Virgin Media Broadband

[phenomlab]

@jac you should only use the new power line adapters you have recently bought and remove the virgin ones.

Nothing will work without the adapters

[JAC]

@phenomlab Great! Thanks. Going to sort this tomorrow, I guess the internet may go down for a bit but there’s never a good time to do it .

[phenomlab]

@jac good luck

[JAC]

@phenomlab thanks .

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin Media Broadband:

@jac good luck

Later… . Looking forward to hopefully having better internet speeds etc.

[JAC]

Just a quick question…

Do I need to unplug the virgin media hub in order to connect the extender? Basically do I need to go without the internet whilst this is set up? Sorry if it sounds dumb .

[phenomlab]

@jac said in Virgin Media Broadband:

Do I need to unplug the virgin media hub in order to connect the extender?

Nope

Basically do I need to go without the internet whilst this is set up?

Nope

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin Media Broadband:

@jac said in Virgin Media Broadband:

Do I need to unplug the virgin media hub in order to connect the extender?

Nope

Basically do I need to go without the internet whilst this is set up?

Nope

Brilliant, many thanks.

Looking to do this very shortly! May possibly need guidance, but without annoying and posting on here every 5 mins .

[phenomlab]

@jac Ok, no issues. Let me explain a bit here about what is going to happen when you connect the new router…

Your existing Virgin Hub remains at the centre of your internet connection, and that won’t change. By connecting the new router via the powerline adapters to get into the room upstairs of your choice, we are leveraging the electricity supply to make the connection from point A to point B.

Once the network lead is connected from the Virgin Hub downstairs -> powerline adapter then powerline adapter upstairs -> WAN port of new router, the new router will “think” that is directly connected to the internet, but is in fact, a “slave” of the Virgin Hub.

Based on this, it becomes a Wifi access point in it’s own right, but will “proxy” all requests for the internet to the “default gateway” which is the Virgin Hub downstairs. The router will have it’s own SSID and password to connect to (factory default, which should be changed for security reasons), and when connecting anything upstairs, you’ll be connecting to that and not the Virgin Hub.

Hopefully, this makes sense ? It’s likely that there is some configuration that needs to be completed, although if necessary, we can do this over a remote connection.

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin Media Broadband:

@jac Ok, no issues. Let me explain a bit here about what is going to happen when you connect the new router…

Your existing Virgin Hub remains at the centre of your internet connection, and that won’t change. By connecting the new router via the powerline adapters to get into the room upstairs of your choice, we are leveraging the electricity supply to make the connection from point A to point B.

Once the network lead is connected from the Virgin Hub downstairs -> powerline adapter then powerline adapter upstairs -> WAN port of new router, the new router will “think” that is directly connected to the internet, but is in fact, a “slave” of the Virgin Hub.

Based on this, it becomes a Wifi access point in it’s own right, but will “proxy” all requests for the internet to the “default gateway” which is the Virgin Hub downstairs. The router will have it’s own SSID and password to connect to (factory default, which should be changed for security reasons), and when connecting anything upstairs, you’ll be connecting to that and not the Virgin Hub.

Hopefully, this makes sense ? It’s likely that there is some configuration that needs to be completed, although if necessary, we can do this over a remote connection.

Wow thank you so much for the very detailed response mate! I’ll see what I can do mate very shortly, wish me luck . Absolutely if necessary mate I will be back in touch about remote connection.

[phenomlab]

@jac Ok, just let me know. The key fact here is security. By adding another access point which funnels traffic into your Virgin Hub can expose you to risk if not secured properly. Additionally, you want to be sure that the SSID is secured so it’s not open to the public.

If it were me, and I do this on all my kit, I would hide the SSID by disabling the broadcast. It does mean that you have to manually enter everything, but it also removes the “I’m here with an unsecured Wifi access point - come get me…” banner…

[JAC]

Thanks matey, I’ll take a look now. Going to attempt it .

[JAC]

@phenomlab would there be any accurate videos for attempting this? Without generally getting on your nerves.

[phenomlab]

@jac Which router did you end up purchasing ?

[JAC]

@phenomlab Netgear RangeMax Wireless Cable Router.

[phenomlab]

@jac This should help. Just be aware that any references to plugging stuff into the WAN or Cable Modem port is going to mean the Network cable from the powerline adapter upstairs.

[JAC]

@phenomlab Thanks very much. So as well and the Rangemax I also need one of the boosters (adapters) downstairs where the virgin box is? And then the other one goes upstairs is that right? I do genuinely apologise, I thought I was better than this .

[phenomlab]

@jac Yes. You should have two powerline adapters. One is plugged in next to the Virgin Hub and a network cable (should have been shipped with it) connected to one of the 4 ports on the back of the hub, and the other end into the powerline adapter.

Once upstairs, same procedure, except the network cable from the upstairs adapter goes into the WAN (or Cable Modem) port of the NetGear router

[JAC]

@phenomlab what’s this blue cable then mate?

[JAC]

So far I’ve got the white router and the blue cable. That’s all that’s in the box other than the power cable.