Hi All, hoping you can help.
I've tried searching the forum for anything relating to this and failed.
I've been with Virgin Internet for 3 years+ and for the most I'm happy. All wired connections work without any issues and the service rarely drops, with decent speeds.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5185[/ATTACH]
What I'm not happy with is the Hub 3 WiFi.
I live in a fairly new house, no solid walls but the WiFi drops out regularly in the kitchen and upstairs.
It also randomly just drops a device (or bunch of devices) that is connected, TV's, Xbox, PS. You can see that they are lost on the "Virgin Media Connect" App.
Only way to reconnect is a reboot of the Hub box.
I've tried purchasing WiFi extenders, and they improve the signal but are giving the same dropping issues.
I've done a little research and found I could make it modem only and by a better wireless router.
I'm wary of this just in case it still doesn't reach the far corners of the house.
The other option is to create a mesh system, something like the BT Whole Home.
My concern is money, I don't want to fork out much more that doesn't fix the issue (already spent £100+ and Xmas skint).
Has anyone else had similar issues with Virgin Hubs and found a work around?
Cheers in advance
Mick
Hi Mick
I remember having similar issues with Virgin WiFi and it was down to a setting in their router relating to the 2.4GHz service. From memory it was a choice between speed or reliability. Of course I selected speed but when devices started to regularly drop I changed it to reliability and the problems went away.
I've since moved to a Mesh system so I only use the Virgin box as a modem.
Hope this helps.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TL-WPA4220KIT-Powerline-Broadband-Configuration-UK/dp/B01LXOZ4EN/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=powerline+adapters&qid=1577807812&sr=8-5
Thanks Oldie,
Previously tried changing the settings, turned off 5Ghz and only using 2.4. Found a site that recommended other improvements but still no joy.
What Mesh system did you buy and did you still use the LAN ports on the Hub or new device?
Hi Sneaky, got a couple of these, even using the LAN connection can drop.
Quote from: smite;440279Thanks Oldie,
Previously tried changing the settings, turned off 5Ghz and only using 2.4. Found a site that recommended other improvements but still no joy.
What Mesh system did you buy and did you still use the LAN ports on the Hub or new device?
I use a Netgear 8-port 1GB switch off of the Virgin Hub (modem mode). I use one of the switch's ports for my BT Mesh (3 white discs). The disc in the lounge has the TV connected to it via ethernet cable which works really well.
I previously splashed out on an Archer C3150 to improve wifi which, compared to Virgin, it did but it doesn't compete with the mesh for coverage.
Currently my Virgin setup is working fine, but in a previous home I had exactly this issue. I never worked out what the issue with the Virgin Gear was but solved it by using the Virgin Hub as a cable modem only as mentioned. I was in a two bedroom flat so didn't need any wifi extenders. I just bought a dMw forum recommended modem and was good to go. This was some years back so I don't think 5 ghz was even a thing back then. I certainly think Oldie has the plan with just ditching Virgins ropey wifi facility.
What speeds do you get wired directly to the Virgin Hub?
Long answer before I re-read your OP:
{{{{{I don't know about Virgin these days as I've been in NL for 6 years but Ziggo and Virigin are both Liberty Global companies. The router config screens are the same (pretty much) so they use the same hardware and software.
I had a similar problem with my wifi when using the Ziggo supplied router.
Basically I was using bridged mode to my 1Gbps router/ switch which then had my access points cabled in at 1Gbps. My top speed was 40Mbps. I switched back to routed mode, jumped up to 240Mbps which is the contracted max.
I suggest checking the devices connected, custom config like bridged mode and power line conenctors for strange things. Try and start at the router just a laptop then work outwards.
}}}}}
Most hardware supplied by ISP's is just cheap crap. Virgin especially. the SH3 has lots of known issues from the WiFi performance to Puma chip processing of packets.
As stated above the best thing to do on virgin is put the SH3 into modem only mode and buy a decent router.
My SH3 has managed well over the past year and a half or so. The only problems I had with the router was when it required a reboot in order to apply firmware updates and without those updates it had become unreliable. Having said that, I have actually bought another wifi router to replace it but that was mainly because I wanted to run a VPN.
I was curious about this comment:
Quoteeven using the LAN connection can drop
...if the internet connection is dropping over Ethernet (and you've ruled out weird devices like Albert suggested) then that sounds like a problem with your connection in general?
Virgin's phone support is a pain to connect to but it might be worth a try in case it is your SH3 and Virgin can replace it?
Hi Albert,
Using Ookla Speedtest:
Wired, I'm getting around 380 download & 36 upload.
Wired 1300mbps access point is 80 download.
https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/powerline/tl-wpa8630p-kit/
Wireless, I get around 33 download & 17 upload (sat next to the router).
I've tried disconnecting everything and just testing the WiFi, no difference in speed but the drop outs are random, could be 2/3 times a day then nothing for a few days.
Hi Suicidal Monkey,
I was referring to the the network cables on my Powerline in the lounge. I have the TV and Xbox connected to this. This can drop out randomly but the PC ,which is wired directly to the SH3, still works fine.
Hope that makes sense.
I'm contemplating just buying the 3 pack Whole home system and turning the SH3 WiFi off.
Quote from: smite;440296... I'm contemplating just buying the 3 pack Whole home system and turning the SH3 WiFi off.
Sorry, my previous answer was misleading. You will also need a router in the mix. I use the AC3150 with WiFi turned off. This has the Whole Home and Netgear switch plugged into it.
From reading a couple of other forums and BT website, people have continued using the SH3 as a modem/router and switched the WiFi off, the first disc is wired next to the router. Are you saying this isn't possible?
Quote from: smite;440298From reading a couple of other forums and BT website, people have continued using the SH3 as a modem/router and switched the WiFi off, the first disc is wired next to the router. Are you saying this isn't possible?
No. That is possible. What I was referring to was using the Hub purely in modem mode.
Update:
I ordered a 3 pack of the TP-Link Deco M4's yesterday.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07NH1J543?pf_rd_p=f20e70b1-67f9-48d1-8c78-ba616030b420&pf_rd_r=9WNZCKWTMS1EJP5SDX2G&th=1
Arrived today and decided to just set one up in the office and see how much it / they improve the WiFi.
Set SH3 to Modem mode and connected to the Deco M4.
The Deco has 2 Gb ports, so the other one went to the PC.
Name and password set the same as VM network and hoped all devices would just work and they did :)
Wired connection speed is obviously no different, but now I get 220Mbps download, 30 upload next to the router.
Now the annoying part, at the furthest point of the house, where the signal was crap, I get......... 220Mbps..... ***, how does that work?
So I now have 2 extra, just in case :P
I've tested the speed at the bottom of the garden and it dropped down to 25Mbps, so might put one in the kitchen to boost the WiFi for the cats that like to **** in the raised beds.
The App for this is fantastic and really easy to set-up.
I can name all connections, so I know what they are and assign them to whoever owns them, i.e. the kids.
So they now have time limits for when the WiFi works on their devices (stops at 9:30pm and comes back on at 7am) or stops them for dinner time.
Limits what content they can access based on their age, and i can check what sites they have been trying to access (if i wanted to).
Make certain devices high priority i.e. Security camera.
Day one, very happy
Hows the network going Smite?
Also anyone else been looking at this tech recently? I am looking to go mesh like as my single AP + Router is not working for me and wondering if anyone had invested recently to give me feedback on products in real life?
Sorry for the slight case of necromancy :)
We have the Linksys Velop Tri-Band system - one of the more spendy options but its brilliant - even copes with the 18 inch thick stone walls of the property
We have 3 to cover a 4 bed house, the app makes install and management super easy - allows you to set up a guest wifi network for when antisocial in laws visit etc.
EDIT: forgot a link - bought mine from here
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Linksys-WHW0303-UK-Tri-Band-Extender-Whole-Home/dp/B01N5M9NNB
Quote from: BrotherTobious;441857Hows the network going Smite?
Also anyone else been looking at this tech recently? I am looking to go mesh like as my single AP + Router is not working for me and wondering if anyone had invested recently to give me feedback on products in real life?
Sorry for the slight case of necromancy :)
Still working great.
Ended up using 2. One in the office downstairs and the other upstairs.
Getting 200+ anywhere around the house and garden.
And another raising from the dead. Seems sensible to keep the topic in a single thread.
I'm tantalisingly close to exchanging contracts on a 250 year old Snowdonia House and even older two bedroom cottage that sits directly behind. The big plan is to sign up with Zen Internet and get one of their rather nice looking Fritz Boxes. Although we're living in the arse end of nowhere both BT and Zen have assured us we're good for 900mb fibre! The cottage is going to be a holiday let (dMw discounts obviously) and I want to add a guest Wi-Fi at least powerful enough to give the guests Netflix speeds.
My plan is to do the Mesh thing and put one mesh hub in the kitchen at the back of the house and hope it gets through a 2ft stone wall across a 10-12 ft courtyard and through another 2 ft stone wall into the lounge of the cottage.
The two buildings are actually connected with a couple of outbuildings linking the back of the house and the corner of the cottage. So in theory I could run a CAT 6 from the house to the cottage. However the cottage is Grade 2 listed so I don't think I can make a hole to get the CAT 6 in through the wall?
Would one of the BT, TP-Link etc type mesh hub doodahs be capable of getting that far? I know that's a bit of a how long is a piece of string question. But for those who have Mesh does it seem vaguely possible or am I expecting far to much from a technology I'll admit I know very little about?
Cheers
I've got the same Deco's as Smite with one being outside around 15m from the router through one main wall and the obligatory shed wall, signal is rock solid. Not sure if that helps Smilo but good feedback on the Decos for me (and the reporting is really good)
Cheers, I'm just looking to see if my plan is at least a little sane. Looks like it's at least worth a punt.
My BT Whole Home mini system (3 disks) mesh system was binned in favour of a couple of ASUS ZenWiFi AC (CT8)
These are tri-band units meaning they offer both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi connections but they also have a dedicated 5 GHz backhaul connection which the 2 units use to carry traffic between them. I mention this because 5 GHz may well struggle to get through the type of walls and distance you describe, Smilo.
I would recommend using a wifi analyser app on your phone to test signal strength at various points around the property using a quality wifi router at source.
I recommend the Farproc app
I have a deco system and it works great no issue and make like easier.
Thanks. It's certainly worth a go. I'll definitely be using The Deco kit in the main house. I'll use the App (thanks Oldie), move things about and see if it gets me over to the cottage. If it does I'll buy one or two for over there.
Now all I need to do is wait for the glacial process of moving house to finish. :eyebrow:
One year on and these Deco units have not gone down once. Based on previous experience with wifi boosters, powerline adapters etc... these things are fantastic.
5ghz works great throughout the house, switching to 2.4Ghz automatically for all those shitty LED Alexa lights and the dedicated guest network at 2.4Ghz, which I use for the outside camera.
For your application Smilo, I couldn't comment as I live in a new build with paper thin walls.
I can only suggest buying the 3 pack from Amazon like I did and test it, 1 at the router 1 in the cottage and one in between. If they don't work pack them up and send them back.
Good luck on the house purchase, send the details over when you start letting.
The deco kit has a really good setup for guest WiFi too mate. Most of them do but something to think about.
Should you not be aiming for AX (WiFi 6) as a minimum standard now? Or even WiFi 6E that is coming out soon if you're in congested wireless areas?
Quote from: DannagE;445137Should you not be aiming for AX (WiFi 6) as a minimum standard now? Or even WiFi 6E that is coming out soon if you're in congested wireless areas?
In his proposed mesh solution he'd still suffer from attenuation due to the thick walls/distance.
Smilo - all this is moot if you can run a cable (2 for redundancy) between the buildings.
We'll see about the cables. I've a bigger problem to worry about now as I need to get a 32 amp supply out to the rear patio for the HotTub!
Quote from: smilodon;445149We'll see about the cables. I've a bigger problem to worry about now as I need to get a 32 amp supply out to the rear patio for the HotTub!
Real world problems mate!!! You know in the Netherlands only 2 out of 10 homes even have a bath in the bathroom! They call a blow up padling pool a garden pool. Adults use them more than kids!
If there is an existing wall penetration you can get the cable through (for e.g. where other services already enter) you wouldn't need to notify anyone.
In the event of having to make a new hole in the wall my experience with our local CO was that as long as you were discreet about it and the cables were tucked away so as not to make a visual impact - he had bigger fish to fry. He was very happy with options like running it up behind a downpipe and into the property through the fascia / eaves.
Cheers. I'll admit I have not scoured every inch of wall to see where I might be able to get cables through, so maybe it's a problem that I don't actually have. Just planning for eventualities. I'll know more once I actually get there, thanks all.