FLEX ethernet connection

Everywhere I read, it says Flex can be connected to the internet by ethernet cable. I have no WI-FI, so I assumed I would be able to use FLEX without a problem. This has not been the case. I was on the phone for a long time with an XFINITY tech that didn't get anywhere. He sent me a new FLEX box. When I connected it directly via ethernet cable ( I had used a splitter before) I noticed the top blinking light on the modem was red.

When I plugged in my PC to the same port it blinked green.

This tells me the box is not connecting to the internet via the ethernet cable. If someone knows how I can get this fixed I would be most thankful. Otherwise. please let me know if I have to return the boxes. I am not going to purchase a WI-FI router just to watch the PREMIER LEAGUE.

I am using a personal modem:

MOTOROLA 8x4 Cable Modem, Model MB7220, 343 Mbps DOCSIS 3.0

Than you for your time'

CodyComm

Responses

comc25

Contributor

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123 Messages

4 years ago

Flex can only be used with the rented xFi modem. So you're forced to pay $14/mo for the modem in order to get the 'free' Flex box. Ripoff.

I just use Chromecast and my own modem.

bjveeetech

Visitor

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2 Messages

Totally inaccurate. Buy an ARRIS DOCSIS 3.0 modem ( many different models) a refurbished 6190 for $65.00. Call Comcast tech support and have it provisioned for your address and account. Refurbished usually means someone bought it and returned it. It's most likely still new but it can't be sold as new. I've used refurbished equipment of all kinds without trouble for 40 years. Literally. Four months and that's paid for. But you don't stop there. You want your own SEPARATE modem to establish wired and wireless connections that you specify your own internal ip addresses tied to your specific MAC addresses and establish your own personal firewall rules for protection. Also a piece of your own equipment which will be paid for in the next two years and you're not giving your money away each month. I mean the communications industry has dragged everyone young and old alike into the information age with your cell phone kicking and screaming pretty much without exceptions. My 92yr old father had his own cell phone for 15 years. My 89 year old mother took to an IPad in four days. These are the reasons you need your own routers. If you have children born after 1983, they are pretty much hard wired for this stuff. You can try to avoid it and continue paying for it or you can grow up and get on board. Google and YouTube have free tutorials on every possible question you can ask. Literally. Just relax and start reading. It's the definition of life! Ongoing education right up to the grave!

Flex will get you internet and more TV than you could ever watch for $55.00 per month. It's how you get out from under the $130.00 minimum television packages. TV is taxed. The internet and TV through flex ( which is internet) is not yet taxed. Best to take advantage of the situation before Congress decides to tax the internet also.

4 years ago

bjveeetech

Visitor

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2 Messages

I made a boo-boo. I meant to say you need your own router in addition to the modem. I miss-spoke. But don't be afraid of this stuff, it will teach you itself. Very easy to use.

4 years ago

user_597d74

Visitor

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1 Message

@comc25 Ignoramus your not forced to do anything. If you already have xfinity internet coming into the house, they offer the box for free...o except the .93 cents in tax, that’s not free. That said free is free, maybe you would like them to pay you to use it? It’s just a perk. It’s no way a ploy to get you to rent their box. Flex works with other providers as well. This is just an added benefit because of the technology that is coming down the pike, wired cable is becoming obsolete. With 6gig spectrum opening up, super fast accessible wireless internet will be everywhere. Wired cable will take a major hit. It already has began

4 years ago

CodyComm

New Poster

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3 Messages

4 years ago

I wouldn't go so far as to call it a ripoff since the box and returning it are free, but it was a big let-down. After all the instructions claimed it would work with an ethernet cable, and a couple of hours with techs trying to make it work it did not. I think people just assume everyone has wireless.

I also happen to have have a personal router and it has no WIFI. No wireless, no-go for FLEX

XfinityNima

Official Employee

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39 Messages

4 years ago

Hi @comc25 and @CodyComm,

Please note, you can absolutely choose to use your own modem with Flex. While Comcast recommends using our xFi Gateway so you can access features like the Xfinity xFI digital dashboard on your TV, you do not need to use our gateway to enjoy Flex.

XfinityNima

Official Employee

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39 Messages

4 years ago

Hi @CodyComm,

It's true, the majority of our customers do prefer to use Flex with a WiFi connection. But we realize that's not everyone's preference/need, so Flex is designed to be able to connect to the internet via a wired ethernet cable as well. Unfortunately, that hasn't been your experience, and I'm sorry for that. I know you've extended time and patience trying to activate Flex. I'm going to see if my Engineering colleagues can look into what's going on. Maybe they can uncover something previously missed. Would you mind sending me a private message with your name and account info, in case additional details can support their investigation? Thank you, I'd really like to get this figured out for you.

CodyComm

New Poster

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3 Messages

4 years ago

I spoke to Patty at XFINITY and she's the only one who understood my problem. My particular modem does not work with FLEX. Perhaps other modems work with ethernet but mine absolutely does not. Thank you very much for your concern, but I have made arrangements to return FLEX. All I wanted it for was for PEACOCK PLUS. I have wasted a lot of people's times for something that I had a gut feeling would be a fail. Again thanks to all who tried. I am happy with the customer service I received even though we couldn't get my modem to cooperate.

ScratchMonkey

Contributor

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42 Messages

4 years ago

For lurkers who happen on this thread, I've been happily using my Flex on wired Ethernet for a year. (I have issues with the box occasionally crashing, but not with the physical connection.) I have my house wired with Ethernet and a switch at my media center that distributes the house LAN to all the devices in my unit, including my Blue Ray player, my TV, and a port for when I set up a company computer there.

From Cody's last comment, I suspect that her modem doesn't automatically handle the two different ways an Ethernet cable can be wired. Most modern switches do. So just plug in a small 5-port switch and plug the Flex into that. (I use an 8-port in my media unit because of all the stuff I plug in there, and it's also passing my Ethernet through from one room to another, acting as a repeater. Each room has a switch. It's an old house with no attic or crawl space so the Ether net is daisy-chained instead of home-run to the cable modem.)

The two kinds of cable:

https://community.fs.com/blog/patch-cable-vs-crossover-cable.html

Flex

CodyComm

FLEX ethernet connection

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