Does Orbi work with Xfinity?

If having extra devices in your house makes you sick, the Netgear Orbi router seeks to eliminate your problems – especially when looking at the issues Xfinity internet seems to have.

As a Comcast user, you automatically receive a standard Xfinity Gateway device that you can use to join other networking devices. Netgear Orbi is among the more popular Wi-Fi mesh setups, thanks to its flexibility, reliability, and speeds that cater to small and large homes alike. If you already use an Xfinity setup, you may have questions about whether getting the Orbi is a worthwhile decision, as you may be concerned that the two systems are incompatible.

Well, there is some good news for you: Netgear Orbi and Xfinity are fully compatible. All you need to do is set it up as an AP (Access Point), disable the Xfinity Wi-Fi, and change the Orbi’s password and Wi-Fi SSID to avoid conflicts with the two networks. 

How to set up the Orbi and Xfinity

The best way to connect your Xfinity and Orbi is to set up the Orbi in access point mode and then connect it to your router (which is already in bridge mode).

Therefore, the differences between the AP mode and router mode in the Orbi are in the table below:

To set the Xfinity router to bridge mode

Xfinity routers function as a modem-router combo by default to create a reliable Wi-Fi network. However, changing the setup to bridge mode will allow you to set up another device as a router and the Xfinity device to function as the modem.

When you activate the bridge mode, you cannot use xFi pods or Xfinity xFi. Follow the steps below to set it:

1. Connect the Orbi and Xfinity router using an Ethernet cable.
2. Using any device that is connected to your Xfinity network, open its web browser and type in https://10.0.0.1 in the URL search bar.
3. This will direct you to the Xfinity portal, where you can log in with the credentials: password (for the password) and admin (for the username).
4. Once you log in, you can access the settings and click on the ‘Gateway’ menu. Select ‘At a Glance.’
5. Select ‘Enable’ (next to the Bridge Mode).
6. The screen will bring up a warning pop-up message and asking you to confirm whether you want to activate bridge mode. Select ‘OK’. At this point, the wireless gateway might restart to confirm your changes.
7. In place of the Xfinity Gateway router functionality, you can now use your router. On the top right section of the page, tap on ‘Logout’.

Setting the Orbi as an Access Point

1. Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the computer (do not interfere with the Xfinity router connection), then plug it into the Orbi’s Ethernet port. The connection should be between the Orbi and Xfinity routers.
2. On a device connected to the Orbi network, launch a web browser.
3. In the URL search bar, type in orbilogin.com. This will direct you to the Orbi portal, where you can log in.
4. Enter your credentials as ‘admin’ (for the username) and ‘password’ or the one you created during set up. The credentials are case-sensitive.
5. The portal will direct you to the BASIC Home page. In the Settings menu, click on ‘Advanced’, then ‘Advanced Setup’, and then ‘Router/AP Mode’. This will display the Router/AP mode where you can change the Orbi to an Access Point.
6. Click on the AP Mode radio button to activate the setting and adjust the page.
7. You can now choose between 2 IP address settings:

• Using a fixed IP address (not recommended). It will allow you to set a specific IP address for the Orbi when it is in AP mode. Do not activate it unless you have advanced networking knowledge.
• Getting it from an existing router dynamically. This option allows the other router (Xfinity in this case) to assign an IP address to the Orbi while it is in AP Mode.

Conclusion

The compatibility of Orbi and Xfinity is not in doubt, as Orbi routers are built to work with almost any router in the market. You only need to adjust the network settings by using the Orbi as an Access Point and the Xfinity as the modem, and this will avoid problems in the network.

FAQs

How can I install Orbi on my Xfinity router?

The easiest method to set up the Orbi is configuring it and its satellites first before connecting them to your Xfinity. Once you sync the Orbi units, change to AP mode, and then connect them to Xfinity.

Is it possible to use my router alongside Xfinity?

Yes, you can buy a modem to use with the Xfinity router, as long as it is compatible.