Comcast gets into mesh networking with xFi Pods

Shawn Knight

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Comcast Xfinity Internet customers now have another option to consider when building out a mesh network. The ISP on Tuesday announced nationwide availability of xFi Pods, small adapters that plug into any electrical outlet and pair with the xFi Advanced Gateway or xFi Wireless Gateway to extend Wi-Fi coverage to hard-to-reach areas of your home.

Eric Schaefer, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Broadband, Automation and Communications at Comcast, said their Gateway devices are incredibly powerful but they know some homes have a unique layout or are constructed of materials that can disrupt Wi-Fi coverage in some rooms. Wi-Fi is the oxygen for the digital home, Schaefer said, adding that their xFi Pods can blanket a home with great coverage and are simple to install.

Using the xFi mobile app, customers can seamlessly add xFi Pods to their network by following the on-screen prompts. Once setup is complete, you can use the app to view the connection status of all of your Pods, see which devices are connected to the network, set parental controls and more. Of course, if you’d prefer to take a less hands-on approach, the xFi Pods can self-monitor their performance and even “heal” themselves to deliver the best experience.

Comcast is currently offering a three-pack of xFi Pods on its website and in Xfinity retail stores for $119 or a bundle of six for $199. The ISP says the smaller bundle is best for alleviating Wi-Fi connectivity issues in homes with three-four bedrooms and multiple stories while the larger pack should be suitable for homes with five or more bedrooms.

It’s worth noting that this is a one-time purchase; there’s no recurring fee to use the xFi Pods.

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So they are just WiFi Extenders with a fancy interface.
I've just done a project on mesh networks and let me tell you they're far from just range extenders you're effectively targeting wifi dead spots and it also ensures that if one of your aps disconnects u dont even notice because you'll get moved to a neighbouring ap, they've got their neiches but they're probably too much for your typical home wifi.
 
I'm curious how they compare to the other mesh networks out there. A 3 pack of Google hubs is twice the price of the ones from Comcast. It'll be interesting to see these compare to each other.
 
I'm curious how they compare to the other mesh networks out there. A 3 pack of Google hubs is twice the price of the ones from Comcast. It'll be interesting to see these compare to each other.
I bet that these Comcast ones only work with Comcast equipment which means they're your ISP.
 
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