I probably don't have "the" answer but...

The screens show the HPs, those are just available networks. You're not connected to them (nor they to you). Since they're only one bar, they're pretty far away. A neighbor's probably.

The xfinitywifi one that is open(not secured - no password needed). I tried connecting to that once since it was open. It connected fine but when I opened my browser, they wanted me to log in (I don't have Comcast) or whip out a credit card and pay to use it. :)

The orbi (your extender?) is the only one you're connected to. The one directly below that, the xfinity one with 5 bars, that's probably in your house. Since you have xfinity, it must be yours. It says "Action needed". Have you tried clicking it to see what action it needs?

The 8005 one? No idea. It seems to be close though, either yours or a very close neighbor. Maybe it's your TV or some other device. I don't know.

Personally, I'd see what action my xfinity router claims it needs. If it needs an action, performing that action might help.

If not, someone more knowledgeable will be along.

jane-

I don't think the problem is with your network settings, and messing around with them may make things worse. I've had Xfinity in the past and by default they have all the routers they provide to homes set up with a separate open network so that they can have wifi hotspots all over. It is secured separately and can only be accessed by another Xfinity customer by logging in to their account and accessing the signal. But the way it's set up it doesn't steal from the bandwidth of your own network. Xfinity tech support will turn it off for you if you want, but I think you are worrying over nothing in regard to that.

In general when people report problems like yours it's usually some problem with the quality of the cable, like a bad connection, or a temporary router glitch. Here is what you should do:

1. Reboot your router by turning it's power off for 15 seconds and then turning it back on which will reset it. It won't hurt anything and can remove software glitches.

2. Go to speedtest.net and test your speed; then compare it to the speed you're paying for from Xfinity. Do you know what that speed is?

3. If you are still having slow connections you need to be dealing with Xfinity tech support who can check for all kinds of problems remotely, and send a technician out to repair any bad wiring/splices to the router. I had to do his with Xfinity more than once and it always ultimately got resolved...sometimes in a few minutes, or sometimes in a couple of days until they could send out a repair technician. Maybe it will take more than one call, but they have an obligation to provide what you are paying for. If you need an onsite visit and you aren't paying the monthly fee (about $7) for on-site tech support, tell Xfinity you want to add that to your monthly bill; if you have it before you make an appointment for a tech to visit, there won't be any charge for the service and any diagnostic work. Once everything is fixed, you can always cancel this.

You fiddling around with network settings or having us guess what to try next will just be a trip to frustration. Try the basic steps I recommended and then report back.

Thanks for the link, Kudzu, I just ran it, using my laptop on WiFi, and got 50 mbps for download and 9 for upload. I then connected an ethernet cable and re-ran the test and got 115 for download, but the same for upload! (my internet provider is Spectrum).

3 Orbis? Do you have a 7000 sq foot house? I have nearly 5K and 2 work just fine.

I suspect something is wrong with the setup. Orbis are routers and you mention an xfinity router too - you shouldn't have more than one device turned on as a router at the same time or you're going to get conflicts. If the xfinity box is a modem AND a router, you need to turn off the router part. and run an ethernet cable to the base station Orbi.

Or maybe there's traffic conflicts with neighbors and the channel settings need to be changed?

I don't think this is something you can handle yourself. You need a tech savvy friend, relative, or service provider to come in and figure out what's wrong. If you don't want someone in your house for now, I understand (I don't either) and then it is what it is for now.

Good luck.

@ jane__ny

I recommend posting over in the Xfinity Home Network forum. If you've never posted there before, your pictures won't show up right away, an employee will review and approve them. The sooner you post the better, because pictures aren't always approved on Saturday & Sunday. There's some very helpful volunteers there, and you might be able to avoid a service call. The forum is at https://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Your-Home-Network/bd-p/YHN

Thank you all.

Kudzu, you are right. Fiddling around caused me to lose internet last nigh!

I don't understand this stuff at all. I saw all these names and computers and thought they were on my network.

We live in Florida and my tech savvy son-in-law lives in CT. Due to covis19, we haven't seen them since December and heaven knows when we and they can travel. I remember he was bothered by my internet speed back in December and took a look. He mentioned that Comcast sets up hotspots so people can use your internet. He somehow made it private, but I didn't watch what he did as he works very fast. He bought us the Orbi's as a x-mas gift. He set them up.

Since then, the problems began again. I called Comcast to complain and they told me to take the modem to their store and get a newer one. I did that but it got worse.

I just took the speed test (thank you) and it read: download-22.50, upload-5.81.

I have no idea if that's good or bad. BTW, I got the internet back by connecting to Xfinity. I guess I hadn't done that. Thank you for your explanation!

Richard! you are amazing to see all that. I had no idea you could see so much. I have no idea what to look for. I suppose the best thing for me is to contact Comcast again (which I hate doing, it takes all day to get anywhere with them). For some reason, this popped up on Avast during a scan and said my network was open and dangerous. That is what started my looking around to see what was going on.

Elmer, I'm afraid our house is only 2200 sq ft. My SIL bought the Orbi's and set them up. I have a Ring doorbell and a camera on the side of our house facing the driveway. Both were so delayed to inform us of people at the house, I had asked him to find out why. My daughter and sil have a huge house in Ct. over 6,000 sq ft and he said the Orbi's worked well carrying the signal to all the floors including the basement. They have their multiple tv's streaming and do not have cable.They use Comcast for their internet.

So, I expected big things from these Orbi's. Not so. The modem is plugged into the Orbi.

Mo, thank you, I will check out that forum.

Jane

You've got too many Orbis - one router (Orbi not needed) centrally located and properly set up would have been plenty. My bet is they're causing their own interference because you have too many too close together.

A Wifi connected signal routes in milliseconds, too fast for you to detect any delay.

Are you sure your xfinity device is only a modem? I also wonder if you have two routers routing on the network (the Orbi and the xfinity device) and if so, that's an automatic problem - a symptom is delays because packets get routed and routed around and around. A big no no. And I'll stick to maybe having a need to change channel settings.

I'm not impressed by someone saying - here, stick these three Orbis in your 2200 square foot house. That's not what they're for.

My second home is 1800 square feet in a dense setting - single family detached homes but close together. Normally we have 15 attached devices, not counting when we have guests staying with us. I have ONE router located in an unfortunate spot, at one end of the rectangle. At the opposite end, a Wifi connection will constantly test to 55 Megs. I have no conflicts (I watch the channel settings), dropped connections, or problems. This with a router that was $70.

You need to get a network tech to come in and fix what you have. In the meantime, unplug at least one of the Orbis (not the one connected to the modem).

What company is the internet provider is irrelevant. The bandwidth of the service matters once it leaves your home but you're describing Wifi problems, not internet problems. You're getting a connection using the neighbor's xfinity community setting because IT'S doing the routing instead of your Orbi cluster. Another sign the problem is too many Orbis or set up wrong.

Jane-

22.5 Mbps is not a terrible download speed, but I would expect it to be quite a bit higher, but it's probably that you are using a hotspot. You need to connect through your own network, not your neighbor's, for a higher speed. Xfinity provides different connection speeds depending on what you are willing to pay for. So you should be able to log in to your account and find out what speed you are paying for, or just ask them over the phone. And the Orbi units may not be working now if you are using anything other than your own home network.

I don't expect you to understand how to fix this, but I think, with the changes you've made, the system is now messed up and you need to call Xfinity tech support, explain the problem, have them return the settings to what they should be, and troubleshoot for you.

Can ONE get a WiFi hotspot device that is NOT a router? I used to have a Belden WiFi Access Point, but they don't exist any more.

"Can ONE get a WiFi hotspot device that is NOT a router"

Yes and no. Each "network" needs a router, it directs traffic. But only one, not more. Think of it like the post office that receives incoming messages and sends them to the right destination. On a network, that's the IP address that's either internal or external.

Almost all residential "routers" also emit a radio signal for wireless connections that is referred to as "Wifi". But many roads lead to Rome. You can have a wired (ethernet) connection to a router too. Or run a wire from the router to another part of the house, and to it connect a "WAP" - wireless access point. That bit of hardware translates the network signal it gets over a wire into a radio signal (wifi signal) to which devices can connect. Note that Wifi signals that connect to the WAP are carried over the ethernet wire to/from the router, which does its routing job in the normal way. A router doesn't care whether device connections (for mail delivery) come to it via wire or wirelessly.

You can buy a WAP device or use an old router as a WAP. When using an old router, you need to first log on to that piece of equipment (which everyone should know how to do with their equipment anyway) and tell it to function as a WAP and not as a router. That's done either by checking a box with a caption something like "FUNCTION AS A WAP (which is how my Netgear router works) or with a checkbox to disable the routing function.

Jane,

I would disconnect the Orbi and just use the Comcast router as a start. If you have areas in your house where you are not getting a good WiFi signal, then add the Orbi back.

Mtvhike,

Lots of access points on the market, although I can't make a recommendation. Depending on the type of connection, each has it's advantages/disadvantages. As Elmer said, you can use an old router as an access point assuming you can run an Ethernet cable to your ISP's router.

If I use my old router, I have to disable all the IP stuff. My old Belden Access Point was like a switch with only a wireless port. No IP, passwords, etc. That's what I want.

The DHCP function is what needs to be disabled in a router to have it function as a WAP from a wired network connection.

The IP entries (as for the host that are typically in a router) usually don't need to be touched because when DHCP is disabled, all the device does is capture the radio signal and send it down the wire.

Thanks, guys. I'll be honest, I don't understand one thing you've written so I think the best thing for me to do is disconnect the Orbi's.

The reason they were installed was because the X-Finity signal was terrible. When my son-in-law hooked up the Orbis it improved greatly. Then I started having problems again. That's why I updated the router which X-infinity suggested. It got worse after changing the router. Now their stores are closed.

I tried calling them last week and it was impossible. I couldn't get past the recordings that their call center is limited due to the crisis. I stayed on the phone for 2 hours and got nowhere. I tried using their 'chat' and got nowhere with that. That told me to call them to speak to a person. Did that over and over.

I'll disconnect the router and see what happens.

Thanks everyone!

Jane

Good morning, I am currently researching the topic of networking and networking issues. I know that the network is subject to hacking attempts on a daily basis. But why are most of them unsuccessful? Is there any way to protect against this kind of action?