The service will be enabled for approximately 10 million Xfinity Internet customers who already have the compatible Xfinity Wireless Gateway, in the first half of 2017. Comcast expects that number to grow to 15 million by the year’s end when the new Advanced Wireless Gateway is released to all Comcast customers. The Advanced Gateway is built for speeds of up to 9 Gbps, making them ready for Comcast’s upcoming gigsbit service. The first version of Comcast’s new Advanced Gateway is based on the Puma™ 7 SoC by Intel®.
"People want to connect and control the products and devices in their home, quickly and easily,” said Comcast Cable Executive Vice President, Chris Satchell. "Digital Home connectivity today should be as intuitive and dynamic as the devices and experiences it powers."
Set-up Your Network
To get the new Advanced Gateway up and running all that needs to be done is to download the Comcast app and scan the QR code on the router into your phone. Then you pick a username and password for the network. It will automatically find all the connected devices in the house. You can add new devices whenever you like.
You can add range extenders to boost signal strength and make sure there are no dead spots in the house. Especially useful for larger houses. Wi-Fi signal strength can be tested as well as the position of the Gateway and other IoT (Internet of Things) devices to make sure you get the optimum connectivity for all your devices.
If you already have Comcast Cable and Internet and use one of the compatible Comcast Wi-Fi Gateways, when the whole-home networking solution service is rolled out you will be able to upgrade it for free.
Personalize Your Network
After your devices are recognized, go through and personalize all the devices in the home. Devices can be organized by who owns it, what room it is in, or other categories, etc. You can then monitor and control when each device is connected to the network.
Mange Your Network
Management of your smart home is easy and intuitive, for example you can turn off Internet access to certain or all devices at specific times like “Internet is turned off to Jasmine’s rooms at 9:00.” or “All Internet access goes off at midnight.” or “Turn off all Internet connections between 5:30 and 6:30 for mealtimes.”
The devices can be managed through the web, an app on your phone, or your television if you are a Comcast Xfinity TV customer. You can monitor who is accessing the WiFi and see how much bandwidth they are using. All viewable through one dashboard. The built in voice controls of the X1 remote will also work with the Advanced Gateway features allowing you to give voice commands like “Turn off Internet to Holly’s Xbox.” or “Display all connected devices on the television.”
Protect Your Network
The gateway comes with automatic protection from phishing and malware. This is great since many IoT devices don’t have an individual screen and protection software cannot be installed on them individually. Easy to use parental controls can also help protect younger family members from viewing inappropriate content.
Comcast does charge a monthly fee for the router, but as updates are released they will be pushed to the Advanced Gateways.
It is estimated that by 2020 households will have 50 connected devices in the home (like TVs, refrigerators and tea kettles) up from about 10 currently. As the number of connected devices increases Comcast seems ready to do its part to make management of these IoT devices easier.