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@techx15 wrote:
Is there any way to turn the radio off on the modem?
No, not possible. Disabling Wi-Fi on an Ignite Gateway only disables the Wi-Fi segment that is associated with your internal LAN. There is no way to completely disable all the internal radios. Even in Bridge Mode, the Ignite Gateway still has internal services running on it and some of those are accessed through hidden Wi-Fi SSIDs.
It's not just Wi-Fi. These gateways were designed by Comcast to be the hub for an entire suite of "Connected Home" services. In addition to Wi-Fi, they also have Zigbee and Bluetooth LE radios for IoT device connectivity.
https://update.comcast.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/dlm_uploads/2020/01/xb7-fact-sheet.pdf
@techx15 wrote:
Thank you so much for the clarification.
Looks like I need to look for some kind of RF screening solution.
If you are just trying to reduce your exposure, the easiest solution would be to place the gateway a metal bucket. That will provide some shielding and still allow for ample ventilation. Your other option is to build or buy a Faraday cage... or you can get your Internet service from a TPIA provider that will allow you to connect your router to a simple cable modem.
I'm also assuming that you are a DOCSIS / Cable Internet customer. If you have a (XGS-PON) FTTH Internet service, the Ignite Gateway is totally optional. You can unplug the XB7 gateway and connect your own router directly to the ONT.
@techx15 wrote:
Looks like I will need to build my farady cage using something like:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01M294MGK
Not unless you plan to make a suit out of it. 😀
The Ignite Gateways generate a lot of heat internally, are air-cooled, have an internal fan, and cannot be operated in an enclosed area. You can't put it in a Faraday bag or a closed box.
@arnym21 wrote:
@-G- wrote:
Even in Bridge Mode, the Ignite Gateway still has internal services running on it and some of those are accessed through hidden Wi-Fi SSIDs.Can you elaborate a bit more on that revelation? Are you referring to Zigbee and BT LE radios?
Keep in mind that the Ignite Gateways are more than just a cable modem; they were designed to deliver a broad scope of services. Prior to Rogers adopting the Comcast X1 platform for Ignite TV, they deployed dedicated cable modems for their Internet service, a separate modem/eMTA for Home Phone, and their Digital TV set-top boxes were standalone devices. Similarly, their legacy home security solution also required its own dedicated hardware for network connectivity.
Comcast took a very different approach; they designed and evolved their X1 platform to enable them to deliver an entire suite of "Connected Home" services, and they designed their Gateways to be the central hub for all of these services. There are services running on the Gateway that need to remain running to support other services, even when "Bridge Mode" is enabled. It still needs to provide Wi-Fi connectivity for devices that make up the home security service. It still needs to provide connectivity for the Home Phone ATA/eMTA. There is a "helper service" used by TV set-top boxes that enables them to automatically connect to the in-home Wi-Fi. Some of these services are accessed via hidden Wi-Fi networks. The end-customer has no control over these services; there is no on/off switch.
I can't really provide any information about IoT device connectivity. Rogers only just started to provide support for this feature fairly recently. I don't use it.
I also do not subscribe to Ignite Self Protect.
Also, is it possible for a 3rd party to access the Gateway Admin UI from Wan, or its done via cable outside of internet domain?
Rogers has total control over the device. You can't lock them out of it. They control the device and how it is configured; you only have access to a small number of settings.
By default, there is no access to the Gateway's web admin UI from the WAN side. You can enable it, so that the "tech expert" in your family can get access when needed, but this is disabled by default.
@arnym21 wrote:
I was referring to Rogers technicians, when talking about Tech Admin UI, rather than User Admin UI with limited controls. I wonder if (Rogers) Tech Admin login allowing to control more features is done via internet, or cable only?
Rogers does all of their configuration through their provisioning systems.
I assume that "a family expert" login to modem is done via WAN on the user's permission via regular User Admin UI page?
Yes, but there is not much use to enabling this access anymore. Anything but the most basic configuration is now done through the mobile app.
Some enable this access to allow them to reboot their gateways while they are away, if needed.
However, Remote Management (over the WAN interface) is disabled by default, for very good reasons, and most people (myself included) leave it disabled.
@ranman99 wrote:
So for the ignite service with the technicolor router how do you plug in and use your Google nest? Do i keed a different cable modem from you guys with no wifi radios?
It's actually not that big a deal. When Ignite TV launched many years ago, Rogers did not use WiFi Pods. For their "Wall-to-Wall WiFi" solution, they offered customers an eero Wi-Fi mesh for rental. They disabled Wi-Fi on the Ignite Gateway and put the eero mesh into Bridge (AP) Mode. Yes, the Ignite Gateway technically still had Wi-Fi active to support secondary internal services, but the traffic is almost nonexistent. You can run in that same configuration or you can put the Ignite Gateway into Bridge Mode and leave your Google nest Wi-Fi mesh in its default configuration.
@myusername100 don't know where you managed to dig that page up, but its pretty old. That shows the Hitron CGN3 modem on the top and a Cisco DPC-3825 modem which predates the CGN3 modem.
In both cases, the CGN3 and DPC-3825 modems, the wifi was totally shut down when you disabled it within the user interface.
The next modem in the lineup after the Hitron CGN3 was the Hitron CODA-4582. In this case, the wifi was totally shut down when you disabled it within the user interface.
The CODA-4582 has been withdrawn from residential use but I believe that its still used by some business customers. So, the current modem lineup for residential customers includes the Comcast XB6, XB7 and XB8. These modem support the Ignite TV set top boxes, and numerous other services that Comcast and Rogers has not revealed to the world. As a result of supporting those current and future undisclosed services, the wifi runs a hidden channel when the wifi is disabled within the user interface. The hidden channel runs in both Gateway and Bridge mode.
The only exception I believe is if the customer only runs internet service, in which case there is no observed hidden channel when the wifi is disabled in Gateway modem or the modem is kicked into Bridge mode. That is what I saw with my XB7 modem.
Here is the lineup for Rogers current and previous modems, dating back to the Hitron CGN3 modem:
Internet Self-Install - Help and Support - Rogers
@myusername100 Keep in mnd that the Ignite Gateway is not just a cable modem. Comcast designed these devices to be the hub for a whole suite of Connected Home service offerings. Those hidden Wi-Fi networks are there to support other Ignite services. The Gateway also has Zigbee and Bluetooth LE radios for IoT/Smart Home/Smart device connectivity.
If you want a pure, simple cable modem from Rogers, the only way to get one, as a residential customer, is to sign up with Comwave, a TPIA provider that they acquired last year. You won't get Rogers' higher upload speeds but you can get a Hitron CODA 4680 gateway and (hopefully) better support from Rogers for a problematic Internet connection than what you might get from other TPIA providers.
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