Forum Discussion

Marlfox's avatar
Marlfox
Tuning in
3 months ago

Virgin Media Hub 3 + modem mode + TP-Link Archer C6 Router WiFi AC1200Mbps = not working

Like many, I have been using the regular hub 3 and finally got fed up because its wireless signal is just ... abysmal throughout the house. Extenders didn't work well, so I bought this TP-Link Archer C6 Router WiFi AC1200Mbps.

The idea was to retain the VM SSID as I got them now, password as is, so my devices would just connect to the known network - just with stronger coverage throughout the house.

I tried to follow some of the guidance I found online (none of them directly providing step-by-step guidance for my setup). Set up the TP-Link router as per instruction manual (and already didn't know whether to pick Router or Access Point mode there - I tried both). Put the hub 3 in modem mode, switched it off, connected the TP-Link Router to ethernet ports 1, 2, 3, 4 - reset devices - my VM SSID never reappeared.

After a few hours of fuitle effort, I gave up, put the hub 3 back into router mode, and factory reset the TP-Link router, so I'm back at square 1.

Is there anyone here who has the same (or similar) setup and can give me an idiot's guide, step-by-step, how I can get this working? Or know of any platform-groups (Discord, Reddit, etc.) that can help me work this out successfully, please? 

Big please?

Thank you for your time!

Marlfox

  • Tudor's avatar
    Tudor
    Very Insightful Person
    3 months ago

    Modem mode instructions:

    How to put a VM hub into modem mode:

    1) Access your hub on 192.168.0.1, sign on and put it into modem mode. On the Hub3 the bottom LED will change to magenta, on a Hub4 the LED band will be green, on a Hub5 the LED will be green. Best done from a wired connection.

    2) Turn off the hub and disconnect any Ethernet cables

    3) Fully initialise your own router or mesh master unit and make sure the WAN port is set to DHCP (for some routers or mesh this may have to be done in router mode before entering modem mode)

    4) Connect your router or mesh master unit to the VM hub with an Ethernet cable, Cat5e or Cat6, any higher specification is a waste of money. On a Hub5 use port 4.

    5) Turn on the VM hub.

    6) You should now be able to access the internet and the hub will now be on 192.168.100.1

    Note1: this only needs doing once for each new router or when VM changes your WAN IP address.

    Note2: If you have a Hub4 and your own router is NOT 192.168.0.1 then it’s possible that you can still access the VM hub on 192.168.0.1

    • Marlfox's avatar
      Marlfox
      Tuning in
      3 months ago

      Thank you - I did all that, but "fully initializing my router" as you suggest puts the TP-Link's own SSID through. My VM SSID does not, and that's what I'm after.

      I don't know what I need to do with the TP-Link Archer C6 (AC1200) itself so it works. I read variations online what I should do after having put the Hub 3 into modem mode:

      - To not initialize the TP-Link router, just switch it on after connection.

      - To initialize it, and set it to router mode via the TP-Link browser app.

      - To initialize it, and set it to access point mode via the TP-Link browser app.

      ... and other conflicting advice, so I came here. Thank you for helping (unlike others who rather troll than help)!

      • Tudor's avatar
        Tudor
        Very Insightful Person
        3 months ago

        The SSID is just a name that is transmitted. So when in modem mode the VM hub does not transmit it. What you need to is in your router is to change the SSID name that comes with the router to the name of what was the VM SSID. I think that’s all you now need to do. The equipment I use allows for 12 SSID names 4 for each WiFi band, but I never use the original VM ones, just my own.