Virgin router replacement

[JAC]

@phenomlab ah yes, I can take it all back down later or tomorrow if that’s ok mate?

I’ve plugged the spare ethernet cable I now have from the V6 box to the router, not that this makes any difference.

[JAC]

An indication that the WiFi range isn’t quite there, even with the given WiFi pods from Virgin.

[JAC]

@JAC said in Virgin router replacement:

An indication that the WiFi range isn’t quite there, even with the given WiFi pods from Virgin.

Speaking of this, I had the WiFi band on 5GHz, when changed to auto it almost halved the speed.

I’m guessing it was 2.4GHz that it was choosing (if right), once changed back to 5GHz the speed goes up.

[phenomlab]

@JAC fine with me. No rush at all. At this point, it might just be a case of putting up with it. You now know that your Virgin Hub isn’t at fault, so you’re left with powerline adapters if you want wired, but it seems the Wifi is more than enough - even when connected to the VPN.

Can you try and disable IPv6 in the network settings, restart the shield, and test again?

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin router replacement:

Can you try and disable IPv6 in the network settings, restart the shield, and test again?

Thanks for the continued advice Mark.

The IPv6 option was already off mate .

[phenomlab]

@JAC Thanks. On investigating this further, it seems that the slow network connections is something that the nVidia Shield is notorious for. Some users even report speeds of 10Mbps

[JAC]

@phenomlab No problem.

Thank you, it appears so, but glad to know with direct access there’s some great speeds to be had. Would moving the router to the centre of the house improve range?

I think virgin charge £20 for it.

[phenomlab]

@JAC Potentially, yes, but don’t forget that positioning the hub depends on how much coax cable you have from the wall point. If the lead is short, then you’ll need Virgin to come in and move it for you, which they will charge for.

[JAC]

@phenomlab Thank you.

If moved from downstairs to let’s say the hallway, you no longer have to have the hub & TV box (V6) next to eachother like years back? or am I mistaken .

If connected in through the hallway that could certainly work.

[phenomlab]

@JAC Not quite. The Hub itself will have a thick white cable connected to it. This is RG59 Coaxial and will go from the back of the hub to the connection point on an outside wall. To move the hub means a longer length of cable, and it’ll also have to trawl around your lounge to get to the hallway unless you have the entry point moved outside, which is even more expensive.

[JAC]

@phenomlab thanks for the detailed response.

Wow, sounds more complicated than I thought then.

If we can’t agree a new contract with Virgin then would it mean moving to Sky, like virgin they have ‘stream’ which is over WiFi, would this sort of set up irradiate the need for more cables running through the house for example to a V6 box?

Appreciate the detailed reply.

[phenomlab]

@JAC Well, not necessarily. You could technically extend yourself using one of these extenders

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sky-Satellites-Satellite-Extension-Connectors/dp/B075DW15TB#:~:text=ConnectingU 10m White Satellite Coaxial,Type Female to Female Coupler.

In essence, you’ll have a connector on the wall that looks like this

That lead on the wall connector goes into the back of the hub as below

[phenomlab]

@JAC said in Virgin router replacement:

If we can’t agree a new contract with Virgin then would it mean moving to Sky, like virgin they have ‘stream’ which is over WiFi, would this sort of set up irradiate the need for more cables running through the house for example to a V6 box?

Yes, but not all that glitters is gold. The Sky router is also well known to have Wifi related issues, and if you can only get a slower connection, for example, their “Sky Fiber” is around 60Mbps even for their fastest product (unless you go for Gigafast which isn’t available everywhere), isn’t FTTH (Fiber to the House) and you need at least 30Mbps for the Stream to work properly. That doesn’t leave much for everything else (simple math) meaning that if you have a device that hogs a lot of bandwidth, your TV becomes unwatchable.

Modern routers have something called QoS (Quality of Service) where you can set the minimum speed a specific device gets, but why do that? You have 1Gbps with Virgin and you are getting those speeds. The last thing you want is the missus bending your ear because she can’t watch Coronation Street

If you’re an online gamer, then going to SKY with 60Mbps from Virgin with 1Gbps would be huge mistake.

[JAC]

Understand everything you’ve put, thanks Mark. So if I moved the router but kept the TV downstairs or even went with Virgin Stream (which is over WiFi) would this no longer mean the need for the hub to be next to the TV?

[phenomlab]

@JAC Correct. The TV box should be using Wifi anyway. I have mine in the lounge, and the hub itself is upstairs in my study. I recall you recently upgraded to the 1Gbps package, so you’re likely contracted for 18 months minimum which will prevent you from going elsewhere for a while unless you’re happy to pay a termination fee.

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin router replacement:

Yes, but not all that glitters is gold. The Sky router is also well known to have Wifi related issues, and if you can only get a low connection, for example, their “Sky Fiber” is around 60Mbps even for their fastest product, isn’t FTTH (Fiber to the House) and you need at least 30Mbps for the Stream to work properly. That doesn’t leave much for everything else (simple math) meaning that if you have a device that hogs a lot of bandwidth, your TV becomes unwatchable.

I’ve read this too, with bad reviews but it’s the same with Virgin and anything in general, most of the time people only write bad reviews when there’s an issue or complaint to be had.

I would most likely stick with Virgin anyway, with the Virgin Stream boxes, I did try and upgrade to the new box but they wasn’t having any of it unless I paid £70 for two boxes which included some sort of activation.

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin router replacement:

likely contracted for 18 months minimum which will prevent you from going elsewhere for a while unless you’re happy to pay a termination fee

Contract expires in December pal, soon come round!

[phenomlab]

@JAC Yes. I too looked at moving back to Sky, but there’s no way I’m dumping a 380Mbps connection and replacing it with 60Mbps! Besides, I called them and haggled. Got my bill down from £160 a month to £70.

[phenomlab]

@JAC said in Virgin router replacement:

Contract expires in December pal, soon come round!

OMG. Where has the time gone!!

[JAC]

@phenomlab said in Virgin router replacement:

I have mine in the lounge, and the hub itself is upstairs in my study.

That does sound like a much better setup!