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deans6571's avatar
deans6571
Wise owl
7 months ago
Solved

Hub 4 Free Offer....

I currently have a Hub 3 and have had this for years and years (probably when it was first released) !

Never really had any issues with it if I'm honest  - speeds are good (I consistently get over 350Mbs on a wired connection on my 350Mb Broadband service) as is the wifi (it reaches all rooms in my 3 bed semi-detached house)!!

 

Now, I have just received an email from VM offering a free upgrade to the Hub 4 as my current Hub is being seen as 'old' (which I have accepted but I don't actually need to install it if I change my mind).

 

What are people's views on the Hub 4 vs the Hub 3 - are there any noticeable differences and would I benefit from this upgrade (its being sent as a 'self install option' so no engineer visit is required) ?

Thanks.

 

  • newapollo's avatar
    newapollo
    6 months ago
    deans6571 wrote:

    Hi again!

    Is it better to use the default same names for the SSIDS then so that devices can ‘roam’ between the two (I’ve always renamed them to differentiate) ?

    I've seen a few forum posts recently where VM systems automatically turn on the hubs Channel Optimisation again, so if they do you may longer see the split SSID names. This might be due to VM recently introducing Smart Support - see <here>  and further info <here> 

    I am also quite impressed with the Hub 4 - very quiet (can’t hear a fan as someone else said it had an internal fan?!) + WiFi speeds are close to 300mbs on my 350 mbs connection (on a wired it’s around 380Mbs)

    That's good news, fingers crossed it stays like that 😃. 

    A bit of additional info relating to VM's wifi pods which may/may not apply to you.

    • The Hub must be in 'Router Mode' and not have been changed to 'Modem Mode' 
    • Channel Optimisation must be left on 
    • The SSIDs must be the same and broadcast enabled 
    • The SSID must be password protected 
    • The Passphrases of the SSIDs must match

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  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    7 months ago

    If it ain’t broke don’t fix it …..  Also note the Hub 4 is the only Hub with a fan so something to be aware of.  If you are staying on 350 I wouldn’t bother tbh.

    • jbrennand's avatar
      jbrennand
      Very Insightful Person
      7 months ago
      Adduxi wrote:

      If it ain’t broke don’t fix it …..

      +1'

      Stick with it... if you want better "performance" put it in modem mode and use your own better specced wireless router or router + wireless equipment... although your connectivity sounds good already

  • deans6571's avatar
    deans6571
    Wise owl
    7 months ago

    Ok, so the consensus is to stay with my Hub 3 then! 

    What's this all about on the Hub 4 though - is it reason to switch to the Hub 4:

     

    And, if I did switch to the Hub 4, would it cure any of these graphs:

     

     

    • jbrennand's avatar
      jbrennand
      Very Insightful Person
      7 months ago

      In the first post you said everything was fine.   So what issues are you experiencing now ?  So do the graphs actually need "curing" - of what ?

      What devices do you currently have connected to the Hub3 directly on ethernet cables?  What devices are you connecting on wifi?

      • deans6571's avatar
        deans6571
        Wise owl
        7 months ago
        jbrennand wrote:

        In the first post you said everything was fine.   So what issues are you experiencing now ?  So do the graphs actually need "curing" - of what ?

        What devices do you currently have connected to the Hub3 directly on ethernet cables?  What devices are you connecting on wifi?

        I don't actually have any issues (its only my laptop connected directly via a wire) if I'm honest but have always been aware that my graphs have always looked like the ones I posted.

        Does that even matter ? 

  • deans6571's avatar
    deans6571
    Wise owl
    6 months ago

    Can I just ask - my new Hub is being delivered today, am I now committed to installing it and using it?

    I'm only asking because I received a text today from VM saying something like, " To avoid loss of service, please install your Hub within 5 days" 

    Does this mean I HAVE to now install it and use it - what happens if I just decide to keep my current Hub 3 or will this now be disconnect after 5 days??!

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person
      6 months ago

      Yes, you are committed to using the new Hub.  Your old Hub 3 will stop working at some point, but not necessarily at the 5 day point.  Just check the condition of the Hub 4 as some of the older rentals may be "a bit dusty internally" as the fan draws air from the bottom and out the top.  As I mentioned it's the one and only VM Hub to have had a fan fitted.  A tin of compressed air can do wonders if needed.  🙂

       

      • deans6571's avatar
        deans6571
        Wise owl
        6 months ago
        Adduxi wrote:

        Yes, you are committed to using the new Hub.  Your old Hub 3 will stop working at some point, but not necessarily at the 5 day point.  Just check the condition of the Hub 4 as some of the older rentals may be "a bit dusty internally" as the fan draws air from the bottom and out the top.  As I mentioned it's the one and only VM Hub to have had a fan fitted.  A tin of compressed air can do wonders if needed.  🙂

         

        I guess there is no way of me just keeping the Hub 3 now and not installing the Hub 4 ?

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person
      6 months ago

      Hi deans6571 

      You don't have to install the new hub immediately. The hub 3 will be deactivated automatically by VM's systems, possibly even before the suggested 5 days.  Once that happens you will lose connection and have to install the new hub as that will have been activated by the systems.

      • deans6571's avatar
        deans6571
        Wise owl
        6 months ago
        newapollo wrote:

        Hi deans6571 

        You don't have to install the new hub immediately. The hub 3 will be deactivated automatically by VM's systems, possibly even before the suggested 5 days.  Once that happens you will lose connection and have to install the new hub as that will have been activated by the systems.

        ....so there's no going back then and sticking with the Hub 3 now?

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    6 months ago

    Also note that the VM Connect app has caused problems with the Hub 4 for many users, as reported on here.

    To avoid this you'll need to remove the Connect app from all devices that have it installed, and make any adjustments you need by logging in to the Hub with a browser.

  • deans6571's avatar
    deans6571
    Wise owl
    6 months ago

    Ok (typing from my phone BTW) - plugged new Hub 4 in but it’s been on the pulsating white light now for 30 mins. 


    Should I manually turn it off and back on in case it’s stuck?!

    How long should it take to boot up (already received a text from VM to say it’s been activated 30 mins ago) ?

  • deans6571's avatar
    deans6571
    Wise owl
    6 months ago

    I can't now get my 5 ghz network to show up on my devices even though its turned on the Hub??

     

    EDIT - Ok have managed to get it to show.

    But - many of the options in the wifi section in the Hub settings are greyed out so I can't click on them (like disabling the 2.4 or 5ghz networks)? I can't seem to click on anything to change things?

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    6 months ago

    You need to turn off Smart wifi (or whatever it's called in that Hub) 

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person
      6 months ago

      Hi again deans6571 

      The hub 4 and hub 5 don't show up as 5ghz on your devices. When running in default mode the SSID is the same across both bands and your devices should  "seamlessly" roam between the two, switching automatically to the strongest available signal

      Go to Advanced Settings > Wireless > Wireless Signal and tick Disable Channel Optimisation.  Then click Apply Changes. You should now be able to enable/disable the 2.4 or 5ghz networks.

      You can then also amend the SSID names by going to Advanced Settings > Wireless > Security and for example add a 5 to the 5 GHz Channel name to differentiate the two channes, and then click on Apply Changes

      • deans6571's avatar
        deans6571
        Wise owl
        6 months ago

        Hi again!

        Thanks for that - that’s actually what I have done. I renamed both my network names to differentiate between 2.4 and 5ghz. 

        The post before yours says I also need to turn off the ‘Smart WiFi’ function so perhaps that’s why it wouldn’t let me click on any of the options when I was logged into the Hub. 

        Is it better to use the default same names for the SSIDS then so that devices can ‘roam’ between the two (I’ve always renamed them to differentiate) ?

        I am also quite impressed with the Hub 4 - very quiet (can’t hear a fan as someone else said it had an internal fan?!) + WiFi speeds are close to 300mbs on my 350 mbs connection (on a wired it’s around 380Mbs). 

  • deans6571's avatar
    deans6571
    Wise owl
    6 months ago

    I've just done a few speed tests on a wired connection from my laptop.

    Speed Test app shows this:

     

    But on the Sam Knows Speed Test, it shows this:

    Why is there such a massive difference ??

     

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person
      6 months ago

      Hi again deans6571 

      The first thing I would do is check the settings of the network card.

      Seeing as SamKnows shows you are getting full speed to the router and the download speed to your desktop is below 100Mbps it would suggest that your network card Speed & Duplex is set to 100Mbps rather than 1.0Gbps.  Double check that first and change it to 1.Gbps if needed.

      If that isn't the case then I suggest trying a different ethernet cable if you have one, or failing that a different ethernet port. 

      EDIT - Sometimes speed can be affected by anti virus programs and also using a VPN. Also the browsers used in testing can show different speeds. On my PC the speed is nearly always faster if I use Edge browser instead of Chrome .

      speed and duplex

      • deans6571's avatar
        deans6571
        Wise owl
        6 months ago
        newapollo wrote:

        Hi again deans6571 

        The first thing I would do is check the settings of the network card.

        Seeing as SamKnows shows you are getting full speed to the router and the download speed to your desktop is below 100Mbps it would suggest that your network card Speed & Duplex is set to 100Mbps rather than 1.0Gbps.  Double check that first and change it to 1.Gbps if needed.

        If that isn't the case then I suggest trying a different ethernet cable if you have one, or failing that a different ethernet port. 

        EDIT - Sometimes speed can be affected by anti virus programs and also using a VPN. Also the browsers used in testing can show different speeds. On my PC the speed is nearly always faster if I use Edge browser instead of Chrome .

        speed and duplex

         

        Mine is set to 'Auto Negotiation' or something like that. The highest option is 1.0Gbps - there is no option for 2.0gbps. Should I set it to 1.0 gbps?

        Also, I just did a second Speed Test and its now showing around 380Mbs - perhaps the earlier one was a blip?!

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    6 months ago

    This is the classic result of the ethernet link speed between Hub and client dropping to 100Mbps.  Try a different cable, and check the ethernet settings in the laptop.