If you need any further motivation to get rid of your overpriced modem rental fee, I just unearthed a big one. Ever wonder how Comcast’s Xfinity WiFi is able to provide so many public WiFi connections? Well, it turns out that if you are leasing a modem from Comcast (or other ISPs), they are likely using it as a public WiFi hotspot, without you even knowing it.
And it gets better…
Not only are you paying an outrageous $14 per month ($168 per year) with the latest Xfinity modem rental fee increase on top of your overpriced internet package to lease a sub-par modem, but Comcast is then using that very same modem that you are being overcharged for to provide Xfinity hotspot WiFi service to other Xfinity customers as a perk (they even used to offer “On Demand” plans to anyone for a price, but now solely offer Xfinity hotspots to subscribers).
One of the big downsides of this is that it could be slowing down your overall speed. At any given moment a limited amount of bandwidth can go through your device, after all.
On top of that, it’s been estimated that there is an incremental cost of electricity for using their 2 antenna modems, even if nobody is connecting to your modem other than you.
Furthermore, they are doing it without your permission by automatically opting you in via their terms of service (there is a way to opt-out your modem from Comcast public wifi hotspot use, which I’ll detail in a bit). I mean, why not offer to wipe out customers leased modem fees (or at least provide a discount) if they opt in to using the modem as a public WiFi hotspot?
Do you feel your blood starting to boil? Comcast has a long history of sticking it to its customers, from overpriced leased modem rental fees (and even erroneous modem rental fees when you have your own unit), to never-ending price increases, and painful price negotiations, and other customer service battles.
So, let’s stick em back.
How to Opt-Out or Disable your Comcast Public WiFi Hotspot
Disabling or opting your modem out of the Comcast Xfinity public WiFi hotspot network is fairly simple on the surface, but there have been reports of customers running into issues, and you may have to periodically re-opt-out. Go here to manage your preferences and “turn off” (it is turned “on” by default).
If you run into issues, call Comcast customer service at 1-800-934-6489 (1-800-XFINITY).
The Best Way to Turn Off Comcast’s Public WiFi Hotspot: Get Rid of your Leased Modem
Disabling the Comcast Xfinity public wifi hotspot feature is one way to prevent your modem from being used as a hotspot. However, it still leaves you with an overpriced modem rental fee and a device that uses more electricity than a typical modem/router combo.
There are a few ways to get rid of your Comcast Xfinity modem rental fee, but my best recommendation is to simply replace a leased Comcast modem with your own. It’s been estimated that over 90% of Comcast customers lease their modem, which is a costly mistake (currently $14/month or $168/year for their standard gateway, or $25/month or $300/year for “xFi Complete”). When you use your own modem/router, Comcast is not able to use it as a hotspot automatically.
I have personally replaced my Comcast Xfinity modem with my own modem + router. Any of the following combos will pay for themselves in the first year (compared to a leased router/modem), and then would be free for life after. And the setup and switch was simple enough for anyone to do. Customers of other ISPs can also cut their modem rental fee.
Recommended Modems (to pair with routers below):
- Motorola MB8611: up to 2.33 Gbps
- Netgear CM2000: up to 2.33 Gbps
- Arris S33: up to 2.33 Gbps
If you want Xfinity Voice, go with either the Netgear CM2050v (up to 2.33 Gbps) or Arris T25 (up to 949 Mbps). Note: you can just as easily (and at a big cost savings) add landline voice (VOIP) functionality by connecting an Ooma device to your router.
If you want a gateway (modem and router combined in 1 device), I don’t recommend that because they aren’t as reliable and you can’t upgrade one half, but the Arris G36 (up to 2.33 Gbps and WiFi 6) and Netgear CAX30 (up to 949 Mbps and WiFi 6) are good value options.
All offer great value and top speeds.
- TP-Link AX3000 – WiFi 6: up to 3 Gbps (2.402 Gbps on 5GHz band + 575 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band)
So do yourself a favor – cut your Comcast bill while simultaneously preventing Comcast from driving up its profit margins on your back. And, while you’re at it, you should also cut your Xfinity DVR/TV Box fee, as it’s costing you over $100/year.