[Fourlanders] IPX/U.FL Dummy Loads?

[Bryan W3CP]

Hi Brian,

Perhaps it depends on model #, but it between bridge mode (
https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/wireless-gateway-enable-disable-bridge-mode)
and online hotspot settings (
https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wifi-home-hotspot
<https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/disable-xfinity-wifi-home-hotspot?>),
it seems possible to disable WiFi.

> The box rental is $20/month but comes with unlimited data. To subscribe
to unlimited data is $40/month.)
This is good info, I was not aware.  We are running into data usage caps
here at the QTH.

73,
Bryan

On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 2:04 PM Brian McCarthy <brian at rfacres.com> wrote:

> Hey Tom,
>
> Since this is a brand new gateway I hesitate on the solder idea. On the
> other hand, we always have some in the office since we sell solder paste
> printers.
>
> I graduated off of Eero and now run a fully managed Ubiquity Unifi system.
> The Xfinity gateway chased my Unifi AP off of channel 1. That dang XFi
> gateway is a blowtorch on 2.4GHz at 4-5db louder a room away than my Unifi
> AP in the same room. There is no way to control the hidden XFi channels and
> absolutely no concept of appropriate power level setting. I have my Unifi
> AP's dialed back to low on 2.4 to further push my WiFi clients to favor
> 5GHz. With 3 AP's and a modest house, they cover it very nicely.
>
> Cheers,
> Brian
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 11:49 AM Tom McElroy <tommcelroy.mail at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Brian,
>> I feel your pain.  I've had to silence a wifi emitter here also.
>> And like you, it was interfering with our eero mesh network.
>> I pooped off the micro coax, like you did, and it seemed to be effective
>> enough.
>>
>> A quarter wavelength at 5800 MHz is less than 1.5 cm.
>> I've not probed it with the spectrum analyzer, but I'd bet that that
>> little nub of the center conductor SMT connector offers a poor match
>> the output impedance of that final..
>>
>> Worse case, drop some solder paste in the connector!
>>
>> Good luck
>> Tom W4SDR
>>
>> On Sat, May 30, 2020 at 9:15 AM Brian McCarthy <brian at rfacres.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Here's an odd question, has anyone here on the list ever seen a source
>>> for IPX/U.FL dummy loads?
>>>
>>> Here's my challenge...
>>>
>>> I am trying to completely mute the WiFi signals coming out of an Xfinity
>>> XB7 Gateway. Disabling the WiFi in the software does not mute all signals.
>>> Setting the gateway into bridge mode does not mute all the signals. This
>>> device is still pumping out 3 hidden SSID with 3 unique MAC addresses on
>>> 2.4GHx channel 1. It is messing with the balance of my home Ubiquiti WiFi
>>> mesh network.
>>>
>>> I would be using a third party cable modem, but I can save $20/month by
>>> renting the Xfinity box. (The box rental is $20/month but comes with
>>> unlimited data. To subscribe to unlimited data is $40/month.)
>>>
>>> Looking up the FCC ID and reviewing the internal photos of this gateway,
>>> I see 6 wireless antennas. They are all connected with the tiny surface
>>> mount connectors typical inside modern WiFi devices. They look like:
>>>
>>> [image: image.png]
>>> [image: image.png]
>>>
>>> I will try just popping the connectors off surface mount sockets, but I
>>> an not sure that will give me enough attenuation of the transmitter. If I
>>> could clip some small (inexpensive) dummy loads onto those connectors, it
>>> should reduce leakage even more.
>>>
>>> I would appreciate suggestions and sources.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Brian
>>> NX9O
>>> involuntary network administrator at RF Acres.
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Fourlanders mailing list
>>> Fourlanders at contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/fourlanders
>>> Sent to: tommcelroy.mail at gmail.com
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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