Xfinity's modem/router needed?
 

We are moving to The Villages next month and in the process of researching internet providers. Looks like Xfinity is the provider in our area. On their website, it suggests we use their modem/router (xFi Gateway) at an additional cost in order to have "unlimited data" for our home internet service.

Xfinity website says unlimited data is not included when using personal equipment. Is this true? Is Xfinity trying to make an additional buck by requiring subscribers to buy their equipment or will we need their Gateway box to have peace of mind? We never heard of this....we are coming from out of state, use Spectrum with our "own" modem/router equipment and never worry about data usage from inside our home.

Thank you for any helpful information.

Their network, their plans, their rules - I haven't looked on the site to see that they require their equipment to get an unlimited plan but it sounds like something they could legitimately do.

I had Xfinity for a couple years (not sure exactly how many months). We had a limit of 1TB that we never exceeded. We hit 900GB in one or two months but typically used about 600GB. If you know your usage will be higher than that, okay, but we had no trouble staying under the limit.

The other consideration, when you have a problem, if you have THEIR modem/router then the service call is no charge, as well as any repairs. In 10 years, modem/router replaced once, and the service drop to the house replaced once, 3 service calls, and no charges.

You will likely be very happy with your own compatible equipment. Be sure to get one of the approved models. They can be purchased from big box stores locally for, last time I upgraded, under 200, perhaps more now. But it pays for itself in fewer than 2 years.

If for some reason you have an issue with unlimited, and I have never had an issue or even known there was a limit, you could always go with their stuff. YMMV

What you might want to do when you move here is to bring your existing equipment with you. Sign up with Xfinity renting their equipment for the initial month or so. Then once you have the service running, you can switch later to your equipment. This way if there are issues on the install, they can not blame it on your equipment.

If Xfinity is there, Spectrum may also be an option. Spectrum provides equipment free of charge and they have unlimited data as well.

The Best thing you can do is stay away from Comcast / Xfinity. Here in the Villages your have other choices! Spectrum is way better and does not charge for their modem or you can use your own and data is Unlimited

Moved here 4 years ago and have xfinity. Instead of getting ripped off renting their modem router bought one from Best Buy and no problem. They keep raising their price and now looking to replace them.

"Here in the Villages" it depends on "where" in the Villages. Where I am, I can get fast broadband Xfinity, or I can get dial-up Century-Link. I could get satellite dish internet but it only works on alternate Thursdays if the sun is out and the wind is under 10mph in a southwesterly direction.

We moved into Marsh Bend in July ‘22. We have a two year deal with Xfinity that included their modem/router. I have my own equipment but theirs has been pretty solid.

You can get DSL from CenturyLink. I guess you could still use a dial-up modem (perhaps there are still some ISPs that support dial-up ??) but why would you when you can get DSL?

We have always used our own equipment, with no problems.

After ten years we had to buy an uprated modem, but still saved a lot by not renting.

Never got anywhere near the usage limits.

I meant DSL, don't know why I said dialup. But yes CenturyLink offers DSL, 3mbp max, in my area. That's fine if you're just using it to check your e-mail, but not useful if you're using it for TV/streaming service, or multiple devices such as desktop, laptop, and a printer.

We bought our own modem and router for around $120 total from Best Buy. Works perfectly with Xfinity.

I'm actually not sure what our limit is but we've never hit it and we use streaming on 2 separate TVs plus wifi cameras all of the time. I think that it's unlikely that anyone using their internet in a normal way is going to be going anywhere close to whatever their limit is.

To be fair, we had Xfinity send a technician when things were not working, the modem and router was one that we bought ourselves and they didn't charge us anything. I don't know what the equipment charge is per month, but we paid around $120 total for the equipment and we've been running smoothly for almost 24 months so far. If the charge is $20/month then 10 years would be $2400 for 10 years.