Hub 5: Our first ever WiFi 6 broadband router

[Kei_M]

Back in October we announced the launch of the new Hub 5 and we’ll be offering this to customers at no extra cost as part of a phased rollout.

Our next-generation Hub works alongside Virgin Media’s ultrafast broadband network to deliver peak WiFi performance, thanks to WiFi 6.

This latest future-proof WiFi standard, which will work with Virgin Media’s existing DOCSIS 3.1 technology, is designed to power the next-generation of connected devices – including modern smartphones, laptops, tablets and next-gen games consoles.

With this latest technology and even more WiFi antennae than its predecessor, the Hub 5 will be able to support more devices, connecting at the same time, while expanding coverage and stability which improves WiFi performance.

It means the new Hub 5 boasts increased WiFi speeds, lower latency and can help reduce interference from neighbouring hubs and devices.

The Hub 5 has been designed to support multi-gigabit speeds and comes with a 2.5Gbps ethernet port alongside three additional 1Gbps ports.

FAQ

How can I get a Hub 5? / I’m on Gig1 Fibre and need the Hub 5 to maximise my service

We've started to offer the Hub 5 as standard to new Gig1 customers as well as existing customers without a Hub 4 who upgrade to Gig1. Currently there is no other way to get a Hub 5.

Temporarily, due to stock levels at the end of last year and the start of this year. Some Gig1 customers expecting a Hub 5 may have received a Hub 4 instead. We'll be contacting these Gig1 customers to offer them a Hub 5 via email.

What are the specs?

-Broadband – DOCSIS3.1/3.0 Broadcom 3390S

-WiFi:

• 5xAntennae
• 4x4 MiMo 5Ghz Broadcom 6715
• 3x3 MiMo 2.4Ghz Broadcom 6710
• WiFi 6 (802.11ax)

-Ethernet:

• 1x2.5Gbps Broadcom 54991EL
• 3x1Gbps Broadcom 3390S

[TeddyTRK]

Hello DC,

Have you thought about going into your hub 5 settings and changing the WiFi band to 80 Mhz? Or even 40Mhz? This may fix your issue. You will not reach 1000mbps via wifi on these though....just a temporary fix to help your devices connect.

If not, I would look into getting WiFi Pods (Called WiFi Max now) if you're 1 gig, you get these for free (3 of them)

[DC]

Hi TeddyTRK.

Long story short. Engineer arrived yesterday at 8am as I only had WiFi, no Lan on a Hub4. Swapped the 4 out for a 5 and lost my WiFi too. 8.45am after multiple visits to his van he said he had to fix something in the street and would be back at 6pm. He never returned. It's only after googling Samsung + VM Hub5 that I came across the obviously well known issues. 

I appreciate your advice. Thank you.

I'm not going to fiddle with the box though as I don't want to be left with it or charged for tech visits "because I've manually reconfigured it".  I don't think, given my monthly fee, that it's too much to expect a competent technician to complete a job properly and leave the customer with a working connection as opposed to bodging a job, running away and pretending he was never onsite.

[dmason197]

Have they introduced the WiFi 6 pods now then?

I've still got the older version?

Kind regards 

 Dean

[nad_haque]

@dmason197 which pods do you have, if it’s the one that has one Ethernet port at the bottom of the pod. Then you have the ones which were the old one. That was with Hub 3, Hub 4. If it has TWO Ethernet ports you already are on the latest wifi pods Virgin offer as of the moment 

[dmason197]

Right I've got the older 50p style WiFi pods?

Who do I speak too about ordering or exchanging my WiFi pods for current version 🤔

Does anybody know If or when Virgin Media will start increasing our upload speeds?

Kind regards 

 Dean 👍 👍 👍 

[JJG92]

The issue with samsung wifi 6 devices with the hub 5 is the same as Netgear's RAX200 router and its due to the Broadcom chip, easy to fix on Netgear as can go in to the wifi 6 hidden menu and change the hops from 10 to 3 and fixes it, but with hub 5 virgin will proboly have it all locked down so users can only have access to basic features and virgin will have set it to something like 6/7. the higher the number the longer the wifi6 device will basicaly take to ask the router if it has any packets for it for power saving, unlike wifi 5 where the device continulessly asking the router, also some othere samsung products have issues with WPA3 Sercurety ie wifi 5 mobile phones, tvs and samsung tablets where connection will be fine 1 day then the next it is unable to connect to the wifi. 

[newapollo]

I've had zero isues with my hub 5 and my Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (SM-X205) tablet.

[TeddyTRK]

I also had no issues connecting my Hub 5 to amy device....even mildly old Samsung Devices too. Only issue I had was the Smart Witi shut itself off and locked itself...easy fix - they replaced my Hub 5 with a different one and now its fixed....perfect signal and everything. Best Hub since the Hub 3

[DC]

Engineer arrived today, swapped the Hub5 for a Hub4 and everything is now working.

There are quite clearly issues with the Hub5. Every device in the house that worked on the previous Hub4 and didn't recognise the Hub5 is now connected to the replacement Hub4 that was installed today.

It's not right that this Hub5 is out and about for installs and repairs when it quite clearly has so many issues. 

[dmason197]

So Is there any news on the DOCSIS upgrades?

And when faster download or upload speeds will become available?

Kind regards 

 Dean 👍 👍 

[bartkus05]

Latest I could find is this: https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2022/08/virgin-media-o2-uk-lays-groundwork-for-faster-upload-s...

[dmason197]

Do u know If they are upgrading the DOCSIS channels?

Where do I find If DOCSIS has been upgraded in Virgin Media Area Reference: 20

Kind regards 

 Dean 👍 👍 👍 

[JJG92]

My Hub 5 Arived today put staght in to modem mode 🙂 network set up hub 5, 2.5Gb to orbi 2.5Gb then other 2.5Gb ethernet port on orbi to a 10x 2.5Gb managed ethernet switch im seeing 1.1+Gb accross all wifi 6 devices and othere 2.5Gb ethernet aswell as 940Mbps across ethernet devices what only have 1Gb ethernet ports.

[jamilayz]

@JJG92

I am also currently looking at purchasing a Netgear Orbi Mesh System but they are a bit expensive. 

Which one are you using & also what's the make & model of your 2.5Gb ethernet switch as well if you don't mind me asking.

Thanks in advance.

[dazzabird]

good afternoon all

Managed to get a good price on 1gbps and a hiub 5 set up today.

question....On the 2,5 port on the back....which device should i plug in there ?  Sky Q ?

Also how do i know if a device is using wifi 6...i have a ipad air 4th Gen

thanks 

[dmason197]

Well normally like my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G u get a little 6 appear at the top right of your screen

And u do actually notice a big improvement in download speeds

Kind regards 

 Dean 👍 👍 

[axing_product]

Not received the invite to upgrade to Hub 5. Recently renewed contract and only need to use in Modem mode to take advantage of the 2.5G port. Home network already 2.5G compatible. Any admins on here that can help organise a Hub 5?

[kevkdg]

The same here, I have 1 Gig package with third party Mesh network and would make use of the 2.5 gig port.  How does when get an upgrade to a Hub 5?

[Noam]

1 gig customer here, how do I get the upgrade

[Deryk]

Guys, you really need to go back and read the other posts, all of this is covered in the pages before