Virgin to give new Superhub out.

[zekeisaszekedoes]

Yeah it is pretty woeful, even by regular non-third party firmware standards.

To be honest, I think it's about time home routers started to reflect the times by getting closer to professional routers in terms of having advanced features. Even if most people don't need any of them, having the options there for those who know their stuff would seem like the thing to do.

I have a theory that in the process of "Virginising" the router with the images and silly frontend they've somehow made the Super Hub unreliable. You have to be incredibly skilled to code router firmware, and I'm guessing that whoever went in and made the changes to the default Netgear version(s) made a bit of a mess.

Considering how many updates there have been it's very worrying. Sounds like they released a product that was barely in beta stage, let alone ready for major dispatch, and got away with it because they can send updates down the coax. To me that's NOT a solution - too many tech companies these days are rushing the release of their products then relying on "in the field" updates to fix all the problems they didn't pay to test. It's a total false economy when you think about it.

I'd love to flash the default Netgear firmware back on but I'm pretty sure it's impossible to get hold of, or at least very difficult, considering this is classed as an ISP only router not one you can buy "off the shelf" if you're a regular consumer.

Basically we're stuck with this POS, vainly clinging to the hope a modem-only firmware will be released. Even if it is, considering the results so far it'll probably be buggy and unreliable too. As a result of all these considerations I'm currently badgering VM for the Ambit modem which handles 50Mb/100Mb and the seperate Netgear wireless N router that can probably be flashed back to regular firmware. The track record on the modems is good and even if the wireless N router they supply is crap I can drop in a Linksys one that runs DD-WRT.

It's far too many hoops to jump through, though. If I weren't technically inclined I would be pulling my hair out around now. It's ironic that this all in one miracle box actually makes things less user friendly, completely the opposite of what they were going for.

Is it true that the one before this was pretty shocking too?

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by zekeisaszekedoes

I'm currently badgering VM for the Ambit modem which handles 50Mb/100Mb

Only the SuperHub can handle the 100Mbit product

[whizzard]

It's quite obvious from observing this thread that it has it's collective of vocal detractors no matter what has been done to date or what is discussed as upcoming in terms of features/fixes. Looking at some other posts across a multitude of forums there seems to be those who are quite happy with it. Look at it from this perspective, in terms of firmware support it's already seen more ongoing support than the 50mb modem saw, and there are at least 2 future firmware iterations to come in the not so distant future, which when you think how long it took the 50Mb Ambit to get a firmware update shows they a) listening and b) trying to improve the product based on power user feedback.

[zekeisaszekedoes]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Only the SuperHub can handle the 100Mbit product

Damn. Does that "no" include the VMNG300 modem which has a near-identical form factor to the Super Hub?

Regardless, I'd rather have the 50Mb service working flawlessly with all the extra firmware features DD-WRT provides than a shaky 100Mb service that offers me next to nothing.

Originally Posted by whizzard

It's quite obvious from observing this thread that it has it's collective of vocal detractors no matter what has been done to date or what is discussed as upcoming in terms of features/fixes. Looking at some other posts across a multitude of forums there seems to be those who are quite happy with it. Look at it from this perspective, in terms of firmware support it's already seen more ongoing support than the 50mb modem saw, and there are at least 2 future firmware iterations to come in the not so distant future, which when you think how long it took the 50Mb Ambit to get a firmware update shows they a) listening and b) trying to improve the product based on power user feedback.

Look at what you're saying. If the product is right then it shouldn't need updating all the time. To me, nearly half a dozen firmware updates less than a year after initial release is a silent admission of shoddy product. Actions louder than words etc.

The people who are happy with it are no doubt the ones who don't need any of the advanced features. Personally a big part of my upgrading to the fastest packages would be to improve upload speeds, due to poor ADSL contention ratios although to be fair with this years rollout VM are improving that. I can't take advantage of these improvements if I don't have a router which is highly configurable. Not only is the Super Hub quite basic, it's not even reliable for light (i.e. "average customer") use.

In the past this wasn't a problem because the modem and router were seperate, so if you didn't like VM's supplied CPEs you could drop in your own router and do what you liked.

Converging the two for convienience to save costs and streamline troubleshooting I completely understand and have no problem with. Denying the customer the right to drop in his or her own CPEs to more effectively utilise the connection they're paying good money for seems wrong.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by zekeisaszekedoes

To me, nearly half a dozen firmware updates less than a year after initial release is a silent admission of shoddy product. Actions louder than words etc.

SuperHub only got released in December. It's had zero firmware updates since then

[zekeisaszekedoes]

Oh great, after nearly two weeks faffing around on the community forum over at the VM site I'm told "ring the helpline". Great. Because, y'know, there's no chance I was using the forum to avoid the whole "automated message/touchtone/guy with heavy accent I can't understand" rigmarole. Last time I spoke to a guy in India, he didn't even know what the word Ambit mean. Last time I got through to a woman in UK, she knew even less than that.

Poor service. This is exactly the reason a friend of mine got and then quickly cancelled the 50Mb package. Customer retention services should be as good as if not better than customer acquisition services.

[pabscars]

Pardon my ignorance and reluctance to read through nearly 30 pages but I thought you could turn the router part of the superhub off, or switch off all security at least and then run your own router if you so chose.

Am I incorrect?

It would be good to know as I've one winging its way to me as we speak.

[whizzard]

Originally Posted by pabscars

Pardon my ignorance and reluctance to read through nearly 30 pages but I thought you could turn the router part of the superhub off, or switch off all security at least and then run your own router if you so chose.

Am I incorrect?

It would be good to know as I've one winging its way to me as we speak.

No, the ability to disable the router is part of an upcoming firmware update.

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by pabscars

Pardon my ignorance and reluctance to read through nearly 30 pages but I thought you could turn the router part of the superhub off, or switch off all security at least and then run your own router if you so chose.

Am I incorrect?

It would be good to know as I've one winging its way to me as we speak.

No, you can't, yet. You can still use your own router but you cannot yet turn off the router/NAT in the Superhub. VM have promised a future firmware update that will allow this. I belive the Superhub does allow fixed IPs and DMZ, so daisy-chaining routers for example wouldn't be too difficult.

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Only the SuperHub can handle the 100Mbit product

Not quite technically true, the old standalone modem is perfectly capable of 100mbit. The operating mode currently used by 100mb is exactly the same as 50mb (same channels, same frequencies, same bonding, etc.).

The old 50mb standalone modem can easily do 200mbit (perhaps not in a way that's to VM's liking, but it can).

[pabscars]

Thanks qas

[OliCad79]

Is there a date yet for the new firmware?

I set up my superhub last night and had the worst connection since I was back on BT Broadband. Disabled the IP flooding and firewall but only had a mild improvement. Seems the firewall isn't actually disabled.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Not quite technically true, the old standalone modem is perfectly capable of 100mbit. The operating mode currently used by 100mb is exactly the same as 50mb (same channels, same frequencies, same bonding, etc.).

The old 50mb standalone modem can easily do 200mbit (perhaps not in a way that's to VM's liking, but it can).

Never said it couldn't do 100Mbit, I said only the SuperHub can do the 100Mbit product i.e. the way Virgin are doing it on their network

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Never said it couldn't do 100Mbit, I said only the SuperHub can do the 100Mbit product i.e. the way Virgin are doing it on their network

Would you care to expand on this Ben? The only thing I've heard about it is Igni replying to a question some months ago saying the Superhub is 8 channel capable unlike the modem which is only 4.

Now however it seems as though the 100Mb service is only being supplied via 4 channels and therefore it is disingenuous to say only the Superhub can do 100Mbit without the tech reason why not.

Or just come out and say it can, but VM are not allowing it to be used because they want everyone using the Superhub.

There's nothing wrong with a bit of openness and honesty.

[zekeisaszekedoes]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

SuperHub only got released in December. It's had zero firmware updates since then

My mistake, I was getting it mixed up with the regular Hub due to this thread here. I apologise. My point still stands though: lots of quick firmware updates in a short time means shoddy product. Will history repeat with the brand new shiny Super Hub? Do not adjust your browser...

[mala786]

Help!!

I was on 2MG was upgraded to 10MG (m), rang VM monday as looking to review account in these times:

after talking to chap endeed up on:

Mon:XL 20MB BB, XL Phone +0870/0845 Bundle, L TV, all for £60.49 per month ( New 12 month contract) & get ''Super Hub'' latest tech plus wirless etc. Great I though as just bough kids to get this off home PC as brought them Laptops a month ago was looking @ options.

Result

Wed: D-Link Router turns up, so think this cannot be right?

Ring VM, lady says Chap key'd wrong code '' very sorry '' we'll send out ASAP '' Super Hub '' as promised OK as marked on my a/c (mistakes happen I think)

Fri: Get home to find ''The Hub'' has been delivered today check website & prev posts, very angry as not '' super Hub '' as promised



I will call 1st thing TMO, how do I get this resolved ASAP, Pls advise how to approach them, been with them sine:

Bell Cablemedia, Cable Wirless, NTL & Virgin Meda (94- to now)

Never had any issues with CS before, and before people say India issue, I went through via '' thinking of Leaving option '' both times and chap & lady both English.

Pls advie, thanks in advance.

Mala 786

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