AIUI Comcast has 2 wifi channels originating from every user's internet
box, and one of their names ends in -guest. Comcast users are entitled
to use any of these guest wifi channels, without supplying a
subscriber-specific password, even when they don't know the subscriber.
Even when they're in a car parked near his home. Right?

What about Verizon? It doesn't offer this or allow it, right? If
you're out and you run out of data on your cellphone, you can't just use
some other Verizon subscriber's wifi, right? Like you could if you were
a Comcast subscriber. I've got two channels too, but the names vary
only that one ends in -5G.

Side question: One of my neighbors appears to have a wifi network
called Ring Setup 2d, and it's not password protected. Do you think in
an emergency I could use that, even though it's clearly meant only for a
Ring doorbell?

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:

> AIUI Comcast has 2 wifi channels originating from every user's internet
> box, and one of their names ends in -guest. Comcast users are entitled
> to use any of these guest wifi channels, without supplying a
> subscriber-specific password, even when they don't know the subscriber.
> Even when they're in a car parked near his home. Right?

You can disable the 'xfinity' wifi hotspot on the cable modem by going
online into your account to disable that feature, or using their app
which is merely a web-centric interface to your account.

Only users that login to Comcast (i.e., only Comcast customers) can use
the 'xfinity' hotspot. Their app retrieves a security profile that
allows Comcast customers to connect to the wifi hotspot. Even if you
have guests at your home, they can use the xfinity hotspot as long as
they are also Comcast customers, or you could give them your SSID
password to let them use your wifi service.

The channels assigned to the 'xfinity' hotspot are not from those
provisioned in the cable modem for your service tier. No matter how
much or little bandwidth is consumed by the 'xfinity' hotspot, it does
not affect your monthly bandwidth quota.

https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/about-xfinity-wifi-internet

> What about Verizon?

I don't use Verizon as my ISP. Maybe a Verizon customer can answer.
Unless the Verizon wifi hotspot is publicly accessible, and only if
login is not required to use that bandwidth, could you make use of
someone else's wifi hotspot.

> Side question: One of my neighbors appears to have a wifi network
> called Ring Setup 2d, and it's not password protected. Do you think
> in an emergency I could use that, even though it's clearly meant only
> for a Ring doorbell?

There is no emergency that allows you to steal bandwidth from your
neighbor. For an emergency, use your phone service(s).

On 12/10/2023 10:44 AM, micky wrote:

> AIUI Comcast has 2 wifi channels originating from every user's
> internet box, and one of their names ends in -guest. Comcast users
> are entitled to use any of these guest wifi channels, without
> supplying a subscriber-specific password, even when they don't know
> the subscriber. Even when they're in a car parked near his home.
> Right?
>
> What about Verizon? It doesn't offer this or allow it, right?

Dunno about Comcast or Verizon but my ISP Cox has the same thing. Cox
calls them hotspots. All Cox modems have hotspot capability and the
default is to be ON. But the hotspot can be disabled by the customer. To
use any Cox hotspot I just need to enter my user name and password.

Someone using a Cox modem hotspot won't subtract from the customer's
data allowance but I suspect it would subtract from the available speed
if used at the same time. Probably a pretty unlikely occurrence though...

There are thousands of Cox hotspots in my area according to Cox's online
map. That of course just means that most of their customers haven't
turned off their modem's hotspot.

I have only used a Cox hotspot a few times. My neighbor has one that I
have tried (tested?) and it works OK. If my modem were to fail I could
use his until mine were repaired. A backup that I thankfully haven't
needed yet.

And of course I have my modem's hotspot turned OFF so turnabout is
definitely not fair play...