Cable modems?

Nigel

Virgin used to supply a modem instead of a router.  We have one and it is more compact than the 'Super'hub.

The speed is constrained to 100mb though.  We have been offered a free upgrade to 150mb but have held off as we would have to forgo the modem for the new device which a huge white affair.

The modem looks like this (apologies for poor picture and dust!). It fits on top of a Humax Freesat box with room to spare for a Nintendo Wii to the side.

I think Virgin are rather protective over their network so you may have difficulties in getting them to agree to using an alternative.

Is it possible to relocate the unit, the connection is only coax?

Richard

If you were able to go this route (and i suspect you can't with the Virgin cable service) then it wouldn't be plug and play. Did the support guy realise you wanted to replace the SH2 or just its routing capabilities (hence the Netgear suggestion from support) ?

 I know what you mean about the router - much preferred the little NTL cable modem we had before as it was tiny and easily hidden rather than the 'look at me' SH2 that replaced it - still it works fine (although only in modem mode as i had a separate wireless router already)

Hungryhalibut posted:

....................   ideally like something that is small, cheap, and doesn't need configuring - just attach the coax cable from the wall, and an Ethernet lead to the router. Does such a thing exist, and could someone point me in the right direction? Thanks!

A BT HH5 fits the bill nicely,  don't even need a separate router,  oohh,  suits you sir 

Isn't that for ADSL lines Mike ?

Motorola SURFboard in US is $36 at Amazon.  There must be something similar in UK.

I'm afraid your Virgin guy didn't know what he was talking about HH. The cable modem part of a Superhub isn't something you can easily buy separately.  In that it's a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem, no doubt they are available in the US, but if you procured one, you would have to persuade VM to put its MAC address into their subscriber management system, but even more tricky, you would need them to download the right configuration file to it when it booted up.

I had a VM cable modem just like Trickydickie until a couple of months ago, which worked fine, but VM phoned me to tell me they were discontinuing support for those at the end of 2016 and they wanted to give me a Superhub 2 for free. I was sceptical, but they agreed on a new contract to upgrade me to 200 Mbps broadband and provide the Superhub free for £10 a month less than I was paying before for 100 Mbps.  Previously I used a separate D-Link wifi router, but I decided to try the Superhub 2 out as delivered and haven't found any need to go back to a separate router. I have five Naim streamers, a US, a Synology NAS and numerous office and entertainment things connected via Netgear switches, as well as multiple IOS devices with the Naim apps on and it all just works fine all the time.

best

David

Thanks everyone. It sounds as though I'll need to stick with the massive Superhub. It lives behind the sofa so it's not a big deal. One more dippy question though - can I run a 5 or 10m Ethernet cable from the Superhub (as modem) to my router? An Internet search seems to suggest up to 100m is ok, but I thought I'd check. We are rejigging things in the dining room so I'd rather know before I start moving switches and the NAS. 

Yes you can with no problem Nigel. That's what i do. 

Marvellous! Thanks very much. 

james n posted:

Isn't that for ADSL lines Mike ?

ADSL and VDSL, but not cable..

Pedant 

I'm far from an expert in this, but as I understand it the cable modem is an integral part of the 'account security' system, ensuring that only authorized customers get the content they pay for.  I'd not think that this part of the system could be replaced with an off-the-shelf item.

james n posted:

Yes you can with no problem Nigel. That's what i do. 

And it's a yes you can from me. You can always try the long cable between your modem and router before you start moving things if you want extra reassurance!

best

David

james n posted:

Pedant 

 

Who led the Pedant's Revolt?

...

Which Tyler.