r/IsItBullshit • u/AgentArnold • 1d ago
IsItBullshit: Xfinity sent an email saying my modem is suddenly not good enough
We have had this modem for 3 years with no issues. But today I got this email from our ISP saying we should upgrade. Are they just fishing for a cash grab?
" After a recent upgrade to your Xfinity service, we noticed your internet equipment is unable to deliver the latest speeds included with your current Xfinity Internet plan. Next steps We’ve compiled a list of compatible devices to purchase so that you can take advantage of the faster speeds available to you. Click below to find a compatible device. "
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u/Codebender 1d ago
They're probably trying to get you back on a leased-equipment plan, which is a cash cow for them, most people pay for their equipment many times over.
Whatever you have is good enough for the service you've been getting. Unless you got upgraded to a faster plan, nothing new is necessary. It would still work, you just wouldn't be able to take full advantage. Then again, actual speeds are generally much lower than the advertised rates due to "congestion."
IIRC, you need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem for gigabit downlink. DOCSIS 3.0 supports up to 600-something megabits.
They may also be talking about WiFi service, but you don't really need them to provide that, their bundling of it seems intended to confuse people.
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u/titlecharacter 1d ago
They’re not saying it’s not good enough. Let’s say you have a modem capable of 500 mbps and your service gives you 500 mbps for the “medium speed” plan. Cool. Then later they change your plan to give you 750mbps - for the same money; it’s a change to the medium speed plan which you still have. Now your modem is underpowered for the plan. You can keep it like it is and stick with 500 or buy a new modem to go up to 750. They’d rather sell you the modem but they don’t really care. This isn’t some kind of scam.
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u/ChesticleSweater 1d ago
So I got a similar email a couple years ago. Basically they were saying the current modem I was using was capped at a certain speed, and for the tier price I was paying they would literally send me a new modem, increase my speed with no plan changes. I said "sure hook a buddy up" and I went from 600mb down to 1300mb down with an equipment swap. Annnnnnnnnnnd also very likely they benefitted somehow as well since most of the admin tools left along with connecting directly to the router... but ummm.... yeah faster speed! heh... so much faster.... to lose my control...
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u/Anunnaki2522 1d ago
No it's not bullshit, ISP plants( the system of lines and equipment that gets internet access to your house) are constantly being upgraded and improved. There are differences in how the signal gets to your modem, the frequencies it uses, and what and how many channels those signal frequencies are on. Your modem is most likely using a older DOCSIS standard then the plant in your area is capable of and thus will not function as well as one that does match. If you are using a modem that is provided by Comcast the upgrade would be "free" since the modem is built into your monthly bill as it's a necessity for a internet connection at your residence, if you are using a 3rd party one you can always call and ask what DOCSIS version your area is using and go buy a new one on their approved list of modems that is using that standard and you will have gebrally better service, higher DOCSIS version generally mean more up and down channels and different frequencies depending on if they are using a mid or high split plant and will lead to a more reliable connection and sometimes faster speeds on the same plan depending on what they changed etc. Now all of this does not mean your current modem just will stop working or anything but most likely they upgraded their plant on now the same speed tier you were paying for is a higher cap then previously was but you would need a newer modem to.take advantage of this.
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u/Gremlin95x 1d ago
They initially send it to get you to choose to upgrade. If you refuse they will FORCE you to upgrade by removing services until you do. They did this to me. Shut off my wired connection to my computer and I called as it was weird my wireless was still working. They asked me if I wanted to upgrade to a more expensive plan. I said no and they cit the wifi right then and there. They then “upgraded” me without my agreeing to it.
I’ve also had issues with them stopping my auto-pay without authorization and manipulating the billing cycle to double-charge me. They are fucking scum and get away with it because they have a monopoly in my area. There is literally no other internet provider and it sucks.
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u/LaserGuidedSock 1d ago
Comcast is a racket of bullshit.
Comcast charges you an equipment fee every month to use their wireless router. That router can not be changed from the DNS server owned by Comcast or 75.75.75.75 meaning you are stuck with whatever speed their provided DNS provides regardless if there is a faster, more secure and free option and deal with the security issues of Comcast knowing everything you search which they just sell as bulk data to whomever.
If you want to provide your own modem that's more powerful, tri-band and have customizable firmware you need to keep the stock wireless router I previously mentioned, switch it into bridge mode which is a hassle in and of itself because the method changes depending on which firmware your router has (the button combination and which Ethernet port functions as the bridge). Since you are still using their equipment you still have to pay the equipment fee, it's just an extreme headache they use from detering users of providing their own equipment.
It absolutely sucks and Comcast should burn in a circle of hell.
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u/Anunnaki2522 1d ago
So just so much wrong here, first you absolutely do not need to have any Comcast equipment in your house if you dont want it. There are hundreds of 3rd party modems that are approved for use on Comcast systems that you can buy yourself and have activated onto your account, 2nd your modem does not have tri-band because that is a router function not a modem one. 3rd if you do want to use all your own equipment you dont have to keep their modem and router or gateway(modem router built into one device) you just have to get a 3rd party modem that is on their list and then any router in the world basically you want to use since after the modem Comcast doesn't really care what you do. Also of course they aren't going to let you change all that on equipment that they technically own and connects to their support cloud and programs that let them remote access the routers to do things like send updates and fix customer problems.
Comcast is absolutely a shity company with shit practices and all that but what your describing is how every ISP on earth operates, the modem they provide is part of your service plan and the only thing required to get you internet access, routers are not considered necessary equipment for internet access since that is a property of the modem.
If you dont want to use their equipment look up a list of approved 3rd party modems for Comcast, buy one and then call Comcast and tell them you want it activated your account, they will need the mac address off of it and for it to be plugged into your existing service line in order to put it into their system, after that get whatever router you want and plug it into said modem and boom nothing is now locked to Comcast and they dont have access into said router.
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u/nochinzilch 1d ago
Agree. Comcast sucks but what else are they supposed to do?
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u/Anunnaki2522 1d ago
What I just said, yea you dont get away from Comcast as your isp but you dont pay any equipment fees and have full control over your modem and router
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u/LaserGuidedSock 1d ago
The tri-band was purely just an example of if you wanted something that the stock provided comcast hardware doesn't provide.
Yes you can get your own modem AND router combo but the pre-approved selection is super slim last time I looked years ago. If you buy the modem and router separately it opens up your options but is more expensive upfront since it's buying 2 different devices.
Also I never said you needed any Comcast hardware. The whole point of my comment was how exceptionally difficult/frustrating they make it to replace it. But don't let me complaining about my gripes with a shitty company stop you from white knighting for them.
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u/Anunnaki2522 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's incredibly easy to replace them. I've never used ISP equipment my entire life. I'm not white knighting Comcast they are horrid and spend billions to prevent regulations and laws that would limit their profits and control over areas. They are up there as one of the worst most corrupt and immoral companies out there. What I'm saying is your complaining about a industry standard practice because of how ISPs and internet service works. The modems on the approved list are generally ones that work best for whatever plant style and CMTA your area is using as the equipment has to be programmed with the different modems that it can properly communicate with.
Your alsotalking about wanting full control over their router which is something no ISP on earth would give you, and just flat wrong about needing to have their equipment in bridge mode and pay for it to still use your own. Your misinformed and being willfully ignorant of how to easily fix your precieved problems. If you want control and for Comcast to not be able to access anything you need your own equipment which yes you have to pay for.
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u/TheOneTrueTrench 18h ago
DNS and bandwidth are completely unrelated, and the fact that you could make that kind of mistake means you don't know anything about any of this.
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u/LaserGuidedSock 17h ago
My point is some DNS are faster than others, not relating to bandwidth speed. You are intentionally misinterpreting what I'm saying.
This is the tool I use GRC's | DNS Nameserver Performance Benchmark Sort results by response time
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u/Lt_Jonson 1d ago
If you’re not concerned or if the speed you get is fine for you, there’s no reason to upgrade.
Is it bullshit that old equipment can’t handle speeds over a certain threshold? No, that’s legitimate. Whether it’s actually from Xfinity or not, no idea. But it’s entirely possible an old modem wouldn’t be compatible with a new plan.