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RBR50 on Xfinity: Avoiding two separate networks?
I recently got the Xfinity internet/TV service (called Hélix over here) and just plugged in my RBR50 into one the Xfinity box ports and that was it. Everything has access to the internet including th...
This is an awkward question. There are two WiFi networks because the Xfinity and the Orbi are both creating WiFi networks. Putting the Orbi into Access Point (AP) mode will not change that.
If all of the devices that are currently connected to the Xfinity WiFi are connected instead to the Orbi WiFi, then everything will be on one network and everything will be 'visible' to everything else.
Most customers would go into the Xfinity management system and disable WiFi because it is no longer needed.
It is an awkward question because there is an additional complication. The Xfiniity router and the Orbi router are both 'routers'. This creates what is called a "Double NAT". (do an internet search) Thousands of customers are blissfully unaware that having "two routers" can be a problem because none of their activities are affected. For those few who ARE affected by a Double NAT, there are a number of solutions.
Bottom Line: Only have one WiFi network. Turn off the Xfinity WiFi and connect all devices to the Orbi WiFi.
I don't mind the rambling CrimpOn 🙂
I'm just trying to understand and your answer was interesting (and entertaining 🙂).
What about throughput for my Xfinity tv boxes, is the RBR50 fast enough?
SdeGat wrote:
What about throughput for my Xfinity tv boxes, is the RBR50 fast enough?
I know nothing about how TV works with Xfinity.
- My Spectrum cable, for example, provisions television separately from voice and separately from internet. I use a cable splitter and route one cable to my Tivo (ancient technology lives on!) and one cable to the Spectrum modem which has an ethernet jack for internet and a phone jack for voice.
- If I "cut the cord" and went with some combination of antenna and streaming service(s), then Yes, the Orbi would provide approximately the same throughput as an ISP router.
- With the spread of fiber to the home (FTTH), people are posting about their issues with requiring tagged VLANs to support IPTV.
- Is there a coax output from the Xfinity box to provide service to TVs? If so, then the Xfinity box may need to stay. Do you get phone service through the Xfinity box?
Bottom line: Beats Me.
CrimpOn wrote:- Is there a coax output from the Xfinity box to provide service to TVs? If so, then the Xfinity box may need to stay. Do you get phone service through the Xfinity box?
No coax output from Xfinity, the concept is that the tv service is now through the internet with one TV box per tv (that each connects to Xfinity wifi like Apple TV I guess). I do not subscribe to the phone service.
- Is there a coax output from the Xfinity box to provide service to TVs? If so, then the Xfinity box may need to stay. Do you get phone service through the Xfinity box?
- The Xfinity TV boxes are the big unknown. Either call Xfinity or search their user forum.