Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Would you like to trial a fantastic new piece of broadband hardware?

Sign up at -http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...p/2856584#M203

----------Info-----------

If you’re a Virgin Media broadband customer, love pushing your tech to the limits, and want to get your hands on some new kit – then this is a great opportunity for you.

Right now we can't give any further details about the product, but it really is very exciting.

Thanks

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Signed up! Thanks. :)

---------- Post added at 11:59 ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 ----------

I am guessing this will be the SH3?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Thanks!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I've signed up already a tester now

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

OHhh, I missed out on the SH2ac, so fingers crossed for this.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Thanks :tu:

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Was a tester for SH2 and SH2AC so hoping I get picked.

Thanks for highlighting it

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I wasn't picked for any previous trials (with exception of SH1 firmware trials back in the day) so not holding my breath for this one but here's hoping.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

signed up as well was on sh2 and ac trials

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Thanks for sharing the link, fingers crossed :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

what's the new hardware? I guess sh3, what else?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I'm in the same boat.

I applied on the last day of the SH2ac and missed out, but applied almost as this one started.

Hopefully will get to see what this one is all about.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

SH3 maybe to then further test 300Mbs?
Exited much?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

first time I have register for a trial since the 1MB trial many moons ago

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I registered for a trial a long time ago for their new routers, I ended up with the little D-Link 615 router.
The one I got originally died after about a year, but Im still running its replacement. I'm curious what this trial is about.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Probably a SH3, I can't think what else.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Whatever it is, it's confidential. Anyone who posts details won't be on the trial long!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Agree, though we are not in NDA yet

Looking forward to it!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I suppose that might be meaningful if I had any clue what an "SH3" was :erm:

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

SuperHub3 possibly ;)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Good man, I'm running a dlink 615 too, it's miles better than the SHub1

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I trialed the original Superhub. I still have that trial hub around somewhere, the damn thing is still active, too.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I trailed the original Superhub. It's currently nailed to the wall as a spacer to hold my bookshelves up straight.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Anyone remember the Ambit wireless router/modem when it was on trial?
Found to be not fit for purpose!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

:LOL:

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I'm being serious here! It's the first thing I found that a) I didn't need and b) Was just the right size to fit the gap!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Anyone got new details yet??

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Even if they do, they won't be able to say

Trials are covered by an NDA.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Hi, MarshMallowMan

If you've been selected you will find out by the end of this month

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Perfect, many thanks for the response, was exactly the information I needed.

Good luck to all the testers.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I find it funny that people have all signed up for something which they dont have a clue what it is lol.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I don't, it is an excellent way to get a FREE modem/router just like the last 2 trials, i also got an early upgrade to 100mbit on the last 1 too when swapping the modem out.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

If there's a chance of getting a D3.1 device early, or an early bump to 300Mbit, or even just a device with more than 8 downstream channels, it's worth a shot.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I've visited the thread on VM forums, but it just says to fill in the form. I can't see a form, nor a link. Am I missing something obvious, or has the application process closed already? I see the post is marked as edited but I was hoping to register since you're all still talking about it like it's current.

ETA: Couldn't this be a DOCSIS 3.1 trial? ISPReview et al. were reporting last year that the hardware VM were testing for this (in relation to 1Gbps/10Gbps connections) would be available for wider trials in H1 2015. Seems to fit?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

The link is on post one you cant miss it, you need to answer a few questions but you need to be a member of the VM forum too.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

It won't be a 3.1 trial. It might be a hub that supports 3.1 (And even that's unlikely) but it won't be a full 3.1 trial. They'll almost certainly trial that in a specific area first.

My bet is it's the next superhub, which is still 3.0 but has more downstream (and upstream) channels. And possibly VOIP.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Nah, it's neither a DOCSIS 3.1 trial or a trial of 3.1-ready equipment.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Interesting.

It'll never happen, but imagine VM/LG partnership with Microsoft say, and this trial actually being for a super Internet/TV/Gaming box with the functions of the Xbox One and a full media hub and internet router, as well as a TV receiver too.

One can dream! :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Not so interesting - there are no production DOCSIS 3.1 CPE to trial, engineering samples only for right now, those wouldn't be going to 'normal' punters :)

That's about it from me on this, spoilers.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Well, interesting to me as for all the talk about DOCSIS 3.1, if there's no consumer type equipment ready to trial, then that's that.

Anyway, we shall (hopefully) see soon enough what's up. I'm just a tinkerer so enjoy playing with new stuff really!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Or it could be a FREE baby monitor.

---------- Post added at 20:54 ---------- Previous post was at 20:47 ----------

What, like that awesome VM/Sony exclusive PS4 partnership that resulted in... bugger all?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

For some reason it just wasn't appearing last night when I posted. It 'came back' early this morning, so I've put my name down. Fingers crossed. :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I hear that trial will be about Superhub 4. It's made by Netgear

Cable modem + Netgear AC1750 WiFi—450+1300 Mbps speeds router

It has 2 active usb ports : USB 2 + USB 3 (the source was not 100% sure)

A modified version of the Netgear R6300 (which has a USB3 port)

I was also told that it will have no external antennas but it will look like the Superhub 2.

Charter Comms, Netgear (with VM input) designed it.

Was I BSed? I dunno.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

... but somewhat an oxymoron if it has a Virgin logo on it?

Still, while we're all considering the possibilities of an immaculate conception, others in Reading Thames valley area will be waiting at bus stop searching for a new VM WiFi hot spot and streaming the nearby Shub2 users TV recordings from his cardless Tivo......while he's doing his upmost to saturate his 4 upstream channels!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

The Superhub2 has a USB port, but it's disabled.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Wonder if wi-fi will be ok (or is it only us Shub1 ppl with that problem)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I was now told it has only one USB2 port, it was claimed to be a VM badged version of this

http://www.netgear.com/home/products...#tab-techspecs

It is not known how much VM has modified the internals of C6300, the case, I am told is identical/very similar to SH2

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

If that's the case, the most interesting thing about it is the 16 downstream channels.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I do: you were. Sorry man.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Aha, too bad, let's wait and see...

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

It wasn't during initial alpha/beta testing.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I've just signed up too, quite intriguing isn't it?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Probably BS'ed

[Edit]
Ignition beat me to it. Again.



---------- Post added at 01:21 ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 ----------

Perhaps. Incidentally the only Virgin group company whose products don't contain the Virgin name happen to be their condom brand.

But I digress. Other ISPs have recently trialled baby monitors and IoT devices via the same channels as upcoming router trials.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Ahah

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Hilarious at it would be, given how excited people are getting, it's not a baby monitor :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Can you give us a little hint?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Same here, there is so much excitement for the trail. I am just happy that the community can be part of the testing.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

What hint is there to give? It's a new piece of broadband hardware, exactly as the thread on the official forum states.

VM do not and will not supply stand-alone modems which just leaves a new home gateway.

Did you want the full specifications? If it helps it'll do pretty much what the current one does, and allow your wired and wireless devices access to the Internet via Virgin Media's cable network.

I can't even begin to imagine how excited people must get when they walk around the home router section of PC World.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Not excited here like some of the posters, was just wondering. :)

Pretty much what i expect it to be is another Superhub.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Apologies: was not meant to refer to you, personally, as far as getting overexcited about a new cable CPE goes.

Those who are curious can just go to a few manufacturers' websites and have a look at their newer models of cable gateways and get an idea of likely specifications. These devices are wireless routers with a cable modem in them, and in many cases VoIP capability.

VoIP capability has been present in the underlying hardware of VM's Superhubs for a while, it's built into the SoCs, but there was no way of using it as the PacketCable standard hadn't been implemented.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Speak for yourself, this is outright pornographic:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/10.png

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/11.png

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/21.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/22.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/23.jpg

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Speak for yourself mate whatever turns you on! ;)

It looks like something out of 'Elite Danergous'!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Is it wrong that I have a woody right now?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I would give the full specs but I don't have the time to collect disclaimers for messed up keyboards / screens.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Hardly any with Packetcable 1.5 and top notch wifi... (Zoom Model Model 5402)

What is the dis-advantage of having your router doing the QoS over packetCable QoS?

what is the advantage for the user and/or the cable company?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

A smoke detector?

---------- Post added at 14:18 ---------- Previous post was at 14:17 ----------

A broadband smoke detector?

To be fair, I was pretty excited last time. Seeing as the only time I'm in the home router section of PC World is if they have the shiny new router I want for £50 less than online, and I got the last one in stock.

---------- Post added at 14:19 ---------- Previous post was at 14:18 ----------

Thinking back to our previous discussion about PacketCable, VOIP, and Netgear's choice of socks, I've a pretty good idea what this'll be then.

---------- Post added at 14:24 ---------- Previous post was at 14:19 ----------

Meh, I'm more into:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/17.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/18.jpg

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/19.jpg

and

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/20.jpg

Sadly at nearly £5000 per pair, the AirFiber 24HD is the only one I've not had a chance to play around with :(

This is more my kind of antenna porn:

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/15.jpg

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I'm actually really struggling on how to answer this.

I think you misunderstand the function of PacketCable if you think simple QoS configured on a router is a substitute. The primary driver is being able to dynamically add and remove service flows so that these can run without affecting the 'best effort' broadband service flow.

A standard voice call requires 64kbps of symmetrical bandwidth; PacketCable's signalling ensures this gets nailed up as unsolicited grant, so it takes precedence over everything else running on the DOCSIS downstream and upstream channels. Can't really do that with the QoS on the home router, and wasteful to have that service flow sitting there all the time, so it has to be added via dynamic signalling.

That's one example. Another is video streams: with PacketCable a video service flow can be added on demand which uses PBE / Priority Best Effort on the cable network, thus taking precedence over the broadband Best Effort service flows for access to bandwidth and ensuring that video is smooth even on highly utilised service groups.

PacketCable is there to solve specific problems, which it does.

Lastly I'd imagine you'd be looking for the newer PacketCable 2.0 standard if looking for the latest and greatest. Most recent standards published 2014 where 1.5 was originally published in 2009 with extensions in 2012.

PacketCable is just software though, so support can be added progressively. eMTA functionality not so much.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

More subtle than my antenna porn ;)

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2015/07/16.jpg

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I'd put it simply down to this: PacketCable is implemented as part of the cable stack and is therefore able to address the intricacies of DOCSIS and HFC signalling and scheduling.

QoS on a router isn't.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Does it matter if you only use exisitng in modem only ?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Thanks Ignitionnet & qasdfdsaq. I have a better understanding of it now. Appreciated.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

BT are upping their game

http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/...pj0gcFYOddaWjk

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

G.fast is still a way away. I wouldn't hold your breath; BT may start small scale roll out in financial year 2016-2017 and say that the full roll out, covering most UK homes, will complete by 2026-2027.

The majority of VM's network will be 500Mb capable by 2016.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Sure, but when will VM's network be capable of 500Mb upload?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Around about the time there's a good reason to offer that speed beyond allowing people to run busy servers and offer cloud computing from home.

Work to upgrade to the required DOCSIS 3.1 and high-split HFC is a work in progress.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Chicken and egg scenario then I suppose. I personally have always thought of cloud as a lazy stop-gap solution on the way to true universal computing and "personal cloud" but connections are barely fast enough these days for it to work properly.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Needs the cable networks upgrading to 5-204MHz upstream, from the current 5-42 / 5-50 / 5-65 / 5-85 split, alongside DOCSIS 3.1 CMTS and CPE.

The networks VM are installing now can be field upgraded easily enough to the high split however a bunch of existing, older stuff needs ripping out and replacing. The amplifiers don't have the return path and/or the lasers can't handle that degree of loading. There are still inevitably going to be some F-P diodes still about that need replacing with DFB diodes.

Upgrading these has the added bonus that kit capable of this has larger downstream range too.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Any idea on when this sort of work is happening ignition? A few years back they split most nodes from the hub site I cover down to 525 from 2100, and all the amplifiers were upgraded. But as some of the other hubs are still running older kit the amplifiers are 65mhz ready but only using 42mhz. I presume it would make sense to a go to a 204mhz upstream spectrum if that's that the long term plan is. I wasn't aware we were going that high though I thought it was 105?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

My current N56U router does everything that is needed I can't possibly see the benefits of a new router or the like from VM having or making much improvement over current modems on the market or it's SHUB2

Think they should spend more time putting money into their tv service and improvements on the Tivo box and it's features as I find the boxes a long way off on performance

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Unless they up their speed tiers, in which case the current SHUB2's aren't suitable. You're also comparing routers to modems, which is apples to oranges.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

You are looking at it from your point of view, not VM's. Even if the new device is functionally identical to the existing ones, it may be beneficial for VM. For example, it could be cheaper, quicker to install, or more reliable.

Or it may be that VM are being forced to release new hardware due to existing components becoming obsolete or unavailable.

The two things aren't mutually exclusive.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Quite possible. I'm not entirely familiar with the Superhub 2's components but many of the core components chosen for the Superhub 1 were obsolete even at the time of its release.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Guess we will find out next week :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

I thought it would be by the end of this month?

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

It's an upgrade.

---------- Post added at 11:45 ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 ----------

If you have a look at the 'current' modems on the market, IE the newer ones, and compare their specifications to the SH2/2AC you will soon clock one of the benefits.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Hi, All

Sign up is now closed.

Successful applicants will be contacted in due course.

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5...p/2856584#M203

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Good luck to all applicants then! :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Thanks Martin for letting us know.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Invites been sent out yet? i've not heard anything

I tested the superhub2 so was lucking forward to testing something new.

The best trial I managed to get on was STB broadband at 64k I think it was, was great on multiplayer gaming having such a great ping.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Oh, I like doing them sort of things. I did the Sam Knows thing which I think was back in 2007.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Not heard anything either :(

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

No news here yet either, I'll be disappointed if I don't get chosen (though not the end of the world) it's just that I've never been chosen for any Virgin Media trial before and I've signed up for a fair few!

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Got an email this morning :) Others should have too.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Also just got an email this morning! :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Interesting.... :)

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Hi

Thank you for your application to take part in our broadband hardware trial.

Sorry for the delay in getting in touch - we’ve been amazed by the number of applicants this year.

We’re delighted to be able to tell you that you’ve been selected to take part.

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Received my email also, wonder what it is we'll actually be testing..

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

same email here. *does happy dance*

Re: Broadband Hardware Trial 2015
 

Yeah - me too :-)