Virgin Media launches Intelligent Wi-Fi - but check you're on the best deal first - MSE News

Former_MSE_Stephen_B

Virgin Media is promising better in-home connectivity for millions of customers with its latest broadband kit - but you should check if you can get a cheaper deal first...

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'Virgin Media launches Intelligent Wi-Fi - but check you're on the best deal first''

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6_6_6

[FONT=&quot]Right, let's get something straight about Virgin and their disgraceful underhanded antics and criminal Hub 3 router which is garbage incarnate.

The Hub 3 is notorious for its broken chipset. For details read here; https://www.badmodems.com/

[/FONT][FONT=&quot] The Hub 3 is based on the Intel Puma chipset. For years Virgin have known very well that this chipset is broken, most noticeably during single-threaded requests i.e. downloading a file, etc.
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[FONT=&quot]But far beyond this simple observation, the latency and security of the connection is simply garbage. This Hub 3 needs / must be replaced by a Broadcom unit which suffers none of the above. Meanwhile Virgin continue to tout this broken modem as an offering.
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[FONT=&quot]This serves virgin well since it reduces the bandwidth you will consume massively and virgin get to blame their supplier Arris for the monumental cockup. So for them, this is Win Win since they get to benefit from the reduced bandwidth demanded by their customers [/FONT][FONT=&quot].
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[FONT=&quot]The fact that Branson plays golf with Obama, well, says it all really, who's surprised. [/FONT]

DonnySaver

At a time when other broadband providers are starting to offer 100% coverage in your home at an included price ....Vermin Media are wanting to charge you £3/month to help overcome the inadequecies of it's awful "Super" Hub 3. Shocking, money-making racket.

Anon

This article and the press release in my view contain false information, as I and no doubt other customers have found. You cannot get more than one booster free as a Full House customer.

The MSE article says:

Virgin's wireless booster uses the power cables in your home to extend the signal strength and costs £3/month on a 30-day contract – though you'll need to return it if you cancel. Additional boosters are £2/mth or those with a Full House or VIP TV bundle can get up to three boosters at no charge.

This will have been taken from the Virgin Media press release (https://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-medias-intelligent-wifi-to-revolutionise-in-home-connectivity.html) which states in the Notes to Editors, number 4:

Full House and VIP customers can get up to three boosters for free. Other customers will need to pay £3 per month and £2 for an additional booster.

I read this as you can have up to 3 free (including three free) as a Full House Customer - their system (and their staff) say as a Full House Customer you can only have one free, the second is £2 per month from contacting support and the third is £2 but only after a site visit.

Their website T&Cs state:

WiFi Booster: WiFi Booster available only to eligible customers for whom Virgin Media has identified (either through a Virgin Media agent or through the Virgin Media Connect app) a black spot inside the registered account address. Eligible customers can receive 1 WiFi booster per customer is available through the App. Eligible customers can receive a second booster by contacting our Service Agents. A third booster will only be issued after a site visit has taken place and is dependent upon agent assessment. Boosters are at no extra monthly cost for Full House TV customers (customers can check in My Virgin Media to see if they’re eligible). Monthly charge will apply if you downgrade to an ineligible Virgin Fibre package. Price for Virgin Fibre customers who have (or downgrade at any time to) other packages is an additional £3 a month for the first WiFi Booster, and £2 per additional WiFi Booster, cancellable at any time on 30 days’ notice. All equipment remains the property of Virgin Media. It must be returned to us upon request or a charge will apply. Hub 3 required.

So reading the above (press release and T&Cs), would anyone else expect you can only have one booster free as a Full House customer? I don't believe I am being selective in how I am reading this.

I have contacted them on numerous occasions so far and they insist I will be charged for the second. If I have misunderstood, then fine, but I think there is a mismatch between the press information, T&Cs and what their ordering system is allowing.

If their Superhub 3 worked effectively I wouldn't even be looking at these :mad:.

duggan1

Anon wrote: »

If their Superhub 3 worked effectively I wouldn't even be looking at these :mad:.

I don't have any huge problem with the Hub3, although I do have a deadspot that I've put a fudge in for so far. I'd like to get my free wifi booster but the app won't let me order one without an engineer install, and I can't find where to order it otherwise

Anon

duggan1 wrote: »

I don't have any huge problem with the Hub3, although I do have a deadspot that I've put a fudge in for so far. I'd like to get my free wifi booster but the app won't let me order one without an engineer install, and I can't find where to order it otherwise

When we identified the first deadspot (not difficult - just in the next room ), an Order Wi-fi Booster button appears in the app, which takes you through to an order page on their website.

duggan1

Anon wrote: »

When we identified the first deadspot (not difficult - just in the next room ), an Order Wi-fi Booster button appears in the app, which takes you through to an order page on their website.

Yep, though the website appears a bit broken, and the only option I get is for engineer install.