I originally had the Xfinity gateway with three of the Xfinity 'mesh' extender pods and yet I was getting inadequate WiFi coverage (not even close to my available 1.2Gbps connection). As a complete home networking rookie, I finally managed to do something about it after some basic self education. I was specifically looking for gateways (modem+router in one) due to limited physical space in my living room for two separate devices.
The CAX80 was expensive compared to Xfinity-compatible Arris or Motorola gateways. However, the theoretical specs seemed superior and it is likely 'future proof' (provided it will last 3+ years). Setting up the CAX80 router was easy enough with the Nighthawk app on my phone. Right off the bat, I noticed an increase in throughput with a wireless connection to my gaming laptop located about 30 feet away from the router (from 300-500Mbps to 600-900 Mbps averaged through the day).
I live in a two-level 2700 sq ft condo with thickly insulated walls. Previously (with Xfinity gateway), I got zero signal at the furthest end of the house from the router. After adding three 'daisy chained' Xfinity X-Fi mesh pods, I was getting 20-60 Mbps throughput with frequent loss of signal through the day. After switching to just the CAX80 router, I was getting a weak but consistent signal at the far end of the house with 3-10 Mbps throughput. I then connected a Netgear EX15 extender halfway between these points (again, setup was easy with the phone app). I decided to extend only the 2.4GHz frequency (saving 5GHz for working and gaming laptops in proximity to the router). I am now getting 110-130 Mbps throughput at the far end of the house consistently which is adequate for what I needed here (TV box, 3-4 phones/tablets, doorbell, smart lock, thermostat etc).
Overall, I am happy (and proud of my first such set up) with nearly $600 worth (yikes) of hardware upgrade (CAX80 and EAX15) for what I needed my home network to do. Of note, saving $15 in monthly rental fees for the Xfinity modem should make up for this upgrade in about 3.5 years lol
Couple of issues to be mindful of if you have Xfinity internet and TV:
These may be related to my own naivete or my home's wiring rather than misleading specifications from the manufacturer. I had a main TV box (connected by a split coaxial cable) and an additional wireless (WiFi) TV box. After changing from the Xfinity gateway to the CAX80, the wired TV box stopped working while the wireless one worked after a reboot. Comcast auto-assistant was unable to rectify and sent a technician over who diagnosed the following issue: CAX80 is not MoCA compatible and the simplest fix would be to get a wireless main TV box.
I ordered such a box via Comcast (local store is easier and quicker than online). Now, both TV boxes (Xi-6 via ethernet cable and Xi-5 via WiFi) are functional albeit with a delay in displaying my channels after powering on (anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds). May be this delay is from something I overlooked during the connections or whatever but it is a minor gripe at this stage (after nearly 96 hours of toiling to get all of the above done) and I will figure out a fix someday soon.
Hope this helps the next amateur in a similar situation as I was.
Happy networking!
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This Item  NETGEAR Cable Modem Router Combo C6250 - Dual Band, Compatible with Cable Providers Including Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox | For Cable Plans Up to 300 Mbps | AC1600 Wi-Fi | DOCSIS 3.0 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $35.99 | -7% $139.99 List: $149.99 | $119.90 | $248.88 | -14% $198.42 List: $229.99 | -15% $84.99 List: $99.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it May 3 - 10 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 3 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Easy to install | ||||||
| WiFi signal | ||||||
| Tech Support | ||||||
| User interface | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Sold By | Abe's Electronics Center | Tech Finds Today | Ama-Zooms | DEALZFORDAYZ | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| connectivity tech | Wifi, Two (2) 10/100/1000 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports with auto-sensing technology, One (1) USB 2.0 port | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, Coaxial | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet | Ethernet, coaxial cable, Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
| number of ports | — | 2 | — | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| data transfer rate | 1600 megabits per second | 300 megabits per second | 1200 megabits per second | 1900 megabits per second | 2350 megabits per second | 1200 megabits per second |
| wireless standard | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B |
| frequency band class | dual band | dual band | dual band | dual band | dual band | dual band |
| lan port bandwidth | — | Gigabit Ethernet | 1.2 gigabits per second | 10/100 megabits per second | 1000 Mbps | 10/100/1000 Mbps |
From the manufacturer
Why Buy Your Own Modem with WiFi?
Eliminate Monthly Fees
Eliminates monthly rental fees that can amount 168 dollars or more per year.
Better WiFi Performance
Get superior WiFi coverage and more features compared to cable provider modems with WiFi.
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Works with Major Cable ProvidersWorks with all major cable providers such as Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, and COX.* *Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirectTV, DISH, and any bundled voice services. |
Built for Serious SpeedSupports cable internet plans with speeds up to 300Mbps ensuring fast, reliable internet speed for HD streaming and more. |
Up to 1500 Sq. Ft. WiFi CoverageEnjoy strong, reliable WiFi coverage thanks to range-boosting amplified antennas. |
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Seamless WiFi for up to 25 DevicesIntelligently selects between dual bands to minimize interference and maximize speed for your many smart wireless devices. |
Built for Serious StreamingUp to 1600Mbps wireless speed (AC1600), perfect for demanding HD streaming and gaming. |
Easy 5 Minute SetupStep 1: Plug your coax cable into the modem router. Step 2: Activate by either (a) connect an Ethernet cable to your computer and follow the on-screen setup, or (b) call your cable provider to activate over the phone. Two Gigabit Ethernet ports and one USB port give you super-fast wired connections to your computer, printer, game box, storage drive, and other devices. |
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| C6250 | C7000 | C7800 | |
| Customer Reviews |
1,579
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5,398
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14,705
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| Price | $65.99 | $192.00 | $35.99 |
| Cable Provider Compatibility | All Major Cable Providers and Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, COX | All Major Cable Providers and Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, COX | All Major Cable Providers and Xfinity by Comcast, Spectrum, COX |
| Cable Internet Plan Speed Compatibility | Up to 300Mbps | Up to 600Mbps | Up to 2Gbps |
| Wi-Fi Speed | AC1600 (up to 1600Mbps) | AC1900 (up to 1900 Mbps) | AC3200 (up to 3200Mbps) |
| Wi-Fi Coverage | Up to 1500 sq ft and 25 devices | Up to 1800 sq ft and 30 devices | Up to 3000 sq ft and 45 devices |
| Gigabit Ethernet Ports | 2 x 1G | 4 x 1G | 4 x 1G |
| Telephone Voice Ports (Xfinity by Comcast Only) | |||
| USB Ports (Printer, storage drive, etc) | 1 x USB 2.0 | 1 x USB 2.0 | 2 x Fast USB 3.0 |
| Modem Technology | DOCSIS 3.0 and 16x4 Channel Bonding | DOCSIS 3.0 and 24x8 Channel Bonding | DOCSIS 3.1 and 32x8 Channel Bonding |
| Parental Controls | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
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Review: NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem + WiFi 6 Router Combo
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NETGEAR Nighthawk (CAX30S) Cable Modem + WiFi 6 Router Combo
Purchased to replace my old combo modem router.Love the user friendly guide that made it easy to set-up, I had everything connected immediately!Worth the price!
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Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2023
Style: 6.0Gbps, DOCSIS 3.1, WiFi 6Verified Purchase
