[PLUG] Comcast repeatedly asks for activation

[wes]

I don't have any answers for you on the Comcast front, but I can explain
why Google gives you an error screen rather than an activation screen.

It's because Google (as a company) insists on using SSL encryption for all
web traffic. Encrypted traffic is more difficult to redirect, and Comcast
doesn't do it. If you were to manually enter http://www.google.com, you
would probably get the activation screen. Normally, Google would forcibly
redirect you to https://www.google.com (note the added S), which your
browser then caches and pops up automatically for you next time, which is
then un-redirectable by Comcast.

-wes

On Wed, May 10, 2017 at 3:33 PM, Denis Heidtmann <denis.heidtmann at gmail.com>
wrote:

> On Saturday 5/6 we could not reach the internet.  After much conversation
> w/comcast they sent a technician out on Sunday.  He arrived early, seemed
> knowledgeable.  I had an old (rented) modem beyond eol.  I had received in
> the mail a replacement modem from Comcast many months ago, still in the
> unopened box. (Why I had not installed it is for another discussion.)  He
> installed it, activated it, and everything seemed fine.
>
> The following morning (Mon.) the internet was not accessible again.  Much
> more phone conversation later it appeared that I needed to activate the
> modem.  Went through that process, which terminated in a screen saying "You
> can now use your Xfinity service.  But wait; you need give the modem time
> to reset."  I gave it some time, tried to close the browser, but was told
> there was a download in progress.  I waited a short time, tried again, same
> download in progress msg, closed anyway.  Now a strange binary file
> appeared in my download folder "unconfirmed 792430.crdownload".  But the
> internet was accessible throughout the day.
>
> The following morning (Tues.) the same thing happened.  I went through the
> activation, this time not closing the browser until all was done.  No
> strange file.  Internet fine until the next morning (Wed.; today) same
> issue.  I activated again, which restored internet access, but this time I
> called.  They sent a technician again.  This guy I am not so sure about; he
> had no explanation for the repeated need to activate.  He left his card,
> and told me to call him tomorrow if the problem repeats, and not to
> activate--wait so he can see the issue.  This what I plan to do.
>
> The symptoms are that  when trying to get to a site (other than Google)
> from the browser, I get the Comcast Activation screen.  The tech said that
> is the screen one gets when first installing a new modem. (When I try to go
> to Google.com, I get the msg. that I cannot reach the internet..)
>
> It occurs to  me that perhaps Comcast still has me and the previous modem
> linked, so they keep wanting to activate the new modem.
>
> Any ideas?
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