Just to update this thread - the Brightbox started working eventually. What I realised was that it always connected to the Brightbox (ethernet or wireless) but there would be no internet, Network Centre would indicate "unidentified public network"...then after 5 minutes it would eventually change to home network and internet would work (this was probably the problem all along but I probably didn't give it enough time). This may be a common Windows problem but the common solutions like assigning static IP or updating drivers didn't make a difference. Once connected though then the connection would always be stable. Only if I changed wireless connection back to Virgin then back to Brightbox would the same problem happen but after 5 minutes the internet connection returned. This was the same with my iphone and ipad, indicating the problem can't be Windows only. I can only assume that there is some incompatibility between the Virgin Superhub and Brightbox. At least the setup is now working.

Thanks E7er for your help.

In reply to a post by drkash:

Just to update this thread - the Brightbox started working eventually. What I realised was that it always connected to the Brightbox (ethernet or wireless) but there would be no internet, Network Centre would indicate "unidentified public network"...then after 5 minutes it would eventually change to home network and internet would work (this was probably the problem all along but I probably didn't give it enough time). This may be a common Windows problem but the common solutions like assigning static IP or updating drivers didn't make a difference. Once connected though then the connection would always be stable. Only if I changed wireless connection back to Virgin then back to Brightbox would the same problem happen but after 5 minutes the internet connection returned. This was the same with my iphone and ipad, indicating the problem can't be Windows only. I can only assume that there is some incompatibility between the Virgin Superhub and Brightbox. At least the setup is now working.

Thanks E7er for your help.

Hi, improve on it! You should not get that connection lag to your devices with the wireless or Ethernet, it should be an instant connection.
Enter manually the Virgin Media DNS server settings into your Super Hub router (If you can) and for windows Ethernet and wireless in �Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties�.

Windows Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties

Use the following DNS server address:
Preferred DNS server: 194.168.4.100
Alternate DNS server: 194.168.8.100

http://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.contr...

Did you configure Windows �Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties� with �Use the following IP address� and not �Obtain an IP address automatically�. If you configured it with automatically then no static IP address was assigned and this could be the reason for the lag as the network is still using DNS server issued IP addresses.

http://www.howtogeek.com/?post_type=post&p=19249

In reply to a post by E7er:

Did you configure Windows �Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties� with �Use the following IP address� and not �Obtain an IP address automatically�. If you configured it with automatically then no static IP address was assigned and this could be the reason for the lag as the network is still using DNS server issued IP addresses.

It should work perfectly well with �Obtain an IP address automatically�. In fact it is far easier that way. particularly when you have more than 1 PC, to do all the work once at the router. I always set mine up that way and do not have any delay with it.

Indeed I've been wanting to dispute your suggestion since you first made it .

yes +1 on this

Even though home networks may be generally smaller, with the growth in mobile devices with Wi-Fi I think we have to wean people off using manual settings for multiple devices on networks.

While there are times and places for manual settings, I always say if someone can't explain both why they need things to be set by hand, and what each setting actually does (and by all means experiment if wanting to learn about stuff), they should probably be using automatic settings almost all of the time.

If someone has a device that can reliably issue DHCP, DNS, MTU, NTP and other information to a network when asked it seems strange not to use it.

Yes and you can always use the router to set fixed local IPs for devices if you really need to and that is usually doubtful unless you are running a server at home.

Did you configure Windows �Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties� with �Use the following IP address� and not �Obtain an IP address automatically�.

Yes I did this but it didn't make any difference.

Enter manually the Virgin Media DNS server settings into your Super Hub router (If you can)

This setting doesn't appear to be on my Superhub settings page.

Overall I'm happy as things stand. I've turned off the Superhub's wireless and there's no lag now. Seems to be working fine. Thanks again