This is a good product and the price isn't bad if you really need both an Xfinity cable modem and a high capacity router. This is one of only two models that Xfinity recommends for 400 Mbps internet connections that work with Xfinity's VOIP landline telephone service. These are the fastest cable modems that work with Xfinity's VOIP system. And this was the less expensive option (although looking back it might have been worth spending more to get the other choice (a Netgear model) just because of the color. This is the only white device on my computer desk and it really sticks out (LOL).
According to at least one of the tech support people I talked to, a lot of people don't actually upgrade to a VOIP compatible modem. If they have a working VOIP modem they can keep using it for phone service, while transferring their internet connection to a faster, Non-VOIP cable modem. I didn't test this, but if it's true it means that you can get a Gbps capable DOCSIS 3.1 modem / router and instead of this unit. I don't think I could have saved much money by doing this, but you might be able to. Clearly there are a lot more cable modems to choose from if you don't need them to be Xfinity VOIP capable, so I would recommend you consider this before you buy.
But if you do buy this unit with the intention of using it for VOIP with Xfinity, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT CALL XFINITY TECH SUPPORT TO HELP WITH THE INITIAL SETUP OF THIS DEVICE!
It comes with an excellent set of Quick Start instructions that can prevent you from doing what I did, which is spend over an hour frustrating Comcast Agents and Tech support people on the phone trying to get it all set up in one step. It just isn't set up to do that.
As per the Quick Start Guide, you start the setup by connecting your coaxial cable and either an Ethernet (preferred) or wireless connection to the modem from a PC, Mac, Laptop, or similar device with web access. When you boot up the modem it automatically configures itself to go online and prepare itself for activation by Comcast. Crucially this step takes 5-10 minutes and has to be completed BEFORE you can register it for your account. Trying to start with the registration on the phone resulted in a bunch of frustration as the constant reboots ordered by Comcast messed up the software that the modem was trying to run to set itself up. Then, as per the Quick Start Guide, you can go online and use the www.xfinity.com/activate web site to both register the modem to your account, and set up the SSID you and password you want to use, ideally the one you already used before the upgrade. This automatically sets up the 2.4 and 5 Ghz bands to work off the same login and to switch automatically. Only after doing this do you want to mess with the VOIP settings, which has to be done by phone. The Quick Start Instructions give you a special number (1-855-652-3446) that apparently connects you to the tiny subset of Comcast techies that know how to transfer your VOIP service to this modem.
I ignored these instructions and tried to let Comcast handle the installation over the phone. The result was over an our spent with various techs trying to intervene in the process before the modem was ready for the next step. I wasted everybody's time and effort. In the end, the modem itself had to take over and fix the installation after the tech guys had succeeded in setting up the VOIP and making it impossible for me to connect to the internet. Basically the modem had to go through it's initial setup protocol again AFTER it had been connected to my account and VOIP service. And when I finally got back online, the modem itself brought up an Arris webpage where I was prompted to complete the WiFi setup by designating a custom SSID and Password, which I SHOULD have done during the registration process had I followed the instruction.
In the final analysis it's pretty impressive that no matter how much you try to interfere with the setup process, Arris has this set up so that you will succeed under the power of it's own software.
My advice, however, is to trust the Quick Start Guide and follow the steps they suggest. Start with the automatic modem setup using a connected device, then do the Xfinity activation online, and then call the special number for the VOIP setup.
Or, if you already have an Xfinity VOIP modem, you can apparently let that handle the VOIP and use this for the Ethernet and WiFi connections. I didn't test this, but it is what I heard from Tech Support.
All in all this is a very solid piece of equipment and its good to know that it will complete the install even if you do your best to mess it up. I am getting all of the performance that is advertised now that everything is connected correctly.
The only reason I hesitated to give this product 5 stars is that
| Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
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