Regular Visitor
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8 Messages
Admin tool no longer allowing numerous changes
It seems Comcast/Xfinity have intentionally removed the ability to change many settings from the local admin tool, forcing you to use the 'Xfinity' (aka XFi) app. As an IT professional who assists many users remotely (via remote connections to their computers), this is a terrible inconvenience as I don't have access to the user's phone to make the settings there. The only way I can think of helping them is to ask them to give me their comcast account login details so I can use XFi on my phone to log into their account, which is not something I'm comfortable asking (and is difficult due to 2-factor authentication schemes). Many of my users are not too great at following instructions so trying to guide them in what to do on their phone, without being able to see it myself, is impractical. Why was this decision made, and is there any workaround? The local admin tool has been around forever and WORKS.
I would also note - there's a ton of outdated information on the internet about how to use the various 'Apps' to make changes. None of the 'how to's' I found online - even on Xfinity sites - were accurate in terms of what steps to follow. I understand this is because the apps are continually evolving, but still - updating the documentation library is a basic requirement. Further - today I finally gave up trying to figure out how to set up separate 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz SSIDs and tried to contact comcast/xfinity. The only way seemed to be through the 'xfinity' app. Trying to type in their 'chat' app, while reviewing settings in the same app, was impossible (the 'chat' window does not allow you to toggle back to the settings section). Further - the agent referred to 'the xfinity app'. Have you tried to find 'the xfinity app' in google's Play Store? Type in 'xfinity' and you get a ton of matching apps, and not one of them is labeled as 'XFi'. There's 'xfinity', 'xfinity my account', 'xfinity home', 'xfinity mobile', etc. It's not obvious which app you are supposed to be using.
I'm guessing Comcast are trying to save money and only supporting one 'app' or 'interface', but - moving to a solution that requires a mobile app exclusively seems very misguided. For myself, I'll just stop using the xfinity-provided devices and use my own modem/gateway, but I can't dictate that for my clients. It took me the better part of an afternoon to figure out how to setup two separate SSIDs, and I'm an experienced professional!
NoNoBadPuppy
Problem Solver
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542 Messages
2 years ago
If you want more than the most rudimentary control over your own network, you have to ditch the hardware provided by comcast. As long as you use *any* hardware provided by them, you will not have more than the most meager control over any aspect of your network.
Please see this link for guidance:
https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/list-of-approved-cable-modems
I would suggest buying hardware that supports the fastest speed that you can afford.
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Steerpike58
Regular Visitor
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8 Messages
2 years ago
Well that's certainly becoming the case recently, but I've been working with comcast for over 20 years and it's never been this difficult to do something as simple as changing the SSID! I've bought several cable modems over the years and had no issues once registered.
However - my bigger issue is - I have to help others and I can't tell them they have to buy their own modem to accomplish something as simple as a network name change, so I'm still wondering why they have done this, and whether there is some workaround I'm not familiar with. This is new for 2022 as far as I can tell.
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NoNoBadPuppy
Problem Solver
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542 Messages
2 years ago
If you are unable or unwilling to tell them to get their own hardware, then you are going to have to be brutally honest with them and tell them the truth. Tell them that as long as they use the hardware supplied by xfinity, there is very little anyone can to to have fine grained control over their own home network. It is what it is, and comcast is not going to suddenly allow everyone to have a high level of control over the hardware they are leasing. If I were in your shoes, I would always first recommend them buying their own hardware, then tell them that if they are unwilling or unable to do so, then they will have to learn to live with the draconian lockdown that xfinity has on their hardware.
The truth is always the best option, even when it is difficult and perhaps not what anyone wants to hear.
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