Does Eero work with Xfinity?
If you experience ‘dead zones’ when using Xfinity Wi-Fi in your home or workplace, chances are you are considering getting an extender like Eero to fill the gap.
Considering Xfinity Wi-Fi routers have many issues when servicing large areas with a reliable internet connection, the solution is using a mesh Wi-Fi system. The mesh expansion system uses signal repeating/amplifying nodes that you position throughout your home and these bounce the Wi-Fi signals to all ‘dead zones’.
Mesh Wi-Fi setups such as Eero give you the best coverage chances with the easiest setup. All you need is the base unit that you plug into an Ethernet port on the Xfinity router, and it will act as the signal transmitter. You then plug mesh network ‘nodes’ into power outlets that follow a spacing pattern, and these will broadcast the signal coming from the base unit.
So does Eero work well for Xfinity routers? Yes, it does. Setting up the unit is easy since you log into the Xfinity xFi admin tools at https://10.0.0.1 and enable the bridge mode. You will then connect the WAN port on your Eero to the xFi LAN port through an Ethernet cable.
Table of Contents
Summary of Eero’s attributes
Criteria to examine |
Whether the Eero fulfills the criteria |
Highest internet speeds |
350 Mbps |
Number of bands |
Dual (both 2.4 and 5GHz) |
Does it have special queue management? |
Yes |
Number of Ethernet ports |
2 |
Does it support Gigabit internet? |
Not really |
Coverage (per unit) |
1500 sq. feet |
Experience during gameplay |
It experiences low latency. If the network has few devices, there are no chokes. |
MU-MIMO |
2 x 2 |
How to avoid Xfinity rental fees
If you use the Xfinity combo router, chances are you pay the Comcast monthly fee to use the equipment. To avoid this while using Eero, the easiest option is returning the Xfinity gateway.
However, Eero mesh Wi-Fi systems are only capable of routing, as they do not have a modem – so if you plan to use Eero and Xfinity, you will need to replace the Xfinity xFi with another modem.
Process of setting up Eero with your Xfinity system
Fortunately, the setting up process of Eero with your Xfinity internet router is easy, and you can finish it in minutes when you follow the steps below.
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Log into the Xfinity Gateway
Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to the Xfinity LAN port. Access the Xfinity Gateway web page in your browser by typing 10.0.0.1 in the URL search bar.
When the portal loads, enter your credentials. If this is the first time you are accessing the portal or you forgot the login details, try ‘password’ as your password and ‘admin’ as your username. If it fails, your Xfinity xFi device should have the password and username.
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Select ‘Gateway at a Glance’
On the left section of the screen, you will note a ‘Gateway’ tab. The ‘Gateway at a Glance’ option is under this tab.
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Activate the Xfinity xFi bridge mode
Before setting up the mesh network, you should activate the Xfinity’s bridge mode through the ‘Gateway at a Glance’ setting. This will restrict the router functionality of the Xfinity gateway and letting the Eero handle it.
The result will prevent conflicts between the two systems due to double NAT (occurs when you have 2 routers with similar IPs functioning in the same area).
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Confirm your changes
Ensure you save these changes to avoid losing them.
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Connect the Eero and Xfinity Gateway
Using an Ethernet cable, connect the Eero router’s WAN port and your Xfinity Gateway’s LAN port. Both ports on the Eero are WAN, so you can connect the cable to any of them.
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Power cycle the devices to restart
Restart all your devices before accessing the internet. This allows the system to implement the changes and stabilize the network.
Pros of Eero over Xfinity’s xFi
- It offers you plenty of customizations and is powerful enough to handle daily use.
- Very easy to setup, especially when compared to other mesh router systems
- It gives good connectivity and performance compared to xFi
- It has mechanisms to prevent interference over your home network and gives you full control
- Very good support – even more than xFi
Eero Cons
- Pricey compared to other mesh options
- You need a subscription to access its parental controls and anti-malware features
Conclusion
Using the steps above, it is easy to set up your Eero mesh system with your Xfinity router and improve your internet user experience.
FAQs
Is it possible to keep using Eero with my current router?
Yes, it is. However, it may or may not deliver the best results, depending on the router you use, so it helps to know the best routers for your Eero extenders.
Will I need to replace my router to use Eero?
Yes, because Eero replaces the router, not the modem. If you use a combination router/modem, you will disable its router functionality by activating its bridge mode and use the Eero as the router instead.
