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Forum Discussion
How to connect to Comcast internet
Can’t get my xfinity modem to allow orbi to access network. Have followed all instructions. Can anyone help? Thanks, Jon.
31 Replies
You may need to add the mac address of the orbi to the allow list of the xfinitys modem.
DarrenM
The Comcast modems don't need any MAC addresses whitelisted. As long as the modem's MAC address is known to Comcast then anything connected to it should work. Does your computer get internet if connected directly to the modem, i.e., without the Orbi? What exact setup choices are you using?
Mikey, Thanks for your response (and for the prior one as well). My Powerbook connects fine when I default to the Comcast modem's wifi. And I'm not sure how to answer the "setup choices" question. I put the comcast modem into bridge mode, which is all that comcast online instructions tell you and is what one of their chat agents said as well. Then I follow the Orbi instructions, which are essentially to plug in the cable and then turn it on. When I set-up the Orbi, I get the wifi signal on my devices, but it doens't connect through the modem. And just to say, I have been using the Apple Timecapsule for several years now without a problem. Got the orbi because I need to extend the range of our wifi coverage without losing signal strength.
Also on Comcast. The first time that I connected the Orbi to my Comcast modem, I needed to clone my PC's MAC address using the Orbi admni GUI to get it to be recognized by Comcast. First time I've had to do that in years. Since then, I've been able to go back to MAC address of the Orbi, but intitially needed the Orbi to pretend to be my PC. Surprised me at the time.
The other thing is this Netgear support article on switching the Orbi to AP mode:
https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point
I hads this problem too. Here's how I fixed it:
I logged on to the Xfinity router admin page (10.0.0.1) using admin/password. Went to Connections->Wifi-> and turned off both 2.4 & 5 Ghz wifi signals. For our purposes here, this effectively turns the router into a simple modem (no wifi router function, but the ethernet ports still act as a router).
Plugged in my Orbi, waited for it to boot up, and then logged onto its wifi SSID (it was already connected to my Xfinity modem). From there, I went to the ORBI admin page (also at 10.0.0.1) using the admin & password I previously set up on it (or if you haven't done this, use the default). Happily, I received a message stating that the Orbi router's IP address had been changed to 172.x.x.x to avoid a conflict with the Xfinity modem. So turning on bridge mode on the Xfinity modem doesn't address the basic fact that the two routers had conflicting IP address catalogs. With some good engineering, the Orbi team has provided a way for the router to automatically reassign its own IP addresses. Now works flawlessly.
Just purchased this and installed it yesterd, Comcast tried to go to bridge mode with my Comcast Arris router/modem....of course it didn't work....so they left the 2.4 and 5.0 bands active on the Arris router so i could connect to the Orbi router.
my questions are - will this interfere with optimal speed? how do i turn it off without having to redo everything? current Orbi wifi speed is pretty good throughout all rooms
What is the Model# of the Arris modem/router combo?
Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, LAN to LAN and configure AP mode on the Orbi router.
jp4120 wrote:
Just purchased this and installed it yesterd, Comcast tried to go to bridge mode with my Comcast Arris router/modem....of course it didn't work....so they left the 2.4 and 5.0 bands active on the Arris router so i could connect to the Orbi router.
my questions are - will this interfere with optimal speed? how do i turn it off without having to redo everything? current Orbi wifi speed is pretty good throughout all rooms
Model Number is RBK33
I am not home, my wife just called and said the internet dropped - had to reset it from Comcast but wondering if this is due to the way i am configured. I will try to go into the router and disable all wifi radios on the modem.....but wont the Orbi router automatically pick up the IP address? i want to avoid having to call comcast again since its always painful.
