bridge mode steps for mesh router setup

I actually haven't done this yet, waiting for a moment when I don't need the Wi-Fi system up and running for work. As soon as I do it I'll report back what happened. Hopefully, it all works out.

Well I am currently running my XB8 in bridge mode. Primarily because the moment I had them upgrade my internet to the 2G plan my WiFi coverage from the XB8, that was already installed and working perfectly fine on the 1G plan, went to complete [Edited: "Language"]. Cut the range and download speeds almost in half. Nobody on the stupid ask XFINITY app could get it fixed and a tech come to the house who couldn’t understand why it did it either. He installed another brand new XB8 and nothing got better.

Here is how I know it’s an issue with the XB8.

I was running it AND my Deco BE65 pro mesh network at the same time.(yes I know double NAT) Before the speed upgrade I had ZERO issues with either system. After the upgrade the XB8 network goes to [Edited: "Language"] but the Deco network still provided speeds and range MUCH greater than the XB8. So obviously a XB8 issue.

so…

I put the dumb thing in bridge mode and now I am running the Deco BE65 Pro mesh system off of it by itself. That system seems to be doing fine even though I still don’t believe I’m getting the full 2G speed that I should.

as an example:

before the upgrade I could put my iPhone15 pro right next to the either the XB8 or the Deco router while connected to the 6 GHz band and even on a 1G plan it would pull about 1100 download speed using speednet from either one.

After the download to the 2G plan when I put my iPhone next to the routers, and still on the 6 GHz band, it would only pull about 600-700 on the XB8 network and around 800-900 on the Deco network.

NOW after the tech did all he did and the XB8 still didn’t change, I have it in bridge mode and run just the Deco network. So when I put my iPhone right by my Deco router now it will still only pull 1200-1350 even though now I’m on a 2G plan.

Granted that could very well be a limitation of the iPhone itself.

 One very big problem, for me at least, with having the XB8 in bridge mode is that you can no longer access any of the data or settings from the XFINITY app. So you can’t test the actual internet speed coming from Comcast into the XB8. The only thing you can do with it in bridge mode is restart it through the troubleshoot button. So kind of a big pain [Edited: "Language"].

I would put the Deco in access point mode instead of router mode, but then you’re running the Xfinity network and you lose the whole Wi-Fi 7 aspect of the Deco

Thanks for the reply. I believe your issue is actually with your iphone, I've seen lots of videos from people who test the wifi 7 mesh units and they will check speeds with mulitple devices, some android, and iphones and they repeatidly say that the iphone is slower due to a hardware limitation. Can you tell me if your experience putting the XB8 into bridge mode was easy? other than the issues you were describing above which is a shame. I'm going to attempt it this weekend with my Be63's, I'm also on the 2 gig plan at the moment. I did not see the slower speeds when they upgraded us like you did though.

Update! I finally did the swap to the Deco Be63 2 unit mesh system. Everything is working great! No issues with much better speed in the furthest parts of the house. Following my steps listed in my initial post worked perfectly.