Forum Discussion

MC72's avatar
MC72
New Contributor II
8 days ago
Solved

Cox Hot Spot running off my modem

Cox is using my Cox rented modem/router as a hot spot for anyone who parks by my house.  I went to Privacy Preferences and Disabled Hotspot but it still shows up.  It is an unprotected network using ...
  • MC72's avatar
    MC72
    4 days ago

    Thanks but I know that the homeless is using my box.  He comes in his car every night around 8pm and leaves at 8:30am the next day.  He just parks by our house.   For the last 3 nights, I have been unplugging the modem at 8pm every night (the cable and electricity) and now you can not hook up to the hot spot.   Finally last night he did not come.   

    I basically just wrote this post so that others will know of this problem.  Just to be clear to the people telling me to change my password - of course I did that. This homeless man is not using my secure network.  He is using the second network - the open hotspot that COX is running off my modem.  I called Cox twice - no help.  They told me that all the COX supplied boxes run this and there is no way of turning it off.

    Anyway, the solution is that I am buying my own modem - I don't care how much it costs - then I won't be running a hotspot for the riff raff.   And this man is most decidedly not a "gentleman" - He pollutes  - I have to pick up all his disgusting trash: toilet paper, clothing, food and about 20 cigarette butts every day.   I can't open my windows because all the smoke comes in.  

    I was never told of this "service" running on my subscription and my electricity - this was a replacement box just given with no paperwork when I cancelled my cable.   

    Anyway I am getting a my own modem/router. 

    Thanks 

     

       

Darkatt's avatar
Darkatt
Valued Contributor III

FYI, If your modem is being used as a hotspot, it, 

  1. Does NOT utilize your bandwidth.
  2. Does not affect your Data usage
  3. Has ZERO affect on your personal internet usage.

Unlike AMAZON products which will allow OTHER amazon products to utilize your internet without your knowledge or permission.  https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Sidewalk/b?ie=UTF8&node=21328123011

Anesti33's avatar
Anesti33
New Contributor III
3 days ago

Whose bandwidth does it use then? If a consumer router offers a hotspot then it will necessarily use the cable connection for connectivity. Unless Cox has devised an ingenious mesh network connecting all their hotspots wirelessly, which seems out of character.

Data usage can be measured separately, indeed. VLANs can segregate frames and packets for security and privacy, yes. But at the end of the day, you've got one box serving many masters, and resources such as memory, CPU, backplane, and DOCSIS channels are shared with your "guests" or parasites.

  • JulianN's avatar
    JulianN
    Moderator
    3 days ago

    Hello, we would be happy to assist with any questions or concerns you might have. Please email us your “full” name, “complete” address, and a copy of your post to Cox.Help@cox.com if further assistance is needed. Thank you!

    • CurtB's avatar
      CurtB
      Valued Contributor III
      3 days ago

      I'd like to see your answer to the question Anesti33 asked.  There are probably others who have the same question.  Does everybody have to email you and get a private response?  Unless the answer is something you really don't want Cox customers to know, why don't you just answer the question here so that everyone will benefit?

    • HeatherS's avatar
      HeatherS
      Moderator
      3 days ago

      Please know the purpose of the Cox community forums is to allow customers to discuss technical topics related to residential Cox services with other customers and we encourage our users to assist each other where possible via this avenue. Billing and account issues require the sharing of sensitive information to resolve which isn't best suited for a public forum. Please email us at cox.help@cox.com with your full name, complete street address, the details of your concern, and a link to this post. 

      • Anesti33's avatar
        Anesti33
        New Contributor III
        3 days ago

        Bandwidth and resource usage are technical topics and have nothing to do with billing or accounts.

        If a paying customer depends on reliability and availability at a particular service level, Hotspot usage by neighbors could adversely impact these things without our knowledge.

        But consumer Internet contracts come with no such guarantees anyway. If you rely on Internet service for more than gaming and entertainment, then you need a Cox Business account with service level guarantees written into your contract.

        I am not a lawyer, but Cox's TOS does not seem to accommodate remote workers or consumers who try to use their services for commercial activity (like being a social media influencer). Especially if you live in a car.