Superhub Superhub Firmware Beta Test - Page 41

Helix · 15-07-2011, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenK

It's fairly standard. Whoever's got the contract to develop the software provides occasional 'code drops' for the customer to try out and report back on. Maybe this hasn't happened often enough in this case; but why should VM spend staff time on a process that they're paying someone else to provide.

Maybe because the process clearly isn't working. Surely after this number of shoddy firmware updates and delays someone should realise something is up and be on Netgears back - send in some of their team to work alongside them and get the issues fixed once and for all.

ccarmock · 15-07-2011, 22:05

Why on earth didn't they ship the thing with the Netgear standard firmware?! I guess they could have turned the colours red and put a VM logo in place of the Netgear one, but that should have been fairly trivial compared with the mess this has been.

thelongmile · 16-07-2011, 01:47

I may be making a rather naive point here but given Netgear make some fairly decent routers, and since all this does really is stick a modem on the end of one, AND Netgear have made cable modems .... then VM must have really done something quite special to balls this up, right?

16-07-2011, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelongmile

I may be making a rather naive point here but given Netgear make some fairly decent routers, and since all this does really is stick a modem on the end of one, AND Netgear have made cable modems .... then VM must have really done something quite special to balls this up, right?

Most long time VM Customers will already have their own wireless equipment as in the early days VM did not supply it, so we went out a bought it ourselves

A modem only option (rather than the HUB) or a switchable "Modem" option on the HUB should have been built into the original spec to allow the 1000's of existing customers who already have their own equipment to carry on using it

I suppose now with the proposed release of R28 the modem option is planned
but VM could have avoided many problems and negative comments if they had included the "Modem" option from the start

From a commercial point of view I can understand how VM would want all their customer base on one piece of equipment, as supporting multiple configurations must be a nightmare

But this could have been done over time, and if the quality of the HUB had been better then most customers would have migrated over, as powering just one piece of equipment is better than multiple units

I gave the HUB a fair go, as I liked the idea of just one unit to power up, and the fact it was supported and would be replaced if required by VM,

But the wireless performance was poor and far worse than my original configuration,

But if the HUB improves I will give it another try, but in the meantime I continue to run two separate units

Mick Fisher · 16-07-2011, 10:37

Drinking sessions and breweries come to mind.

16-07-2011, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

Drinking sessions and breweries come to mind.

you are the master of understatement

thelongmile · 16-07-2011, 15:16

Actually, does anyone have a list of what the R28 firmware is proposed to change?

Skie · 16-07-2011, 18:42

I was going to come up with a list of comedy additions, but I dont think I could make anything more hilarious than what virgin will do with the amount of ineptitude they have in reserve.

Helix · 16-07-2011, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelongmile

Actually, does anyone have a list of what the R28 firmware is proposed to change?

I don't think VM know themselves.

thelongmile · 16-07-2011, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skie

I was going to come up with a list of comedy additions, but I dont think I could make anything more hilarious than what virgin will do with the amount of ineptitude they have in reserve.

Hah... I don't know, the 'Folding paper aeroplane' button might just come in on R28!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix

I don't think VM know themselves.

Ok, that's quite annoying. I was hoping I'd see something about the WiFi rather than just taking this long to put a modem only button in there! Then again, it doesn't surprise me!

Helix · 16-07-2011, 19:04

They did say that it would fix some of the bugs that users have been reporting, I recon that WiFi is going to be a Hardware rather than Firmware issue though.

There is/was a picture quality issue affecting some Tivo users and they came out and said it was a firmware rather than hardware issue that will be fixed in the next update.

They haven't said the same about some of the issues people have been having with WiFi and the Superhub they have just kept quiet about it all.

thelongmile · 16-07-2011, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix

They did say that it would fix some of the bugs that users have been reporting, I recon that WiFi is going to be a Hardware rather than Firmware issue though.

There is/was a picture quality issue affecting some Tivo users and they came out and said it was a firmware rather than hardware issue that will be fixed in the next update.

They haven't said the same about some of the issues people have been having with WiFi and the Superhub they have just kept quiet about it all.

Indeed. I understand making it a closed beta in case 'everyone' downloads it and bricks their modems, but to stop us seeing the discussions, bugs, and faults baffles me. It's not like it's a new product now!

Helix · 16-07-2011, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelongmile

Indeed. I understand making it a closed beta in case 'everyone' downloads it and bricks their modems, but to stop us seeing the discussions, bugs, and faults baffles me. It's not like it's a new product now!

I have access to the Beta forums and you are not missing anything. The issues that get posted are ignored so I think people have given up reporting them now. Its mainly made up of posts complaining about the delays to the beta test.

thelongmile · 16-07-2011, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helix

I have access to the Beta forums and you are not missing anything. The issues that get posted are ignored so I think people have given up reporting them now. Its mainly made up of posts complaining about the delays to the beta test.

Oh, wonderful. I can't say I'm surprised, although I was rather hoping they had something like Bugtraq, or a list of what they've compiled for the release...

At least they are doing SOMETHING

Helix · 16-07-2011, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelongmile

Oh, wonderful. I can't say I'm surprised, although I was rather hoping they had something like Bugtraq, or a list of what they've compiled for the release...

At least they are doing SOMETHING

I would hope they have something like that internally, but access isn't provided to Beta testers. We just have a bog standard forum like the rest of the community site. There isn't even anyone from the firmware team that posts on there, everything goes through the forum manager.