Forum Discussion

fxv300's avatar
fxv300
Up to speed
25 days ago

PODs are down !!!!

PODS stopped working overnight.

Yesterday I had 2 PODs (Wifi 6) working and now both are down. PODs were connected via ethernet to HUB5 and then via Ethernet to PC, no issues working fine, they also supplied wifi to the nearby area.

Today both stopped...ie the bridge function does not communicate to the PC. I can see POD online. When I connect the cable going to the POD directly to the PC internet works fine but then I have no decent wifi signal for that area. Same for both PODs....support told me to reboot etc but did that and has not helped.....was there any updates overnight for my area (KT3 )

I cannot optimise network as I have many 2.4Ghz devices

Any help welcome

 

13 Replies

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

    Is there a reset button on the Pods?  Are you using the Connect app? The Pods are designed to work with the Hub's Intelligent Wifi, and a single SSID etc.  Has the app changed anything on your Hub and/or Pods?

  • legacy1's avatar
    legacy1
    Alessandro Volta
    25 days ago

    Reliable as ever I see when will VM EOL the this mess they made.

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    25 days ago

    Settings required for VM Pods to work:-

    1. The VM Hub is in 'Router Mode' 
    2. Wireless Channel Optimisation is Enabled
    3. The 2.4 & 5 GHz bands must have the same SSID
    4. SSID broadcast is Enabled on both bands
    5. Both SSID are protected with the same password
    6. The VM Hub’s DHCP is enabled

    • fxv300's avatar
      fxv300
      Up to speed
      25 days ago

      No I can't use optimisation as I have many devices which are 2.4Ghz only.  This was all working yesterday. I was never informed of any of these restrictions when I took over this new contract. And to top it all I cannot use modem mode on hub5. I do have my own netgear router (wifi 6) which happily supports both 2.4 and 5Ghz. I was using that with the Hub 3 in modem mode.  So something must have happened overnight, I did ask the support chap (who was not very confident) but he said no updates. Anyway this is a total shambles. What is this channel optimisation anyway...as long as you deliver the signal to the house why does it matter to VM if you use 2 different frequencies?  Or is this a way of saying the hub5 is not up to the job (like the hub3 with all the latency issues).  So if this is your support stance why did the support agent not mention this. Wasted my time and his time and is sending me an engineer to fix the problem?  Is this the king of service we are to expect from VM ??

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

        The Pods and Hub are designed to work setup as “ out of the box” I.e.  no changes to the WiFi settings.  If any changes are made, the Pods stop working.  It’s been like this since the Pods were introduced. 
        The Hub 5 (not the 5X) can be used in modem mode, that’s what I have running currently. 

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    25 days ago

    The Hub 5 and the Wi-Fi Pods also support both 2.4 and 5Ghz.

    The problem folks run into are management apps that fail to work with the mobile on the 5Ghz band and the IoT / CCTV etc on the 2.4Ghz band. Also and still unconfirmed, possible Wi-Fi isolation on the Hub 5 between the 2.4 & 5GHz bands.

    You have options not limited to : 

    1) Use the Hub 5 + VM Pods and add in the Netgear Router but in Wi-Fi Access point mode for all your 2.4GHz IoTs.

    2) Use the Hub 5 in modem mode as before with the Netgear Router, retire all the VM Pods.

    NOTE !!! if you are connecting the Netgear Router to the Hub 5 2.5GHz port,
    the WAN Port of your Netgear Router must have EEE / Energy Efficient Ethernet DISABLED





    • fxv300's avatar
      fxv300
      Up to speed
      24 days ago

      Thanks for the info......however that does not explain why it was working up to the 5th Aug and then both PODs are now unusable. Both PODs where connected directly via Ethernet and then I bridge a connection from each POD to a PC nearby. All was hunky dory then....I was assured by support that no sw update was done. Support has got an engineer coming out tomorrow as they beleive the PODs are faulty (which I doubt). I hope they don't charge me £25 for coming out on a wasted visit....I did tell them this is not a hardware problem. 

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    24 days ago

    A little crystal ball gazing as we don't have a diagram of your home network...

    What I don't read is even with the VM Hub 5 in the required configuration
    the VM Pods do not link up.

    The Netgear Router must not be able to respond to a DHCP request from the VM Pods, a DHCP response from the Netgear Router would ensure the VM Pods fail to work.

    Confirm the Ethernet cables to the VM Pods are working ( use a laptop ) and the IP allocated is in the 192.168.0.xxx range.

    • fxv300's avatar
      fxv300
      Up to speed
      24 days ago

      Simple configuration..HUB5 downstairs, 1 cable going to POD upstairs which then feeds directly to a PC via POD 2nd Port. This also supplies the upstairs with a stronger wifi. Same layout for 2nd POD but going to the garage section of the house. Again this too was working and now POD is dead but LAN cable to PC works fine. Not using Netgear router at present and have said that I am using dual SSID to cater for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. I asked about dual SSID support when I took on the contract and was assured I could used 2.4 and 5 GHz .  Checked cables to PODs and work fine, tested with a laptop via cable. It seems that VM are trying to force optimized network onto their customers.  I was promised a total working solution. This by any means is not what I signed up for. Still no one is telling me why this was all working 2 days ago and now 2 PODs are dead!!!!! Yes DHCP address on the cables at the PODs is within 192.168.0.xxx

       

      • legacy1's avatar
        legacy1
        Alessandro Volta
        24 days ago

        You can choose to cancel and look for another ISP or get your own kit and use modem mode because all VM will say is they setup the wifi that work best for them to support not you.     

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    24 days ago

    I suggest you consider replacing the VM Pods with retail Wi-Fi routers that you configure in Access Point mode with split SSIDs.   Thus providing both Wi-Fi and network sockets.

    Given you have the Netgear Wi-Fi 6 Router, there is no reason that you can not revert to the VM Hub in Modem mode with the Netgear Wi-Fi 6 Router (in Router Mode) as the core of your system.

    For what you wish to do with split SSID from served from multiple Wi-Fi access points, 
    the VM Hubs are never going to cut the mustard.