WiFi Router advice, I think ...

[Nin]

Afternoon chaps. As I write I have in mind the “Not the 9 o’clock” sketch of the fella in the HIFI store.

I really know nothing about this stuff, but I do know that my WiFi is unreliable and varies from not working all, to fast and all shades in between.

Our broadband provider is Virgin and we have the standard router that came with the package, which is now about 5 years old.

Should I be changing that? Or what?

Cheers aye!

Nin





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[wessie]

I would ask Virgin to replace it - I find using online chat works best to resolve this sort of problem. I don't have Virgin cable now but I did have it at my last place so the router would be of the same vintage. I found it needed a kick up the arse (power off/on) a few times a month. Hopefully they have a more recent design now that will be more stable.

 

[squibb34]

Just talk to VM & get their latest SuperHub ............ https://my.virginmedia.com/discover/broadband/your-broadband/connecting/hubs

Otherwise Google can direct you to a whole host of other options.

 

[walkingpictures]

I had the same with my old VM hub,kept working then not working then dropping out.Finally it packed up completely and when I contacted VM they did a few tests then popped a new one in the post which arrived within two days as far as I can remember.Easy to set up after calling an 0800 number.

Kimbo

 

[Santa-2512]

If your with Virgin, then your generally on a cable system.

If the router is over 12 month's old, and fails then replacement is up to you, not V

however, if your out of contract, and threaten to leave, they may, for signing you back up[ to a new 12/ 18 month contract give you a brand spankers router foc

Cable systems generally run with a modem ( turns the phone & computer stuff into a signal that can be sent down the cable )& seperate router Rout(route)er, as it says just routes the

signal round the house, so that way you can change the modem or the router ....


Newer products however can combine the modem & router together but go under the name "router"

if you see a router marked "ADSL/ VDSL" that will be for non cable houses ( BT EE TT PN etc)

ADSL is copper line to the premises CTTP VDSL is FTTC Fibre to the cabinet (and then copper to the premises) or FTTH Fibre to the house

If you see a router marked cable or cable / fibre then its the one you want

Netgear, TPlink, Asus, Linksys all do cable routers

Cost from £26 all the way up to almost £400

The price reflects the speed of wifi connection ironically not the actual broadband.. (thats fixed lol)

so a £26 unit is single wifi band 2.4ghz and a highend unit is 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz with various protocols inbetween

A protocol is the conection speed & amount of data it can pass through to the router at a given time


This will give an understanding ( but may be out of date at this time as the newest wifi protocaol on the cards is 802.11x !)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordon...2-11n-wifi-whats-the-difference/#688d62af3957

 

[walkingpictures]

https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-tv-edit/tips-and-tricks/service-and-repairs I think you'll find that VM will fix a faulty hub for free,mine was definitely over 12 months old,hope that helps

Kimbo

 

[bowser]

If your with Virgin, then your generally on a cable system.

If the router is over 12 month's old, and fails then replacement is up to you, not V

Nope not true, you dont own the router it belongs to Virgin and they are responsible for fixing or replacing regardless of age, same for their tv boxes they stay virgins and are free fix or replace

However are there other people near you with wireless, open your phone and have it search for wifi networks and see what else is around, you may find that you have others on the same channel as you.
There are 11 channels for 2.4g and 45 for 5g - 2.4g goes futher 5g is more stable and has greater band width, what are you logging on with? what band is it using?

try changing channel used as a first option, the problem is that if you have to ask how to change channel then is probably not something you should be trying, you need a "mate" who does techi stuff

 

[Santa-2512]

Nope not true, you dont own the router it belongs to Virgin and they are responsible for fixing or replacing regardless of age, same for their tv boxes they stay virgins and are free fix or replace

However are there other people near you with wireless, open your phone and have it search for wifi networks and see what else is around, you may find that you have others on the same channel as you.
There are 11 channels for 2.4g and 45 for 5g - 2.4g goes futher 5g is more stable and has greater band width, what are you logging on with? what band is it using?

try changing channel used as a first option, the problem is that if you have to ask how to change channel then is probably not something you should be trying, you need a "mate" who does techi stuff

Ah ok, didnt know about them owning the router, most will turn it over to you once out of your contact period.

 

[Andy63]

While it may just be that your router is potenially the issue (5 years old probably is) there are other factors who else is in the house using the wifi?
Do you have kids with an ipad or iphone??
Are they wringing the neck of your bandwidth facetiming their mates???

Try changing the password and see if it improves the performance first.

 

[Nin]

Thanks all for your advice (and patience).

Yes Bowser you’re right, I have no idea what changing channel means (unless it’s from BT sport to Channel 4).

First stop will be a chat with Virgin.

Cheers aye

Nin


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[bowser]

Thanks all for your advice (and patience).

Yes Bowser you’re right, I have no idea what changing channel means (unless it’s from BT sport to Channel 4).

First stop will be a chat with Virgin.

Cheers aye

Nin


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I really was not trying to run you down, but its always the first thing to try, as channel assignment for your wifi signal is easy if you know how and a PIA if you have never done it before however
if you open a web browser, and make sure you are logged onto your wifi and type 192.168. 0.1. into the address bar it will take you to the config page on the router on the little info tag on the router will be the password and log in for the router but the instructions are on line its worth having a good read.

https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-configure-advanced-settings-on-your-hub#hub3

 

[wessie]

I really was not trying to run you down, but its always the first thing to try, as channel assignment for your wifi signal is easy if you know how and a PIA if you have never done it before however
if you open a web browser, and make sure you are logged onto your wifi and type 192.168. 0.1. into the address bar it will take you to the config page on the router on the little info tag on the router will be the password and log in for the router but the instructions are on line its worth having a good read.

https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-configure-advanced-settings-on-your-hub#hub3

aren't most routers set to rotate the channel nowadays - just looked at the settings in my D_Link unit supplied by Talk Talk and both frequencies are set to rotate the channel

 

[steveC]

My router, about 2 months old is on sky super fast.

So my comments relate to my experience of this system. However I think the technology may well be common to most routers.

First off did you know your router detects the oldest wifi technology thats its connected to and stays locked to that. So for example I can have 3 apple devices, 2 phones and a TV on my wifi. But despite some devices running a.c. which is the best/fastest system I have, it will lock onto the slowest system it detects. I sometimes connect via ethernet cable to do a check on my speed.

Doesn't matter if your device is using 2.4 or 5 Ghz.

My router auto detects channel use and picks the best available. My old one didn't and a manual selection was needed.

When I upgraded to super fast BB I had speed issues. They sent a sky engineer out who checked my wiring out. He blanked off the master socket and converted the extension into my master socket. His checks showed issues on line but that was an Open reach issue.

Sky organised an Open reach engineer to visit. 2 days later he turned up and checked the sky tech's work and the line status. He carried out a few checks and left to do some work on the road side cabinet. I now have the best speed my line will support.

It seemed one problem was a small amount of corrosion on the copper wires on the master socket. The exchange equipment can detect these small anomalies and keep the speed down.

Well its all sorted now and I have a stable super fast BB.

Both engineers said the speed will not change by putting a super expensive router in. Yes there are other benefits, but not speed.

The info I've given is from the professionals. Some might disagree with it.

No charge for the sky engineer or open reach guy

Seen someone's tip I strongly agree with. Turn every wifi device off and then introduce them to your router. See if you have an problem.

 

[bowser]

where shall we start, SteveC I am sure that your comments are valid but since the question was about virgin which is cable to the house does not use the phone network or copper wire, also did you know that the virgin router does not work in the same way as your sky one ? and whilst interesting most of your info is not relevent to the virgin cable system ?


Yes the system can rotate channel however depending on how many other networks are near to you sometimes it can be better to pick a channel and use it and let your neighbours rotate on to another

To be honest at 5 years old I would be complaining that the router needs replacing and threaten to take business else where unless they send you a new one, keep in mind that there are more than a few people who put the super hub in modem mode and use their own higher quality router in any case. Complaining to virgin should probably be your first port of call as you HAVE to use their kit to connect to their cable network so they HAVE to provide you something that works.

 

[steveC]

where shall we start, SteveC I am sure that your comments are valid but since the question was about virgin which is cable to the house does not use the phone network or copper wire, also did you know that the virgin router does not work in the same way as your sky one ? and whilst interesting most of your info is not relevent to the virgin cable system ?


Thats why I disclaimed my contribution with "So my comments relate to my experience of this system." I made it clear.

Other comments on the technology that are included come from verified professionals. My hope was that the poster may glean something from my contribution.

I bow to stated superior knowledge.

Hope you get your problem sorted "Nin" its a pain having poor wifi.