Virgin Media

[the_one_that_cant]

So, my SO has decided to cancel sky and go with Virgin Media. I have agreed because fibre. Sky didn't offer fibre in my area, or I would've been tempted to stay.

 

What will I be looking forward to?

 

Apparently we got the 200 fibre speed - won't be able to make that cuppa now.

 

When with Sky, I had my Amazon Fire Stick blocked, even though I followed all the gubbins to get it working, it never did. Will this be the same case with Virgin?

 

Any other pro's/cons I need to know about?

 

Cheers

[LeMarchand]

The wireless on the Superhub isn't the best; many put it in modem mode and install their own AP/s. I don't as we don't have a lot of clients at home and haven't had a problem with it.

 

Although they were supposed to have shut it down they do offer some limited Newsgroup access.

[FishCustard]

When you say your Amazon Fire TV was blocked, what was blocked?

[Davit2005]

Another vote to put the SuperHub in Modem only mode and use a separate Ethernet Router/Modem.

 

I had heaps of trouble with Wired connections plugged directly into the hub, 2 replacement hubs, engineer visit who then witnessed the issue and agreed it was an issue but did nothing to resolve or escalate.

 

In the end I scrapped VirginMedia and went to BT for a business account. Every ISP has its problems I know but this is the second time I left Virgin after it's lack of support.

[the_one_that_cant]

The fire stick was the SO's daughter's and we could never get it to connect and do what it was meant to do.

I did have Kodi on the PC, but it wasn't able to get content.

Just wondering if this will be the case again. I can wait and see. But chances are I won't be using it now anyhoo.

[Norphy]

I'm on VM and my Amazon Fire Stick works fine.

 

FWIW, I'm using the SuperHub as a wireless access point, router and modem and I have no complaints.

[LeMarchand]

Don't have a Fire stick, so don't know if they work on VM. Also don't use Kodi, but if by content you mean "not entirely kosher" content that could be the fault of broken plug-ins or sites that are blocked by pretty much every major ISP. VM does seem to comply with whatever rulings get passed down and block access to whatever sites they are told to.

[hardtailstar]

The wireless on the Superhub isn't the best; many put it in modem mode and install their own AP/s.

 

I put it in modem mode and it caused all sorts of issues so put it back in normal mode and disabled it from broadcasting wifi.

 

My house has the VM SH and connected to that is a Google wifi and one in my bedroom.

 

Ive run network cables from the SH to switches in my house so that my xbox and a few other things can be wired.

 

All seems to work really well, never had an issue since i set it up this way and the Google wifi covers my whole house with the two APs.

[the_one_that_cant]

Don't have a Fire stick, so don't know if they work on VM. Also don't use Kodi, but if by content you mean "not entirely kosher" content that could be the fault of broken plug-ins or sites that are blocked by pretty much every major ISP. VM does seem to comply with whatever rulings get passed down and block access to whatever sites they are told to.

 

Was mainly Saturday afternoon football but not to worry.

 

 

 

I am looking to get some sort of network connection out into the 'shed' in the back garden, which is rough 70 foot away from the line in. Wifi isn't going to reach, so was thinking either long outdoor shielded cat6 or even powerline plugs too.

 

I say shed, its going to be a multimedia wet area and drinks area 8-) with music/tv playing in the summer (gotta get it ready for the football).

[ICTDirect_Dave]

I have the 200MB Virgin connection. Mostly excellent to be fair.

 

The hub is pretty awful though so get yourself a nice asus router (other router manufacturers are available) and put the hub in modem mode. Better wifi signal and more reliable connection overall.

 

If you're going for the TV package, the V6 box is good. Outputs to 4K (if you need it to), though the interface isn't as nice as Sky's or Youview's.

 

As for streaming / downloading. I can't fault it. We have three ipads, a PC and a couple of laptops in the house, plus a smart tv and a fire stick on another. Nothing yet has been too much to ask in terms of number of devices watching / downloading something.

[Mewdewgooboofoo]

The hub is pretty awful though so get yourself a nice asus router (other router manufacturers are available) and put the hub in modem mode. Better wifi signal and more reliable connection overall.

 

What version of Asus router would you recommend personally?

[Katy]

I [...] put it back in normal mode and disabled it from broadcasting wifi.

I've done this too, left the router as a router but disabled its wireless and installed a decent AP on the living room ceiling (pretty much centre of the house), don't really have any issues and I'm on the 300/20 package.

[LeMarchand]

What version of Asus router would you recommend personally?

 

According to the camera in his front room, one of these: https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking/RTN66U/

 

(Actually he mentioned it on another thread when I was having problems with my old Virgin hub which have gone away since they sent out a Superhub 3).

[ICTDirect_Dave]

According to the camera in his front room, one of these: https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking/RTN66U/

 

(Actually he mentioned it on another thread when I was having problems with my old Virgin hub which have gone away since they sent out a Superhub 3).

 

I did at that! I like the N66U, but it's a little older, you can get newer models for a reasonable price

[Gibbo]

Don't have a Fire stick, so don't know if they work on VM. Also don't use Kodi, but if by content you mean "not entirely kosher" content that could be the fault of broken plug-ins or sites that are blocked by pretty much every major ISP. VM does seem to comply with whatever rulings get passed down and block access to whatever sites they are told to.

 

They work fine. I'm guessing Virgin Web Safe was on which was why Kodi wasn't working.

[the_one_that_cant]

They work fine. I'm guessing Virgin Web Safe was on which was why Kodi wasn't working.

 

It was with Sky, so Sky Shield I think. But I followed all the instructions to remove it all etc, but never could get it to work.

[AlanD]

We have what is now a 300MB/s (with 20Mb/s upload) which we installed as a backup.....but it proved so good - and so fast - that we direct all our BYOD traffic though it now. Actual speed tests are well above 300Mb/s and well above 20Mb/s for upload too....and with very little (none that I can detect) signs of contention during the day. Yes - its perhaps 20% slower in the evenings.....but of course....we don't use it at that time....Cost us more than the advertised price because apparently public sector businesses can't get the same deal as other businesses because its "sold" from an off shore account - for tax benefits....so its around £80 a month - or £1000 a year. Much faster than a 100Mb/s leased line and a fraction of the cost.

[TIOAOA]

@AlanD Would you happen to have a contact you could PM please, how do you filter it ?

[AlanD]

PM'd the sales exec who sold us it.

We use smoothwall - because at the time of installation - nothing came close to it in terms of reporting for "Prevent" strategy....and we wanted a firewall where we could control traffic by AD groups - not just web filter by AD groups...because ots of stuff doesn't use web protocols...

That's not to say that smoothwall gets a ringing endorsement from me...I think most filtering products have a long way to go and are still stuck in the past with user interface tweeks rather than genuine steps forward in useability.

And note...filtering is NOT the ultimate requirement. Simply blocking all unsuitable traffic is NOT what we are being asked to do.....although this is widely not understood by filter providers...nor schools. Its the ability to monitor and report on internet use that is the important bit. Nearly anything can filter - for example a DNS filter costs you about £40 a year....and blocks essentially all adult sites...gamblings.. violence....etc. ...but doesn't satisfy what we are being asked to do. However, you and others will correctly point out that they can access anything they like using "eat as much as you can" using 4/3G connections....or for that matter drill through even the most sophisticated firewall and filter you install using a VPN connection and become completely invisible and access all those sites you spent a fortune to imagine you were blocking.