Consider UK Virgin Media as a possible replacement or alternative for your superhub needs.
Consider UK Virgin Media as a possible replacement or alternative for your superhub needs.
Everyone is thinking about finding a better way since the superhub looks like a mess. The Wi-Fi is weak and only offers four ports. In short, I’d like improved Wi-Fi with more ports instead of just basic functionality. My current setup uses a gig switch in the office that works well, but moving around the house leaves me with just two ports—one for powerline/WiFi booster and another for the router. Can I purchase a better router to replace the existing one, or should I first install it and then connect switches and boosters throughout the house? I’m curious about other people’s ideas for working around ISP limitations.
I previously connected a switch to the hub and removed all external components, making it a straightforward connection for the outside network. For Wi-Fi, I used a dedicated access point. I opted for a UniFi AP, though it may seem outdated now.
Typically, you must link to Virgin Media’s network via the Super Hub. The optimal approach is to set it to modem mode and then connect your personal router afterward. If relocating the hub to a more central, elevated position away from obstacles isn’t sufficient, consider adding additional access points. For better performance, incorporate more unmanaged gigabit switches. Alternatively, you can leave the Super Hub in its standard setting and connect multiple switches directly to its Ethernet ports. Turn off the hub’s Wi-Fi and use your own APs linked to the switches.
They appear to handle the setup smoothly, with no apparent issues beyond the WiFi and ports. I didn’t think it necessary to propose changes. Including a router would only add more complexity unless they truly require it. Sure, it might be cheaper than a dedicated AP, but I wouldn’t recommend it myself—business-grade APs are far more dependable in practice (though I haven’t tried a mesh system before).
The reliability is what matters most to me. I haven’t experienced any Wi-Fi problems since relocating, even though that might not fit your budget since it’s comparable to a premium router.
I’m budget-conscious, so I’ll keep costs low while running everything over Ethernet. Wi-Fi isn’t reliable enough for important tasks, so it’s not worth spending around £50. I’m unsure what to expect now—technology has changed a lot, and a Gigabit switch from about five years ago would have been similar in price.
Which central hub are we talking about? You might want to move it to a spot with stronger signal (though that could be tricky if you only have one coax line). If it’s quite outdated, I’d grumble at Virgin about how useless the WiFi is and demand a newer version. Usually you end up having to wait for service updates. At around £50, your choices are limited to budget devices; a proper access point would cost three times as much. If the main issue is weak coverage and speed isn’t important, it’s still possible with an affordable router that can switch to access point mode. I’ve even used an older BT HomeHub for this purpose (though I’d avoid it) because his SuperHub was in the loft and the signal stopped at the next floor. We connected it to the ground floor via Ethernet and used the hub as a switch and wireless AP. Switches are far cheaper since they’re simpler hardware, while routers/APs are basically low-power computers handling most tasks through software.