Forum Discussion

lomond82's avatar
lomond82
On our wavelength
21 days ago
Solved

Poor signal Hub3

Firstly I am not the best with technology and understand jargon and to be honest have little patience so jargon for dummies please.

We have HUB 3, modern way of living everything is done via apps , on your phone and wireless, there is no getting away from it.

we are on M250 broadband. Have virgin for landline and broadband .got TV but basic as it was cheaper , yeah go figure but don’t use it as we have SKY TV.

RING doorbell, HIVE and the smart TV frequently goes down with loss of signal/poor connectivity/weak signal.

i know they say don’t have routers next to TVs or phone etc but come on, no one’s is running a wire for their hub to sit in the middle of a room away from these things. So yes TV on console unit, router under 1.5feet away on shelf sitting next to virgin box, sky box and telephone.

House has an extension and in it those RCB steel joist things, so I have had to use or try and use an extender upstairs in hall, and for boys Xbox’s I had to get a power line that’s router to socket behind and then they have the other side in the rooms from Socket.

i didn’t think we had that many things , I’d say we have 4 phones, 2 Xboxes and 3 laptops…however the app says we have 21 items connected. So you forget you have fire sticks, alexa’s, smart lights Alex operates in boys rooms, ring doorbell bell , cameras and chime, hive thing and thermostat for boiler the TVs themselves, so  yeah there is a lot using WiFi.

so I wondered about upgrading to the m500, on app our current package ends apr 26. I didn’t know was this increase till end of package or is it going to be another 18months and does that mean the current price changes and more than doubles in April as not paying that but the advisor on chat couldn’t answer that, could offer me the m500 at £72 a month, eh mate I click on the app for £7.85 a month so £42 why would I pay £72..they were sorry to hear that! 
anyway digressed, weak signal does anyone know as the advisor couldn’t confirm , would moving to m500 make the signal strength any better to stop things disconnecting ? If It does help and i do move to pay the extra 7.85 is that only till this contract end April or is it 18 months and what would the price be, current 35 add on m500 would be 42 but saying from April 2026 80- not a hope in hells chance 

If m500 wouldn’t help with weak signal -even now on my phone sitting 4feet away from Hub it’s only 2 bars - then is my Options to just grin and bear it till end of contract and move broadband to SKY as they already have me for TV.?!?!

anyone have any ideas as it’s going to get worse the more modern technology has eventhing via WiFi. God help me if they make me get a smart meter as I presume that will need to connect also LOL

Broadband
Connection
Help
Hub3
Internet
router
WIFI
  • lomond82's avatar
    lomond82
    19 days ago

    @adduxi and @roy247

    thank you so much for all your assistance. Boys all got to watch football  before I started anything. So that was a plus point of today. 

    Negative was : set up the TP extender and then it all went to pot, totally lost all connective to HIVE, an hr onto them and they blamed the extender but let’s face facts it will be myself that’s done something wrong. Took an hour and a half to get HIVE back, by this point extender was completed removed. Mesh hasn’t made it out the box. I am too uneducated in this as above thread shows so I am sending the extender/booster and mesh back.

    going to learn to live with drop out in communications, but thank you for not having me listening to VM and wasting money on M500 for that, and everything you guys have done last couple of days has been great. This is just time for this stupid woman to butt out , leave well alone and tell the boys to just deal with drop outs and start figuring out how I set timers and work heating direct on the electronic panel of new boiler.
    #nopatience #hatetechnology #whataweek 

23 Replies

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    21 days ago

    The first thing is to ignore VM suggestions to upgrade your broadband speed. That will not cure the WiFi problems. 

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    21 days ago

    Invest in a home network and add additional Wi-Fi coverage.

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

    As noted by jpeg1​   do not upgrade your speed.  This upsell will not fix your Wifi issues.  Either look to a Mesh system, for example Deco Mesh, or additional Wifi extenders.  Also, if the Hub is near the TV boxes, these should be cable connected by a Cat 5e or Cat 6 ethernet cable.

    • lomond82's avatar
      lomond82
      On our wavelength
      20 days ago

      @adduxi (sorry not sure how I tag you properly) hopefully you will see this.

      It was not an extender  I put in yesterday it was another power line. So picking up today the right booster/extender and also as a back up (hope it can go back) deco mesh x55.

      can I ask you a couple of Qs. HIVE have told me that they notice drop in connection but when I say it’s lost connection they notice a serious drop in signal. Anyway short version , the worst areas are where my house extension steel beams are  and they say this will be causing the issues and to try a booster/extender - yeah that’s when I realised that’s not what I’d bought. So I’ve ordered as I say they booster which il try first BUT if I move to this Deco mesh,. It’s WiFi 6 and comes with 3 Alexa looking cylinders and I take it 1 becomes the new 
      Q1 this becomes my hub 3? I put hub 3 into some modem mode, no idea but will google that part
      Q2 these white Alexa looking things they replace any extenders?
      Q3 Will the power line adaptors still work with it for their Xboxes (teenagers loosing connection is not a good thing)

      thanking you in advance for assisting

       

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

        To keep it simple, use the X55 in Access Point mode.  How to set up Deco to work in Access Point mode | TP-Link

        This will keep the Hub running as is, and will set the X55 nodes up as "wifi extenders".   Just make sure the nodes are not too far apart to communicate with each other.  In this mode, you would only need 2 nodes as there are only 3  2.4Ghz channels available and these are 1, 6 and 11.  So if the Hub is using 1, the other nodes use 6 and 11.  If you use a 3rd node, it would also have to use 1, 6 or 11 and this will cause interference.

        Another point is to use a Wifi analyser on a phone when standing beside the Hive unit.  This will show the wifi signal strength in -dBm   If the reading is over -65dBm then it is weak, a good signal should be around -55dBm or less.  Note the smaller the number the better.

        If using an iPhone the only app is the Apple Airport Utility, but this will work fine.  Android phones have plenty of Wifi apps in the Play Store.

        The PLA's will not be affected by the X55, unless they are broadcasting wifi as well.

  • lomond82's avatar
    lomond82
    On our wavelength
    21 days ago

    Thank you @jpeg1 and @adduuxi I wasn’t convinced upgrading speed would help signal strength. I have bought a couple more extenders this afternoon and I will see if that makes a difference. If not I will look into Mesh which is what you were also suggesting @client62. 
    thank you all 

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    20 days ago

    We don't have a Mesh but many do. 

    We have a VM Hub + a pair of Wi-Fi Access Points and network sockets in four rooms.

  • Roger_Gooner's avatar
    Roger_Gooner
    Alessandro Volta
    20 days ago

    An upgrade to a hub 5 alone will help Wi-Fi considerably. It may not cure all your problems, though, and the best solution will probably be the hub in modem mode and a Mesh system with wired nodes.

  • roy247's avatar
    roy247
    Hero
    20 days ago

    If you haven't got 5G and 2.4G bands then you could try splitting your Wi-Fi network, instructions on how to do that are in link below, when you have selected Advanced Settings you will also need to select Wireless, Wireless Signal and click on Disable Channel Optimization at the bottom then click on Apply Changes. 2.4G will have a stronger signal and might work better with some of your devices.

    Edited to say link removed because the instructions have been removed. 

    If you are using  Virgin wi-fi pods don't split your network.

    You haven't got a smart meter yet, no worries when you do get one it doesn't connect to your home wi-fi.

    These instructions should work for splitting your network;

    Open a web browser and go to http://192.168.0.1.

    Log in using the administrator password found on the sticker on the bottom of your Virgin Media Hub, or one you have previously set.

    Navigate to the "Advanced" or "Wireless" settings.
    Find and disable "Smart Wi-Fi" or "channel optimization" to allow for separate networks.
    Save the settings. 
    Go to "Advanced" > "Wireless" > "Security". 
    You should now see separate fields for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. 
    Change the network name (SSID) for one or both of the networks to make them distinct (e.g., add "-5G" to the 5GHz network). 
    You can use the same password for both networks or create a different one for each. 
    Click "Apply" or "Save" to confirm your changes.
    Your Hub may restart automatically, and the two new networks will appear in your list of available Wi-Fi networks. 

    • lomond82's avatar
      lomond82
      On our wavelength
      20 days ago

      Hi @roy247 

      as I say I am not very good with technology so thank you clear instructions.
      major issues again last night with Hive and they are positive it’s the steel beams in my house extension and son agrees as he says his room which is in the extension doesn’t connect to main router and if it does it’s snails pace, yet stands a foot the other way into the original house and works fine. So Hive is in extension area albeit it the same floor as the router. 
      I have another extender/booster arriving and as back up (hope I don’t need) a deco mesh. So I leave splitting until I’ve tried these, don’t want to try to many things and then have no internet at all. No access to Xboxes or football I’d be public enemy no1. 
      Can I ask you a couple of questions on your suggestion though and again thank you for clear instructions.

      Q1 how do I know if I have 5g or only 2.4 Q2 when you say splitting and name changing, would that effect my power line adaptors and the one extender upstairs
      Q3 sorry for being really stupid but if I split them what is that doing. Would the devices when trying to connect know which one to connect to 

      I just don’t understand how the Hive, Ring door bell or Tv (TVs more visual as it says not connected to WiFi when it drops yet we look at hub and it’s fine) is ok most of the day but all of sudden 6-9pm it loses or suffered low connection as the steel beams don’t take a few hours off for a break or maybe I’m home so notice but maybe it’s doing during day when I’m at work.

      anyways have a great day. If you hear a boom from Scotland it may be if tried changing this when they are watching the  football …maybe not the best day to try things 

      thanks Again for your help and assistance , I know I am not very good with technology so your ease of explanations to find the WiFi but in router was much appreciate 

       

       

      • Adduxi's avatar
        Adduxi
        Very Insightful Person
        20 days ago
        lomond82 wrote:

        I have another extender/booster arriving and as back up (hope I don’t need) a deco mesh

        The important thing to remember is not to put the extender in a wifi "dead spot".  So, the extender needs to communicate with the Hub.  So try locating around halfway between the Hub and the Hive.  Do try to get a wifi scan done prior to this as this will show areas of good or bad signals and help locate the extender.  If this works, the X55 can be returned.

        What extender are you getting btw?

    • lomond82's avatar
      lomond82
      On our wavelength
      20 days ago

      Hi @roy247 

      as I say I am not very good with technology so thank you clear instructions.
      major issues again last night with Hive and they are positive it’s the steel beams in my house extension and son agrees as he says his room which is in the extension doesn’t connect to main router and if it does it’s snails pace, yet stands a foot the other way into the original house and works fine. So Hive is in extension area albeit it the same floor as the router. 
      I have another extender/booster arriving and as back up (hope I don’t need) a deco mesh. So I leave splitting until I’ve tried these, don’t want to try to many things and then have no internet at all. No access to Xboxes or football I’d be public enemy no1. 
      Can I ask you a couple of questions on your suggestion though and again thank you for clear instructions.

      Q1 how do I know if I have 5g or only 2.4 Q2 when you say splitting and name changing, would that effect my power line adaptors and the one extender upstairs
      Q3 sorry for being really stupid but if I split them what is that doing. Would the devices when trying to connect know which one to connect to 

      I just don’t understand how the Hive, Ring door bell or Tv (TVs more visual as it says not connected to WiFi when it drops yet we look at hub and it’s fine) is ok most of the day but all of sudden 6-9pm it loses or suffered low connection as the steel beams don’t take a few hours off for a break or maybe I’m home so notice but maybe it’s doing during day when I’m at work.

      anyways have a great day. If you hear a boom from Scotland it may be if tried changing this when they are watching the  football …maybe not the best day to try things 

      thanks Again for your help and assistance , I know I am not very good with technology so your ease of explanations to find the WiFi but in router was much appreciate 

       

  • lomond82's avatar
    lomond82
    On our wavelength
    20 days ago

    @adduxi did the airport utility scan also. Obv I have Hub 3 router in livingroom and that 1 netgear extender getting 2 reading Chanel 6 and 44 for hub and 1 Chanel 6 for extender. 
    In livingroom it’s -47 and -54 for hub with -65 upstairs extender. Middle kitchen (old part) -68 and -83 and upstairs extender is -67. THEN interestingly next to hive reviver at boiler I was expecting worse that mid kitchen but it’s -67 and -74 and upstairs extender is -60 so better than actual main hub. Go figure but kitchen on whole is crap. 

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

      Well at least you have some idea now of the Wifi signals in the house.  You really need to get those higher figures down to below -65 if possible.  As I said earlier, the smaller the number the better.  If you can get an extender between the Hive and the Hub, it should improve the signal.  Use the Airport scan to help you with placement.  So if you end up with the Hub and 2 wifi extenders, just make sure the 2.4Ghz channels are different, i.e. 1, 6 and 11.  You may have to set this manually if the "auto" function doesn't.  The 5Ghz channel is different, as it has many channels to choose from. However I believe the Hive only uses 2.4Ghz, so focus on that.

      As for using the Connect app as a scanner, no, I'd advise you stick with the Airport.  

      Wifi seems minefield really, but once you get a grasp of the ideas, it's not too bad :-) 

      • roy247's avatar
        roy247
        Hero
        19 days ago

        Will lomond82 not have to split his wi-fi by turning off channel optimization first and then renaming the 2 bands differently, from his screenshot on his other post channel optimization is set to on.

        From a Google search the Hive does only use 2.4 Ghz, the ring doorbell may use both the 2.4 and 5Ghz depending on how new it is I suppose.

         

  • lomond82's avatar
    lomond82
    On our wavelength
    19 days ago

    @adduxi and @roy247

    thank you so much for all your assistance. Boys all got to watch football  before I started anything. So that was a plus point of today. 

    Negative was : set up the TP extender and then it all went to pot, totally lost all connective to HIVE, an hr onto them and they blamed the extender but let’s face facts it will be myself that’s done something wrong. Took an hour and a half to get HIVE back, by this point extender was completed removed. Mesh hasn’t made it out the box. I am too uneducated in this as above thread shows so I am sending the extender/booster and mesh back.

    going to learn to live with drop out in communications, but thank you for not having me listening to VM and wasting money on M500 for that, and everything you guys have done last couple of days has been great. This is just time for this stupid woman to butt out , leave well alone and tell the boys to just deal with drop outs and start figuring out how I set timers and work heating direct on the electronic panel of new boiler.
    #nopatience #hatetechnology #whataweek 

    • roy247's avatar
      roy247
      Hero
      19 days ago

      Did the football go the way they wanted.

       

      • lomond82's avatar
        lomond82
        On our wavelength
        18 days ago

        @roy247 Sister not as happy as them right enough but aye boys were happy. It had to go to flipping extra time though, I don’t do footie and I mean I had things to do yesterday with the WiFi, so but inconsiderate. :) :)