Wifi On Xfi Gateway Is Mostly Useless

Sounds like maybe the merged 2.4 & 5Ghz bug has struck again.  There are lots of complaints about it on here.  Which gateway do you have?  Any chance it's an XB7?  Do you have separate network names for 2.4GHz and 5GHz or just one?  Some of the Comcast gateways cause problems with merged SSIDs.  If you just have one you can try splitting the 2.4GHz and 5GHz onto separate SSIDs.  This won't work if you're using pods.  It may be partly the fault of the devices, but my 3rd party access points are running merged and I've had no issues with my Roku, Android devices, a really old kindle, a printer that's about as old as your iMac & tablet, a cheap 2016 netbook, etc. so it smells like there's a gateway issue here too.

You could buy your own modem and router/mesh system or buy a combo modem + WiFi router unit.  It can save $ in the long run unless you have unlimited data.  It's $30 a month for unlimited data for your own hardware or $25 including the gateway rental fee.  I'd be more annoyed with this is I had unlimited data, but so far I haven't needed it.

You don't have to put the gateway in bridge mode to use something else for WiFi.  You can just get one or more access points or put WiFi routers in access point mode.  You could probably even use a mesh system - but check the manual.  You'll just want to turn off WiFi on the gateway or, if that isn't possible, manually set its channels to 20MHz width and cram them into a corner.  For 5GHz I'd put it on channel 165.  It's a 20Mhz wide channel that doesn't combine with anything to create a 40Mhz, 80MHz or 160Mhz wide channel.  2.4Ghz is a bit of a mess since all the channels overlap with others, but really it shouldn't matter much as long as nothing is using it.  A WiFi access point/gateway/etc. that's idle and has no clients connected doesn't generate much interference.

I'd totally run an ethernet cable 60' or so to my Roku if I could.  I already pulled a couple cat6 and one coaxial cable across my unfinished basement and up through the wall to a jack behind the entertainment center, but alas I have a cheaper model Roku that's WiFi only.

Split the 2.4 & 5Ghz is just the standard suggestion I see on here for that problem.  I don't have an XB7 (use my own equipment) but maybe someone will chime in and tell you how to do it.

By a gateway issue I just mean an issue with the XB7.  In other words a bug.  Comcast calls their rented devices "gateways," and based on what I've seen on here I think the XB7 has a bug that breaks more than a few WiFi clients.

I don't have any special magic settings for my devices.  For the Roku I just selected the WiFi SSID I wanted it to use and punched in the password using the remote.  I'm pretty sure the key difference is that I'm not using an XB7 for WiFi.  I doubt exactly what I'm using matters much, but I have a couple of TP-Link Omada SDN EAP610 access points.

I wouldn't recommend the rest of my network setup to most people.  I work in IT and I'm using mostly business grade equipment.  Wired commercial router, 10Gb SFP+ switch, fiber to some of my machines, etc.

Running cables through a Florida attic in summer doesn't sound like fun.  It might be worth it once the weather cools off if you want a really nice WiFi setup though.  Ceiling mounted access points with a wired backhaul to the router is about as good as it gets.  They look like oversized smoke detectors so you can probably get them past the interior decorator.

I really think you need to ditch the XB7 WiFi or try to get Comcast to replace it.  I can't imagine that they wouldn't have done something about it if all XB7s were causing this problem and making everything but a couple Windows machines fail.  If you have a high speed plan (900 or 1200) you might be able to get your hands on an XB8.  They're new and in short supply.

Thank you for your reply.  I appreciate your willingness to share your information.

I was trying to avoid having to purchase my own equipment, but that seems to be the best, and maybe only, solution.