Comcast "activated" my NETGEAR CG3000D and disabled my wifi

Question

I have spent most of the day today (6 hours or so), on the phone and online chat with Comcast customer service. We have been attempting to determine why, after I went through Comcast's website to activate my NETGEAR CG3000D wireless gateway, my computer will no longer recognize my network. It recognized it just fine before the activation - not at all after. I have been shuttled back and forth between various customer service reps, including a couple chats with Tier 2 support, before getting a couple #s for Signature Support Wireless Networking. There, I was told, once again, that it is a NETGEAR issue. This, despite the fact that it was working perfectly the very moment prior to activation, and not at all after. Several times today, at the suggestion of various customer service agents, I have hard reset my equipment and power cycled my equipment. I have had service for less than a week now, haven't turned on my TV and have yet to get on the internet (other than through the free xfinitywifi connection). After wasting an entire day of my own I am ready to call off the Comcast experiment.
Comcast flat out denied that what I said happened, could actually happen. I’m left with the feeling that resolving this issue is made intentionally difficult in order to persuade (strong-arm) Comcast customers into renting a gateway from them for the going rate of $10/mo. Several times today it was strongly suggested to me that I take advantage of this “free” solution…anyone have any suggestions that don’t involve selling my soul to the Comcast devil and actually renting a gateway?
The Comcast list of approved devices: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/
My gateway (clearly on the list of approved gateways): http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/device.php?devid=395
Comcast forum of complaints specific to my gateway: http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Home-Networking-Router-WiFi/Netgear-CG3000D-Comcast-has-destroyed-my-modem/td-p/2269301
2nd Comcast forum with complaints specific to my gateway: http://forums.businesshelp.comcast.com/t5/Equipment-Modems-Gateways/Netgear-CG3000D-lost-wireless-support/m-p/10773#M1255
An independent forum of complaints with my gateway and Comcast: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1802039/netgear-gateway-longer-broadcasts-wireless-signal-activation-thinks-comcast-business-gateway.html
My chat transcript from today (complete with frustration-induced spelling errors): Morris_: My Issue: My NETGEAR Gateway doesn't work after activation this morning.
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Sheryl: Hello Morris_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Sheryl. Please give me one moment to review your information.
Sheryl: I hope you are doing well. I would be more than happy to assist you with your concern today.
Sheryl: Good evening, Morris.
Morris_: Hi, good evening.
Sheryl: I am here to help you.
Sheryl: Did you install the modem?
Morris_: Please reference my multiple calls to customer support today. I have been on the phone with multiple people, on multiple occasions today, with no success in restoring my wireless gateway. Please help.
Sheryl: Sure.
Sheryl: Did a tech install the modem?
Morris_: A tech installed a modem, yes. A ZOOM, which I won't use. I have a NETGEAR gateway. It's a modem and a router in one unit. Prior to online activation this morning, my laptop recognized my network. Post activation, it does not.
Morris_: I have been on the phone with various customer support people most of the day and lost an entire day of productivity to this issue. Tier 2 support says everything is fine and cannot see how activation would disable the router portion of my gateway. Which is on your approved list, by the way.
Morris_: https://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/list-of-approved-cable-modems/
Morris_: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/
Morris_: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/device.php?devid=395
Morris_: This is what it looks like:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IF0JAYE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IF0JAYE&linkCode=as2&tag=myde0bd-20
Sheryl: Yes that is correct.\
Morris_: This is what I found when I researched the issue: http://forums.comcast.com/t5/Home-Networking-Router-WiFi/Netgear-CG3000D-Comcast-has-destroyed-my-modem/td-p/2269301
Sheryl: Did a tech install the modem or did you set it up yourself?
Morris_: http://forums.businesshelp.comcast.com/t5/Connectivity/NetGear-CG3000DCR-issues-with-new-v1-34-02-firmware-update/td-p/12416
Morris_: A tech installed the modem, but that's irelevent. I don't use the modem. I am trying to use a gateway device.
Morris_: http://forums.businesshelp.comcast.com/t5/Equipment-Modems-Gateways/Netgear-CG3000D-lost-wireless-support/td-p/10543
Sheryl: yes, I understand. Than kyou for the confirmation.
Morris_: This gateway worked fine prior to online activation this morning. I have pasted link to what the issue appears to be. There are more.
Sheryl: I am seeing that the Netgear CG3000DV2 is offline.
Sheryl: Is there a reset button on it?
Morris_: Yes, which I've used 4 times already today, based on customer service recommendations.
Sheryl: Thank you. I would have to send a tech for you.
Morris_: I have also power cycled the unit multiple times.
Sheryl: I understand that the service is workign before the tech left right?
Morris_: At waht cost?
Sheryl: Let me check if we can waive the tech fee for you since this is a new install.
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Sheryl: I am still here.
Morris_: Dunno if it was or not, I didn't have router to test it out. That's why I'm using my gateway, which worked fine prior to online activation.
Morris_: Thank you
Sheryl: By gateway, are you referring to what device?
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Sheryl: Is (50 425-9520 a good callback number?
Morris_: The NETGEAR I mentioned at hte beginning
Morris_: Yes
Morris_: That is my #
Sheryl: Thank you.
Morris_: This is the unit I have: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IF0JAYE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IF0JAYE&linkCode=as2&tag=myde0bd-20
Sheryl: Are you directly connected to the netgear modem?
Sheryl: That means wired is working, but wifi is not, is that correct?
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Morris_: Please read this, and the other links I included. I am not the only one having issues with Comcast and this particular gateway.
Morris_: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1802039/netgear-gateway-longer-broadcasts-wireless-signal-activation-thinks-comcast-business-gateway.html
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Morris_: R u there?
Sheryl: I am.
Sheryl: Let me just confirm, Morris.
Sheryl: Wired connection is okay but wifi is not, is that correct?
Morris_: Yes, I am directly connected. I have internet when i am wired, no wireless access at all. My computer no longer, since online activation, will recognize my network.
Sheryl: We do have a dedicated tier 2 support for wifi.
Sheryl: I would have to refer you to call them if the issue is isolated to wifi.
Sheryl: If it is affecting wired connection, I would need to send a tech.
Sheryl: Thank you.
Sheryl: Let me get their number for you so they can remotely access your Wireless Gateway.
Morris_: I have spoken with them at least twice today in my 4 or 5 hours of phone time today with customer support. Their solution is for me to buy a new gateway.
Sheryl: Please give me 2 minutes.
Sheryl: My apologies, but I an from wired connection. Our Tier 2 support would be the one to confirm that.
Sheryl: Let me get their direct number for you.
Morris_: My gateway was working fine prior to online activation through the Comcast website.
Sheryl: I understand. I am sure that our Tier 2 will be able to resolve it.
Morris_: I have l already spoken with them at least twice today. They tell me to buy a new gateway, and ignore the fact that it worked prior to online activation via the COmcast website.
Sheryl: As a resolution, I am referrign you to call Sigature Support Wireless Networking 801-657-3754 or 855-308-9454 .
Sheryl: I have noted that on the account.
Morris_: Please send a tech and waive the fee.
Sheryl: They will be able to see that it is working fine. there could just be some settings on the router that needs to be rechecked.
Morris_: I have lost an entire day to this and am at the point where I am barely hanging onto my sanity. They don't recognize it. Is it possible for me to chat online with them so I can send them the links I sent you?
Sheryl: They are only available by phone, but they have remote access to your comuter
Sheryl: they will be able to see that.
Sheryl: Please do call them.
The analyst has left and your issue has been closed.
Waiting for response from Sheryl
Sheryl: They will be sendign a tech if needed.
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Answer 1

I just had this happen to me.  Wireless on the same device: bricked!  I saw on another link that it is a action by comcast to reconfigure the device.  Question is, can they configure it back?  On my very dissatisfactory conversation with support, the person incoherently told me that I would have to have "another wireless router in order to manage it."  In response to my saying that the ip addressing, the management interface, the username/password had all changed and SSID disappeared.  I have found on another website that username is  cususer and password is highspeed these actually worked (to my utter amazement).  Unfortunately there is no wireless component in the management options.  GONE.  Question is: can they revert it to original condition if and when I cancel the service.