COMCAST XFINITY Cable WiFi providers

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Billylll

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I decided since my one business location is behind our public school's athletic field I would investigate having an Xfinity public Hot Spot installed at my office. Here is where it gets interesting. They currently use a separate RG-6 feed to a dedicated CISCO cable router it feeds a BelAir BE-20A dual Networks 2.4/5GHz N radio MIMO Access Point. The AP only outputs 16dbm. So when you are out on the bay getting good WiFi service from your cable provider consider yourself really lucky. Now I can see how important it would be to have a good station/ bridge unit and external antenna to get any range at all from the anemic equipment they use. Speeds to a Galaxy Smart phone at 100 yards are 20-30 mbps download and 10 - 12 mbps up load. When I took my mobile Ubiquiti Rocket M2 with a 13db gain dual polarity 2.4GHz Airmax Omni I could get 1 mile away and that's through trees. I couldn't even see it on my smart phone at a 1/2 mile away.
It gives me the ability to test various WiFi vendors equipment connected to the average cable WiFi providers equipment. Plus the kids and parents watching sporting events at the school will be able to access the Internet.
Bill
 
"Plus the kids and parents watching sporting events at the school will be able to access the Internet." Doesn't every phone connected slow the connection for others?
 
quote:
Originally posted by sugilbert

"Plus the kids and parents watching sporting events at the school will be able to access the Internet." Doesn't every phone connected slow the connection for others?

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Sure but I ran hard speed tests on both networks the public AP didn't affect my office network speeds at all. It's a pretty big pipe 50 mbps down and 20 mbps up on the Public AP my office has 100 mbps DL and 30 mbps UL.
Bill
 
Bill, I told you they'd half-ass it. It's Comcast after all!

For a few bucks more per install they could really achieve what they're after. But they're too stupid to do it right.
 
Kurt they seem to understand the need for public access WiFi and have the authentication side done properly. The BelAir dual band AP isn't exactly an inexpensive radio. Tessco sells them and Ericsson will support them.
I was supposed to get an outdoor AP I didn't. I'm told they take over 1 month to be provisioned and a different crew will be back. I'm not so sure......
However the price seems right (free) and since it is a separate network there is no chance anyone will get into my office network.
But if I were them I'd be using a more powerful radio, there are better products that cost less than the current unit I had installed.
Bill
 
I thought about having them do the same at my office, but with a Meth clinic next door I decided not to encourage additional loitering! :-)
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

I thought about having them do the same at my office, but with a Meth clinic next door I decided not to encourage additional loitering! :-)

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I'm thinking about cloning the BelAir MAC and IP into a Ubiquiti Rocket M2 and installing a 120 degree sector antenna in place of the BelAir radio.
I'd save the BelAir for any service related issues in the future since it's their property.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by dwarren

Comcast is still using BelAir?

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At least in the Southern NJ market for the Access Point not the cable network interface controller that was made by CISCO.
Bill
 
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