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. I pay for 500Mbps and I get it. Instead, Virgin should automatically push an update to your phone. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. For verification see virginmedia.com/fast. endstream endobj 4 0 obj 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. Now switch it on. The most pirated show of 2020 probably won't shock you, Some lucky Britons can now upgrade their broadband using a satellite, Stunning Great Escape-inspired electric bike has a top speed of 60mph. 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. They are paired with the Virgin SuperHub. Avoid direct obstruction to the Booster, such as cupboards or shelves. Once youre 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. 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. Tap Next to complete the purchase. It can be used to extend WiFi coverage throughout the whole home. Tap to select that option, and then tap Update. Virgin Fibre Areas only. 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. On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app . 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. <>stream BeakerUK 1 yr. ago Thanks, seems to have done something.. the pod had a double flash and has now stopped. 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. Then follow the steps to set them up again in our installation guide. All going well, for the majority of the WiFi Pods lifespan you wont see the light in action. Unlike traditional boosters, these new systems allow you to move around the house on a FaceTime call without dropping signal. 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? Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year. Up to 3 WiFi Pods if needed. It's a hassle, but at least the mobile hotspot function is now available. The domestic airwaves are already saturated with WiFi signals from your neighbours. The sounds of stroking and scratching the cardboard. They are assigned to the router and the account not just able to be swapped around. Update: Want to get a little more bang for your buck? how the Plume adaptive WiFi works in their whitepaper, Join Virgin Media and get 50 bill credit, Dual-band, dual-concurrent radio operation. Terms of guarantee vary by provider. Available with M50 broadband or faster. At least 20Mbps download speeds in every room or 100 one-off credit. Supercharged. To respond on your own website, enter the URL of your response which should contain a link to this post's permalink URL. We follow the IPSO Editors code of practice to underpin these standards. "When I plug the pod in halfway between the garden and the hub" guess they're okay as long as you have sockets in the middle of your lawn? Take control of your WiFi with the Virgin Media Connect app - YouTube 0:00 / 2:02 Take control of your WiFi with the Virgin Media Connect app Virgin Media 26.4K subscribers Subscribe 10K. While Wi-Fi 6 devices are still in the minority, the technology is more future-proofed and adds even faster speeds. Press and hold the WPS button on the larger Booster for about 10 seconds and release it. In order for plume pods to work effectively, the SSID cant be split. The Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod is a simpler, more integrated option that works with your existing router, building a wireless mesh network. Hub 4 and wifi pod. Some general googling and the FAQ here hasn't explicitly answered my question so here we go. Nope. No setup fee is available on all bundles, broadband & phone, and broadband only packages until 2nd April 2023. 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. To verify click here. Learn more. Terms of guarantee vary by provider. If it doesn't request another pod as you can get up to 3. 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. Or, take a look at our installation guide. Here youll find all the help you need for Virgin Media related problems and issues. If your WiFi Booster is working but slowly, you can check your broadband speed or follow these steps to speed it up again: Intelligent WiFi chooses the least busy connection for your devices and automatically sorts WiFi issues for you. WiFi guarantee included at no extra cost and up to 3 WiFi pods if needed, . 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. For me, stability has improved in weaker areas, coverage is better and there have been fewer connection issues. 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. Restart your modem-router combo box. No setup fee. You can now unplug the larger Booster and move it to where you need in your home. It will be available now to all Ultimate Oomph and Gig1 customers at no extra cost. Available to Virgin Media customers with the Hub 3 and Hub 4 routers, is the Pod the Wi-Fi saviour youve been looking for? Your WiFi password, network name and other details can be found printed on the underside of the router. That's what I'd normally expect to do myself with any other booster. 3 0 obj<>stream But the basic tech works. M250 Fibre Broadband. Virgin media pod is an intelligent #wifi extender . 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. The following screen instructs you to "Go to Settings/System > System Update > Update Phone," but iOS has no such option. On the existing Booster, thats already connected to the Hub, hold the Sync button on the side for 3 seconds. Nothing too loud, but you probably don't want to place it near where you sit. To verify click here. At least 20Mbps download speeds in every room or 100 one-off credit. Receive expert tips on using phones, computers, smart home gear and more. Check the Ethernet cable is securely connected from the main Booster and the Hub. The Connection light will start to flash very quickly. If you spot any other LED colours or notice it didnt blink during set-up, you may have an issue. Its packed with WiFi 6 the latest generation of WiFi technology so more devices than ever can be used at the same time. If they sourced a decent hub with external antenna - rather than the crappy Arris product they use - their customers would have better WiFi without the need to pay for more gadgets. Yes. 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. Naturally, the speed is limited to whatever the pod can negotiate with the hub. Sign in to My Virgin Media to check your existing package and upgrade your service today. After a few seconds the Installation Wizard should appear. Virgin Medias shiny new WiFi Pods are powered by mesh network subscription service Plume. Here's how to access it: Step 1: Sign into your Virgin Mobile account. From there, the setup is nice and simple. You can use the Virgin Media Connect app to scan your home and smooth out any snags. Virgin Media promises speed gains of up to three times in hard to reach areas thanks to intelligent Wi-Fi extenders. So second hand ones dont work Im afraid. The apps available to everyone with a Hub 3, 4 or 5. Excludes broadband faults and broadband network outages. Need to contact Virgin Media Customer Services? 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. Adaptive Band Steering indicates which frequency range out of 2.4Ghz and 5GHz a device should be on. Repeat this for all Boosters in your home: turn the power off, unplug and plug back in. Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. Virgin Media's Boosters use G.Hn technology and will only connect with other kit using G.Hn. And away from interfering devices with a motor like a washing machine. Your response will then appear (possibly after moderation) on this page. The unaffiliated community for Virgin Media subscribers to discuss broadband, TV, phone and mobile services. check for an fcc id. Follow these instructions to set up your Plume with modem-router combo box: Download the HomePass app and sign up to start the setup. Hard reset router for at least 30 seconds when it loads back up give the pods 24 hours and see if that improves. Update or delete your post and re-enter your post's URL again. Well, that's the theory. New pod arrived and looks exactly the same as . Plume Setup. The power light (dots) will stay on. Virgin Media customers suffering from less than average speeds around the home can look forward to boosting it with the WiFi Pod. Reset your Hub to default settings, start it up and running, connect your pod and leave until it's not pulsating the white light. Welcome to Virgin Medias help and support page. Step 4: You'll see a confirmation screen noting your start date ("Now") and end date. That makes no sense to me as previously I'd have to set up routers to act as wifi boosters. More info. With more people staying indoors, home Wi-Fi has taken a battering. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. 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. It's also quite large - and might block the plug next to it. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Compare this to the speeds in the blackspot sans the WiFi Pod and theyd fall to average upload and download figures of 47Mbps and 58Mbps. 12.00 a month *. Some of my IoT kit gets really confused by this. That means you will need to manually reconnect things which used the old name. The pulsing blue light indicates that it's ready to be set up in the Google Home app . Virgin will supply customers up to three WiFi Pods in total, but each time the customer needs to setup and check coverage before an additional booster will be sent out. UKs fastest widely available broadband Virgin is also using the older Wi-Fi 5 technology, rather than Wi-Fi 6, as used on the far more expensive Orbi RBK852. Virgin Media have provided me with a test unit of their new Intelligent WiFi pods to review. Indeed, if you venture into Settings, you'll notice a complete absence of the Personal Hotspot option. The Power light will come on and the Connection light will flash amber. If the program doesn't start automatically, click on the My Computer icon How to set up a Virgin Media Hub . A few more extra things to note about the WiFi Pod. 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.. According to VM it can take up to 24h for the pod to settle. The Boosters are successfully paired when the lights stop flashing. The Boosters will then start copying the Hubs details. At which point, it may be more cost effective to buy a decent router or your own mesh system. Plug the additional Booster into a mains socket, in the same room as the Booster that is connected to the Hub. Having had the WiFi Pod plugged in for nearly six weeks, the performance is what the Wi-Fi Doctor ordered. Press and hold the WPS/Virgin Media button on the Hub until the lights start blinking. They're useful, but come with some annoying limitations. Pods should be spread evenly around the home, especially in rooms and open spaces where is more common to use Wi-Fi. That's what I'd normally expect to do myself with any other booster. There are a number of reasons why the Booster isnt working. (That . They're going to be 5 per month for up to 3 pods. Virgin suggests a manual re-connect if the doorbell wont re-connect on its own. A light should flash quickly. The wireless and power lights will start to blink. Plan ahead. Priority is a service from O2 that current Virgin Media customers aged 16+ can also use. Now, press the sync button on the second Booster for 3 seconds. Pretty crappy! Turn WiFi on and offIt may sound simple but try turning the WiFi setting off and on again from the device you are using to find a stronger signal. Tap it, then sign in using your Virgin account number and PIN. Then scroll down to Manage Mobile Hotspot and tap it. What's more, that 250MB isn't counted against your 2.5GB monthly allotment of high-speed data.) That's 60 per year. This can be done in a desktop browser or in Safari on your iPhone. But, yeah, if you need WiFi in your attic or shed, they'll do. If its not a technical issue you need help with then were here to support you on any account problems you might have from upgrading your services to finding out what packages we can offer you. Is adding yet another broadcast to the mix such a great idea? Virgin send the pods out preconfigured. If you move the Pod too far away it will loose connection. All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check. Take the smaller one first and plug it into a mains socket, next to the Hub. 2. #diy #virginmedia #wifiextender #uk Luqman Khan Ltd 124 subscribers Subscribe 42 Share 17K views 5 months ago UNITED KINGDOM That makes no sense to me as previously I'd have to set up routers to act as wifi boosters. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). Contact Us. Connect the coaxial cable Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. youre eligible for a Hub upgrade if you order or upgrade to one of our Gig1 Fibre broadband packages. New live support hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am - 6 pm GMT. Choose a home.. If you currently have a Hub 3 or older model (including the Superhub 1A, 2A etc.) Yeahit doesnt. Leave for around 15 minutes to pair up to the smaller Booster and download the latest software updates. 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. Its unclear exactly how many of the systems developed by Plume (and available from their own SuperPods system) will be available to those who sign-up for the Virgin Media-branded version of these mesh network gadgets. Simply plug it in, turn it on and let it #sync or integrate with the router. But those features are unavailable. Call: 0345 454 1111 Saturday, 4th March 2023See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. endstream endobj Virgin will remotely log in to your SuperHub and forcibly rename your 5GHz network to be the same as your 2.4GHz one. You can now unplug the additional Booster and move it to where you need in your home. But it does seem to come with a cost. People are using the web to socialise more, game, hold meetings over Zoom, as well as stream video and music. Yes. Using this app, which is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, customers will be able to test the strength of their WiFi signal in each room, manage the number of devices connected to their home network, pause devices handy when the children are up past their bedtime, and access customer support to help resolve any issues.