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davidtrickett's avatar
davidtrickett
Tuning in
2 years ago

Wifi pods

I have a VM Hub4. I recently changed my package and am now getting 250Mb download(verified).

However I have for a long time been getting a very poor signal in rooms other than the one in which the hub is located. For example signal strength right by the hub is -40dBm, whereas a couple of rooms away it is only -87dBm. At this level connectivity is extremely sporadic and is virtually unusable. I should add that this is a timber and brick Victorian flat which should not impede WIFI  signals very much. 

When I was negotiating the new package(since I was threatening to cancel I seemed to be talking to an English speaker in the UK) I mentioned this, and he told me that the solution was probably to obtain and install one or more Pods.

So when the new package was up and running I tried to call and order one. 

Both calls were the usual VM quality - a bad line, lots of background noise and rapid fire heavily accented mispronounced "English". Scam call centres in the same area have better communication skills.

The first call was on 14th Feb. It took a considerable time to convince him that the problem was not a slow download speed at the hub, but he eventually agreed to arrange for one to be sent out, saying that could take up to 14 days.

Unsurprisingly by 13th March nothing had turned up, so I called again.

This time the individual I spoke to insisted that I install and run "Samknows". Telling her the results she told me that the reason a pod had not been sent out was that the speed was over 30Mbs. This was news to me. She eventually told me that she would refer it up and someone would come back to me.

Of course I have heard nothing since.

If someone from VM reads this can s/he please tell me what is going on?

10 Replies

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  • FlockWallpaper's avatar
    FlockWallpaper
    Up to speed
    2 years ago

    As you obviously suspect, nobody will ever, ever get back to you.

    Even if you do manage to get through to VM and get a ‘pod’ sent out, unless you are on a Volt package or on a gigabit speed tier. Otherwise they will cost you an additional £8 per month on top of what you are already paying, that’s almost £100 each year and they are never yours, when or if you leave VM they will expect them back.

    Now if you are in a position to get them for free, and it isn’t too much of a hassle getting them, then they are worth a try, otherwise for what it will cost you for a year or so, it is possible to purchase a third-party meshed wifi solution that would be yours to own and can be re-used with any other provider in the future.

    • davidtrickett's avatar
      davidtrickett
      Tuning in
      2 years ago

      Thanks for this. I do have long and bitter experience with VM!

      I have been told that I am entitled to get these for free, so that should be ok(unless this is just another pack of lies from VM)

      • Zach_R's avatar
        Zach_R
        Forum Team (Retired)
        2 years ago

        Hi davidtrickett,

        Thank you for your post and welcome back to our community forums. We're here to help.

        I'm very sorry to hear that you're having some trouble with your Wi-Fi signal in certain areas of the home. It's correct that the problem and speeds would need to be assessed before we can determine if a Pod would be beneficial to alleviating the problem.

        I've taken a look over things on our systems and I'm unable to detect any faults currently, though this doesn't necessarily mean that you're not experiencing a problem.

        Would you mind just clarifying for me what the outcome of the tests/scans are in the areas of the home when you use the Connect App? Your speeds to the router are important of course, but we need to know what's happening in those affected rooms.

        Thanks,