Privacy @lemmy.ml archomrade [he/him] @midwest.social 8 mo. ago

Considering Quantum Fiber as an ISP, but they require the installation of a (permanent) C5500XK smart NID

Does anyone know if this enables any kind of tracking (either through WiFi device logging or network activity)? I've typically used my own networking modems and routers, I'm a little weary of a required smart device that I don't have control over.

So far I haven't been able to find much information beyond what's available from century-link

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If you can't avoid it and you don't trust it, you could probably turn off its wifi and then connect to it only through your own router+VPN.
- Thanks.
  
  It also apparently has a BLE antenna in it for some reason, i'm a little worried about what that's doing there. But the alternative is Xfinity so i'm still considering it....
  
  Not that I need it but according to the sales guy they just installed 8Gbit service in my neighborhood, and I hadn't even heard of anything that fast for residential service. It's like $165 a month though
It looks like you can still use it strictly for modem duties and use your existing router. That's what I do (albeit with AT&T fiber), and the only downsides are you have to port forward on both the "modem"/C5500XK and your router, and things like dynamic DNS is potentially more complicated to setup.
- I'm not as worried about the routing, I was planning on using my own anyway. I'm more worried about all it's other connectivity features (built-in-wifi and a bluetooth antenna(?)). It makes me nervous that they call it "smart" and require it be permanently installed inside my house, not to be removed even if the service is terminated. I'm struggling to understand why that'd be the case, and maybe it's because i've been watching too much Mr Robot but I can think of at least a few ways it could be used maliciously.
  
  Yea, definitely too much Mr Robot.
I have quantum fiber at home, and I don't use their provided modem. The fiber terminates outside my house, and a cat5 cable was run into my utility closet, which plugs into the modem.

I have a Unifi USG router, and have the WAN configured for PPPoE login (you will have to get that login from the provided modem, or ask their support people).

You also have to set the VLAN ID to: 201

So as long as you can set VLAN ID on your WAN, and do PPPoE, you shouldn't need their provided modem.
- Yea, that's what I expected. Apparently this particular service requires their special modem
  
  What I was trying to say is that you shouldn't need their special modem. They gave me that same modem, and it's sitting on a shelf un-plugged in. I'm only using my own equipment.

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