Superhub : ANYTHING other than SH

[MagicMavis]

This may have been done to death, but it's late and I can't find the search function on the forum.

I hate the SH. I've now had all four versions (1, 2, 2AC and 3) and hate all of them. I can't stress enough how much I hate all of them. They all manage to be dire for a variety of reasons. I've reached the end of my rope and want to use something else. I don't want to use modem mode with my own router. I want to use my own modem. I'm happy to pay for it. I'll happily hack it to spoof the MAC of the registered SH to try to make it work. I know that VM don't want to allow this though. I need to know if it can be done. Does anyone have experience of this or have an idea where I can start?

I want to be clear, I'm not trying to avoid paying for the service. I'm only too happy to pay for the service. VM offer the best product in my area by an enormous margin, but then hamstring it by forcing use of poor equipment. I just need a way of not using the poor equipment.

[Ken W]

Originally Posted by MagicMavis

This may have been done to death, but it's late and I can't find the search function on the forum.

I hate the SH. I've now had all four versions (1, 2, 2AC and 3) and hate all of them. I can't stress enough how much I hate all of them. They all manage to be dire for a variety of reasons. I've reached the end of my rope and want to use something else. I don't want to use modem mode with my own router. I want to use my own modem. I'm happy to pay for it. I'll happily hack it to spoof the MAC of the registered SH to try to make it work. I know that VM don't want to allow this though. I need to know if it can be done. Does anyone have experience of this or have an idea where I can start?

I want to be clear, I'm not trying to avoid paying for the service. I'm only too happy to pay for the service. VM offer the best product in my area by an enormous margin, but then hamstring it by forcing use of poor equipment. I just need a way of not using the poor equipment.

Virgin Medea will only activate their own supplied modems which is a SH.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by MagicMavis

I don't want to use modem mode with my own router. I want to use my own modem. I'm happy to pay for it. I'll happily hack it to spoof the MAC of the registered SH to try to make it work. I know that VM don't want to allow this though. I need to know if it can be done. Does anyone have experience of this or have an idea where I can start?

Not going to happen I'm afraid because maths.

[MagicMavis]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

Not going to happen I'm afraid because maths.

Sorry, that link is to a software download page. I don't understand.

[Gobble]

Originally Posted by MagicMavis

Sorry, that link is to a software download page. I don't understand.

Links aside. What's wrong with modem mode, except an extra plug and some more space being taken up?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by MagicMavis

Sorry, that link is to a software download page. I don't understand.

It's a link to a document discussing the security specifications of the technology VM use.

If you are struggling with that you may want to think twice before embarking on this project.

You'll need skills with a soldering iron, and a knowledge of JTAG alongside the requisite components. That's if you're lucky. If you aren't you'll need to learn how to rip data straight off of buses on chipsets.

You'll need knowledge of cable modem operating systems in order to write a bespoke version of the software onto the modem you intend to use.

Essentially you need to rip the RSA certificates and keys from the Superhub 3, place them onto a recipient modem, and program the required software changes to both allow this to be done and to ensure the recipient modem impersonates a Superhub in every conceivable way, as there are many ways besides just the certificates and keys in which a clone may be detected.

Given you're asking on here I'm not convinced you're quite up for that level of investment in time, money and effort

[Synthetic]

I think modem mode with your own router is the obvious answer here OP

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Synthetic

I think modem mode with your own router is the obvious answer here OP

We all know that but it seems the OP doesn't.

---------- Post added at 14:16 ---------- Previous post was at 14:14 ----------

Originally Posted by MagicMavis

I hate the SH.

Join the club.

I've reached the end of my rope and want to use something else.

Tough luck. You can't.

I don't want to use modem mode with my own router.

Tough luck. Your options are use modem mode, move to the U.S., or lobby the government to change industry regulations.

I want to use my own modem.

Tough luck. You can't.

I need to know if it can be done.

It can't*

* Not without breaking the law anyway

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by MagicMavis

I want to be clear, I'm not trying to avoid paying for the service. I'm only too happy to pay for the service. VM offer the best product in my area by an enormous margin, but then hamstring it by forcing use of poor equipment. I just need a way of not using the poor equipment.

Let me make this clear. Regardless of whether you wish to pay for services or not, connecting your own equipment to the network is against Virgin's TOS. As such we do not allow discussion of how to do it.

If you have problems with the Superhub, your best option is to switch it to Modem mode and use it with your own router. I already do this, and usually get the 150 meg connection I pay for,

[Gavin78]

I agree with others just stick the hub into modem mode and use a decent router I don't see the problem?

Is there a reason you don't want to use a router and just have a modem instead?


There are a few things I don't like about the hub 3 but other than that it has been pretty flawless so far and the wifi signal is better than my RT-N56U router and I paid £100 for that about 2 years ago

[Stuart]

Personally, while I found the Hub to be extremely unreliable as a wireless router (Wifi tended to drop out unless it was rebooted at least once a day), it's fine as a modem.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Let me make this clear. Regardless of whether you wish to pay for services or not, connecting your own equipment to the network is against Virgin's TOS. As such we do not allow discussion of how to do it.

Thank you for not editing my post.

Anyone who is capable of carrying out those very general, outline steps doesn't need me to tell them that's what they need to do.

[sollp]

Any explanation of what issues your having would benefit the class? Maybe some help could be given

[Mr K]

Have you at least tried Modem mode OP? I've never had any issues using a Superdud this way. You don't need an expensive router either to get full speed , I've never paid more than £30 - although VM should be paying really as they are incapable of producing a decent router themselves.

[MagicMavis]

Originally Posted by Ken W

Virgin Medea will only activate their own supplied modems which is a SH.

I know that, which is why I was asking if there was a way around it. Otherwise I would just buy my own and use it without needing to ask.

---------- Post added at 23:48 ---------- Previous post was at 23:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Gobble

Links aside. What's wrong with modem mode, except an extra plug and some more space being taken up?

As mentioned in my original post, I seriously hate all of these things. As hardware they're dire. Utter crap.

My other massive bugbear with these things is the principle. I was an early "lucky recipient" of the SH1. It worked fine as long as I didn't want to use WiFi, especially if - heaven forbid - I wanted to change the SSID, hide it and use my own key. Essentially if I wanted it to actually be a user friendly device in any way.

Naturally, I rang VM-CS to complain about how terrible it was and asking to be sent just a modem. They declined. The reason given was that, and I quote almost directly, VM are sick of having to support 3rd party routers on their network. I naturally pointed out that the equipment they had provided was not fit for purpose. He operator suggested - COMPLETELY MISSING THE IRONY - that if I could just wait a week or two (for the R26 software IIRC) then I would be able to activate modem mode and...use my own router.

So, as a basic recap, I have to use their terrible equipment because VM don't want to support 3rd party kit. Yet they accept that their kit is terrible and offer the solution of using 3rd party kit. I can't be the only one to think this is ridiculous?

---------- Post added 17-12-2015 at 00:17 ---------- Previous post was 16-12-2015 at 23:48 ----------

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

It's a link to a document discussing the security specifications of the technology VM use.

If you are struggling with that you may want to think twice before embarking on this project.

You'll need skills with a soldering iron, and a knowledge of JTAG alongside the requisite components. That's if you're lucky. If you aren't you'll need to learn how to rip data straight off of buses on chipsets.

You'll need knowledge of cable modem operating systems in order to write a bespoke version of the software onto the modem you intend to use.

Essentially you need to rip the RSA certificates and keys from the Superhub 3, place them onto a recipient modem, and program the required software changes to both allow this to be done and to ensure the recipient modem impersonates a Superhub in every conceivable way, as there are many ways besides just the certificates and keys in which a clone may be detected.

Given you're asking on here I'm not convinced you're quite up for that level of investment in time, money and effort

I didn't struggle at the information on the page. I saw a flippant answer, briefly looked at the page at the end of the link, and decided to wait for a sensible answer. You then wrote this: "Essentially you need to rip the RSA certificates and keys from the Superhub 3, place them onto a recipient modem, and program the required software changes to both allow this to be done and to ensure the recipient modem impersonates a Superhub in every conceivable way, as there are many ways besides just the certificates and keys in which a clone may be detected" which is exactly the answer I was looking for. Back in the day you only needed to clone MAC addresses - although that was what people wanting to avoid paying did and that is NOT my intention. It seems the game has moved on since then.

Cost isn't an issue, soldering is a skill I already have and I'm confident I could have a decent stab at it given the opportunity to learn the necessary coding skills. It seems that may take an awful amount of effort though, so perhaps it has been made too difficult on an effort/reward basis.

---------- Post added at 00:24 ---------- Previous post was at 00:17 ----------

Originally Posted by Synthetic

I think modem mode with your own router is the obvious answer here OP

Obvious, and massively distasteful. I really dislike that kit. I begrudge doing it too, given that they force the SH on people specifically to avoid supporting people using 3rd party routers.

---------- Post added at 00:30 ---------- Previous post was at 00:24 ----------

Originally Posted by Stuart

Let me make this clear. Regardless of whether you wish to pay for services or not, connecting your own equipment to the network is against Virgin's TOS. As such we do not allow discussion of how to do it.

Ah, I was unaware of this rule when I posted. Good job you're not being a smart arse while mentioning this then, eh?

---------- Post added at 00:59 ---------- Previous post was at 00:30 ----------

Originally Posted by Gavin78

I agree with others just stick the hub into modem mode and use a decent router I don't see the problem?

Is there a reason you don't want to use a router and just have a modem instead?


There are a few things I don't like about the hub 3 but other than that it has been pretty flawless so far and the wifi signal is better than my RT-N56U router and I paid £100 for that about 2 years ago

I already have a very considered internal network setup. It would be cleaner if I could just use a small modem rather than a massive box, exactly as it was back in the days of 20Mb/s. Also their whole excuse for foisting this crap upon me is that they don't want to be in a 'their modem/my router' scenario, so for them to suggest exactly that as the solution to their shoddy kit is woeful.

---------- Post added at 01:19 ---------- Previous post was at 00:59 ----------

Originally Posted by Stuart

Personally, while I found the Hub to be extremely unreliable as a wireless router (Wifi tended to drop out unless it was rebooted at least once a day), it's fine as a modem.

I don't want to give up the desk space to something so large, ugly or intrusive. VM previously provided modems and routers. Both were proper pieces of kit. This conjoined kit is nothing like as good as either of the old ones.

---------- Post added at 01:38 ---------- Previous post was at 01:19 ----------

Originally Posted by sollp

Any explanation of what issues your having would benefit the class? Maybe some help could be given

My issue is that the SH is awful and I want nothing to do with it. The whole premise of it's existence is negated by it's lack of ability to perform that task. I understand the reason for your post and thank you for it, but I don't need assistance with the SH or with network principles. I have a fixed network pulled to three separate switches for devices which don't move, and APs to cover the whole property for mobile devices.

---------- Post added at 01:40 ---------- Previous post was at 01:38 ----------

Originally Posted by Mr K

Have you at least tried Modem mode OP? I've never had any issues using a Superdud this way. You don't need an expensive router either to get full speed , I've never paid more than £30 - although VM should be paying really as they are incapable of producing a decent router themselves.

As above, the point of the SH is so you don't have a separate modem and router solution. If I'm going to use a modem I want a modem, not an unwieldy P.O.S. switched back to just be a modem.