Apple Computers & Virgin Media Broadband.

muddly001 · 20-07-2010, 13:46

Hi

I'm reading conflicting reports that Virgin Media don't support Apple computers. On their website they still show the system requirements to use an Apple Computer on with Virgin Media Broadband. I'm due to move shortly and are planning to use a Virgin Media package. Does anybody have a view, does anybody use a Apple computer, Laptop or iPhone over the Virgin Broadband.

I am planning to use my Time Capsule for my wireless connection, any thoughts, opinions etc.

Thanks for your help.

kwikbreaks · 20-07-2010, 14:23

You'll have no problems using your Mac. I have mostly Windows machines but also have a Mac Mini on the network which works just fine and my sons iPad operates using the WiFi.

What comes out of the ethernet cable from a cable modem (or router connected to it) is no different from what comes out of an ethernet cable connected to ADSL. WiFi is WiFi too.

The usual guff about what an ISP supports refers to support staff who probably won't have a clue about Macs and any freebie software is probably Windows only.

Kymmy · 20-07-2010, 14:25

I think the lack of MAC support is a throwback to the USB modem days, these days with ethernet modems, wifi & routers it's not a problem

muddly001 · 20-07-2010, 15:03

Kymmy or anyone.

Thanks for the reply. I assume that I can turn off the wireless element of the Virgin router and connect it by ethernet cable to my Time Capsule for wireless?

kwikbreaks · 20-07-2010, 15:35

You can turn off WiFi on the router they supplied me and I assume you'd be able to on any router - even if you couldn't there are 13 channels so you could run your preferred device on one that was free.

Kymmy · 20-07-2010, 16:01

Yes you can turn off the wifi on 99% of routers

Peter_ · 20-07-2010, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddly001

Hi

I'm reading conflicting reports that Virgin Media don't support Apple computers. On their website they still show the system requirements to use an Apple Computer on with Virgin Media Broadband. I'm due to move shortly and are planning to use a Virgin Media package. Does anybody have a view, does anybody use a Apple computer, Laptop or iPhone over the Virgin Broadband.

I am planning to use my Time Capsule for my wireless connection, any thoughts, opinions etc.

Thanks for your help.

Here is the definitive answer with regards to what we support just click HERE

markharding557 · 20-07-2010, 21:20

I have used virgin with linux with no problems so i would not see mac being any different

Peter_ · 20-07-2010, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by markharding557

I have used virgin with linux with no problems so i would not see mac being any different

The difference is Linux is unsupported by Virginmedia, the are far to many variations and self coders out there.

I use Linux and would also find my computer unsupported, but we know what were actually doing though.

moroboshi · 20-07-2010, 22:19

I have my 50mbit Virgin modem connected to an Apple Airport Extreme router, which feeds a desktop PC through ethernet, and a load of wi-fi devices - including an iPhone 4, an iPhone 3G, an iPad, and an Apple TV.

Everything works fine.

Boabyboy · 20-07-2010, 23:54

I have an iMac G5 with an Airport inbuilt card working via wifi to my third party wifi router with my broadband connection, no problems. Apple Mac's works fine on Virgin Cable Broadband as long as you using Mac OS X if you feel the need to contact VM cable TSC to get support on how to setup a Mac with your broadband connection.

RainmakerRaw · 21-07-2010, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

The difference is Linux is unsupported by Virginmedia, the are far to many variations and self coders out there.

I use Linux and would also find my computer unsupported, but we know what were actually doing though.

LOL True. With the greatest of respect (honestly), I think it's true to say that as a general rule most Linux users are capable of providing tech support to 90% of 'tech support' staff.

I'm talking industry-wide btw, not picking on VM, and obviously referring to the level 1 script monkey types, but ykwim.

Packets are packets, and provided your chosen operating system can handle TCP/IP you're fine. Provided you actually know how to operate your operating system, anyway.

I run Windows, Linux and OS X here, no issues at all. I would add though, that it shouldn't matter about variations and 'self coders'. If you understand Linux, even at a basic operating level, you should be comfortable at any *nix system - regardless of what the GUI and distro on top are called.

Stuart · 21-07-2010, 11:08

I think the main reason companies limit the amount of devices/oses they support is simple. Training. You can't train someone to do even basic support on every device the customer is likely to plug into the network because the number of possible choices is too great.

On the computing side, we have Windows, OSX, a lot of Linux distros (and there are a lot), a few BSD clones (I count Darwin here because configuring it is different to OSX), and various flavours of Unix.

Then you can bung in the PS3, PSP, Wii, DS (probably, not sure if it has a web browser), iOS based devices (iPod touch, iPad, iPhone) mobile phones (Android, Win Mo, Symbian and any with custom firmware or customised interfaces) and other web enabled media players.

You could also add in an increasing amount of TVs, Blu ray drives etc..

Very quickly, you could reach hundreds of products the person needs training for, all of which have their own methods of setup.

Mind you, even within Windows, you have manufacturers that insist on installing their own networking software , so there can be hundreds of variations there..

At work, we offer a wireless network, but we have been told we can only officially support Windows machines running the official windows wireless software, OSX, and iOS based devices. We are free to offer help on other devices/oses, but are not required to..

BrEEdAA · 21-07-2010, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by muddly001

Kymmy or anyone.

Thanks for the reply. I assume that I can turn off the wireless element of the Virgin router and connect it by ethernet cable to my Time Capsule for wireless?

Doesnt the Time Capusle also function as a wireless router? All you would have to do is plug the Virgin supplied modem into your TC via ethernet, and your pretty much sorted! You may not get any assistance from virgin setting this up, although it should be pretty straight forward

horseman · 25-07-2010, 15:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrEEdAA

Doesnt the Time Capusle also function as a wireless router? All you would have to do is plug the Virgin supplied modem into your TC via ethernet, and your pretty much sorted! You may not get any assistance from virgin setting this up, although it should be pretty straight forward

Except of course the OP may have difficulties in "cloning" a MAC address on WAN side so that depending on (old) franchise area and how well VM's auto-registration process is standing up there can be some "logistical/technical" inconveniences first setting up your quaintly named Time Capusle or Capsule....

Not insurmountable obviously.... but for that (and other) reason I tend to use mine mainly downstream from my primary router.