Forum Discussion

supersim65's avatar
supersim65
Joining in
12 months ago
Solved

Hub 5X Modem Mode

I was informed I could use my own router by using Modem Mode on the Hub 5X when I signed up. Still, many months later the feature is not available. 

What is the latest update please? I can see others have newer firmware than me on their Hub 5X, but this has not made Modem Mode available. What software version do others have? I have 2.40.13-2210.4

  • No modem mode for the 5X, but you can still use a 3rd party Router in Access Point mode if required. 

20 Replies

  • bodgeup's avatar
    bodgeup
    On our wavelength

    Thought I'd chime in here as someone who's been patiently waiting for our xgs-pon upgrade the modem mode issue is a shot in my foot as I've always ran my vm hubs now hub 5 in modem mode, I need ent firewall, at one point I had considered enquiring if virgin businesss has made any changes since I tried it years ago but that's even worse, they don't have any news or plans as far as there site or sales team know of that vm business will follow suit with xgn-pos even a manager said no it will be hfc or leased line, then there still utilising cgnat tunnels for there static ips inc multiples, so could it be vm residential are taking a page from vm business regarding more mode perhaps. I currently have hub5 on hfc and modem loses works fine so what on earth made such a drastic change from a x model of the same number hub, to make matters more annoying vm isn't alone xgn-pos is being rolled out by many companies whom don't suffer the modem mode issue.  I'm just glad being in a 1gps hfc area I don't expect it get xgs-pon before 2030 so least I can't see having to pay exit fees to mogw away unless vm address there many many problems, same with the TV I've heard areas how now have xgn-pos have also lost the TV service right? 

  • Hey guys

    If you have the TP link deco be85 and use a jr45/sfp+ and have the fibre straight into the unit would that work then you wouldn't need the hub 5x?

      • RockerSBM's avatar
        RockerSBM
        Fibre optic

        Hi dude

        So you're saying that would work if I went back to virgin media?

        So looking into it sounds like it does.

        One more thing is the cables under ground for the full fibre? Got little boxes next to the old green ones but when I put in my address only gives me 1 gig but tells me I can get 2gig but put next doors number in and get 2gig down and 2 up. Think cos have old cables here still.

  • Another really frustrated Hub5x user, no modem mode.
     
    Hardware version1.2.1b
    Software version2.40.13-2210.4
    • Barstaff's avatar
      Barstaff
      Dialled in

      alexhull24 wrote:
      Another really frustrated Hub5x user, no modem mode.
       
      Hardware version1.2.1b
      Software version2.40.13-2210.4

      To be fair, if we look at it from VM’s perspective (or, more likely, their owners, ‘Liberty Global’s’ perspective), then maybe they simply don't see it as being important. Be honest, what percentage of VM broadband customers even know what modem or passthrough mode is, or want it? 1%? I’d be astonished if it’s more than 5%!

      Also, it has been suggested on here (by a forum member that does know what they are talking about) that ‘modem mode’ would degrade VM’s ability to monitor the Hub 5x, so maybe that’s a real disincentive for VM to include this feature. Although it is important for you and others; for the majority of customers, it’s an irrelevance; so why would VM invest the resources in doing it? Honestly, there isn’t going to be a mass exodus of customers over this; and VM know it!

      So, people have a choice, leave* or work around it. Why do you want modem mode? Well it’s to allow you to use your own router/wifi system which may have better, richer, more sophisticated features. Fine, you still can - you just have to work round the double NAT issues, which, to be fair, unless you are running some kind of server on your network** which requires external access; probably isn’t a problem.

      Yes, there is another hop in the chain, yes, it WILL introduce slightly more latency because of the extra packet processing. But, is it really a major issue? It’s an annoyance, yes, and certainly VM have done themselves no favours by claiming (as reported on here) that this feature is coming ‘Late 2023’, ‘Early 2024’, ‘First half of 2024’, ’Second half of 2024’, ‘Before the end of 2024’.....etc.

       

      * I do understand that some customers or potential customers have been told by VM that ‘yes, modem mode is available and naturally you can use your own router’. Technically the second clause is correct, the first, certainly isn’t and is not defendable  - VM really do need to improve their staff training!

      ** And even then you can work around it - it just needs a bit more work. 

      • rowley541971's avatar
        rowley541971
        Joining in

        There is a way around it, you purchase a certain item and your own router , 1st item is 100 quid  , then the cost of your own router.

  • lauragmail's avatar
    lauragmail
    On our wavelength
    Below the data of my Hub 5X, without Modem Mode:
    Hardware version 1.2.1
    Software version 3.7.4-2306.5
  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person

    I'm wondering if it is something to do with the fact VM don't wholly own the XGS-PON network?  Perhaps this is why they can't use modem mode, maybe this would be difficult for VM to manage/monitor the Hub 5X hardware?

    Of course if VM had allowed access and terminated the fibre via a suitable 10Gb Ethernet/SPF+ ONT, people could have plugged in their own Routers aka Openreach style and this issue wouldn't exist.  However as the vast majority of users just want "plug and play", I'm sure it's a Business decision to get the cheapest hardware out without any nod to the 1% of geeks and nerds hardcore networking enthusiasts  (myself included btw) who want modem mode.

    • legacy1's avatar
      legacy1
      Alessandro Volta

      Their is a technology where VM can  manage/monitor the Hub 5X hardware by WAN IP and give us our and the same WAN IP its called "IP Passthrough Mode" like on my Zyxel FWA510 of cause you only get 10. IP on mobile networks but would work to give WAN IP and Zyxel Nebula can monitor the device however one limitation is you will not be able to change your MAC to get a new IP as the way IP Passthrough Mode works takes any source MAC then out puts to the hubs MAC.  

  • greganew's avatar
    greganew
    On our wavelength

    I encourage people to post, it helps us all to see how VM continue to do nothing about bringing a much needed and frequently requested feature that was present on previous models, to the Hub 5x.

    There should be some sort of sticky at the top so that we can get the latest updates, not that there have ever been any, along with a vote function so that VM have a clear idea of how much the feature is needed.

    I write this as someone who cancelled during cooling off, https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Networking-and-WiFi/Modem-Mode-Hub-5x-Cooling-off-period/td-p/5577972, and lives on with very slow ADSL!

    I wonder how much revenue VM are losing?

    Come on VM, pull your finger out and get Modem Mode sorted. We'd understand if this was something complicated to implement, but we all know it's not! 

  • legacy1's avatar
    legacy1
    Alessandro Volta

    I think its worth users posting again and again for modem mode on the hub 5x whats the point in searching modem mode hub 5x finding VM are being a A$$ about and cancelling VM for about ISP    

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta

    Why do folks keep starting a new thread on this widely cover topic ?

    • fizz's avatar
      fizz
      Fibre optic

      Because they are still telling new customers that they can use modem mode on a 5x perhaps??

    • asim18's avatar
      asim18
      Rising star

      Client62 wrote:

      Why do folks keep starting a new thread on this widely cover topic ?


      If VM had a decent Customer Service system, they would be telling the staff here to tally up feature requests.

      If I was the CEO at VM, I would very much want everybody anybody to start a thread on anything which I had the power to implement with the snap of a finger.

      I'd say people need to be louder. If people just stay quiet, they will quietly completely ban all routers and have a complete monopoly on routing in the UK. If all ISPs take this route its anti-competitive with router manufacturers. Generally such behavour goes against CMA guidelines, but im sure british ISPs will find some excuse to wipe out all third party routers from the UK's shelves.

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person

      Don’t think to use the search facility?

      • Barstaff's avatar
        Barstaff
        Dialled in

        Adduxi wrote:

        Don’t think to use the search facility?


        True, but that’s just human nature - but how about VM’s forum staff set up a sticky thread at the top of the list and inside ahead they explain, distinctly, this is what has happened, this is what we are doing to work around this etc.*

        But they don’t, they knee-jerk lie to customers, allow their call centre workers to tell people that it’s ‘Yodel’s fault’ (I wonder if Yodel will sue over this?), your package is on its way...etc. 

        And it’s not the call centre workers’ fault, at best they’ve been left to ‘make stuff up’ and at worse have been told by VM to outright lie - it’s not a look either way!

        Also we have to acknowledge that it’s not the fault of the forum team members on here - it does seem that they are 'constrained’ shall we say, as to what they can admit, assuming that they want to keep their job!

        * of course this won’t happen, despite the best efforts of the individual VM forum team members, they are contained by what their bosses order them to say, or not say! Alas it seems that VM have gone into a deny-everything, blame every-body else mode. Shame really!

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person

    No modem mode for the 5X, but you can still use a 3rd party Router in Access Point mode if required.