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Emanef's avatar
Emanef
Tuning in
29 days ago

How do I set Hub 5 into modem mode? And/or change DNS server?

Hi all

I've just joined VM and have a gigabit connection with a Hub 5. I want to be able have my Raspberry Pi doing the DHCP and DNS on my home network so I can direct certain devices (ie most computers, phones and tablets) through Pi-hole on my RPi.

Even after only a week I am having issues with Virgin DNS servers; my Samsung tablet keeps giving me errors saying it's offline when trying to access websites (through google news, etc), but if I manually set the DNS server on the tablet to Cloudfire it works fine, and is actually more responsive than Virgin's.

I can see how to disable the DHCP server in the Hub 5 for when I switch the Pi-Hole's DHCP server on, but I cannot see anywhere in the Hub 5's settings to change the DNS servers. 

My alternative option is to put the Hub5 into modem mode and use my existing router as the main router (I also have a few Unifi access points that are connected to it), but I also cannot see an option in the Hub 5 UI to enable modem mode. Where can I find it/how do I enable it? 

Thanks

14 Replies

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  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    29 days ago


    In a DOCSIS / CATV Hub 5 selecting Modem mode is done from the admin menu,
    the menu option is very obvious once you have logged in.

    Note this does not apply if you have an XGS-PON Hub 5x.

    In Router mode is it not possible to change the Hub's DNS.

    DNS issues are usually caused by having Parental Controls and / or Virus Safe enabled in the VM online account.


    • Emanef's avatar
      Emanef
      Tuning in
      29 days ago

      Just coming back to this; I don't think it's parental controls that were causing the issue as it was only on one device and not on the others, and as soon as I changed the DNS server on that device it was fine. It wasn't saying it was blocked, just that it seemed to be offline (but other apps connected fine). 

      So I can't change the DNS server in it either? Jees! 

      So if I disable DHCP on the Hub 5x and have the RPi doing DHCP with DNS servers set to a non-VM server, would all devices on the network still use Virgin's DNS, or would all the devices use the DNS servers set in the Rpi/Pihole? 

      Hope that makes sense! Thanks

  • Emanef's avatar
    Emanef
    Tuning in
    29 days ago

    I cannot see an option for Modem mode when I log into the admin menu.

    So if I do have an XGS-PON hub 5? How do I do it in that? I'm assuming mine is XGS-PON as I have the symmetrical add-on (ie 1 gig up and down)

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    29 days ago

    You have a Hub 5x & Modem mode is absent on this device.

    Note the Hub 5 and Hub 5x are not the same product and they are not interchangeable. 

  • Emanef's avatar
    Emanef
    Tuning in
    29 days ago

    OK, thanks. So how do I set the Hub5x as just a gateway and use my own router? What's the best method?

    Why would they not have modem mode on the latest router?!

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person
      29 days ago

      Give your Router an IP address outside the DCHP scope of the Hub.  Put this IP in the DMZ of the Hub.  Switch off WIFI and DHCP on the Hub. Connect the Router to one of the Hubs switch ports. Set the Gateway on your Router to the IP of the Hub, usually 192.168.0.1

      • Emanef's avatar
        Emanef
        Tuning in
        29 days ago

        Thanks, I'm hoping to avoid this, but I'll have a go at the weekend if I need to (when my wife is away and won't get annoying with me messing up the connections!) 

    • legacy1's avatar
      legacy1
      Alessandro Volta
      29 days ago

      Why indeed... if this is the future of the internet I hope a die before VM do XGS-PON my way

      You are forced to do double NAT I guess its good the hub 5x has DMZ for how ever long that will last.

      • Client62's avatar
        Client62
        Alessandro Volta
        29 days ago

        Be very careful what you wish for XGS-PON was to be done and dusted by 2028.

  • Emanef's avatar
    Emanef
    Tuning in
    28 days ago

    Just coming back to the question on DHCP and DNS; if I disable DHCP on the Hub 5x and have the RPi doing DHCP with DNS servers set to a non-VM server, would all devices on the network still use Virgin's DNS, or would all the devices use the DNS servers set in the Rpi/Pihole? 

    Hope that makes sense! Thanks

    • legacy1's avatar
      legacy1
      Alessandro Volta
      28 days ago

      All devices get their DNS by DHCP unless set to static so yes your Rpi controls what DNS any device gets if Hub DHCP is off  

      But I wouldn't put it past VM to do a firmware update to remove the ability to turn off DHCP 

    • David_Bn's avatar
      David_Bn
      Icon for Forum Team rankForum Team
      26 days ago

      Thanks for your post on our Community Forums Emanef, and a very warm welcome to you.

      We hope you've been able to find the solution to the issue posted, but if not do please come back to the thread and hopefully your fellow Virgin Media users will be best placed to offer further assistance.

      Thanks,

      David_Bn

  • fronty's avatar
    fronty
    Tuning in
    28 days ago

    I am doing the same as you, I configured with my VM hub in modem mode (I used this secret URL to enable it: http://192.168.0.1/?page=modemmode). Enable DHCP on your Pi, and configure Pi-Hole to forward to another DNS service like 1.1.1.1 or OpenDNS, thus bypassing the VM DNS servers.

    You can also use the hub in router mode, but you just need to manually disable the WiFi and DHCP server (assuming you want to use your own). The Hub will be hardcoded with the VM DNS servers but it only uses those for itself, you can still use your Pi-Hole configured with 1.1.1.1, OpenDNS or whatever, the Pi-Hole simply forwards the requests through the Hub to those DNS servers and it will NAT them. Whatever DNS servers the hub is configured with doesn't matter, your Pi-Hole will bypass them, simply configure your Pi DHCP server to hand out the Pi-Hole's IP address as a DNS server and your clients will use that.