Comcast thinks it ok to install public wifi in your house
Jay Ashworth
jra at baylink.com
Thu Dec 11 05:11:07 UTC 2014
----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeroen van Aart" <jeroen at mompl.net>
> Comcast-supplied routers broadcast an encrypted, private wireless
> network for people at home, plus a non-encrypted network called
> XfinityWiFi that can be used by nearby subscribers. So if you're passing
> by a fellow user's home, you can lock onto their public Wi-Fi, log in
> using your Comcast username and password, and use that home's
> bandwidth.
Bright House/RoadRunner has been doing this in Tampa Bay for a couple years
now -- but they only do it on business installs. It's how the Bright House
Wifi and CableWifi SSID services are provisioned.
Interestingly, they *do* do it with a separate cablemodem and a tee, and
a separate high-power access point; it's not built into the cablemodem
provisioned for the business customer proper. So space and power *would*
be an issue for these users, though I don't know that anyone's complained.
As another commenter noted, you do have to be a subscriber for their
auth network to recognize you.
I will give them their props: I only had to sign in *once*, last year;
their auth controller has recognized my MAC address at every spot I've
used since.
Cheers,
-- jra
--
Jay R. Ashworth Baylink jra at baylink.com
Designer The Things I Think RFC 2100
Ashworth & Associates http://www.bcp38.info 2000 Land Rover DII
St Petersburg FL USA BCP38: Ask For It By Name! +1 727 647 1274
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