This isn't directly on the initial topic, but in response to Jan Werner's comments about "xfinitywifi".... While I can understand why some people have a beef with comcast putting a "public" wifi service in the router in their home/office, I think it's wonderful. In my area, Comcast is ubiquitous and so is the network "xfinitywifi" which makes life easy to get online in my travels. So I personally support leaving xfinitywifi enabled and available to the world (especially since I'm not aware of any evidence that it hurts throughput, or represents a security risk). Chris Hart Computer Support & Technology Consulting for Connecticut and Western Massachusetts Tel: 860-291-9393 chris at chrishart.net http://www.MyMacTech.com > On Jan 10, 2016, at 9:15 AM, Jan Werner <jwerner at jwdp.com> wrote: > > > > > Don't use the Comcast box as a router! > > Most third part wireless routers will give you far better coverage than > a combined modem/router and many of them allow you to set up one or more > guest networks that are isolated from your main network. > > You are probably paying a fee to Comcast to lease their modem/router box > which you could amortize in a year or two by buying your own cable modem > (You can find lists of those that Comcast supports on their website) and > your own router. > > Furthermore, Comcast's own routers are designed to let them be used as > open access WiFI hotspots - if you ever wondered about how Comcast and > Time Warner can offer thousands of free WiFi access points nationwide, > that's how. So if you are worried about security, you should not use ae > Comcast provided router in the first place. > > Here's a link to an article you might find useful. > > http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2014/06/want-to-use-your-own-modemrouter-with-comcast-heres-how/ > > If you Google, you will find plenty of other information online, and > there was a recent discussion of wireless routers here as well. > > Jan Werner > ______________ > > > Duane Dale wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> Dear H-Techers: >> >> In advance, forgive me if these are naive questions or have been >> addressed previously. >> >> Consider this scenario: >> * A homeowner has a "mother-in-law apartment" which is rented to tenants. >> Imagine that these parties don't know each other well. >> * The chosen internet option is Comcast. >> * A Comcast-provided cable modem-wireless router is the default option. >> * Because it's nominally a single-family house, Comcast says it's >> prohibited from providing two separate accounts. >> * Comcast says it could (for an additional fee, of course) install two >> separate cable modem-routers on the same account. >> >> The security question: >> * If the two parties share one WiFi account, is there a security risk? >> (Assume, of course, that banking and other sensitive use is with >> https sites.) >> * If there is a security risk, how does it compare to risks at an airport? >> ... in an apartment building (without shared WiFi access)? >> ...drive-by "listening" to WiFi activity. >> * Would the second Comcast WiFi "box" reduce security risks? >> * Would hard-wiring a third-party wireless router into a single Comcast >> box provide a separate log-in? ...and would that reduce security risks? >> >> The coverage question: >> If the house is large enough to have coverage issues (or has >> out-buildings where coverage is weak)... >> * Is there a WiFi Extender device that anyone would recommend? >> * Would hard-wiring a third-party wireless router into the Comcast box >> -- with a long Cat5 cable to take that second box into the weaker zone >> -- help? >> >> Thanks! >> Duane Dale >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net >> Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net >> >> You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. >> If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members >> page on the Hidden Tech Web site. >> http://www.hidden-tech.net/members >> > _______________________________________________ > Hidden-discuss mailing list - home page: http://www.hidden-tech.net > Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net > > You are receiving this because you are on the Hidden-Tech Discussion list. > If you would like to change your list preferences, Go to the Members > page on the Hidden Tech Web site. > http://www.hidden-tech.net/members -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://lists.hidden-tech.net/pipermail/hidden-discuss/attachments/20160110/d8f980d9/attachment.html