Is the HUB3 just a terrible bit of kit?

[LG88]

I recently switched to Virgin Media from BT as I was being promised 200mbps but the speeds I am getting are terrible. When my laptop is less than 1m from the hub I occasionally get the 200, but as soon as I move further away or leave the room it drops to 100mbs and by the time I'm at the top of the stairs (less than 6m from the hub) I'm down to less than 30mbps. The connection is also really sluggish and unreliable and frequently drops out or drops to less than 1mbs. Even the Virgin Media stream box (in the same room as the hub) frequently struggles to load apps.  

Is the Hub just a terrible bit of kit or is there something wrong with either my connection or the hub? I had no issues at all with attenuation when I was with BT (let alone on this scale) and the hub was in the same location.

Of course the VM response is to try and upsell me more kit but there's no way I'm paying more per month to get the very basic level of service.

[Adduxi]

Split the SSID and connect the laptop to 5Ghz band for speed. For distance use the 2.4ghz band. 
You will need to get a WiFi analyser and check the area to get the best channel for the 2.4ghz band. 
As an aside when a family member moved from VM Hub to BT they did notice a huge improvement so I’m guessing the BT Smart Hub is a tad better. 

[LG88]

Thanks Adduxi, the 5Ghz is definitely better for speed but the range barely extends beyond the room the hub is in. Upstairs 2.4ghz is the only option and the speed is atrocious and hugely variable (see image for details!). I've tried various channels and a WIFI analyzer but unfortunately the difference has been negligible. I'm tearing my hair out! 

[Adduxi]

If you post the power levels (as text) and network log we can comment. 
It may be you will need a WiFi access point, either of your own, or rent from VM. 
If you still have the BT Hub it may work as an extender when cabled into the VM Hub.? 

[LG88]

Thanks Adduxi. Power levels and network logs are below, appreciate any input you can give. I don't still have the BT box and to be honest I'm not willing to pay more to either buy or rent kit to get a basic level of service. I'm just looking for a stable connection. 

Thanks again for your help.

Downstream bonded channels

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) SNR (dB) Modulation Channel ID

1	331000000	4.5	40	256 qam	25
2	203000000	5.5	40	256 qam	9
3	211000000	5.5	40	256 qam	10
4	219000000	5.4	40	256 qam	11
5	227000000	5.1	40	256 qam	12
6	235000000	5	40	256 qam	13
7	243000000	4.9	40	256 qam	14
8	251000000	4.8	40	256 qam	15
9	259000000	4.6	40	256 qam	16
10	267000000	4.6	38	256 qam	17
11	275000000	4.5	38	256 qam	18
12	283000000	4.4	38	256 qam	19
13	291000000	4.3	38	256 qam	20
14	299000000	4.3	38	256 qam	21
15	307000000	4.1	40	256 qam	22
16	315000000	4.3	40	256 qam	23
17	323000000	4.5	40	256 qam	24
18	339000000	4.6	40	256 qam	26
19	347000000	4.5	40	256 qam	27
20	355000000	4.6	40	256 qam	28
21	363000000	4.5	40	256 qam	29
22	371000000	4.6	40	256 qam	30
23	379000000	4.5	40	256 qam	31
24	387000000	4.5	40	256 qam	32

Downstream bonded channels

Channel Locked Status RxMER (dB) Pre RS Errors Post RS Errors

1	Locked	40.3	16	0
2	Locked	40.3	17	0
3	Locked	40.3	13	0
4	Locked	40.3	13	0
5	Locked	40.3	9	0
6	Locked	40.3	9	0
7	Locked	40.3	26	0
8	Locked	40.3	12	0
9	Locked	40.3	12	0
10	Locked	38.9	20	0
11	Locked	38.9	10	0
12	Locked	38.9	33	0
13	Locked	38.9	9	0
14	Locked	38.9	15	0
15	Locked	40.3	10	0
16	Locked	40.3	18	0
17	Locked	40.3	14	0
18	Locked	40.9	25	0
19	Locked	40.9	11	0
20	Locked	40.3	14	0
21	Locked	40.3	10	0
22	Locked	40.9	13	0
23	Locked	40.3	15	0
24	Locked	40.3	9	0

Upstream bonded channels

Channel Frequency (Hz) Power (dBmV) Symbol Rate (ksps) Modulation Channel ID

1	49600000	44.8	5120	64 qam	1
2	23600000	43.5	5120	64 qam	5
3	43099946	44.5	5120	64 qam	2
4	36600000	44.3	5120	64 qam	3
5	30100000	44	5120	64 qam	4

Upstream bonded channels

Channel Channel Type T1 Timeouts T2 Timeouts T3 Timeouts T4 Timeouts

1	ATDMA	0	0	1	0
2	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
3	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
4	ATDMA	0	0	0	0
5	ATDMA	0	0	0	0

Network Log

Time	Priority	Description
12/10/2022 10:43:38	notice	LAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
12/10/2022 10:43:31	Warning!	LAN login FAILED : Incorrect Username / Password / ConnectionType;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
08/10/2022 04:55:40	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
07/10/2022 09:46:17	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
05/10/2022 04:48:12	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
04/10/2022 14:16:39	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
01/01/1970 00:01:42	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
02/10/2022 12:09:3	notice	LAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
29/09/2022 17:22:17	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
29/09/2022 16:16:3	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
26/09/2022 14:45:54	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
26/09/2022 04:16:3	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
23/09/2022 20:22:49	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
22/09/2022 16:16:3	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
21/09/2022 20:59:15	notice	LAN login Success;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
21/09/2022 03:11:41	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
19/09/2022 04:16:3	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
17/09/2022 23:27:20	critical	No Ranging Response received - T3 time-out;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
13/09/2022 02:48:17	Error	DHCP RENEW WARNING - Field invalid in response v4 option;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;
13/09/2022 02:48:15	Error	DHCP RENEW sent - No response for IPv4;CM-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CMTS-MAC=**:**:**:**:**:**;CM-QOS=1.1;CM-VER=3.0;

[Andrew-G]

Hub data all looks good to me (although check that Post-RS errors aren't increasing between restarts).  Unfortunately the Hub 3 is a mediocre wifi router, and that's at its best.  The slightest hint of an unfavourable wifi environment and it gives up.  If you're in the 14 day cooling off period you can cancel without penalty.  If you're outside that then your easiest and cheapest option for comprehensive wifi is probably to invest in a mesh wifi setup, and put the hub in modem mode.  I've used a TP-Link Deco M4 for years now and it has been faultless (widely available for a hundred quid, or the similar S4 is a sound bet).

I appreciate that you don't want to spend anything extra, unfortunately there's no magic trick to changing the Hub 3's wifi performance from 💩 to 😁.  You accept it for what it is (and that VM's marketing may have been economical with the truth), or you take control and resolve the matter yourself.   If wifi pods are available without charge on your contract they're well worth trying first, but I'd hesitate to recommend VM's pod rental offers. 

[John_GS]

Hi LG88

Thanks for posting and welcome to the community. Sorry to hear of any WiFi issues. I have done a system check and no issues/outages are showing, all the levels are fine and no issues with SNR (signal to noise ratio) or congestion.

Please use the Connect App - https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/connect-app - this when installed, will allow you to do a wireless scan in the property. It'll optimise the connection where possible. If a Pod is needed, you'll be prompted to order.

Let me know how you get on.

Best,