It was easy to activate and it just works.
Briefly: this Arris G34 works!

As my main concern was about activating it-

this review is about activation process only.

Activation with xfinity app was eeeeasyyy!!!!

( just online with their xfinity app for cellphone) no tel calls, no technicians were needed.

And for technologically clueless senior it took about half an our maximum. I found all info I needed through my personal “best friend” – google 🙂 After the modem connected and appeared in the list of local WiFi’s ( with names which are on the label of modem – 2 actually, one for each band- 2,4 and 5), so I first connected the cellphone from which I was activating( entered p/w) , for each bandwidth, then other family cell phones, then computers, then tv. Connections were soo easy.

And everything seems to work just fine( better and easier than with our original old modem)

I decided not to bother and just to have 2 different networks ( names) for each bandwidth , rather then unite them under one name, as it automatically chooses best frequency bandwidth) and I can see then which one is working )

Though I should really mention in this review that during 2 last days I had been prepared and trained well already for the activation of this Arris modem. Because my first attempt was an incredibly stressful experience with Motorola 8702 modem combo refurbished in mint condition( also bought on Amazon here).( which I happily returned today(the return window is very reasonable) It took unbelievable amount of time and energy, for hours chatting with xfinity assistant, tel calls to and from xfinity, finally appointment with technician, and all that circus was just to find out that this refurbished Motorola modem was just plain defective. We certainly could not sit without internet ( at this point our old Motorola modem and refurbished newer Motorola both did not connect) So, I just rushed to look on Amazon for a really new modem combo compatible with xfinity, ( and with fastest delivery !) ( and I was checking release dates for all modems – to have a fresh one) Found out that ArrisG34 was released not that far ago.

That is how I chose new Arris G34 here.

If I ordered this Arris modem combo as a first choice, I would not even know what other people can go through , and why some reviews are so negative.

Though in my case – I consider it as a valuable experience, and I certainly acquired some useful skills through the difficult first attempt of activating refurbished Motorola modem.

But how glad I am that it is done, and I certainly can relate to good reviews , when people bought good new product from their first attempt and therefore activation process was as it is supposed to be – easy and not long at all, though it took some patience and anticipation, when the light on Arris was blinking different colors , but finally stabilized in stable blue. Xfinity app is leading through all steps of activating , and half an hour max – actually for me it was a breeze.

Oh, and I read that if you want to change the name of your WiFi network for something more fancy, better to do it by reaching xfinity , so that they do it, as their app does not give this option ( which did not bother me) Also I am glad that I did not install arris surfboard smth. app( did reading that it is useless and not needed, only could confuse) In my case it was really not needed.

I used plainly only Xfinity app for activation, nothing else.

So, that was review about activation process and initial impressions. I hope that our new modem combo Arris G34 will work reliably !

( if not, I will most probably update this review)