Upgrading my network

badassbadali · June 10, 2020

My current network is a router/modem from the ISP. It is the Xfi XB6 with the follow specs:

Model Numbers: TG3482G and CGM4140COM
Friendly Model Name: XB6
Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 2
Dual-Band WiFi Option: Yes
Maximum Data Throughput: 1 Gbps
WPS (WiFi Protected Setup): Yes
Gateway/ Network Management Tool (http://10.0.0.1): Yes
Xfinity xFi Eligible: Yes
Xfinity xFi app Activation: Yes
Two Total Telephone Ports: Yes
Battery Backup Capability (Xfinity Voice Only): Yes
Link Cordless Phones (CAT-iq 2.0*): Yes
Home Hotspot Capable: Yes
Compatible with Xfinity Home: Yes

I have two ethernet switches connected to the router/modem that run from the basement to the second floor of the home.The router/modem is in the basement and cannot be moved due to the cabling from outside.

Currently, I can pull more than what I signed up for via ethernet. I pay for 275mbps and am getting 330mbps. However, Wifi on the second floor is about 3mbps and near the router 5 maps on the 2.4ghz band. On the 5ghz band I get 61mbps. The home is about 2,500 square feet and we have close to 60 devices connected to the network.

I was thinking of using the wan port to install a new router on the second floor(Cat 6 is currently there). What would you recommend? I have read lots of reviews but everything seems to go down after 2 months or requires a subscription for "malware blocking."

My budget is under $500 USD. Thank you!

RAS_3885 · June 11, 2020

18 hours ago, badassbadali said:

My current network is a router/modem from the ISP. It is the Xfi XB6 with the follow specs:

Model Numbers: TG3482G and CGM4140COM

Friendly Model Name: XB6

Gigabit Ethernet Ports: 2

Dual-Band WiFi Option: Yes

Maximum Data Throughput: 1 Gbps

WPS (WiFi Protected Setup): Yes

Gateway/ Network Management Tool (http://10.0.0.1): Yes

Xfinity xFi Eligible: Yes

Xfinity xFi app Activation: Yes

Two Total Telephone Ports: Yes

Battery Backup Capability (Xfinity Voice Only): Yes

Link Cordless Phones (CAT-iq 2.0*): Yes

Home Hotspot Capable: Yes

Compatible with Xfinity Home: Yes

I have two ethernet switches connected to the router/modem that run from the basement to the second floor of the home.The router/modem is in the basement and cannot be moved due to the cabling from outside.

Currently, I can pull more than what I signed up for via ethernet. I pay for 275mbps and am getting 330mbps. However, Wifi on the second floor is about 3mbps and near the router 5 maps on the 2.4ghz band. On the 5ghz band I get 61mbps. The home is about 2,500 square feet and we have close to 60 devices connected to the network.

I was thinking of using the wan port to install a new router on the second floor(Cat 6 is currently there). What would you recommend? I have read lots of reviews but everything seems to go down after 2 months or requires a subscription for "malware blocking."

My budget is under $500 USD. Thank you!

Are you looking to replace the ISP unit completely, or just add another device on the second floor?

If you're only looking to add another device then you want a wireless access point. Most consumer devices people call routers are actually router/wireless access point combinations (like this example). If you add another one of these to your second floor without changing anything else you'll end up with two routers on your network and that can cause problems. You CAN use a second combo box, but the router functionality will have to be disabled on either the Comcast box or the second unit on the second floor. You'll also be paying for functionality you won't be using, so a high-quality access point will be better. Ubiquity is a perennial favorite, but something like this also seems to be well-reviewed.

A mesh wifi system could also work, but often those include router functionality as well so my comments above will still be applicable. I've always thought the benefits of an advertised "mesh wifi" set-up was for situations where having a hard-wired to each unit was impractical. There may be some improvements to the way they hand-off wireless clients, but I don't know enough to say for sure. Since you already have a wire running to location #2 then just adding a wireless access point seems easiest.

If you want to replace the ISP box completely (which is my preferred method) you open up a lot more possibilities and can get quite far with a budget of $500.

I'm by no means a networking expert, so others may have some additional insight.

badassbadali · June 12, 2020

17 hours ago, RAS_3885 said:

Are you looking to replace the ISP unit completely, or just add another device on the second floor?

If you're only looking to add another device then you want a wireless access point. Most consumer devices people call routers are actually router/wireless access point combinations (like this example). If you add another one of these to your second floor without changing anything else you'll end up with two routers on your network and that can cause problems. You CAN use a second combo box, but the router functionality will have to be disabled on either the Comcast box or the second unit on the second floor. You'll also be paying for functionality you won't be using, so a high-quality access point will be better. Ubiquity is a perennial favorite, but something like this also seems to be well-reviewed.

A mesh wifi system could also work, but often those include router functionality as well so my comments above will still be applicable. I've always thought the benefits of an advertised "mesh wifi" set-up was for situations where having a hard-wired to each unit was impractical. There may be some improvements to the way they hand-off wireless clients, but I don't know enough to say for sure. Since you already have a wire running to location #2 then just adding a wireless access point seems easiest.

If you want to replace the ISP box completely (which is my preferred method) you open up a lot more possibilities and can get quite far with a budget of $500.

I'm by no means a networking expert, so others may have some additional insight.