@goaltender wrote:
We had a technician upgrade my modem today, from generation 1 to 3. They didn't reactivate the three (gen 1) pods I have, but I did so when they left. Should they have upgraded those pods too?
The only upgrade available are Gen2 Pods. The Gen1 and Gen2 Pods are both only Wi-Fi 5 devices. Your Gen 3 (XB8) Gateway is a Wi-Fi 6E device.
The Gen2 Pods are more efficient because they have a dedicated Wi-Fi radio for uplink to the Gateway. Gen 2 Pods can offer throughput of up to 500 Mbps. You will be lucky to get 200-250 Mbps with Gen 1 Pods. Rogers no longer offers Pods free of charge so upgrading your Pods may result in additional monthly fees.
Will the old pods support all three bands? The three were installed when I first got Rogers Ignite in 2019, as that's what the tech at the time felt we needed. Is the gen 3 modem strong enough to reduce the number of pods I have?
The old Pods will work with the newer gateway. As a general rule, you typically require fewer Gen2 Pods just because they provide more network throughput, but it also depends on your home, its layout, and its construction as to how many Pods you need for complete coverage. (When Rogers still offered Pods free of change, they would only provide one Gen2 Pod for free.)
Is the gen 3 modem strong enough to reduce the number of pods I have?
The Gen 3 Gateway is not "stronger". It has a different antenna design. It offers a 6 GHz band that provides high-speed connectivity at close range for Wi-Fi 6E-capable devices. It can support more connected devices. If placed in a good central location, it may be able to provide enough coverage for the entire home. Or it may not. It depends on where you place the Gateway and to what extent building materials block your Wi-Fi signal.
As a starting point, unplug all your Pods and see what areas get a weak Wi-Fi signal. See if you can improve coverage by repositioning your Gateway. (Sometimes, even moving it a just few inches can make a HUGE difference, for better and for worse.) If you still have areas in your home with poor or no Wi-Fi connectivity, you will need to resolve that by installing Pods.
