(Or subscribe to this Atom Feed. 18 month contract. 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. Follow the on-screen set-up instructions. Founded in 2004, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased Switch to Virgin Media and Upgrade your existing connection with one of our broadband packages. Or, take a look at our installation guide. Required fields are marked *. WiFi Pod Compatability. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. Upon receiving the parcel, youll only need to plug the node into the mains socket. Virgin Medias shiny new WiFi Pods are powered by mesh network subscription service Plume. If you take a bundle with both Virgin Media and O2, youll have separate contracts and bills one for Virgin Media, and another for O2. Go to our WiFi Pod installation steps. The power light will stay on. If youre using an extension youll want one with at least three sockets. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Theres some room for confusion between Virgins Intelligent WiFi and its WiFi Plus service. You won't be able to connect Powerline adaptors, using HomePlug technology, to your Booster network. Some reading suggests that these pods come pre-configured from Virgin (they configure it to your own SSID's before it's posted out.) If it doesn't request another pod as you can get up to 3. Connect the coaxial cable to your new Hub and secure it with a spanner (this will be included when you receive your new Hub). My friend had 2 pods at home but has since removed one as he needed the socket. New pod arrived and looks exactly the same as . Similarly, I couldn't find a way to access the BLE functionality. The Connection light will start to flash very quickly. Virgin will remotely log in to your SuperHub and forcibly rename your 5GHz network to be the same as your 2.4GHz one. Confusing info about that? If you've requested an upgrade, you'll receive a new Virgin Media WiFi Hub in the post. In practice, tri-band systems are much faster. At least 20Mbps download speeds in every room or 100 one-off credit. Virgin WiFi Boosters can help tackle WiFi blackspots and are perfect for places where your existing home network won't reach. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. Comes with four gigabit Ethernet ports you can plug in up to four wired devices at a time. Virgin Media promises speed gains of up to three times in hard to reach areas thanks to intelligent Wi-Fi extenders. How to setup or install virgin media pod in your home or office? 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. 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 pods virgin uses seem to be rebranded plume pods: https://www.plume.com/homepass/shop They're known as wifi mesh systems - most of this sub seems to swear by the tp link deco m5: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071241G3R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_6HDVMMHTW57F2PNBATAQ badservice21 2 yr. ago (Learn More), Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive brand new posts by email. 1. View Details & Updates. 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. This means your laptop will always be connected to the node with the strongest signal without you even realising anything as changed. Gig1 Fibre broadband provides you with the speed you need to stream, zoom or game to your hearts delight. HSn0]zmZ`Y+ Rwv9 Position away from devices that may cause interference i.e. If you have a big home, put a pod in every room and you'll have fast WiFi broadcast everywhere. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Instead, Virgin should automatically push an update to your phone. You may find that some equipment roams onto the 2.4GHz network because it is marginally stronger and never connects to the faster 5GHz network. They connect back through the WiFi; there's no PowerLine functionality. Your WiFi password, network name and other details can be found printed on the underside of the router. I'm also not sold on the mesh concept. The unaffiliated community for Virgin Media subscribers to discuss broadband, TV, phone and mobile services. 1 Reply More posts you may like r/VirginMedia Join 6 days ago GEG4Dcb>%!5Up]@K&HZKAl,VlIsjkv]Viu8y($f9wA{)d*!^z'f5-x'tU_ $\s 8:6P~t764tckGUGi?|Z*I.c`\>TBrSrCI ^@l87HQm6zH v:[w] ~As-IBGInY*2^B+-?l@QhVL`.5XroI$#7&Y0|3zQjn *^"smv'=cum:G(Q4yoa!0 H[ All going well, for the majority of the WiFi Pods lifespan you wont see the light in action. This is the same underlying technology seen in rival products from Google, Amazon, Netgear, and BT. Well, that's the theory. So run a patch cable down to your shed, plug it into the Pod and you have a WiFi extender. Fully locked to the router they are assigned to and they can't be changed on the users end. But there's one feature I've missed: mobile hotspot. 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. Once paired, the Connection lights will go out on both Boosters. Hard reset router for at least 30 seconds when it loads back up give the pods 24 hours and see if that improves. It's also quite large - and might block the plug next to it. 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. The Virgin Intelligent WiFi Pod is a simpler, more integrated option that works with your existing router, building a wireless mesh network. They're useful, but come with some annoying limitations. For many, this is an easier (and cheaper) upgrade compared to buying an entirely new mesh system. To verify click here. Need to contact Virgin Media Customer Services? 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. Reduce connection problems on multiple devices. Well, that's the theory. Learn more. Connect the coaxial cable When ready to be paired, the Connection light will flash red. check for an fcc id. Some of my IoT kit gets really confused by this. There is no one-off fee. Terms of guarantee vary by provider. At least 20Mbps download speeds in every room or 100 one-off credit. Indeed, if you venture into Settings, you'll notice a complete absence of the Personal Hotspot option. Take the smaller one first and plug it into a mains socket, next to the Hub. Virgin Fibre Areas only. But those features are unavailable. The former is a free update to Hub 3 and 4 routers that automatically sorts out any Wi-Fi kinks. Each service has a minimum contract length thats shown in your basket. Naturally, the speed is limited to whatever the pod can negotiate with the hub. Virgin says that managing your new mesh network will be handled using the existing Connect smartphone app. Amazon Eero mesh Wi-Fi review: a true rival to the Google Nest Wi-Fi? Virgin Media's Boosters use G.Hn technology and will only connect with other kit using G.Hn. Is this booster on some kind of subscription? You can also tap Wi-Fi Password if you want to modify the random one created by the service. At which point, it may be more cost effective to buy a decent router or your own mesh system. They don't seem to work with other ISPs, and there's no management interface to factory reset them. 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. It comes at a cost of 5/month, and in the short-term thats easy to accept; over the course of a few years it might sound a little too steep. and independent advice on what to buy. For those who arent subscribed to these pricier bundles, youll need to cough up an extra 5 a month for the improvements. 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. Terms of guarantee vary by provider. Two additional WiFi Pods can be added for those with bigger homes. Nice! According to VM it can take up to 24h for the pod to settle. Press and hold the WPS button on the larger Booster for about 10 seconds and release it. If you want to boost reliability, its a good upgrade, but if you want much faster speeds, opt for a different mesh system. (I did.) Virgin Fibre Areas only. So, how much of a boost does the WiFi Pod bring? 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. 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. They do broadcast the SSID that they were set up with and you can connect to that and use it (if you have the password). Unlike traditional boosters, which create a separate Wi-Fi network that youll need to join to benefit from the boosted signal, mesh networks seamlessly move your device between the nodes throughout your home. Virgin media pod is an intelligent #wifi extender that helps #internet reach black spots within your #residential and #commercial property.It is super easy to install. The wireless and power lights will start to blink. 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. From there, the setup is nice and simple. With support for in-home roaming, devices are pushed to the closest port of Wi-Fi access whether thats the Hub or Pod. What's more, that 250MB isn't counted against your 2.5GB monthly allotment of high-speed data.) And, because the networks insists on putting all the SSIDs on the same frequency - I've noticed an overall slowdown in my WiFi speeds. The big limitation is that both your 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi SSIDs need to have the same name and password. We expect you to get full satisfaction from our Mobile Deals and Broadband, TV, Landline Packages, and that is why weve worked hard to put together a learning and help space where all of your problems can be resolved quickly and efficiently - today. In order for plume pods to work effectively, the SSID cant be split. From there, youll be good to go! You should also note that after your hotspot period has ended, the Personal Hotspot option will disappear from the Cellular menu. 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. Whereas before my top speed was over 500Mbps on WiFi, it has now dropped to about 480Mbps. This device then transfers those boosted frequencies through an Ethernet cable, back into your home WiFi settings so you can enjoy faster speeds, without buffering issues. 3 0 obj<>stream Basically none. Here's how to access it: Step 1: Sign into your Virgin Mobile account. Virgin Media is home to the UKs fastest widely available broadband. If I plug an Ethernet cable directly into the SuperHub, my laptop gets these speeds. Virgin Media have provided me with a test unit of their new Intelligent WiFi pods to review. Press and hold the WPS button on the larger Booster for about 10 seconds and release it. 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. Press and hold the WPS/Virgin Media button on the Hub until the lights start blinking. This can be done in a desktop browser or in Safari on your iPhone. People are using the web to socialise more, game, hold meetings over Zoom, as well as stream video and music. Delivered Tuesdays and Thursdays. 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. No setup fee. You can now unplug the additional Booster and move it to where you need in your home. They work! If I'm next door to the Hub, and on 5GHz WiFi, I get these speeds: Step 3: There's only one option here, and it's $5/250MB Daily Mobile Hotspot. Plug the additional Booster into a mains socket, in the same room as the Booster that is connected to the Hub. Virgin send the pods out preconfigured. But the basic tech works. Virgin Media has been lagging behind the competition, providing just a single router and optional wireless boosters that run over your homes power lines. Call: 0345 454 1111 All rights reserved. Step 3: There's only one option here, and it's $5/250MB Daily Mobile Hotspot. Obviously, if your walls block WiFi, there's a limit to what the pods can do. The Boosters will then start copying the Hub's details. Nope. (not very secure I know). It's a hassle, but at least the mobile hotspot function is now available. Up to 3 WiFi Pods . Virgin's Intelligent WiFi Pod is here to wipe Wi-Fi blackspots from existence, Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyers Guide editor. I pay for 500Mbps and I get it. 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. Then switch the power on. WiFi and Internet speeds are fickle beasts. . On the existing Booster, thats already connected to the Hub, hold the Sync button on the side for 3 seconds. Want to update or remove your response? As well as the new hardware to extend your Wi-Fi signal, Virgin Media has started to roll out some new software improvements. The better it is placed, and the better your broadband deal, the smoother and steadier your internet experience will be. WiFi guarantee included at no extra cost and up to 3 WiFi pods if needed, . A WiFi router enables you to connect wirelessly to the internet from anywhere in your home on any internet-enabled device. When you click Finish on the final screen your wireless set-up is complete. The video guide also displays instructions that come along. Pick a category to get started. 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. Tap to select that option, and then tap Update. Sign in to My Virgin Media to check your existing package and upgrade your service today. And the more speed your Hub gets, the more your WiFi can do. Step 2: Once you're signed in, tap Settings & Preferences. Make sure you choose an internal wall, free from obstructions, such as: cupboards and shelves with lots of ventilation. 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). 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. Plan ahead. I usually split the names so that I always know which network I'm connected to. Supercharged. New live support hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am - 6 pm GMT. WhatsApp: 07305327112, Press J to jump to the feed. 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. If you don't see the Personal Hotspot option in the Cellular menu, you may need to manually update your iPhone's carrier settings. Port 53 is open on the device - but doesn't seem to respond to anything. how the Plume adaptive WiFi works in their whitepaper, Join Virgin Media and get 50 bill credit, Dual-band, dual-concurrent radio operation. Virgin Media have provided me with a test unit of their new Intelligent WiFi pods to review. But, I'll be honest, I think Virgin are a bit cheeky to charge extra for these. The 5GHz barely connects and the 2.4GHz is a bit wobbly. The apps available to everyone with a Hub 3, 4 or 5. 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). On your phone or tablet, open the Google Home app . Our Hub 3 is packed with fast and reliable WiFi for great coverage around the home. x v }GnZVmm-j-^mCOo~G?w}K_g>}Cx{Moxk^E/xs=IOxczG. Is adding yet another broadcast to the mix such a great idea? For purposes of this tutorial, let's keep the focus on that phone-based option, as I think it's the most expedient method. A light should flash quickly. They are assigned to the router and the account not just able to be swapped around. Virgin Media X Plume. chargers. Here are the most common and what to look out for: Use power sockets on internal walls, but dont use extension cables. Press the sync button, on the side of the Booster connected to the Hub, for 3 seconds. For me, stability has improved in weaker areas, coverage is better and there have been fewer connection issues. If you currently have a Hub 3 or older model (including the Superhub 1A, 2A etc.) TV 360, home phone, Volt benefits and WiFi Guarantee not currently available in 2022/23 network expansion areas. 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. Yeahit doesnt. The Virgin Media Connect app is the control unit for your WiFi that helps you get your Virgin Media broadband up and running. It then rebroadcasts them - using the same name and password. 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. He gave it to me and said I just plug it in and it works. Repeat this for all Boosters in your home: turn the power off, unplug and plug back in. My maximum speed has dropped, but that's a fair sacrifice for vastly improved speeds elsewhere. They're going to be 5 per month for up to 3 pods. Comparing WiFi guarantees of major UK ISPs. The domestic airwaves are already saturated with WiFi signals from your neighbours. Virgin Medias mighty Hub brings the magic right into your home. The aim of these Pods is to extend the reach of Wi-Fi within the home and make speeds more reliable and faster. No setup fee is available on all bundles, broadband & phone, and broadband only packages until 2nd April 2023. 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. Some reading suggests that these pods come pre-configured from Virgin (they configure it to your own SSID's before it's posted out.) Incidentally, those numbers spell out UPDATE. then google it, you'll probably find that it is the same thing. Scanning Virgins Troubleshooting section and there can be issues with Ring doorbells, too. Now, press the sync button on the second Booster for 3 seconds. Follow these instructions to set up your Plume with modem-router combo box: Download the HomePass app and sign up to start the setup. Plug the larger Booster into a mains socket, in the same room, and 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.