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-   -   General : Should I still be on the Hub 3? (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33713675)

agentmatt 05-01-2026 16:51

Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Hi all,

I've had the Hub 3 for a long time now and thinking of moving to internet only (no TV or Land Line Phone).

I get the M350 service, so should VM have moved me to the new Hub 4 or 5 by now to make sure I'm getting the best possible speeds?

OR

If I'm wanting to move to Internet only, are other providers offering better rates, speeds etc.. ?

Cheers

thenry 05-01-2026 17:02

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Internet service providers generally upgrade kit when you agree new terms.

Have a look here https://www.cableforum.uk/board/show...php?t=33713613

If you can get fibre to the property I'd go with one of the associated providers

Virgin Media hubs explained here https://www.virginmedia.com/broadban...omer-deals/hub

agentmatt 05-01-2026 17:18

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Yeah, looking at the Uswitch website, it looks like I can get 1800Mps for £34 a mouth. VM have offered M350 for £47 a month until this April and then that goes up to £51 and then up to £55 in April 2027.


The Uswitch is a 12 month contract which includes a WiFi 7 Router.

I don't even you the VM router I was given, I by-passed it to a TP-Link Router.

thenry 05-01-2026 17:29

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Modem mode is the smart thing to do :tu:

Yeah go for fibre to the property. You can carry on using your own choice of router with the wall mounted modem :)

daveeb 06-01-2026 14:24

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by agentmatt (Post 36208537)
Yeah, looking at the Uswitch website, it looks like I can get 1800Mps for £34 a mouth. VM have offered M350 for £47 a month until this April and then that goes up to £51 and then up to £55 in April 2027.


The Uswitch is a 12 month contract which includes a WiFi 7 Router.

I don't even you the VM router I was given, I by-passed it to a TP-Link Router.

£47 for M350 is way over priced especially when you factor in the abysmal customer service.

Inactive Digital 06-01-2026 15:57

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
There's an upgrade programme underway to replace Hub 3 & 4 to the Hub 5. It might take a while to reach you though.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...-for-free.html

jem 06-01-2026 23:34

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
"Hi all,

I've had the Hub 3 for a long time now and thinking of moving to internet only (no TV or Land Line Phone).

I get the M350 service, so should VM have moved me to the new Hub 4 or 5 by now to make sure I'm getting the best possible speeds?

OR

If I'm wanting to move to Internet only, are other providers offering better rates, speeds etc.. ?

Cheers”

If the hub 3 is working OK, then the best advice is to leave well alone. If you are playing for 350 Mb/s and you are getting anywhere close to that, then an ‘updated’ hub will do nothing - except, possibly, lock you into a new 24 month minimum term contract.

Your second question is answered simply by ‘yes’. Other providers do offer vastly better speeds at cheaper costs. Do a bit of research, what is available to you, what can they offer, how much do they want?

And is something seems better than what VM offer then go for it. The only hassle will be the cancellation, but even that can be helped by the now mandatory ‘one-touch’ switching process. Unless you have a TV provision, because TV isn’t covered by this provision and you have to sort it yourself.

But honestly if you don’t mind a slight degree of hassle, then just go for it and move on.

roughbeast 07-01-2026 11:01

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by agentmatt (Post 36208534)
Hi all,

I've had the Hub 3 for a long time now and thinking of moving to internet only (no TV or Land Line Phone).

I get the M350 service, so should VM have moved me to the new Hub 4 or 5 by now to make sure I'm getting the best possible speeds?

OR

If I'm wanting to move to Internet only, are other providers offering better rates, speeds etc.. ?

Cheers

If you are in a City Fibre area you will have a good choice of symmetrical connection deals superior to and cheaper than what you get with any VM deal.

If you are a gamer I would avoid Vodafone though. They use CF's local network but their own over-subscribed national network with latency varying wildly as they move you from one BNG (Broadband Network Gateways) to another to spread the national load.

nodrogd 11-01-2026 12:47

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
When my aging Hub 3 failed last year, it was replaced with another Hub 3. I'm quite happy with the performance (386 down, 37up) on 350Mb. The WiFi performance is more than adequate in our small house. I also have it operating at a central point, and have a long 2 core lead through trunking plugging straight into the power brick. Taking a Hub 4 or 5 would mean rewiring with a 3 core mains lead & additional socket, which I would rather avoid.

SnoopZ 11-01-2026 12:51

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
I think I got a free upgrade from the Hub3 to the Hub5 when it was offered a few years ago.

Mr K 11-01-2026 14:01

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
If its working and gives you the advertised speed why change? Any 'upgrade' from VM is likely to bring as many issue as it solves.

SnoopZ 11-01-2026 15:02

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 36208787)
If its working and gives you the advertised speed why change? Any 'upgrade' from VM is likely to bring as many issue as it solves.

New WiFi standards may help some people.

Mr K 11-01-2026 15:07

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by SnoopZ (Post 36208794)
New WiFi standards may help some people.

I think some peope just see a bigger version number or the word ' upgrade' and assume an improvement.

With VM it isnt always the case ( e.g. their tv boxes have gone downhill from V6 to 360 to Stream, with less functionality with each 'upgrade').

SnoopZ 11-01-2026 15:22

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K (Post 36208796)
I think some peope just see a bigger version number or the word ' upgrade' and assume an improvement.

With VM it isnt always the case ( e.g. their tv boxes have gone downhill from V6 to 360 to Stream, with less functionality with each 'upgrade').

Can't wait to ditch VM for everything, just waiting for February then I'll decide.

VX1953 13-01-2026 13:13

Re: Should I still be on the Hub 3?
 
When I came back to VM lastmid November onto the M250 (upgraded to M350 via O2) I was sent a Hub 5 which I use in Modem mode, in 2023/24 when I was on M500 I was using a Hub 3 in Modem mode, can't say I can notice any difference using Modem mode between Hub 3 and Hub 5.
I use a TP-Link Router M1750 to distribute the Ethernet and WiFi signals.


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