Superhub old VMNG300 with own router!

j1979 · 24-08-2013, 12:36

hello, my first post here.

I have searched for the answer to this question but still can't find a definitive answer. I have had 2 superhubs and they are both pretty poor for anything more than 2 or 3 light users.

Both my hubs have various DHCP issues, stutter and drops in hot weather, wifi is not too bad but it's not my priority anyway. I am not a network engineer but do work in Tech support for a competitor. I use virgin because at the moment it is a lot better than ADSL2+ (no fibre at my BT exchange).

From what I can gather (and please correct me if im wrong) people are able to use the old VMNG300 with a router. This modem performs better than the super hub in modem mode. I have read about the upstream and downstream channels and that at current speeds the VMNG300 is >= the superhub in modem mode, but the super-hub is more future proof.

My question is this.. I have been given an old but what appears to be working VMNG300, can this be used or are the people that are using it only able to do so due to the fact they had this modem on an old service?

I read that equipment needs to be activated at VM's end... if this is the case, are there any known work arounds or hacks? Does anyone have experience calling virgin to get a VMNG300 activated, or is it really not worth the hassle?

Thanks in advance!

rogerdraig · 24-08-2013, 12:53

have you tried the super hub in modem only mode ? Thats how I set up my sister in laws and they are often running 2 360's a ps3 and laptops with no problems using a separate router both 360's are wired in as is the tower and smart hub tv.

i used this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Wirel.../dp/B005626U9W

ethan103 · 24-08-2013, 12:55

I am using a VMNG300 myself with no speed issues currently.

However I'm pretty sure it's 'impossible' to get a 300 out onto your connection as VM won't/don't do this.

I managed to hang on to mine since the 50Mb service launched and it's still going strong, thankfully.

I'm sure someone on here will confirm whether or not you can.

General Maximus · 24-08-2013, 16:38

ya, once a modem has been removed from the network VM won't re-register it so unfortunately it is a no go, you also won't get a new one out of VM either because they haven't got any.

As your remark about performance, I was under the impression from several posts I have read that the vmng300 was marginally better when it came to latency (vs the shub) but this was refuted a couple of weeks by someone I trust implicitly. Tbh dude for what you are going to use it for you probably arent going to notice any difference between the vmng300 and the shub. The shub works brilliantly in modem mode and the most important thing you have got to worry about it using a decent router wich can address your requirements regarding stability, dhcp, good wi-fi and I would also suggest dns.

As far as future proofing goes you are better off with the shub because the shub can load balance across 8 downstream channels whereas the vmng300 can only use 4. Many peeps see this as a down side but I am using one on 120mbits and never have any problems getting max speed. I do consider myself one of the lucky few though because I know I am in an area with low utilisation. When we move on to 200mbits I know I am going to need a shub because with the vmng300 I would have to have 4 downstream channels all to myself in order to achieve the throughput.

ethan103 · 24-08-2013, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Maximus

ya, once a modem has been removed from the network VM won't re-register it so unfortunately it is a no go, you also won't get a new one out of VM either because they haven't got any.

As your remark about performance, I was under the impression from several posts I have read that the vmng300 was marginally better when it came to latency (vs the shub) but this was refuted a couple of weeks by someone I trust implicitly. Tbh dude for what you are going to use it for you probably arent going to notice any difference between the vmng300 and the shub. The shub works brilliantly in modem mode and the most important thing you have got to worry about it using a decent router wich can address your requirements regarding stability, dhcp, good wi-fi and I would also suggest dns.

As far as future proofing goes you are better off with the shub because the shub can load balance across 8 downstream channels whereas the vmng300 can only use 4. Many peeps see this as a down side but I am using one on 120mbits and never have any problems getting max speed. I do consider myself one of the lucky few though because I know I am in an area with low utilisation. When we move on to 200mbits I know I am going to need a shub because with the vmng300 I would have to have 4 downstream channels all to myself in order to achieve the throughput.

The VMNG300 is simply a superior modem than a SH.

Speedtest/Pingtests confirm this.

Kushan · 24-08-2013, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethan103

The VMNG300 is simply a superior modem than a SH.

Speedtest/Pingtests confirm this.

[citation needed]

General Maximus · 24-08-2013, 17:47

lol, that is what i was going to say because I thought the vmng300 wouldn outperform the shub as well but Seph said he has run some tests and they pretty much equal each other

j1979 · 24-08-2013, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Maximus

ya, once a modem has been removed from the network VM won't re-register it so unfortunately it is a no go, you also won't get a new one out of VM either because they haven't got any.

Thanks for your reply!

When you say removed from the network, if the modem was working at a friends house last week, would that mean it will still work at my address, or is the activation account specific?

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Maximus

As your remark about performance, I was under the impression from several posts I have read that the vmng300 was marginally better when it came to latency (vs the shub) but this was refuted a couple of weeks by someone I trust implicitly. Tbh dude for what you are going to use it for you probably arent going to notice any difference between the vmng300 and the shub. The shub works brilliantly in modem mode and the most important thing you have got to worry about it using a decent router wich can address your requirements regarding stability, dhcp, good wi-fi and I would also suggest dns.

I'm not sure i mentioned what i was going to use it for. But latency is a big issue for me. The modem will be connected to a debian server which will be running a web application that demands low latency, the faster the better. It will work with any latency but the lower the better!

If the SH is faster then great, but from what I have heard it is not. Do you have a link to your friends findings on the speeds? Maybe there is some differences between the performance based on firmware. Maybe the old superhub was slower and the newer one is a bit faster.

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Maximus

As far as future proofing goes you are better off with the shub because the shub can load balance across 8 downstream channels whereas the vmng300 can only use 4. Many peeps see this as a down side but I am using one on 120mbits and never have any problems getting max speed. I do consider myself one of the lucky few though because I know I am in an area with low utilisation. When we move on to 200mbits I know I am going to need a shub because with the vmng300 I would have to have 4 downstream channels all to myself in order to achieve the throughput.

hmmm. when is the 200 planned ? and is the upload 20mbps ?

Does anyone know about the SuperHub2 ? does this offer modem only improvements? If yes how do i get one from VM?

---------- Post added at 19:15 ---------- Previous post was at 19:13 ----------

Thank you to all who have replied to the thread I really appreciate it!

adduxi · 24-08-2013, 18:15

I was a long time advocate of my VMNG300 and only removed it as I was on the SH2 trials. My SH2 is in Modem Mode and I can't notice any difference between it and the 300, only difference being 6 DS channels on the SH2.
I doubt if VM will provision an old 300 in any case, best just to get an SH2 and use it as a Modem.

Kushan · 24-08-2013, 18:16

SH2 is better in almost every way from the SH1. It's a decent router and its modem is at least on par with the ambit 300 (I believe it uses the same chipset?) but it can handle 8 channels instead of the Ambit 300's 4. SH2s are given to people on 60 or 120 I believe. If you're moving house and take one of those packages, there's a good chance you'll get a SH2. Just check with movers first.

ferretuk · 24-08-2013, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1979

When you say removed from the network, if the modem was working at a friends house last week, would that mean it will still work at my address, or is the activation account specific?

Correct - The modem would have to registered on your account. Won't happen...

j1979 · 24-08-2013, 18:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kushan

SH2 is better in almost every way from the SH1. It's a decent router and its modem is at least on par with the ambit 300 (I believe it uses the same chipset?) but it can handle 8 channels instead of the Ambit 300's 4. SH2s are given to people on 60 or 120 I believe. If you're moving house and take one of those packages, there's a good chance you'll get a SH2. Just check with movers first.

Thanks

Any way to get the SH2 without moving! maybe i will look on ebay ? or will that also need to be activated?

i'm on the 30 ATM but plan to upgrade to 60 or 100, not that the bandwidth will make a great deal off difference to what I am using it for.

The Upload on 60 is 6? and 10 on the 100?

Kushan · 24-08-2013, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1979

Thanks

Any way to get the SH2 without moving! maybe i will look on ebay ? or will that also need to be activated?

i'm on the 30 ATM but plan to upgrade to 60 or 100, not that the bandwidth will make a great deal off difference to what I am using it for.

The Upload on 60 is 6? and 10 on the 100?

Unfortunately, the upload speeds on 60 haven't been upped to 6Mbps yet (or at least not in many places), they're still on 3 (30 is 2). 100 can be 5 but is sometimes 10, depending on how they were doubled. 120 is 12 though.

pip08456 · 24-08-2013, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1979

Thanks

Any way to get the SH2 without moving! maybe i will look on ebay ? or will that also need to be activated?

You cannot use any VM equipment you buy from a 3rd party site.

All you are buying is a doorstop!

ethan103 · 24-08-2013, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by j1979

Thanks for your reply!

When you say removed from the network, if the modem was working at a friends house last week, would that mean it will still work at my address, or is the activation account specific?

I'm not sure i mentioned what i was going to use it for. But latency is a big issue for me. The modem will be connected to a debian server which will be running a web application that demands low latency, the faster the better. It will work with any latency but the lower the better!

If the SH is faster then great, but from what I have heard it is not. Do you have a link to your friends findings on the speeds? Maybe there is some differences between the performance based on firmware. Maybe the old superhub was slower and the newer one is a bit faster.

hmmm. when is the 200 planned ? and is the upload 20mbps ?

Does anyone know about the SuperHub2 ? does this offer modem only improvements? If yes how do i get one from VM?

---------- Post added at 19:15 ---------- Previous post was at 19:13 ----------

Thank you to all who have replied to the thread I really appreciate it!

The Superhub's are not on par with the VMNG300.

But they are now your only choice.

SH2 is then the obvious one.