Roaming Network Xfinity to Airport Extreme

The Xfinity Technicolor modem/router uses 802.11n for 2.4 GHz and 802.11ac for 5 GHz. The AirPort uses 802.11n for 2.4 GHz and also 802.11n for 5 GHz, so you have a mismatch.

A device that is connected to the 802.11ac 5 GHz signal on the Xfinity will not likely want to switch over to 802.11n 5 GHz when it moves from the Xfinity wireless area to the AirPort Extreme area. The device will try to hold onto the "ac" signal to the bitter end, even though it will be very slow and weak that far away from the Xfinity router.

In other words, the WiFi device won't "roam" because you don't really have a roaming network......you have different networks with different characteristics.

As an experiment, try using only one name for the AirPort Extreme network for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signals and make it a different wireless network name than the Xfinity Technicolor network. You'll have to have devices log on to the AirPort network.....a hassle.....but you may have better WiFi performance from the AirPort Extreme.

My best option may be the xFi pods that Comcast sells, of course in packs of 3 (which I really don’t think I need 3) for $119.99 which creates a mesh network.

My first impression is that this might be your solution, since it appears that the pods are designed to match up correctly with the Xfinity Technicolor modem/router. In addition, most devices in general tend to "roam" better on a mesh network than other options.

If you can get a return privilege for the xFi pods, I would be tempted to try that first, rather then spend additional time on the AirPort Extreme........which (in my opinion) is far behind the Technicolor in terms of capabilities.

The AirPort Extreme 5th Gen was introduced in June 2011. That means that it was designed and developed in the 2010 timeframe. As such, it is using technology that was available in 2010. That might be really all that you need to know.

A 5th Gen AirPort Extreme is at least 7 years old and as much as 9 depending on when it was placed into service......and 5 years on average is about it for most routers designed for home use as far as useful life is concerned. So, that may or may not be a factor here.

In addition, roaming is now a lot more complicated to set up, especially with devices from different manufacturers. For example, The Xfinity router may be one of the newer 802.11ax products, or it might be an 802.11ac product while the AirPort Extreme is an 802.11n product from a few generations back. Roaming always works best when the two devices are identical or closely related

Can you clarify with a few more details about the Xfinity modem/router?

A few other questions as well.......

The Xfinity product is likely a dual band device, meaning that it produces both a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz signal. Do both bands use the exact same wireless network name? Or, are there different names for the two bands on the Xfinity product?

How is the AirPort Extreme currently set up? Does it use the same wireless network name for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, or are you using separate names for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands?

I'll be surprised if there are any easy fixes for your setup, so it will take some time, patience and probably experimentation to arrive at the best setup, which still may not work all that well as far as roaming is concerned.

Not saying it is bad, saying it is out of date. It would probably be OK though, if it was your only router, or you had another matching AirPort Extreme.

I'm still using two AirPort Extremes that are about 4 years old in a roaming network, and things are just fine. Fast, reliable connections everywhere throughout the house. But, I'll be swapping things out in a another year or so once things start calming down with the new "ax" products.

Right now, they are pretty much bleeding edge, and I have found out the hard way that when you live on the bleeding edge, you will usually get bloody.