They are testing new firmware for the Superhub and there will also be another manufacturer producing the same hardware. It's hubs all the way right now. Of course that may change but not for a while.

In reply to a post by bosie:

Ah maybe that's what my dad has been talking about - software rather than hardware. He reckons the engineer told him they are beta testing a new modem (not router) at the moment which will eventually replace the Super Hub.

Usual engineer prattle.the device being beta tested is a Huawei built Superhub. No modems on the roadmap at this time.

That's a real shame I wonder what the objections are to simple modems.

In reply to a post by bosie:

That's a real shame I wonder what the objections are to simple modems.

Probably the same reason ADSL ISPs give away routers and refuse to support anything else -> the costs of training the helpdesk staff.

VM leaving out "bridge" or "modem" mode in the firmware is inexcusable.

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

Edited by jchamier (Sun 21-Aug-11 17:43:35)

I would have thought the simple modem was easier to support than this Super Hub thing.

The problem with modems on ADSL was that the PC was not firewalled by the NAT firewall you get in a router. The PC was on the internet, all exposed. ISTR it took around 7 minutes for a PC to become infected and useless.

Oh lord no!

With a modem there's an infinite number of wireless access points you have to support when there's a problem.

With the SuperHub Virgin are providing what you need in the same way as the TiVo box or cable box. A single item, supportable by their staff in India. Simples.

In reply to a post by M_at:

Oh lord no!

With a modem there's an infinite number of wireless access points you have to support when there's a problem.

With the SuperHub Virgin are providing what you need in the same way as the TiVo box or cable box. A single item, supportable by their staff in India. Simples.

Not strictly speak true. The connection is presented to the LAN interface of the modem, with no user configurable settings in the modem. If they can see the modem on the network it's job done and they don't have to support anything further than that.
That's the better solution for them, but it's much less user friendly.

In reply to a post by bosie:

I would have thought the simple modem was easier to support than this Super Hub thing.

Yes, technically, if you could get out of supporting the customer owned router, whichever model that customer had. With an ISP supplied solution its easier for the ISP helpdesk to say "we only support what we supply".

The only problem VM have is the advanced user who needs "modem mode". Had that been in the SuperHub firmware from day one (even if helpdesk say they don't support that mode) then VM would have had much better PR.

yep it will be to cut their support costs however I think in the case of the superhub it failed.

Not because of the lack of modem mode as its only geeks like me who care about that but more that the wireless on the superhub is pretty horrid and that would have generated tons of support calls.

fior a while the CEO office were handing out vmng300s (standalone modem) but I think they have stopped now and instead pass on complainers the beta firmware for the superhub with modem mode on it.

The good news is modem mode is stable, and allows you to use a router again properly without double NAT hacking etc. The bad news is the modem mode firmware is still in beta and no idea yet when it will be released.