Virgin modem/routers - which is the least crap?

charlie_says · 14-10-2016 11:37AM #1

Hello,

Was wondering from users experience here which modem/router is the least crap. A friend has one of those really awful horizon boxes that they are using as router and WiFi. They are complaining of terrible speed and coverage.

I have advised them to tell Virgin to give them a new router or they GTFO as they are out of contract. Are they only supplying one model (Compal hub?) at the moment or can you ask for different models?

They will never be bridging, reasonable coverage and respectable speed over WiFi is what they are looking for.

So which one to ask for?

Thanks guys

Cuddlesworth · 14-10-2016 12:27PM

charlie_says wrote: »

Hello,

Was wondering from users experience here which modem/router is the least crap. A friend has one of those really awful horizon boxes that they are using as router and WiFi. They are complaining of terrible speed and coverage.

I have advised them to tell Virgin to give them a new router or they GTFO as they are out of contract. Are they only supplying one model (Compal hub?) at the moment or can you ask for different models?

They will never be bridging, reasonable coverage and respectable speed over WiFi is what they are looking for.

So which one to ask for?

Thanks guys

The Compal box is quite decent, with bridging enabled on it to if you want it.

If they want good speeds and coverage, they would be better off just dropping some wires and cash on AP's throughout the house. Wireless routers have limitations regardless of the type.

jca · 15-10-2016 02:23AM

I've the superhub 3.0 as they call it and it's working perfectly. My house isn't very big which does help.

batsi · 15-10-2016 08:21PM

I've got the Hub as well and I want to be able to change the DNS settings. I would need to get another modem (archer C8) and connecting it to the Hub by bridging, is that correct? Thank you for any help.

Yggr of Asgard · 16-10-2016 08:39AM

batsi wrote: »

I've got the Hub as well and I want to be able to change the DNS settings. I would need to get another modem (archer C8) and connecting it to the Hub by bridging, is that correct? Thank you for any help.

Yes but if it's only DNS you want, why don't you change the DNS on each client?

If the hub works otherwise for you, why not do that rather than bridging.

batsi · 16-10-2016 09:13AM

Yes I can do that in some cases but I have other two clients and you cannot change the DNS on either

of these and I need them for work. Would an Linksys WRT1900AC Router be OK for this bridging? Thank you for your reply.

Yggr of Asgard · 16-10-2016 10:38AM

batsi wrote: »

Yes I can do that in some cases but I have other two clients and you cannot change the DNS on either

of these and I need them for work. Would an Linksys WRT1900AC Router be OK for this bridging? Thank you for your reply.

As long as you are on IPV4 with Virgin (so that you can see the bridging option in the Hub and can use a different router easy) you should be fine.

However once Virgin moves you back to IPV6 (which might happen sporadically) you will have to contact them again to move you back.

However for the model you provided there is a known issue that sometimes it does not pick up the internet from the hub, there is a guide how to ensure it does here: http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=135930

batsi · 16-10-2016 11:09AM

Thank you for your reply. I checked around and found this router to be well recommended. I don't know a whole lot about
Modems/Routers, I was going to get an Archer C8 then I thought a Linksys WRT1900AC and I presume the two do the same job. Don't do any gaming just the odd bit of streaming (Netflix etc) so I am undecided again. Going to try and make up my mind today so I can order. Do you have any recommendations? Cheers.

Yggr of Asgard · 16-10-2016 11:41AM

What equipment do you have that does not allow you to change the DNS on them?

It's a little bit over board to get a router if you don't do anything special (like your own server, gaming).

Mister Gooey · 16-10-2016 02:09PM

batsi wrote:

of these and I need them for work. Would an Linksys WRT1900AC Router be OK for this bridging? Thank you for your reply.

batsi wrote:

Yes I can do that in some cases but I have other two clients and you cannot change the DNS on either

I have the exact setup. The Linksys does a great job as a router and the WIFI is more stable than the Compal. The Superhub kept dropping connections, so I put it in modem mode.

batsi · 16-10-2016 03:56PM

Thanks for the reply Mister Gooey, Are you using the WRT1900AC Router bridging to the Virgin Hub?

charlie_says · 16-10-2016 04:59PM

Thanks for posts

Col_30 · 18-10-2016 11:27AM

Hi, does anyone know if you can bridge from the VM Hub 3.0 to an older UPC cable modem? It's a cisco modem from a few years back. It was the first one I had with UPC when I originally signed up to them. I just want to be able to use a different DNS. Thanks.

bk · 18-10-2016 04:05PM

Col_30 wrote: »

Hi, does anyone know if you can bridge from the VM Hub 3.0 to an older UPC cable modem? It's a cisco modem from a few years back. It was the first one I had with UPC when I originally signed up to them. I just want to be able to use a different DNS. Thanks.

No, the Hub 3.0 acts as a modem and is pretty locked down.

jca · 18-10-2016 05:53PM

bk wrote: »

No, the Hub 3.0 acts as a modem and is pretty locked down.

He can, he just needs to ask VM to put him on an ipv4 ip, put the 3.0 hub into modem mode and then attach his cisco router. I think I'm right with that explanation.

batsi · 18-10-2016 06:06PM

If you just want to change your DNS settings you can look at this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GL-AR150-OpenWrt-pre-installed-Repeater-OpenVpn/dp/B015CYDVG8/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1476814319&sr=1-2&keywords=GL-AR150
Here is the manual.
Refer to http://www.gl-inet.com/docs/mini/internet/#custom-dns for instructions.

Col_30 · 19-10-2016 10:49AM

jca wrote: »

He can, he just needs to ask VM to put him on an ipv4 ip, put the 3.0 hub into modem mode and then attach his cisco router. I think I'm right with that explanation.

Thanks, this is what I thought was the case.

Cuddlesworth · 19-10-2016 01:23PM

Col_30 wrote: »

Thanks, this is what I thought was the case.

It's not the case. Your old Cisco devices Wan port is not ethernet.

Col_30 · 20-10-2016 08:25AM

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

It's not the case. Your old Cisco devices Wan port is not ethernet.

Thanks, you're right. It's the epc3925, no ethernet WAN port.
Do you think an old eircom netopia router would work?

Cuddlesworth · 20-10-2016 11:02AM

Col_30 wrote: »

Thanks, you're right. It's the epc3925, no ethernet WAN port.
Do you think an old eircom netopia router would work?

Its Wan port would be ADSL. Might be worth considering buying your own router. The compal does have a proper bridging mode.

batsi · 21-10-2016 12:26PM

batsi wrote: »

If you just want to change your DNS settings you can look at this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GL-AR150-OpenWrt-pre-installed-Repeater-OpenVpn/dp/B015CYDVG8/ref=sr_1_2?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1476814319&sr=1-2&keywords=GL-AR150
Here is the manual.
Refer to http://www.gl-inet.com/docs/mini/internet/#custom-dns for instructions.

Have a look at this,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015CYDVG8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
it's only £18.99

GL-AR150 Mini WiFi router, IoT, OpenWrt pre-installed, Repeater, OpenVpn
Sold by: GL Innovations

Virgin modem/routers - which is the least crap?

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