Rebroadcasting WiFi connection to new SSID?

[fasttimes]

Xfinity provides their users with access to hotspots all over the place.  If you use an Xfinity router they create a second SSID called Xfinity that anyone with a Comcast login can use.  I see these everywhere.  Specifically I see one in my living room right next to my Nest thermostat.  Sometimes I travel for a month or more at a time.  When I go I turn off my internet to save a lot of money.  But I would still like access to my thermostat.

Is there a device out there where I can use it to connect to the Xfinity hotspot I see, enter in a username/password to connect to the internet, and then rebroadcast that signal to a different SSID using WPA2 authentication?  That way I could take my Nest and have it connect to this new SSID.

[LFMc]

Most routers, even cheap ones, have a repeater mode. I use one in my home (Linksys WRT54G) to pick up my primary router's wi-fi signal, rebroadcast it and it gives me a wired connection where I didn't have a wire previously. 

[larryllix]

8 hours ago, fasttimes said:

Xfinity provides their users with access to hotspots all over the place.  If you use an Xfinity router they create a second SSID called Xfinity that anyone with a Comcast login can use.  I see these everywhere.  Specifically I see one in my living room right next to my Nest thermostat.  Sometimes I travel for a month or more at a time.  When I go I turn off my internet to save a lot of money.  But I would still like access to my thermostat.

Is there a device out there where I can use it to connect to the Xfinity hotspot I see, enter in a username/password to connect to the internet, and then rebroadcast that signal to a different SSID using WPA2 authentication?  That way I could take my Nest and have it connect to this new SSID.

I am quite confused by your comments.
How is turning off your router saving money?
Wouldn't a second SSID require your router running?
Why do you want to change to another SSID network?
Are you travelling with your Nest on trips?

If you are using a nest thermostat you would typically only be able to connect to the Google cloud server. Are you using some hack to connect directly to your Nest?
I don't think you would want your Nest on a public network.

[asbril]

11 hours ago, fasttimes said:

Xfinity provides their users with access to hotspots all over the place.  If you use an Xfinity router they create a second SSID called Xfinity that anyone with a Comcast login can use.  I see these everywhere.  Specifically I see one in my living room right next to my Nest thermostat.  Sometimes I travel for a month or more at a time.  When I go I turn off my internet to save a lot of money.  But I would still like access to my thermostat.

Is there a device out there where I can use it to connect to the Xfinity hotspot I see, enter in a username/password to connect to the internet, and then rebroadcast that signal to a different SSID using WPA2 authentication?  That way I could take my Nest and have it connect to this new SSID.

Why would you turn off your internet when traveling ? I can not imagine that you would save any money, while it would prevent you from remote access to ISY and your Nest.

Using the Xfinity hotspot in your own home makes little sense (to me...), unless you are using your neighbor's hotspot. I actually don't see advantages of activating my Xfinity SSID as it let's my neighbors using my plan with no benefits to me. In fact I only use my Xfinity modem/router as a modem, and use Google Wifi to bring fast wifi throughout my home.

Anyway my suggestion is to connect your Nest to your main wifi SSID and keep it on at all times.

[fasttimes]

2 hours ago, larryllix said:

I am quite confused by your comments.
How is turning off your router saving money?
Wouldn't a second SSID require your router running?
Why do you want to change to another SSID network?
Are you travelling with your Nest on trips?

If you are using a nest thermostat you would typically only be able to connect to the Google cloud server. Are you using some hack to connect directly to your Nest?
I don't think you would want your Nest on a public network.

Not turning off my router, disconnecting my internet service at that address.  Think of having two houses where you spend half a year in each.  I don’t want to pay for internet just for the Nest.  Let’s say I’m in house A and want to visit house B for a day and want to warm the place up before I get there.  So if my Nest could connect to that public WiFi, I could be able to control the Nest.  Otherwise I would either have to pay for Internet I’m almost never using or not have access to my Nest.  I’m not concerned about being connected to public WiFi.  The communications are encrypted.

[asbril]

2 hours ago, fasttimes said:

Not turning off my router, disconnecting my internet service at that address.  Think of having two houses where you spend half a year in each.  I don’t want to pay for internet just for the Nest.  Let’s say I’m in house A and want to visit house B for a day and want to warm the place up before I get there.  So if my Nest could connect to that public WiFi, I could be able to control the Nest.  Otherwise I would either have to pay for Internet I’m almost never using or not have access to my Nest.  I’m not concerned about being connected to public WiFi.  The communications are encrypted.

I doubt very much that Comcast will let you keep the 'public'  Xfinity hotspot if you suspend your connection. However if your neighbor has a Xfinity hotspot.........

[larryllix]

3 hours ago, fasttimes said:

Not turning off my router, disconnecting my internet service at that address.  Think of having two houses where you spend half a year in each.  I don’t want to pay for internet just for the Nest.  Let’s say I’m in house A and want to visit house B for a day and want to warm the place up before I get there.  So if my Nest could connect to that public WiFi, I could be able to control the Nest.  Otherwise I would either have to pay for Internet I’m almost never using or not have access to my Nest.  I’m not concerned about being connected to public WiFi.  The communications are encrypted.

I see two options.
Talk to the neighbour and see if he would allow you to use his WiFi connection. My neighbour does this in his Florida condo for his stat and cam, while he is in Canada for 9 months each year. Take him out to lunch when you get back.
Change your ISP down to a smaller bandwidth while you are gone. You should be able to drop down to about $15 per month on a low bandwidth service.

Encryption doesn't carry much weight, more than any password does in my book for security. Apps always know how to decrypt. Of course with google you can never talk directly to the stat and only to their cloud server.

[fasttimes]

2 hours ago, asbril said:

I doubt very much that Comcast will let you keep the 'public'  Xfinity hotspot if you suspend your connection. However if your neighbor has a Xfinity hotspot.........

 I have another Comcast account which will let me access the hotspots.

[fasttimes]

53 minutes ago, larryllix said:

I see two options.
Talk to the neighbour and see if he would allow you to use his WiFi connection. My neighbour does this in his Florida condo for his stat and cam, while he is in Canada for 9 months each year. Take him out to lunch when you get back.
Change your ISP down to a smaller bandwidth while you are gone. You should be able to drop down to about $15 per month on a low bandwidth service.

Encryption doesn't carry much weight, more than any password does in my book for security. Apps always know how to decrypt. Of course with google you can never talk directly to the stat and only to their cloud server.

I thought about that, I was just curious if anyone has heard of anything like this, being a ton of micro wifi processor projects out there.  Though I disagree with assement about encryption.  Nest uses AES 128 and TLS.  Even if someone were to manage to pull a man in the middle attack, they aren’t going to be able to send commands or read anything from my Nest.

[asbril]

1 hour ago, fasttimes said:

 I have another Comcast account which will let me access the hotspots.

Exactly, if you also have a Comcast account at your second home, and your neighbor has a Xfinity Hotspot, then you are all set to connect your Nest.....

[DennisC]

6 hours ago, fasttimes said:

Not turning off my router, disconnecting my internet service at that address.  Think of having two houses where you spend half a year in each.  I don’t want to pay for internet just for the Nest.  Let’s say I’m in house A and want to visit house B for a day and want to warm the place up before I get there.  So if my Nest could connect to that public WiFi, I could be able to control the Nest.  Otherwise I would either have to pay for Internet I’m almost never using or not have access to my Nest.  I’m not concerned about being connected to public WiFi.  The communications are encrypted.

Check to see if your provider has a seasonal suspend program. My vendor is Cablevision and they offer such a service. You are allowed a nominal amount of traffic each month.