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CES 2022: Comcast Bringing WiFi 6E to Subscribers With New xFi Gateway

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Comcast this week announced plans to launch a new xFi Advanced Gateway that incorporates WiFi 6E, providing Comcast customers with access to faster broadband speeds on compatible devices.

comcast-wifi-6e-gateway.jpg

The xFi Gateway supports three WiFi bands, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, which is the new band that denotes a "6E" device. According to Comcast, the xFi Gateway will offer reduced interference and up to 3x more bandwidth to support homes with a multitude of connected devices.

Comcast says that it is also working to "evolve its network to 10G" for multigigabit upload and download speeds.

The xFi Advanced Gateway will begin rolling out to Comcast customers over the coming months, with those subscribed to the Gigabit Internet or xFi Complete Package receiving the first devices.

Customers will need to pay a $14 monthly fee for the xFi Advanced Gateway, which is the same monthly price as the current Gateway hardware rental fee.

Article Link: CES 2022: Comcast Bringing WiFi 6E to Subscribers With New xFi Gateway
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/01/04/comcast-wifi-6e-xfi-gateway/
Sigh. With news of every vendor on the planet lowering prices on 6e routers I just get more and more upset at paying nearly $3000 for an M1 MAX macbook that won't support it.

(There's a lower channel Netgear model out now for $400 - https://www.macrumors.com/2022/01/03/netgear-raxe300-wifi-6e-router/)

I probably still wouldn't buy until they hit the $200 range, but that is maybe only 1-2yrs out now, not 5-7yrs which is how long I usually keep my macbooks. By then I suppose wi-fi 7 should be out though which is supposed to be pretty incredible. Estimated around 2024, maybe affordable by 2026.
 
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nquinn said:
Sigh. With news of every vendor on the planet lowering prices on 6e routers I just get more and more upset at paying nearly $3000 for an M1 MAX macbook that won't support it.
Click to expand...
Right? I’m hoping against hope that the redesigned MacBook Air has 6e because I really don’t want to buy a computer without it in 2022.
 
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Article quote:

“Customers will need to pay a $14 monthly fee for the xFi Advanced Gateway, which is the same monthly price as the current Gateway hardware rental fee.”

Wait, am I missing something here, has there always been a $14 fee incorporated?
 
Relentless Power said:
Article quote:

“Customers will need to pay a $14 monthly fee for the xFi Advanced Gateway, which is the same monthly price as the current Gateway hardware rental fee.”

Wait, am I missing something here, has there always been a $14 fee incorporated?
Click to expand...
Yes, that's their equipment rental fee. You have the option of providing your own modem for no fee.
 
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mnsportsgeek said:
Yes, that's their equipment rental fee. You have the option of providing your own modem for no fee.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

And that’s what we do. I just thought companies were starting getting to the point where they were eliminating and waiving these types of fees, which retains a larger customer base. I do think $14 is on the lower end, as some of these are $20.
 
Relentless Power said:
Thanks.

And that’s what we do. I just thought companies were starting getting to the point where they were eliminating and waiving these types of fees, which retains a larger customer base. I do think $14 is on the lower end, as some of these are $20.
Click to expand...

In most cases equipment rental fees are a huge ripoff, but honestly with some of these 6e routers costing $400-$600 it's maybe not quite as bad of a deal. (3.5yrs to breakeven for $600).
 
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nquinn said:
Sigh. With news of every vendor on the planet lowering prices on 6e routers I just get more and more upset at paying nearly $3000 for an M1 MAX macbook that won't support it.
Click to expand...
There is hardly anybody out there that needs the household WiFi networking speeds associated with 6E which seems to be what the articles are drawn to because of the CES 2022 news. At least we see new products out there finally.
 
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nquinn said:
In most cases equipment rental fees are a huge ripoff, but honestly with some of these 6e routers costing $400-$600 it's maybe not quite as bad of a deal. (3.5yrs to breakeven for $600).
Click to expand...
I don’t believe in paying ‘rental fee’s’ for anything, especially these companies that just want to tax you as much as they possibly can. That’s why I prefer just to buy out right, even though I do think ~$14 is on the lower end, but consumers should be more aware and think about these types of things that adds up over the course of time.
 
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Realityck said:
There is hardly anybody out there that needs the household WiFi networking speeds associated with 6E which seems to be what the articles are drawn to because of the CES 2022 news. At least we see new products out there finally.
Click to expand...
6e is mostly about congestion, not performance. Unless you're right next to it, the signal attenuates really fast and the devices will drop back to the lower bands.
 
MallardDuck said:
DOCSIS 4.0 is going to be a game changer. I'm just glad they'll be forced to allow us to buy our own modems. The last thing I want is *any* of their wifi hardware in my home.
Click to expand...
May I ask why? I’m just naturally curious and I don’t understand why you don’t want any of their Wi-Fi hardware.
 
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