You could also connect the Pod via ethernet cable as a backhaul, and this will negate the need for the Pod to be close to the Hub. Available with M50 broadband or faster. But those features are unavailable. Enjoy great WiFi coverage thanks to four built-in antennas that extend and maximise your WiFi coverage around your home. Yeahit doesnt. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app . So, for example, if you fire it up at 9 a.m. on Monday, you've actually got until midnight on Tuesday -- effectively giving you two days for the price of one. Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year. Leveraging the US companys technology, your in-home WiFi coverage is extended through the creation of a cloud-controlled mesh network which constantly adapts and evolves, Virgin Media says. Here, Virgin uses dual-band wireless technology (speeds not disclosed), rather than a tri-band design, such as with the Netgear Orbi RBK50, where one wireless channel is dedicated for communication between satellites. Each service has a minimum contract length thats shown in your basket. When settled, move to desired location. From there, the setup is nice and simple. But, I'll be honest, I think Virgin are a bit cheeky to charge extra for these. Meet the Hub 5, ready to serve up Gig1 Fibre Broadband, our fastest most reliable WiFi yet. The 5GHz barely connects and the 2.4GHz is a bit wobbly. WiFi and Internet speeds are fickle beasts. Simply plug it in, turn it on and let it do its #job In the next video, I will explain with what you can do to create a chain of #wifiextender in order to build a #cloud #wifi that your neighbours can benefit from too, if of course you want to help. They're going to be 5 per month for up to 3 pods. That means you will need to manually reconnect things which used the old name. (Or subscribe to this Atom Feed. For me, stability has improved in weaker areas, coverage is better and there have been fewer connection issues. But, of course, if the pod doesn't have a great connection back to the hub, it won't be able to give you a decent connection. Similarly, I couldn't find a way to access the BLE functionality. Otherwise set-up is a case of plugging the Pod in and waiting itll automatically see your router settings and network conditions, joining and extending your wireless network wirelessly, creating a mesh network. 1. Video guide prepared by Luqman Khanhttps://www.luqman.euHere is with how to self install virgin media pod. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. My maximum speed has dropped, but that's a fair sacrifice for vastly improved speeds elsewhere. Sign in to your Spectrum account for the easiest way to view and pay your bill, watch TV, manage your account and more. Call: 0345 454 1111 Mesh networks were originally developed for enterprise settings like offices, shopping malls but have since gained popularity at home as people invest in more devices and want total coverage throughout the home. Virgin Media Hub 5 Installation and change WiFi Network Name and Hub 5 WiFi Password Lurgs How To Guides 71.2K subscribers Subscribe 47K views 1 year ago Virgin Media Hub 5 & Virgin Tivo. Virgin Media promises speed gains of up to three times in hard to reach areas thanks to intelligent Wi-Fi extenders. And the more speed your Hub gets, the more your WiFi can do. Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Both of these boosts, designed to improve speeds to all devices in your home, will be available free to some customers while others will need to cough-up 60 a year for the privilege. It also means it cant speed up the performance of Sky Q boxes/mini boxes as they have their own Wi-Fi connection they converse in, although you can follow our guide to fixing Sky Q connectivity issues if you do want to run the system over this mesh network. These tweaks are designed to improve in-home coverage in hard to reach areas and is particularly beneficial for those in large households with lots of connected devices, Virgin Media claims. The Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod is a simpler, more integrated option that works with your existing router, building a wireless mesh network. HSn0]zmZ`Y+ Rwv9 I kinda get why they do this - better to connect to a slow but stable 2.4GHz than a flaky but fast 5GHz - but it is annoying for those of us who rely on segregated names. BeakerUK 1 yr. ago Thanks, seems to have done something.. the pod had a double flash and has now stopped. Depends what you mean by "work". Hope you didn't use the password for anything sensitive! Move closer to the BoosterTry moving to a different room or closer to the Booster before connecting the device Virgin media pod is an intelligent #wifi extender . WiFi Pods wont need to be installed by an engineer. Once paired, the Connection lights will go out on both Boosters. If you don't see the Personal Hotspot option in the Cellular menu, you may need to manually update your iPhone's carrier settings. This pod plugs into a power socket and listens for WiFi signals from the hub. The Hub 4 is packed with Gig1 Fibre broadband giving you the speed you need to stream, zoom or game to your hearts delight. Disconnect your old Hub (note: the coaxial cable will need to be unscrewed). I can I configure this to work in my home with my Hub 4 or is it a case that this will only work in his house? What's more, that 250MB isn't counted against your 2.5GB monthly allotment of high-speed data.) Position away from devices that may cause interference i.e. Experienced in both magazine and , Unbiased and independent advice on what to buy, Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod price and availability, You should buy the Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod if. check for an fcc id. Repeat this for all Boosters in your home: turn the power off, unplug and plug back in. Plug the larger Booster into a mains socket, in the same room, and switch it on. When Ethernet is not available throughout the home, which is the case of most people, our pods will use Wi-Fi to backhaul the network traffic from your devices to your modem. Choose a home.. Instead, Virgin should automatically push an update to your phone. It's also quite large - and might block the plug next to it. Make sure you choose an internal wall, free from obstructions, such as: cupboards and shelves with lots of ventilation. With more people staying indoors, home Wi-Fi has taken a battering. You can also tap Wi-Fi Password if you want to modify the random one created by the service. WiFi Pod Compatability. Virgin says the best area for placement is a) out in the open and b) around halfway between the router and the blackspot area, though obviously theres room for adjustment depending on the location of mains sockets. #diy #virginmedia #wifiextender #uk Luqman Khan Ltd 124 subscribers Subscribe 42 Share 17K views 5 months ago UNITED KINGDOM <>stream Good luck. (Optional) Connect one of your Plume pods to a LAN port on your modem-router combo box via the included Ethernet cable. From setting up new or existing Boosters, to fixing any troubleshooting issues, here is your step-by-step guide. Then follow the steps to set them up again in our installation guide. chargers. Easy to set up,. If you have a big home, put a pod in every room and you'll have fast WiFi broadcast everywhere. M250 Fibre Broadband. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. Your response will then appear (possibly after moderation) on this page. WiFi guarantee included at no extra cost and up to 3 WiFi pods if needed, . Virgin Media is taking a dual-pronged approach to eliminating dead zones from your home, Virgin Media is giving away an amazing Google freebie to all customers, UK broadband boost: finally, some good news about your internet speeds, The new bundle, dubbed Intelligent WiFi Plus, is free to some customers and 5 a month for others, BT Whole Home Wi-Fi review - Boosting your broadband is now cheaper, Nest Wifi review: Fixes your broadband, saves you buying a Google Home. Our Hub 3 is packed with fast and reliable WiFi for great coverage around the home. In practice, tri-band systems are much faster. They're also meant to come with ad-blocking and speed-testing. Virgin Media WiFi Hub; Intelligent WiFi Technology; 132Mbps 264Mbps average download speed; 20Mbps 25Mbps average upload speed; About your speed. The Power light will come on and the Connection light will flash amber. Move the Booster to another socket ideally an internal wall. WhatsApp: 07305327112, Press J to jump to the feed. So whether it's technical issues, hub problems or you need support, well help you with our complete set of general help guides and answers like our billing and payments help guides. They're useful, but come with some annoying limitations. Within 2 minutes, hold the Sync button on the additional Booster for 3 seconds. Scanning Virgins Troubleshooting section and there can be issues with Ring doorbells, too. Contact Us. You won't be able to connect Powerline adaptors, using HomePlug technology, to your Booster network. Virgin WiFi Pods | ASMR | Unboxing & Re-Boxing - YouTube Enjoy the sounds and visuals of ASMR unboxing of the Virgin Media WiFi Pods. 2 0 obj Excludes broadband faults and broadband network outages. Basically none. They're useful, but come with some annoying limitations. Virgin says that managing your new mesh network will be handled using the existing Connect smartphone app. The Connection light will start to flash very quickly. Other software improvements rolling out to Hub 3 and Hub 4 owners include: Virgin Media has dubbed its new software and WiFi Pod bundle Intelligent WiFi Plus. The weakest area in the house is on the first floor and out towards the rear garden (the Hub is closer to the front of the house). Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. Now, press the sync button on the second Booster for 3 seconds. If it's pre configured does that mean you cannot change your SSID or password in the future? Avoid direct obstruction to the Booster, such as cupboards or shelves. After a few seconds the Installation Wizard should appear. If the program doesn't start automatically, click on the My Computer icon How to setup or install virgin media pod in your home or office? We follow the IPSO Editors code of practice to underpin these standards. So whether it's technical issues, hub problems or you need support, we'll help you with our complete set of general help guides and answers - like our billing and payments help guides. If you have a big home, put a pod in every room and you'll have fast WiFi broadcast everywhere. If you spot any other LED colours or notice it didnt blink during set-up, you may have an issue. Thats meant once reliable speeds and coverage arent quite as robust. I ran each test a few times at the same time of day. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. It's a hassle, but at least the mobile hotspot function is now available. Use a pen tip to press the rest button for 7 seconds on all the Boosters in your home. Virgin Media have provided me with a test unit of their new Intelligent WiFi pods to review. People are using the web to socialise more, game, hold meetings over Zoom, as well as stream video and music. (See below if you run into trouble.). Want to update or remove your response? Yes. Naturally, the speed is limited to whatever the pod can negotiate with the hub. If youre experiencing poor WiFi coverage in your house, or office, then a WiFi Booster will help: He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). After the lights have flashed on, connect the Booster to the Hub, using the Ethernet cable provided. endstream endobj 4 0 obj From there, youll be good to go! As it creates a mesh Wi-Fi network with the router, theres the chance for interference with other mesh systems such as Sonos, although that can be avoided by hooking your Sonos system up to Wi-Fi. Theres also the Virgin Connect app (iOS/Android) to check on the health of the home Wi-Fi as well as search for any blackspots. At which point, it may be more cost effective to buy a decent router or your own mesh system. I've been mostly satisfied with Virgin Mobile service on my iPhone 5S , especially the $30-per-month price tag for nearly unlimited everything. And on 2.4GHz. The Hub 5s casing is made from 100% recycled plastics, so not only is it our most advanced Hub yet, its nicer for the planet too. If it doesn't request another pod as you can get up to 3. But it does seem to come with a cost. Theyre coded to your router when you order them from Virgin. Plan ahead. If youve requested an upgrade, youll receive a new Virgin Media WiFi Hub in the post. Yes. The Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod is a solid option for Virgin Media customers with Hub 3 and Hub 4 routers looking to boost Wi-Fi speeds and stability around the house. Plume Setup. Make sure you havent pressed the WiFi button on the side of the Booster, as this turns the WiFi on and off. Is this booster on some kind of subscription? Well update this article when we hear about exactly how WiFi Pods compare with the existing Pods available from Plume in the United States. Whether our customers are working, streaming, browsing, playing or keeping connected online, the combo of new Hub features and WiFi Pods provides a step-change in connectivity that wont let you down.. When you click Finish on the final screen your wireless set-up is complete. The big limitation is that both your 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi SSIDs need to have the same name and password. A Virgin Media Booster can be used for any type of Hub or connection and will boost the signal significantly in under 200 square feet (50m), by picking up signals from far away connections via an antennae thats attached to it. Tap Next to complete the purchase. Press and hold the WPS/Virgin Media button on the Hub until the lights start blinking. Comes with four gigabit Ethernet ports you can plug in up to four wired devices at a time. Virgin Media's Boosters use G.Hn technology and will only connect with other kit using G.Hn. It is an improvement, but this isnt the fastest wireless mesh system. While Wi-Fi 6 devices are still in the minority, the technology is more future-proofed and adds even faster speeds. x v }GnZVmm-j-^mCOo~G?w}K_g>}Cx{Moxk^E/xs=IOxczG. Then switch the power on. . More info. But, yeah, if you need WiFi in your attic or shed, they'll do. Additionally, there's no plug pass-through, so this will take up a socket in your home. 8p/m extra or included with Gig1 or Volt. (note: the coaxial cable will need to be unscrewed). Plus, if you ever need us, were on live chat from 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week. (I did.) Need to contact Virgin Media Customer Services? Available to Virgin Media customers with the Hub 3 and Hub 4 routers, is the Pod the Wi-Fi saviour youve been looking for? If you move the Pod too far away it will loose connection. To verify click here. Leave for around 15 minutes to pair up to the smaller Booster and download the latest software updates. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays. Press and hold the WPS button on the larger Booster for about 10 seconds and release it. You can use the Virgin Media Connect app to scan your home and smooth out any snags. At least 20Mbps download speeds in every room or 100 one-off credit. He gave it to me and said I just plug it in and it works. The way it works is simple - the VM supplied SuperHub broadcasts 5GHz and 2.4GHz WiFi. Virgin will remotely log in to your SuperHub and forcibly rename your 5GHz network to be the same as your 2.4GHz one. Further exclusions & legal stuff apply. My friend had 2 pods at home but has since removed one as he needed the socket. Nothing too loud, but you probably don't want to place it near where you sit. then google it, you'll probably find that it is the same thing. You can now unplug the larger Booster and move it to where you need in your home. Priority is a service from O2 that current Virgin Media customers aged 16+ can also use. All rights reserved. It's fairly time-consuming process then, but with similar mesh devices costing around 100 to purchase outright, it's reasonable that Virgin only want to supply what's necessary. The better it is placed, and the better your broadband deal, the smoother and steadier your internet experience will be. One of these improvements takes the form of a software upgrade rolling out to its Virgin Media Hub 3 and Hub 4 hardware, while the other boost is a new product, dubbed WiFi Pods, that plug-in throughout your home to increase the signal. Some of my IoT kit gets really confused by this. Whereas before my top speed was over 500Mbps on WiFi, it has now dropped to about 480Mbps. So, how much of a boost does the WiFi Pod bring? New pod arrived and looks exactly the same as the old one and since it arrived on Thursday its been plugged in but still a slow flashing white light and the + button in the app to add a pod says I do nit have any to install. any ideas, the hub 3 and old pod worked great so not sure why the new hub/pod won't connect. Step 4: You'll see a confirmation screen noting your start date ("Now") and end date. If you wanted better Wi-Fi with Virgin in the past, the only option was to stick the Hub into modem mode and upgrade to a mesh system, meaning additional boxes and clutter. Theres an Ethernet socket for a hardwired connection, while visual touches are restricted to a red Virgin logo on the top surface and an almost imperceptible LED light. Virgin Media has announced two upgrades designed to boost Wi-Fi signal throughout your home for those struggling with dead zones not reached by their router. View Details & Updates. For example, Plume boasts that its system continuously learns from your use and performs self optimisations to keep things running smoothly this includes automatically detects the brand and model of your connected devices, ensuring your beloved devices are given capacity to run at full potential. Plume recently launched a new feature, dubbed Sense, that transforms its existing SuperPod hardware into motion sensors to alert you when a potential intruder is moving around the house when all family members are out-and-about. Our intelligent Boosters: WiFi and Wired, use your home's internal electrical wiring to help connect your devices to the Hub from any room with a working socket. Virgin send the pods out preconfigured. Virgin Medias mighty Hub brings the magic right into your home. Simply plug it in, turn it on and let it #sync or integrate with the router. Tap it, then sign in using your Virgin account number and PIN. Now other devices in the immediate vicinity should be able to connect to your iPhone. The WiFi Pods are part of Virgins rollout of its Intelligent WiFi Plus service, available to Virgin customers with Hub 3 and Hub 4 routers. Your email address will not be published. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. Which means they log into your SuperHub, and copy your SSID and password to the pod. and independent advice on what to buy. The dual Ethernet means that they can be wired in directly to your cable modem. To do so, open the phone dialer, then enter ##873283# and then tap Call. Jeff Dodds, Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Media, said: Intelligent WiFi Plus is our most advanced and impressive WiFi service to date that will help remove broadband blackspots and bring faster and more reliable speeds throughout the home. Connect the new Hub to the mains power supply and plug it into the wall. If youre using an extension youll want one with at least three sockets. Follow the on-screen set-up instructions. 1 Reply More posts you may like r/VirginMedia Join 6 days ago By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Welcome to Virgin Medias help and support page. Virgin Media has been lagging behind the competition, providing just a single router and optional wireless boosters that run over your homes power lines. TV 360, home phone, Volt benefits and WiFi Guarantee not currently available in 2022/23 network expansion areas. Thankfully, the carrier now offers that capability, as $5 buys you a day's worth of using your handset as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices. However, if you have Ethernet in your home, you can connect the pods to the Ethernet jacks in the home and that backhaul traffic will travel over the Ethernet cable. If youve a Virgin Media Booster, use the tip of a pen to press the Reset button on the additional Booster, for 7 seconds. So, the big test! Read ~6,781 times. Receive expert tips on using phones, computers, smart home gear and more. And away from interfering devices with a motor like a washing machine. It then rebroadcasts them - using the same name and password. Intelligent WiFi reduces WiFi traffic by automatically finding quiet channels to use. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. This is the same underlying technology seen in rival products from Google, Amazon, Netgear, and BT. Testing speeds with the TamoSoft Throughput and close to the router revealed upload and download speeds in the 90Mbps+ range (average of 74Mbps and 81Mbps respectively). Then scroll down to Manage Mobile Hotspot and tap it. \, Follow these simple instructions to install the Booster. The former is a free update to Hub 3 and 4 routers that automatically sorts out any Wi-Fi kinks. On the existing Booster, thats already connected to the Hub, hold the Sync button on the side for 3 seconds. Nope. Want CNET to notify you of price drops and the latest stories? There are double Ethernet sockets on the Pod. 2. Pretty good! Once you're all set-up, the Virgin Media WiFi Pods are designed to reduce the impact of neighbouring WiFi networks by automatically changing settings to stop interference. A light should flash quickly. At least 20Mbps download speeds in every room or 100 one-off credit. Cheers for your help and apologies if I've got this completely wrong. There are two Boosters in your pack. If you can get / afford multiple pods, they should form a mesh network to create a higher throughput backhaul. Virgin Media customers suffering from less than average speeds around the home can look forward to boosting it with the WiFi Pod. Hard reset router for at least 30 seconds when it loads back up give the pods 24 hours and see if that improves. To try again: They don't seem to work with other ISPs, and there's no management interface to factory reset them. Step 3: There's only one option here, and it's $5/250MB Daily Mobile Hotspot. Take the smaller one first and plug it into a mains socket, next to the Hub. A couple of devices kept losing connectivity completely. %PDF-1.4 So your phone or laptop will seamlessly connect to one network without you having to fiddle around with anything. <>/ColorSpace <>/Font <>/ProcSet [/PDF /Text /ImageC /ImageI ]/Properties <>/MC1 <>>>/ExtGState <>>>/Type /Page >>endobj We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. The Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod is a solid option for Virgin Media customers with Hub 3 and Hub 4 routers looking to boost Wi-Fi speeds and stability around the house. Unlike traditional boosters, these new systems allow you to move around the house on a FaceTime call without dropping signal. Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. Virgin Media services are only available in eligible Virgin Media network areas. Some of my gadgets get confused when there are multiple networks with the same name. Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. Hub 4 and wifi pod. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. The following screen instructs you to "Go to Settings/System > System Update > Update Phone," but iOS has no such option. they look like plume pods, wouldnt be surprised if someone has reflashed them to a generic firmware. How to set up a Virgin Media Hub . Up to 3 WiFi Pods . The Boosters will then start copying the Hubs details. A WiFi router enables you to connect wirelessly to the internet from anywhere in your home on any internet-enabled device. The power light will stay on. Be sure to position pods in central locations along the . Any insight? The domestic airwaves are already saturated with WiFi signals from your neighbours. Amazon Eero mesh Wi-Fi review: a true rival to the Google Nest Wi-Fi? It pulsates during set-up, blinks when it is improving the Wi-Fi signal and once its done it turns solid before turning off completely. Reset your Hub to default settings, start it up and running, connect your pod and leave until it's not pulsating the white light. Connect the coaxial cable to your new Hub and secure it with a spanner (this will be included when you receive your new Hub). Reduce connection problems on multiple devices. It will be available now to all Ultimate Oomph and Gig1 customers at no extra cost. Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. Virgin WiFi Boosters can help tackle WiFi blackspots and are perfect for places where your existing home network won't reach. The Plume powered Virgin WiFi Pod is a hexagonal-shaped device (I am tempted to call it The Hex in reference to Wandavision), and its inelegant shape makes for an awkward fit alongside another plug. So my questions. Fastest WiFi guarantee of any major provider New live support hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am - 6 pm GMT. With the WiFi Pod plugged in, speeds jump to an average of 69Mbps upload and 75Mbps download. Virgin suggests a manual re-connect if the doorbell wont re-connect on its own. That makes no sense to me as previously I'd have to set up routers to act as wifi boosters. For those who live in . To activate it again, you'll pretty much need to repeat the entire process (sign into your account, buy the add-on, and so forth). Today, it has a new solution for better Wi-Fi: the Intelligent WiFi Pods. With support for in-home roaming, devices are pushed to the closest port of Wi-Fi access whether thats the Hub or Pod. If your WiFi Booster is working but slowly, you can check your broadband speed or follow these steps to speed it up again: Notify me of follow-up comments by email. , Your email address will not be published. If you can set up using a Self-Install pack, but choose to use an engineer for the installation, youll still be charged 30 for this service. But there's one feature I've missed: mobile hotspot. It lets you run a super intelligent WiFi home scan to smooth out any snags, speed up your connection all around the house, and pause WiFi to any device when you need to perfect for when its the kids bedtime. If the connect lights flashing red, and the power lights solide white the pairing has failed. Video guide prepared by Luqman Khanhttps://www.luqman.euHere is with how to self install virgin media pod. The Boosters will then start copying the Hub's details. 8p/m extra or included with Gig1 or Volt. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign in to My Virgin Media to check your existing package and upgrade your service today. The unaffiliated community for Virgin Media subscribers to discuss broadband, TV, phone and mobile services. Your WiFi password, network name and other details can be found printed on the underside of the router. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Now insert the Virgin Broadband Wireless Set-up CD into your computer's CD drive. If you find its blinking consistently and for longer than usual as happened to me on one occasion Id suggest rebooting the main Hub to get them back in sync.