Do Virgin cable modems need a password?

Fourstar · 27 Jan 2011 at 21:54

Odd question I can't see a definite answer for.

Been years since I've done anything but pay the bill and I have no idea of my username and password for account management so I went through their password resetter for which you only need the latest statement.

It popped up the username [email protected] (where x are random assorted alphanumeric characters) then prompted me for a new password.

This looks suspiciously like a DSL username used to log onto the network.

If I reset the password is the modem going to drop off Virgin's network?

I'd rather avoid that as I'm 160 miles away from the house at the mo and a round trip to enter a new password would be quite a pain!

troops · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:11

nope, the user name/password has nothing to do with the modem, its basically virgin customer account/email login info

Fourstar · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:25

Thanks for clearing that up and welcome to the forum

It does make me wonder.. Do you know if the modems require an credentials be entered or is it all server side based on the network knowing which physical cables go where and what services/speed grades they should receive?

whitecrook · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:31

Fourstar said:
Thanks for clearing that up and welcome to the forum

It does make me wonder.. Do you know if the modems require an credentials be entered or is it all server side based on the network knowing which physical cables go where and what services/speed grades they should receive?

Yeah, the network 'knows' your modem.

Fourstar · 27 Jan 2011 at 22:51

whitecrook said:
Yeah, the network 'knows' your modem.

Knows the modem or the cable? I could interchange any two virgin modems and they'd automatically configure and connect without intervention?

Much more simple than DSL. Saying that I've only ever once had a modem die and was at the time with adsl24.co.uk. They sent a replacement pre configured with the username/password which was useful as I was again away from home at the time.

whitecrook · 27 Jan 2011 at 23:59

Yes. It basically works on MAC address to identify the modem. The modems are programmed to pick up the boot/config files for whatever service.

dbmzk1 · 28 Jan 2011 at 03:14

They know which cable goes to your house, which tap it goes to and what individual modem is connected to it. There's no login information needed.

hansp · 28 Jan 2011 at 11:03

They cannot actually see what cable you are on. It is all about how the modem identifies itself.

edscdk · 28 Jan 2011 at 11:06

someone already said, but the modems ahve to be "registered" i think the term is on the network you have to call virgin to do this if its a new device

randal · 28 Jan 2011 at 11:16

You can login to cable modems, point your web browser at 192.168.100.1. Although you won't get anything too helpful out of it, save for the operating config and some connection statistics. Handy for diagnosing connection probs though.

jongeeone · 25 Mar 2011 at 22:10

Sorry to hijack.

So i forgot the password to my Belkin router, which connects to a VM Media cable modem. Could i cold reset the router and not have to enter in any details after?

I don't want to reset, then find i can't connect as i have no log in details (like an ADSL connection).

Thanks!

whitecrook · 25 Mar 2011 at 22:22

yes (probably)

jongeeone · 25 Mar 2011 at 23:15

Treznor · 25 Mar 2011 at 23:58

jongeeone said:
Sorry to hijack.

So i forgot the password to my Belkin router, which connects to a VM Media cable modem. Could i cold reset the router and not have to enter in any details after?

I don't want to reset, then find i can't connect as i have no log in details (like an ADSL connection).

Thanks!

Yeah, you would need to reset the wireless name / password possibly, but it would connect and pick up your internet connection without doing anything.