the signal to the TV. If the Internet is working there is nothing to check along the route from the drop-line at the pole to the Advanced Gateway. As the only issue is with the initial start-up of the TV / X1 box, the remedy is confined to these two items and connections.
The only thing I have found to be helpful is disconnecting and reconnecting the power to the X1 black box. I usually give it about 20-30 seconds. To be clear, this is NOT a sure-fire remedy. It probably just makes me feel like I am doing something beneficial to unplug and plug the X1 box. After I do the X1 box power 'reboot' (after about 20 seconds to 5 minutes) I receive a flicker of an image, then a static image, possibly with Error Codes interspersed such as: RDK-03117, XRE-03090, XRE-00021, RDK-03031, and RDK-03033.
Due to the process of elimination, I believe the TV reception / image display problem is confined to the X1 little black box. Any useful assistance with the Xfinity Assistant? No. Any useful information through any/most Forums? No.
As the contestants of a beauty contest report a wish for 'world peace,' I also have a wish. I wish for uninterrupted, flicker-free, frozen image-free, instant-on TV access, 24 hours a day for 30 days. It would be too much to ask for a year.
I won't hold my breath . . . . . sorry for the Rant . . . . but I blame Xfinity for my insanity
BIslander
Problem Solver
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651 Messages
1 day ago
Do you need to use a wireless X1 box? We have four wired X1 boxes and have never had the problem you describe.
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tetvet678
Frequent Visitor
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14 Messages
20 hours ago
** _ UPDATE: I forgot to include that I believe the issue comes in the middle of the night when the X1 Black box updates. Although, as I sit here now 28 SAug 2026 @9:54PM I have only been 'allowed' to watch about 35 minutes of 20/20, Cary Stayner story, 'Evil in Eden.' It is as if once I get the little black box to provide content I should just leave the TV on and bypass the 'Update' prompt when it appears.
To reiterate; Coax Cable (TV & Internet) comes into the house; this cable goes to the Xfinity XB10 Gateway router; the ARRIS Xi6 black box receives a wi-fi signal from the XB10 router/modem; the ONLY ports on the Xi6 are Power (IN), HDMI (OUT) and Ethernet. The Xi6 black box is designed as a wireless receiver for the TV signal from the XB10 router.
I just can't believe that I am one of FEW customers (NOT a 'member' as they like to refer) not able to have seamless TV reception.
_ * UPDATE: 29 Aug 2026 @ 2:43PM PT
In regard to the Xi6-T TX061AEI TV Box, I find it odd that no matter where I go on these Boards or on the Internet, the information found denies there is a BUTTON on the underside of the Xi6-T TV box. If that is true then what is the item in the following image. . . and what does it do? Reset? Power?
(edited)
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BIslander
Problem Solver
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651 Messages
11 hours ago
The wireless Xi6 is one of two 4K boxes. The other is the wired XG1v4 DVR. We have two XG1v4s in our house along with two of the little companion boxes in other rooms. All four X1 boxes use wired coax connections. Of course, that means you have to have a coax drop in the room with the TV. If you have coax in the room with your TV, I suggest trying a wired box instead of the Xi6.
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BIslander
Problem Solver
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651 Messages
6 hours ago
I would add that for wiring, the feed comes into the house and splits into four rooms. One room has an additional splitter with one output to an X1 box and the other to an XB8 modem for Internet. The XB8 plays no role in TV reception.
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