activate my modem xfinity.com/activate doesn't work https://register.be.xfinity.com/activate does

I tried to follow the instructions but xfinity.com/activate is blocked so the redirection doesn't work from the cable modem here in palo alto at least.  I tried to do it from the phone, but it doesn't work, I guess it needs to go through the modem connection to get the serial number of mac address.  I finally noticed that the phone redirected to register.be.xfinity.com

I typed that on the computer and it went thorugh and activated.

The 1-800-xfinity is just a phone voice that won't ever connect you to a human at all, just wants to reset your modem, which your old modem,  if you say activate it says you don't have any new equipment.  Wasted several hours at this, even let it reset once to prove my sincerity.  But all it does it suggest another reset.