Been a while since I’ve posted here… Long story short, I need to move to an apartment building to help take care of relatives with mobility issues, and want to setup some Wyze cams to keep an eye on them while I’m out during the day.
Unfortunately the building only allows Xfinity so I’m looking for any tips/setup recommendations. I will separate the 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands for sure. Is there any particular modem/router that work well for others? I’m hoping I can just bring my Asus RT-AX86U but never used it in an apartment building before.
Hi. I don’t know that Asus router. But there should be no problem just plugging it in to a wired port on the Xfinity router and ignore the Xfinity WiFi signal. Then just use the ASUS like you wish.
As for a different router. I suspect any would work, but these days I would use a Mesh system of 2 or 3 scattered in different rooms. You probably could even use an older mesh system of WiFi 6 or even 5.
My personal suggestion from when I had Xfinity (I tried many Xfinity models):
Purchase your own modem so they don’t lock you out of half the settings and control your DNS, etc.
Buy your own router…basically ANY other router besides their stock router to use instead of their stock router (your ASUS will work well for this)
If you are definitely going to use their stock gateway, I would personally recommend still getting a separate router and put the gateway in bridge mode and let the Router do all the security, etc. (Yes, let your ASUS handle everything)
If you aren’t going to put it in Bridge mode, at least turn off the Gateway wifi and run your ASUS in Bridge mode instead.
If you’re definitely going use an Xfinity gateway and no other router, then then just make sure you are getting ANYTHING newer than the XB7. DO NOT ACCEPT THE XB7 GATEWAY! Tell them that’s non-negotiable. Run a search in this forum on XB7 if you really want to know why. It has MAJOR conflicts with TUTK, which is a lot of Wyze cams and other companies too. It will frustrate you.
I recommend trying to change the DNS from Xfinity’s default DNS to ANY other DNS provider, regardless of whether you choose Google, or Cloudflare or literally almost ANYONE else. Otherwise you’re asking for Xfinity to spy on all your internet activity, sell your data, throttle you, and cause lots of connectivity problems. It’s been demonstrated that they do this.
Thanks @Sam_Bam and @carverofchoice! Seems the unit comes with a modem and router already, but I’m quite sure it’s from Xfinity. I’ll have to see if I can replace them with my own…
If you find out the model of the gateway (modem router combination) that’s already there is an XB7, be sure to put it in Bridge mode and have your router be the main thing in control of the network. Otherwise you might have some issues with some devices (Wyze and others), but your router can be put in charge of the network and security and make things run better.
Turns out the previous tenant took the gateway with them so now all I have is this. Since I will probably have to get a modem as well, I’ve ordered the Netgear CAX30 DOCSIS3.1. Hopefully it will work well and Xfinity won’t give me grief for using my own equipment during activation.
Maybe if the walls are solid concrete. Regular stud and sheetrock walls are going to hinder WiFi a little, but its more a range issue than blocked issue in most situations. In as few words as I can, I doubt it for him.
If the signal is bad I might have to run a wire out the closet and setup the modem router on the wall. Or at least outside the metal mini-closet. Or setup a mesh as @Sam_Bam suggested.
Assuming those ethernet wires are working and terminated properly (and at the wall), then you’ll have multiple options to place your ASUS RT-AX86U router throughout the apartment and then set the modem into bridge mode to avoid double NAT, but that is purely optional.
Alternatively, you can also place the CAX30 modem where there’s spare coaxial wall outlet. However, you might have to look into how the coax wiring is done especially with that 9-way splitter going on.
Ah… now all those Ethernet and coaxial cables in the metal mini-closet make sense to me. I was never quite the network person and didn’t notice all the outlets throughout the apartment. If this is the case I can setup a modem and my main ASUS in the closet and plug my ASUS router nodes into the Ethernet outlets around the apartment for a wired mesh.
I do remember seeing coaxial outlets around the apartment but I’d rather keep a cable modem inside the closet and use the ASUS routers I have, if possible, in case I need a mesh.
I was able to connect the Arris S33 modem (thanks @StevenA!) in the closet and setup one of my Asus routers in the living room. Thankfully I plugged the right Ethernet cable into the modem, so the living room ethernet port is active. Connected my Pan V3 to the WiFi and so far no issues. Will probably add a V4 as well, but so far looks like I don’t need more nodes for the apartment.
It has MAJOR conflicts with TUTK, which is a lot of Wyze cams and other companies too. It will frustrate you.
