Hello! I am not too versed in networking so forgive me if I confuse terms. I rent the XFI ADVANCED GATEWAY (XB6) from Comcast and I was looking for affordable (<$150) drop-in replacements for what this thing does. I’m under the impression that this is a router and a modem, so I cannot buy a router and expect my internet to work without some sort of bridge mode. I read a lot of good discourse on this site about routers, but I need a router+modem I think, correct me if I am wrong. Xfinity does not allow DNS services like Adguard to be applied network wide, which is why Im looking for new hardware. Thanks all!
I faced a similar issue with AT&T a few years ago. My solution was not to replace the ISP provided Modem/Router combo (it wasn’t possible to replace it). Instead I was able to put the device into a mode where it acted as the modem and forwarded traffic to a router that I had purchased.
I suspect something like this is likely possible with comcast/xfinity as well.
GLInet is one brand that I’d suggest you consider. Some of their routers have Adguard Home, built right in, and they run a slightly customized version of the open source OpenWRT firmware. If you want something more powerful/capable that could run on normal x86 hardware, you could go with OPNsense/PFsense (software) on whatever hardware you want, or buy from a brand like Protectli.
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You don’t need to have equipment that does both. But it doesn’t have to be just one equipment piece.
I’ve never used an Comcast/Xfinity modem or equipment. I have a Arris (the old Motorola brand) DOCSIS coax modem I bought maybe 15 years ago (likely a Fry’s sale) that is still chugging. It only connects to my router via ethernet. Attached to that I have my own network router and next level wifi router.
Cable coax modems might be US$50-US$150. My purchase probably paid off in a year way back then.