Virgin Media cable

Deception · 20 Oct 2011 at 14:56

stokecity_m said:
the swtich isn't something i've looked at, the trouble i will also have is i need the wifi part also moving to the bedroom as my phones wont reach to the superhub at the moment.

Put superhub in to modem mode, then get an ethernet cable running from superhub to a router upstairs, then plug the cables in to that or run a cable from the router to a switch etc

arknor · 20 Oct 2011 at 15:56

PistolPete said:
Whilst this is true, provided you use OK quality cable & connect the plug OK then there should not be much degradation of the signal.

Anyways, all the people I personally know have attenuators fitted to their cables, so a little less signal would be welcome!!

you say that but when my cable was originally installed the guy had a nightmare job getting the signal levels right he said it was because the cable had to run along way from the pit, it took a lot of tweaking to get it right

PistolPete · 20 Oct 2011 at 16:26

RG59/U has losses of about 4dB per 33M at cable modem frequencies and I'm guessing most houses going from downstairs to upstairs should be well under that.

But yes, if you've got borderline signal and then add excessive amount of cable, use poor quality cable or terminate it badly then you could get problems.

awinchurch · 20 Oct 2011 at 20:00

PhillyDee said:
Yes they do. Sky use the screw on type. Virgin use a nickel plated screw one, which uses a small plastic ferrule to crimp the end on. It requires a special tool to push the end on.

Wrong! Virgin use compression F connectors, there's no crimping, it just pushes part of the connector into itself to secure onto the outer sheath and the grounding mesh.

Also the screw on connectors cause noise if not fitted perfectly and also the satellite cable is crap. Satellite and cable TV technologies differ massively which is why Virgin don't use regular satellite cable since its cheaper.

Anyway the satellite cable is designed to carry 1 signal down from the dish to the box, not 65+ different signals of Qam64 and/or Qam256 and a Qam16 return path.

Dodgy satellite cable and dodgy satellite connectors are the cause of most noise on the virgin media network. If the noise gets too bad from several customers on the same leg of the network it massively affects broadband speeds and reliability and when someone complains on a forum everyone responds with 'must be utilisation mate, find another provider'

Its that bad now that techs are supposed to be adding charges to customers accounts if they are found to be using this sort of cabling/connectors and causing noise but we don't do it because people don't realise how it affects the network but now you do

moorlander · 21 Oct 2011 at 18:48

Even before the superhub was updated to be able to be used as a modem only, I attached a second (Belkin draft N) router via an ethernet cable and set it up as an access point. It basically gave me an extra four port switch and the ability to use the wireless on the new router. If you set your laptop phones etc to roam to the strongest signals you should be able to use your connection all over the house only using ethernet / cat 5 cable

geon106 · 21 Oct 2011 at 19:17

Deception said:
It's normally F-type coax cable.

This. You can buy the cable online or from some shops.

Not sure if Overclocks stock it though.

I think you'd need a long cable, like very long before you'd get any issues. However, you'd have a lot of DIY running the cable upstairs if you want it to be tidy and out the way. If your house is rented or living with parents, well get permission first ! lol

awinchurch · 21 Oct 2011 at 19:47

Out of interest how much cable do you need and what colour? (Black or White) The missus is from stoke and id have to ask if she is visiting family any time soon but i guess i could get her to drop some off to you pre terminated by my good self

Werewolf · 21 Oct 2011 at 19:53

geon106 said:
This. You can buy the cable online or from some shops.

Not sure if Overclocks stock it though.

I think you'd need a long cable, like very long before you'd get any issues. However, you'd have a lot of DIY running the cable upstairs if you want it to be tidy and out the way. If your house is rented or living with parents, well get permission first ! lol

If you use the wrong cable, or it's badly terminated you could have issues with a 6 foot cable.
Seriously there are so many different levels of quality in co-ax, and the connections and even high quality satellite cable usually isn't as good as the stuff VM use.

A better option is generally to run a network cable to the point where you want the access, and then put in a simple router with it's DHCP turned off so it can act as an access point and switch (we've got a cheap belkin Wireless N router doing that duty in one room, it even has the option to use as an access point in the setup).

stokecity_m · 21 Oct 2011 at 21:08

cheers for all the info guys.
Having already got an ethernet cable in the right place i'll set the superhub to modem. Buy a good quality router and hope it doesn't slow down my internet like the current netgear one i own.

BuZ · 26 Oct 2011 at 18:32

Power-line Adapters or use repeaters/bridges to create a link.

welshdragon · 17 Nov 2011 at 17:28

Guys, bought some webro hd100 triple shielded coax with f connectors to move my superhub into another room. Is that cable ok? Everything I can find suggests so but just wanted to double check?

BuZ · 18 Nov 2011 at 13:35

Do you still get good results with your broadband. Is it dropping out, or losing connection?

welshdragon · 23 Nov 2011 at 15:41

Just to update incase anyone wa sinterested the Webro HD100 cable worked a charm. Used two screw type f connectors and just moved the coax on the front of the house and relocated the wall box. Very very happy. Saved £99 too yay