Forum Discussion

Northbound23's avatar
Northbound23
Tuning in
2 years ago
Solved

Wifi dropping - laptop drops out

Hi,  I have tried reading on the forum, any solutions for these problems I am having with WiFi dropping out constantly. (7 time today alone) from the laptop.   I have been on the phone to virgin t...
  • jbrennand's avatar
    jbrennand
    2 years ago

    If ethernet connections are all fine as they should be then your issue is with the poor wifi in your locations.  So see this...

    ___________________________

    On a Hub3/4/5, you could first try separating the SSID's of the 2.4 and 5 GHz wifi bands by renaming them in the settings At the same time switch off "channel optimisation/Smart wifi” and “ apply and save the settings. All wifi devices will now need reconnecting to the best SSID at each location. Also use a wifi scanning App or Apple Airport Utility) to find the best wifi channels to use (just select and use channels 1,6,11 on 2.4GHz) - this often helps Hub users get better wifi performance - so its worth trying - but its still no substitute for getting better kit 🙂

    To address the wifi issues, VM now supply “wifi Pods” (no longer doing cheap and cheerless and poor value “boosters”). However, their Pods are only free to customers on the 1GB, Volt (or old Ultimate Oomph) packages.  VM Wifi is now “guaranteed” to 30 Mbps/room it’s now called… Wifi Max
    See if anything in here helps….

    https://www.virginmedia.com/wifi-max

    You call 0800 064 3850 to order the first one after scanning for blackspots using the connect App.- or just wait here for a VM person to respond in a day or two and they will sort the first one for you. If you do call dont get fobbed off by the offshore CS agents' saying you aren’t eligible - if you are - it is clearly stated on the webpage.

    As these are not free on your package - as you have discovered, you will be charged £8/month for up to 3 pods (note - BT charge £10/mo for their whole home wifi solution). It’s a simple solution and should work for you.  Changing to a new Volt package would get them for free - but will start a new 18 month contract!

    However, you would soon pay off that cost by buying your own better wireless solution that will be yours to own and use forever, although the VM Pods should be a simpler option.

    If you do want to invest in better equipment, you would need to get either a… (1) Mesh System, (2) Wireless router, (3) Wireless access point, (4) a pair of good quality Wifi Powerline Adaptors, or a combination of (2&3).

    £40-100 (that’s ~4->12 months of Max Pod rental) should sort it for most customers with an average property and usage. Spend more for additional advanced“features” - if required.

    Ask for suggestions/comments on here after deciding your course of action

jbrennand's avatar
jbrennand
Very Insightful Person
2 years ago

If ethernet connections are all fine as they should be then your issue is with the poor wifi in your locations.  So see this...

___________________________

On a Hub3/4/5, you could first try separating the SSID's of the 2.4 and 5 GHz wifi bands by renaming them in the settings At the same time switch off "channel optimisation/Smart wifi” and “ apply and save the settings. All wifi devices will now need reconnecting to the best SSID at each location. Also use a wifi scanning App or Apple Airport Utility) to find the best wifi channels to use (just select and use channels 1,6,11 on 2.4GHz) - this often helps Hub users get better wifi performance - so its worth trying - but its still no substitute for getting better kit 🙂

To address the wifi issues, VM now supply “wifi Pods” (no longer doing cheap and cheerless and poor value “boosters”). However, their Pods are only free to customers on the 1GB, Volt (or old Ultimate Oomph) packages.  VM Wifi is now “guaranteed” to 30 Mbps/room it’s now called… Wifi Max
See if anything in here helps….

https://www.virginmedia.com/wifi-max

You call 0800 064 3850 to order the first one after scanning for blackspots using the connect App.- or just wait here for a VM person to respond in a day or two and they will sort the first one for you. If you do call dont get fobbed off by the offshore CS agents' saying you aren’t eligible - if you are - it is clearly stated on the webpage.

As these are not free on your package - as you have discovered, you will be charged £8/month for up to 3 pods (note - BT charge £10/mo for their whole home wifi solution). It’s a simple solution and should work for you.  Changing to a new Volt package would get them for free - but will start a new 18 month contract!

However, you would soon pay off that cost by buying your own better wireless solution that will be yours to own and use forever, although the VM Pods should be a simpler option.

If you do want to invest in better equipment, you would need to get either a… (1) Mesh System, (2) Wireless router, (3) Wireless access point, (4) a pair of good quality Wifi Powerline Adaptors, or a combination of (2&3).

£40-100 (that’s ~4->12 months of Max Pod rental) should sort it for most customers with an average property and usage. Spend more for additional advanced“features” - if required.

Ask for suggestions/comments on here after deciding your course of action

  • Northbound23's avatar
    Northbound23
    Tuning in
    2 years ago

    Hi John, I have had non stop issues with the WiFi but as had a family bereavement so not been online due to that. 

    Would you or anyone please be able to provide suggestions on what to get for my own solution... everyone in the household has been complaining including the kids which is not often. Made a mistake moving to virgin I feel.