Trying to upgrade from the XB6 to the XB7 was a dismal failure. Getting the XB7 connected and recognized worked as expected. The speed wasn't any better though (with Ethernet cable connection or with Wi-Fi)...
The REAL PROBLEMS emerged when I needed to update the Port Forwards; it wasn't clear why the Port Forwards in the XB6 weren't imported, but trying to set them up in the XB7 was IMPOSSIBLE.
In seeking some Tech Support, the Comcast obtuse telephone menu system kept sending RESET signals to the Gateway, and there was absolutely no way to get through to a Human Being. I eventually posted a summary of the issues on the "@ComcastCares" Twitter account, and they immediately opened a Ticket that triggered daily phone calls from Comcast Tech Support, sometimes 3 a day... In speaking with about 10 Techs, all but two were misinformed about the Apps, and kept telling me to use the xFi App, which Comcast had replaced with the Xfinity App some time ago; they also weren't aware that Comcast had disbled the "Advanced > Port Forwarding" page on the Admin web App (which is accessed via the Router's IP Address).
The Xfinity App does have a page for the Port Forwards, and it pretends to let you edit them, BUT it displays "Something Went Wrong" when you try to save the updates. Likewise, the Admin App refers you to "xfinity.com/myxfi", which also pretends to let you edit the Port Forwards, but fails similarly when trying to save the changes. Both methods also fail when trying to delete existing Port Forwards, which I tried so I could enter the data new.
After more than 30 hours, I simply went back to the old XB6, which had retained the correct Port Forwards.
Throughout this, the Team at ComcastCares maintained a constant, constructive dialog with me, which was just about the only positive part of this experience.
What 'genius' at Comcast decided to remove the Port Forward editing capability from the Admin App?
Hello, I'm new on this site, and pretty new to Comcast/Xfinity. I thought that I'd give a little background to my interest in this discussion on the XB7 vs XB6. I live in the eastern panhandle of WV. I've waited for about 12 years to get some kind of decent internet speeds, starting with dial-up, then WildBlue satellite, then finally Frontier Communications which bought out about 26 states worth of Verizon's DSL internet, which I later heard were all the sites that had the worst of Verizon's capability that Frontier was supposed to upgrade, but at least in my area they never did until about 2 years ago, when their DSL service went from 750KBps to 1.5MBps DN and about 700KBps UP to 18MBps DN and 1MBps UP.
Right in back of our home is a large new development of homes and townhouses that all are connected to Comcast/Xfinity. They all have cable. Our road has absolutely none at all. So I contacted the head guy at this development to get the name of the Comcast guy I could talk to about getting their services to my home since since we were so close. Long and short of it was, not enough homes to make it worth their while, in other words, ROI, Comcast's Return On Investment. So, no they wouldn't do it.
Finally, I and a group of neighbors got together to contact Comcast to take us as a group that would pay an additional fee to get their services along our road. And after months and months of negotiations, they finally agreed. This past January, they finally completed installations of fiber and copper to the road and our homes. I immediately signed up for 1GBps on day one, and they provisioned me with an XB6 gateway. I found the XB6 WiFi to be poor coverage wise, so I switched to Bridge mode to use my Linksys EA9500-AC5400 1GB router for WiFi, which seems to have far better WiFi coverage, and leave the XB6 strictly as a modem, and for land line phone service.
My initial speeds to me, have been excellent, considering what I've had to deal with for the last 12 years. Using Ookla's SpeedTest, I measured repetively about 960MBps DN and 42MBps UP. For that I can't complain, at least so far.
In my area, an new Xfinity store just opened up and I asked about getting an XB7 gateway which was not available to me back in January, and they said yes, they had them and if I brought my XB6 in, the would give me a new XB7 at no cost to me. However, I also decided to do a little investigation and reviews of the XB7, and WOW, all I found was negative comments, and to stick with my working XB6, and NOT to get the XB7. I came across this forum's discussion on the XB7 vs XB6 and decided to weigh in and get your opinions. I don't want to wind up "downgrading" thinking that the XB7 would be an improvement due to my lack of knowledge. I would appreciate any and all advice as to what my best recommendations would be. Thanks in advance.
Bridging is really simple to do. Just go into the XB6/7 gateway, typically: http://10.0.0.1 and that will let you access the gateway's home page. You will have to login of course. Once in you should see "Gateway > At a Glance". Below the blue "Wi-Fi Configuration" bar you should see "Bridge Mode: Enable - Disable". It will be Enabled. To switch to Bridge Mode, click on DISABLE, which will disable the router function of the gateway, and turn it into a straight Modem without WiFi which your external router will then have to provide. This is what I did. Normally you wouldn't have two routers with WiFi functioning at the same time. To expand ethernet connectivity you can connect an ethernet switch that will allow more devices to be connected to your system, with your router providing all WiFi signals.
I just ran Ookla SpeedTest (ethernet direct, no WiFi):
Tests: 44 (Average between 2/15/2020 and today, 11/20/2020)
Highest Speed: 951.74
Average Speed: 871.07
11-20-2020 test: 944.96 DN 42.30 UP
11-19-2020 test: 950.33 DN 42.57 UP
11-19-2020 test: 943.47 DN 42.08 UP
11-15-2020 test: 946.23 DN 42.02
So the speeds with the XB6 still seem to be holding up very well so far.
As far as WiFi was concerned, I found my XB6 to be relatively poor. My existing Linksys EA9500-AC5400 1GB router was far better. That was why I switched to Bridge Mode on the XB6, and have never changed back. I can get WiFi pretty much anywhere in the house (3 storey). WiFi signals from my Linksys router to my Note 10+ measure in the vicinity of 400-450 on the low side to 600 to 650 on the high side using 5GHz, and of course is VERY dependent on location in the house and the number of users on the internet. So the values can be rather widespread. Using 2.4GHz they are lower, but work somewhat further away. I have any TV's that I can stream from hardwired to my router or ethernet switch to maintain higher speeds. I also use a TP-Link WiFi Extender in my detached garage which barely works on 2.4 due to the distance from my router in the house. But it works, and THAT is the name of the game. I use my ROKU on a TV in the garage, and for control of WiFi on a window A/C unit that I can control remotely.
Once Comcast/Xfinity got me connected I measured typically up to 960 MBps DN and 40 Mbps Up. That of course was using direct ethernet connection from XB6 to my router to my desktop computer, NO WiFi. The DN speeds of course did vary dependent on the number of users connected to the same node I'm connected to that were using the internet at the same time I was. More or less, I always got around 350 to 500 DN even at the worse times. Still way better than I ever had withOUT Comcast/Xfinity.
As far as Port Forwarding goes, I also use that for a video surveillance camera system. Port forwarding data is entered in my Linksys router configuration page, which I have been using from day one, way before Comcast/Xfinity ever was here. It's used to allow me to monitor and playback videos from the cameras remotely either on my desktop computer monitor or my cellphone anywhere. I never tried to do port forwarding on the XB6 since I switched to Bridge Mode, and wasn't using the gateway for anything but a modem.
Based on all that I have been reading on this community forum, DSL Reports and any other various and sundry sites, it's pretty clear to me to NOT let go of this XB6 gateway, period! As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And it isn't broke! So I will keep it.
On another note, I thought I saw that there was a new software upgrade for the XB7. Or was that for the XB6? If there is one for the XB7, is there a new update for the XB6? My current software version (and the one that came with it as far as I know) is:
eMTA & DOCSIS Software Version: 7.2.2.0.104
Software Image Name: TG3482PC2_4.2p14s1_PROD_sey
Advanced Services: TG3482G
My System Hardware is:
Model: TG3482G
Vendor: ARRIS Group, Inc.
Hardware Revision: 14
Serial Number: 9992H19GBExxxx
Processor Speed: 3999.78 MHz
DRAM Total Memory: 671 MB
DRAM Used Memory: 459 MB
DRAM Available Memory: 212 MB
Flash Total Memory: 12427 MB
Flash Used Memory: 12389 MB
Flash Available Memory: 38 MB
One question: Can you add or attach photos, and if so, how do you do that, not involving using a URL. Like copy and paste, etc. Thanks
Anyway that's what I've got for the moment. I hope it's of interest.