Do WiFi boosters work?

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

As I said above, dump the extender and get a wireless mesh system. Turn off the wireless function of your router and let the mesh system handle all of your wireless networking.

+1 on this approach. Also, note that at least in southern FL, the WiFi router that Comcast distributes also provides publicly-available WiFi to Comcast account holders. In other words, if you are a Comcast customer and are near to my Comcast router, you'll have access to the Internet via my equipment. So, I have the WiFi capability shut off at the Comcast router, and use my own Eeros mesh system throughout the home to provide private WiFi.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Yes it is. Google WiFi, Eero, Linksys Velop, and Netgear Orbi are all examples of mesh systems.

Thanks for the advice on the google system. I got it for $50, and he even set it up. I get 550MB at my computer, and now 200M on the other side of the house. Perfect solution!

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by ppointer

+1 on this approach. Also, note that at least in southern FL, the WiFi router that Comcast distributes also provides publicly-available WiFi to Comcast account holders. In other words, if you are a Comcast customer and are near to my Comcast router, you'll have access to the Internet via my equipment. So, I have the WiFi capability shut off at the Comcast router, and use my own Eeros mesh system throughout the home to provide private WiFi.

A little more detail about what Comcast is doing with their rented gateways (modem/router combos). Yes, they are using this setup to broadcast Comcast's public WiFi SSID (xfinitywifi). Comcast says the circuit to your home is provisioned where anyone using the public WiFi SSID won't affect the performance of your provisioned circuit. They did provide instructions on how to disable this "feature" while keeping the wireless AP in the gateway active to provide WiFi for your household.

As far as connecting to the Comcast public WiFi, you have to first connect to it as you would with any wireless network. Your phone will recognize it's a captive portal type setup and prompt you to provide your Comcast userid and password. Only after providing your login credentials will you connect to any of the Comcast public hotspots.