Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Comcast Xfinity xFi dashboard simplifies managing a home Wi-Fi network

Mark Coppock
By

Comcast xFi for home devices
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Home networks are increasingly complex today, with an array of devices connecting via Wi-Fi that demand stable connections and create management nightmares. Toss in things like parental controls, and home networks can be as difficult to maintain as the typical business network.

The usual Wi-Fi router can be incredibly difficult to setup and configure, meaning that most home users simply avoid doing more than just getting connected to the internet and then leaving things at their default settings. Comcast hopes to change things with its new Xfinity xFi experience, which it is making available to its 10 million Xfinity internet customers at no extra charge.

Recommended Videos

Xfinity xFi is a new management experience that’s available via the web, via a mobile app, and on supported TVs with the company’s X1 voice remote. xFi can be accessed immediately by Xfinity customers using the xFi Wireless Gateway or the xFi Advanced Wireless Gateway.

Related

According to Comcast, 86 percent of all home broadband traffic passes over Wi-Fi, and the average number of Wi-Fi-connected devices in American homes will hit 50 by 2020. xFi hopes to make these networks easier to manage by providing a number of features, including:

  • Instant Setup: simple, easy setup of Xfinity Internet service and home Wi-Fi
  • Manage On Any Device: ability to take control with easy-to-use apps, the web, and X1 voice remote
  • Find My Password: view and modify Wi-Fi names and passwords
  • Name & Organize: see all connected devices and give nicknames for easy reference
  • Easy-To-Use Tools: set parental controls and bedtime schedules for any family member on the home Wi-Fi network
  • Who’s Using What: create personal profiles and assign devices to individual family members
  • Text Alerts: receive alerts when new devices join your home network
  • Pause With A Tap: instantly pause Wi-Fi access on your home network, by device or user
  • Voice Control: say “show me devices” into the X1 voice remote and see results on the biggest screen in the home
  • Monitor Activity: see who’s most active on your home network and when
  • Troubleshoot Wi-Fi: identify devices that are not working properly and receive tips to fix them
  • Cloud Management: see and control your home Wi-Fi network from anywhere
  • Safe & Secure: first line of defense against phishing and malware

“The adoption and use of connected devices has grown dramatically and Comcast has created a solution that makes it easy to control and manage them,” said Eric Schaefer, Comcast Cable’s senior vice president of internet and communications services. “xFi is a personalized home Wi-Fi experience that gives customers the fastest speeds, best coverage, and ultimate control in their homes. And it’s a platform that will allow us to bring future innovations to our customers, address common pain points, and vastly improve the way millions of people interact with their home Wi-Fi network.

Going forward, Comcast plans to launch xFi pods that work with the xFi Wireless Gateway or Advanced Wireless Gateway to extend Wi-Fi coverage over remote areas that today aren’t reached by existing routers. The company has invested in Plume, maker of distributed Wi-Fi systems, and will utilize Plume’s low-configuration, adaptive mesh technology with the new xFi Pods.

Current Xfinity customers can get started with xFi by going to www.xfinity.com/myxfi or by downloading the xFi app for iOS and Android devices. The service is available at no extra cost and is ready to support 10 million Xfinity internet customers.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Coppock
Mark Coppock
Computing Writer
Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for…
5 Ways to optimize your home Wi-Fi network for remote school and work
teacher leading a remote classroom

 

Back-to-school season is upon us, and for many households, that unfortunately means a return to remote schooling. Instead of heading out to a classroom in person, many kids will again attend school this year by firing up video calls and submitting assignments online. Ultimately, this means your home Wi-Fi network will soon need to handle more traffic -- especially if you're a parent who's currently working from home. So in order to ensure you don't run into any network congestion issues, we've put together a handful of tips to help you make your home Wi-Fi as stable and reliable as possible in the months ahead. Here's the lowdown:
Get a multiband router
This one might be a no-brainer, but if the router you’re using doesn’t offer multiple frequency bands, then you’re missing out on one of the best parts of modern routers. Whereas most single-band routers operate on the 2.4GHz frequency band, newer dual- and tri-band routers also provide additional networks on the 5GHz frequency band, which has a number of big advantages. Namely, the 5GHz connections can transmit data faster than 2.4GHz ones, which makes them better for households where lots of high-bandwidth activities take place -- like Zoom calls, online gaming, and 4K video streaming.
Place your router strategically
The only downside of a 5GHz connection, however, is that the higher frequency doesn’t travel through walls, furniture, and other obstacles quite as well as a 2.4GHz connection can. This is why router placement is important. Ideally, you should place yours near your most important internet-connected devices, as high off the ground as possible, and in a place that’s free of obstructions. Doing so will ensure that you get the best possible speeds for all your devices -- especially those that have fixed locations and can’t move around to wherever reception is good like phones and laptops can.

Read more
SpaceX reveals date for Starlink global internet coverage
starlink string of satellites captured in cool video a day after launch

SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell says the company expects to achieve global coverage with its Starlink internet service by around September this year.

But she added that although it may have the capability to provide a worldwide service at that time, SpaceX will still need to gain approvals from national regulators to launch Starlink in each country.

Read more
Is Wi-Fi too unreliable? Powerline networking may be what you need
power line cable organizers clean up your desk and remind you how gets there lines strung along

Wi-Fi doesn't always work as expected, and it's not your only networking option. Ethernet provides the best speeds but looks ugly draped from devices and running along floorboards. That's where Powerline comes in.

In a nutshell, Powerline provides the best of both worlds by using the existing electrical wiring in a home or office. We explain what this networking solution does, along with its benefits and drawbacks.
What is Powerline networking?

Read more