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

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 cables3) 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 192.168.100.1Note1: 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

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.

Once again, I'm thinking ... Why are you doing this when it is clear you have not got a clue about how the process works ?Some may think this is quite mean, but with 35 years in the industry seeing folks embark on a technology journey into the abyss is just alarming.

Honestly, yes, I get what you mean, and you are right.Alas getting this to work does, sort of, require the user to have some understanding of how IP networks operate. And I think that this isn’t helped by a certain person on here; who will remain nameless; but insists that every single problem is fixed by ‘put the hub into modem mode and get your own router with 1 Gbit ports’.

OK send any router back and just use the hub in router mode.

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

30 Replies

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Tudor
Very Insightful Person
1 year 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
  Tuning in
  1 year 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
    Very Insightful Person
    1 year 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.
carl_pearce
Superstar
1 year ago
Just to add to the above you did only have the TP-Link connected via ethernet from its blue WAN port to one of the ethernet ports on the HUB, no other wired devices connected to the HUB?
- Marlfox
  Tuning in
  1 year ago
  Hi Carl, and thank you. Yes, I got the modem mode all working, that's not the problem. Yes, connected from TP-Link blue WAN port to one of the ethernet ports (as stated in original post - I tried all of them). Powered Hub 3 off after setting it in modem mode, then back on.
  I think it's something in the process how I set up the TP-Link router itself. What I'd like is the VM SSID to come through, just via the TP-Link router, but that didn't happen.
  Thank you for helping (not like some others who replied to my post)!
legacy1
Alessandro Volta
1 year ago
idiot's guide? I don't know how you made a mess of things in the first place you buy a router why are you looking pick if it needs to by Router or Access Point mode it has a blue how hard is it to connect that to the hub and you have a hub 3 so any port will when you change to modem mode all your wired device go to your new router in this simple setup if for what even reason it did not work power off hub for longer try again its not that hard😤
- Marlfox
  Tuning in
  1 year ago
  If you have nothing useful to contribute, Alessandro Volta with two (possibly more) accounts, I'd suggest you pick other, more "worth your precious time" community questions and reflect on why you're being so rude.
  - legacy1
    Alessandro Volta
    1 year ago
    But if you got it working so must of helped😋
Client62
Alessandro Volta
1 year ago
Folks if you are reading this thread, for your own benefit fully figure out how the 3rd Party Router or CCTV or whatever kit works before buying it. Reliable guides and manuals are widely available and it may not be a simple process of clicking on Next >> Next >> OK etc especially to make a significant change to your internet configuration.

Would you implement a change in your central heating system that you did not fully understand or barely understood.
- Marlfox
  Tuning in
  1 year ago
  So you found it worth your time to react to my question for help to tell me off? This is a community forum for questions, and if such a question is beneath you, then just ignore it.
  "Reliable guides and manuals are widely available" - ok, then please provide the link. I haven't found any. If you cannot/don't want to help, fair enough. Then please focus on your central heating questions 😂
Sephiroth
Alessandro Volta
1 year ago
Just to top and tail this, when you are in modem mode, the Hub's wireless is switched off and thus that router's SSID does not appear through the third party router. There is nothing to stop you replicating on your external router, the VM SSID that you previously used in router mode.
Alternatively, if you stay in router mode and set your external router to AP mode, then the VM SSIDs will be displayed.
HTH.
You
fuchsiashock
Just browsing
1 year ago
Did you solve your problem.
I have the same router to handle WiFi instead of the VM hub. I did as per the directions here.
No default gateway gets assigned and therefore (at best), I'm connected either by WiFi or ethernet to the tplink with no internet, or at worst, cannot access any admin page, have no internet and nothing works.
I had to keep resetting the TP to try again. It seems that as soon as I try and connect it to the VM hub in modem mode, it locks up the TP.
The VM Hub went into modem mode without any apparent issues (purple light), the TP link seems very precarious. In router mode, I can access all options. Changing to access point mode often doesn't "take", and I have to keep trying for the reboot box and action to take affect.
If I do manage to access the tp admin after it's in Access point mode, I can turn on WiFi, but there remains no internet and connected clients (including the TP) have blank gateway ips.
I've been trying for hours and now just reset the VM hub back to normal.
- legacy1
  Alessandro Volta
  1 year ago
  get a ASUS
  https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASUS-Combinable-Tethering-Replacement-AiProtection/dp/B0B4DYZRMS/ref=sr_1_14?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.F3uH04j95oCe-bLpy3Ee3zghz92Z0WHajRTlBrdc9y2IJBdT3irOIu-WHX3C5mYnAn1pYXpOnNVW2ryGRzXqh9EIiAvfZPNdJjIQX76vywtLFZAsK-MY9vb47PZ6IAbk1GKTkiFMoEsIRd8m6OeVe068i_0YrWlNrikHdORLRZaU7Atkds7POAaJj3Cp4OHSL7wKRgpMsRdyUQNhFSAu3ltyBHj7AZsTxHKGgo_r01T6Y9X4z4BxhH4lss-2eq368pDap1KskgEVdBktggqwSR-exiIJODBQi33h2PXpTFUaPSfyN3O9a3EsW-lAOaktSCuaSKp9rP_tG_b9mTrJTbJMAVhKE3tYFjIMYO4szZM.Z_2RiDw-D-oDHjgZN1L_pGOlOn5anJoopD9bUO9_Wyk&dib_tag=se&keywords=asus%2Brouter&qid=1738523644&refinements=p_85%3A20930949031&rnid=20930948031&rps=1&s=computers&sr=1-14&th=1
Client62
Alessandro Volta
1 year ago
Once again, I'm thinking ...

Why are you doing this when it is clear you have not got a clue about how the process works ?

Some may think this is quite mean, but with 35 years in the industry seeing folks embark on a technology journey into the abyss is just alarming.
- Winelist
  On our wavelength
  1 year ago
  Honestly, yes, I get what you mean, and you are right.
  Alas getting this to work does, sort of, require the user to have some understanding of how IP networks operate. And I think that this isn’t helped by a certain person on here; who will remain nameless; but insists that every single problem is fixed by ‘put the hub into modem mode and get your own router with 1 Gbit ports’.
  - Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    1 year ago
    Quite it requires clarity of understanding that you are shifting the responsibility for
    the configuration and management of at least NAT, Firewall, DHCP, & Wi-Fi from VM's preconfigured HUB into your own hands.
legacy1
Alessandro Volta
1 year ago
OK send any router back and just use the hub in router mode.
fizz
Fibre optic
1 year ago
Once you have the virgin router in modem mode and your TP-link plugged into it on port 1 on the virign hub and your blue wan plug on the router you are then ready to set up the tp-link. I believe the TP-link app will be perfect for you to do this as IIRC you can set what you want the SSID and the password word to be on your TP-LINK router. I googled and found this as it may help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvteJilRdtg as it is the set up through the web management page. You may need to log onto the wifi it is transmitting at first to then change it to what you want.
Client62
Alessandro Volta
1 year ago
It is so much safer to manage a Router or any network device via a Ethernet cable,
use a USB to Ethernet adaptor if your laptop is slim and lacks a network socket.

Changing the SSID/Password of the Wi-Fi service you are using is going to terminate your Wi-Fi connection and as we see on VM Hub may leave your admin session logged in but orphaned.
- Adduxi
  Very Insightful Person
  1 year ago
  Totally agree, it is way too easy to lose connection when relying on Wifi to make changes. Again, user education in the VM manual might help immensely?