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Forum Discussion
craigwf
Sep 21, 2026Tutor
Problems with new AX2700
The first issue is universal with all Netgear products. Netgear's MAC address uses two slightly different size zeroes which make you think the larger, rounder one must be an "O." I spent an uncomfo...
StephenB
Sep 22, 2026Guru - Experienced User
craigwf wrote:Netgear's MAC address uses two slightly different size zeroes
I haven't noticed that myself. Where were you seeing this? On a label? In an app? Or possibly the web management UI?
In any event, MAC addresses are always shown in hexidecimal (by everyone, not just Netgear), so the only letters are A-F. Xfinity support should have known this.
craigwf wrote:The second day of expert assistance with this issue discovered the router had unknowingly created a public network which my game does not allow for direct connect play. Is that what is supposed to be the default network when you install a Netgear cable modem router these days? Of course not! For any number of reasons, mostly involving privacy and security, the default should be a private network. Make it so.
The private/public classification of networks is done by Windows, not the router. Windows always classifies a new network as public, as that is safest from a security perspective. The router has no control over that classification.