This is very troubling, and I’m not even sure where to start. I recently received an email message from my ISP which alerted me to an incoming update. I didn’t worry too much since this is obviously not the first update they’ve ever pushed through.
However, after this update, I noticed that my guest connections and some other things had changed / disappeared. I logged on to my router, and I immediately noticed my custom password had been reset to the default. No problem, I entered it.
At this point, I saw that all of my options were greyed out. I could change the password, which I did, but nothing else. I immediately called my ISP.
I was told that I would have to use their app now, so as much as I dislike using proprietary phone apps, I conceded and installed the app through the Play store.
However, the agent was not entirely honest with me. I still can’t bifurcate my 2.4g and 5g connections, nor can I add or remove any guest connections. I immediately enabled “privacy mode” via the app, which purportedly prevents information from being collected by something called “HomePass,” and I “Delete[d] Guard events” whatever the hell that means, but this seems really troubling. I can no longer access my modem/router settings via the normal interface, but have to use an Android app?
There is only one other ISP in my area. They have much worse/slower service, but should I switch, or is this just the “new normal”? Does what I’m describing even make sense? I’m not a tech expert, but I feel like I’ve self-taught myself how to navigate these settings, and learned from others in online forums, but now … an Android app?
I’d appreciate any advice. I’d even be willing to purchase my own modem/router instead of using the one from my ISP, if that fixes this mess.
Edit: So I need my own router, at least. I did some research, and these are the ones I can get locally that are within my budget:
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TP-Link Archer AC1900 Dual-Band Mu-Mimo Wi-Fi Router with Gigabit Port
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Linksys AC1200 Dual Band WiFi 5 Router
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TP-Link Archer AX1500 WiFi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router | up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds
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TP-Link Archer C54 | AC1200 MU-MIMO Dual-Band WiFi Router
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NETGEAR - Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Router, 1.9Gbps (R6900) I’VE BEEN WARNED AGAINST NETGEAR THOUGH IN OTHER FORUMS
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TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds
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TP-Link Archer AX3000 | 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 3 Gbps Speeds
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Linksys E7350 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Router
Am I right in thinking the TP-Link AX3000 is best?
Edit 2: At first, I bought the Netgear AC1900, which seemed like a great deal. Turns out it was unusable without creating a netgear account, so I returned it in exchange for the TP-Link Archer AX1500, and it appears to be working! I got everything set up pretty close to the way it was before, except even better.
Once I save money, I’ll also invest in a different modem and return this one to my ISP.
This was a big wake-up call for me in terms of privacy. I never listened to people saying not to use your ISP’s equipment because I always trusted my ISP (it’s not one of the big name ones). Never trust a company. Lesson learned. I appreciate all the responses I got! This community is great!
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Never use their router. Obviously for the issue you’re having now, but also for financial reasons. They charge ridiculous fees for renting their shit routers when buying one for like $120 will be a significant upgrade over there’s and will start saving money like 6 to 8 months in. Also it’s not tied to the company, so you get to keep it.
And the same goes for modems. Those monthly equipment fees add up fast.
I spent about $200 on a router and modem when I moved into my last apartment, they have already paid for themselves based on the fees that Xfinity would’ve charged to “rent” the equipment. Plus they’re significantly better than the equipment that isp’s provide
I even had the tech try to install their own router after I’d told them I’d be using my own hardware, and then he ARGUED with me that theirs was better and faster. Didn’t ask for your opinion, install the service the way I asked, I know what I’m talking about in this space.
I’ve had bad luck with all the name brand router wifi combos. I’ve tried several high end models, from tplink to linksys to net gear. I’ve finally built a pfsense box as a router/firewall (qotom mini pc) and I’ve switched to ubiquity ap6 in my house. Finally something that works well for me.
Granted it depends on what you’re comfortable with and what you use your devices for. I’m using vlans and vpns and different interfaces for various different things so I need the extra functionality pfsense offers.
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Welcome to xFinity Xfi or whatever they call their crap.
Get your own router (that saves you 10$ a month and sparesy from this crap)
Or if you can’t replace their modem, then get your own and use theirs in bridge mode
At first I thought that I couldn’t use bridge mode, but it looks like I can.
I think I’ll go this route to start with, but eventually replace the modem, too.
I’ve noticed there’s an extremely wide range in prices for wifi routers. Is there really that much difference between them?
Since they’ve disabled pretty much everything except the password, I imagine they’ve disabled bridge mode as well…
I work for a German ISP (which happens to have a big mobile phone daughter in the US) and the thought of an ISP being able to do this without anything one can do against it is bonkers to me. I was just reminded from the comments here that you folks over there usually do not have aftermarket routers with modems built in. I mean, I’m using my employers router of course since it was way cheaper than any alternative but the thing will not lock me out of any settings because if it did that, ppl would just stop using it.
Sounds like Comcast lol they suck. It sounds like you are using the router provided by your isp. Try getting your own equipment (router/modem).
Btw, for the proprietary apps try Shelter/Insular and TrackerControl.
Depending on where you live you might just let your ISP give you a modem and you can choose the router yourself. ISPs use the TR-069 protocol which allows them to manage and administrate the router they gave you. This is probably what they did when they made the changes you mentioned. It even allows them to analyze your whole home network. Thanks to this they can spy on you if they want to. So my advice is to just get a modem from them and choose your own router because then they can’t spy on you. My advice is to use OPNsense, it’s open source.
Edit: Bridge mode + your own router so they can’t spy on your home network would also do the trick.
I think I’m going to go with your edit, at least for now. I just need to look into which router is good and in my budget.
You should out the ISP by name. Fuck those guys
I know, but like I’ve said before, that would also be a bad choice for me regarding my own personal privacy.
If I felt comfortable doing so, I would have named them immediately because I’m utterly disgusted with this shit.
Ask for bridge mode and install your own router. It’s the first and most important step towards privacy. Also sounds like you got plume devices. Only use them in Wi-Fi bridge mode. You retain some of heir functions and utilities but you’ll still be in control of your network.
Talk to your ISP about getting a modem only, without a built-in router, then purchase a separate router of your own. All-in-one modem/router combos are generally kind of crap anyway, and one that your ISP can control directly is obviously a problem on top of that. I get why they’d do that: most users don’t know a damn thing about how to properly set up their network, and being able to change settings without walking the users through it would simplify things. Still crap, but I get why.
Even if you have to buy your own modem, definitely go for a modem-only device and a separate router. Personally I go the extra length of having a modem, a separate wired-only router, and a separate wireless access point for wifi. Combo devices have a habit of not managing memory well and needing to be reset more often.
Never use the ISP provided equipment on your network. Even if you must use their modem and router, have them turn of the wifi, and connect your router to their garbage using the WAN port to connect from their LAN port with nothing else connected. If they refuse to turn off their wifi and you can’t do so through the admin, cover their crap in a Faraday cage to kill the signal. Always enter your own DNS settings on your router, never use their DNS. Make sure to use an encrypted DNS to avoid them hijacking it.
I’m pretty sure they can’t refuse. At least in the US. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I never saw a router without an Ethernet port
RJ45 isn’t the only connector.
I wouldnt say thats normal … (at least here in germany).
Maybe consider using the isp device as modem only and use your own router?
Use that shit as a modem and get another device for your internals.
So I just got off a chat with an agent who tells me if I provide my own equipment that I will be able to use the settings as normal and delete the phone app, but that I have to use one from their supported modem list.
I’m thinking about the Arris SBG8300.
I know you’re on a budget, but avoid Intel puma based modems. The raw specs look good, they’re the only 8x32 channel docsis 3.0, but they have a big that causes a serious jitter.
https://lookgadgets.com/articles/intel-puma-modems-list/
Personally, I have an Arris S33. The 8200 is good too, those are both docsis 3.1 and more future-ready but $150+. The 8300 you mentioned is an Intel puma, so maybe keep looking. You might be stuck with a 24 channel modem.
Bookmarking this for reference when I’m ready to buy a modem
Arris makes good stuff. But that is just the cable modem. It will NOT provide any router protection for your home network. Your network topology should look like this:
ISP -> your cable modem -> your router -> everything else
Honestly, if you don’t have need for many ethernet connections, just get a wifi router with good reviews and the arris cable modem. Make sure the cable modem you pick up has the right DOCSIS version for the speed you are getting or plan to upgrade to. Your ISP will be able to tell you what version they are on.
Personally i use Isp network - ISP router - cable - my own router wifi + cable
So ISP router only does wired communication and my own router handles all internal devices as well as wifi. That way you get more control at the cost of slightly more electricity.
Please forgive my ignorance, but this would need an additional wireless router? Isn’t it built into the device?
I do understand your flowchart, but it seems to me that this model covers both the modem and router aspects.
(To be clear, this might be my own ignorance. I do remember before they had modems with wireless built in, I would connect an additional wireless router, but I might be behind the times again.)
I would advise against a combo unit, what’s your provider, speed tier, and how much are you looking to spend? By the way, if you have a larger home/area you plan on covering, you’ll likely need to spend more.
So I’m not disclosing my provider’s name since I live in a sparsely populated area, and I try to avoid accidentally doxxing myself, but: https://librespeed.org/results/?id=085pib3
I could spend $50 - 100. Anymore than that, and I’d be scared of not making ends meet for the month.
I was mostly asking for the provider since they almost always have a small list of acceptable modems. Unless you can copy and paste the ones you know they’ll accept, it’ll be hard to know if they’ll allow it. Plus, buying a combo unit is usually a big mistake, as they tend to be garbage and overpriced. Buying separate sounds like extra steps, but from experience it’s the way to go.
Oh, I see! Here is the list. I don’t want to pressure you for advice, but if you have any, I’d sure like to hear it!
That would do both, but I wouldn’t buy that personally. Make’s troubleshooting a connection problem more difficult, and also if the device fails there’s two things you have to replace instead of just one. I’d go with a separate cable modem and router.
Arris makes good stuff.
Except when they hardcode the challenge for logging into the admin console into their web frontend. To call the firmware code quality subpar would be an exaggeration.
Yeah I always own my own modem and router, just go that way. Check your isp for which modems are compatible with the service and check the latest reviews for a good router.
