2000Mbps average download speed
200Mbps average upload speed
💳 Your Virgin Media Price:
£69.99 a month* for 18 months
Price from month 19 currently £84 a month*.
📦 Package Details:
Virgin Media WiFi Hub
Intelligent WiFi technology
2000 Mbps average download speed
200 Mbps average upload speed
🎁 Extra Benefits:
Access to perks and experiences with Priority
WiFi guarantee included at no extra cost and up to 3 WiFi pods if needed
1130Mbps average download speed
104Mbps average upload speed
💳 Your Virgin Media Price:
£41.00 a month* for 18 months
Price from month 19 currently £78 a month*.
📦 Package Details:
Virgin Media WiFi Hub
Intelligent WiFi technology
1130 Mbps average download speed
104 Mbps average upload speed
🎁 Extra Benefits:
Access to perks and experiences with Priority
WiFi guarantee included at no extra cost and up to 3 WiFi pods if needed
516Mbps average download speed
52Mbps average upload speed
💳 Your Virgin Media Price:
£33.00 a month* for 18 months
Price from month 19 currently £72 a month*.
📦 Package Details:
Virgin Media WiFi Hub
Intelligent WiFi technology
516 Mbps average download speed
52 Mbps average upload speed
🎁 Extra Benefits:
Access to perks and experiences with Priority
At its core, the Virgin Media Hub comprises several vital components that contribute to its superior performance. It includes multiple internal and external antennae designed to maximise signal strength and coverage, effectively reducing dead zones and enhancing overall WiFi reach. The dual-band capability allows the Hub to operate on both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies, ensuring optimal performance for various devices and applications. Additionally, integrating WiFi 6 technology in the Hub 5 significantly improves speed, latency, and network efficiency, making it particularly well-suited for households with numerous connected devices and high internet usage demands.
Furthermore, the Virgin Media Connect app significantly enhances user control over their home network. This intelligent app enables users to conduct WiFi scans to identify and rectify connectivity issues, ensuring consistent and reliable internet throughout the home. It also allows users to manage device connections, pause WiFi on specific devices to control screen time and optimise network performance. With real-time support available via live chat from 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, the Connect app provides comprehensive assistance and troubleshooting. Compatible with Hubs 3, 4, and 5, the app is essential for maintaining and optimising your home network.
The Virgin Media Connect app is an advanced tool that gives users comprehensive control over their home WiFi network. This app serves as the central interface for managing your Virgin Media broadband, facilitating an efficient setup and optimal internet connection performance. By utilising the Connect app, users can run intelligent WiFi scans throughout their homes, identifying and addressing any connectivity issues to ensure a consistently fast and reliable internet experience.
Technically, a hub in this context refers to a device that functions as a central connection point for devices in a network. The Virgin Media Hub is a sophisticated WiFi router with multiple components to maximise internet performance. These components include various antennae for enhanced signal strength and coverage, dual-band capabilities for handling both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, and the latest WiFi 6 technology, which improves speed, reduces latency, and increases the efficiency of the network. The Hub also features several Ethernet ports for wired connections, ensuring stable and fast internet for devices that require it.
The Virgin Media Connect app further augments the capabilities of the Hub by allowing users to optimize their network. With features like super-intelligent home scans, the app can detect and resolve WiFi dead spots, ensuring robust coverage throughout the home. Additionally, it provides the ability to pause WiFi on specific devices, which can be particularly useful for managing children’s screen time. The app also offers real-time support through live chat, available from 8 am to 10 pm, seven days a week, ensuring users have access to assistance whenever needed. And the best part? It’s compatible with Hubs 3, 4, and 5, making it an essential tool for maintaining and optimizing your home network.
| | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feature | Hub 5x | Hub 5 | Hub 4 | Hub 3 |
| Number of Antennae | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| 2.4 GHz WiFi Band | 3x3 11b/g/n/ax | 3x3 11/b/g/n/ax | 3x3 11/b/g/n | 2x2 11/b/g/n |
| 5 GHz WiFi Band | 4x4 11ax | 4x4 11ax | 4x4 11ac | 3x3 11ac |
| WiFi Spec | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Dual Band | Concurrent | Concurrent | Concurrent | Concurrent |
| Network Connection | XGS-PON | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.0 |
| Ethernet | 1x 10 Gbps, 3x 1Gbps | 1x 2.5Gbps, 3x 1Gbps | 4x 1Gbps | 4x 1Gbps |
| WPS Push Button | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Removable Password/QR Card | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Default SSID | Single | Single | Single | Single |
| Guest Network Available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Intelligent WiFi Technology | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Phoneline | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WiFi Pod Compatibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Hub 3 by Virgin Media is an older model in the lineup. It comes equipped with five antennae, which, while fewer than its successors, still provide a decent range for standard home use. The WiFi capabilities include a 2×2 configuration on the 2.4 GHz band and a 3×3 setup on the 5 GHz band, supporting the 802.11ac standard. This ensures that users experience stable and reasonably fast WiFi connections suitable for everyday internet activities like browsing, streaming, and online gaming.
One of the key features of the Hub 3 is its support for DOCSIS 3.0, a robust technology that enables high-speed internet over the existing cable infrastructure. While it doesn’t match the latest DOCSIS 3.1 or XGS-PON technologies found in newer models, DOCSIS 3.0 can still deliver speeds that satisfy most household needs. The Hub 3 includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing reliable wired connections for devices requiring stable and uninterrupted internet access. This makes it a versatile choice for homes with multiple devices, from smart TVs to gaming consoles and PCs.
Despite its age, the Hub 3 retains several useful features, such as a WPS push button for easy connection of devices, a removable password/QR card for quick network access, and support for a guest network. Additionally, it’s compatible with Virgin Media’s Intelligent WiFi technology and WiFi pods, which help to optimise the network and extend its range. For those prioritising budget and reliability over the latest technology, the Hub 3 offers solid performance with the essential features needed for a connected home.
Virgin Media Hub 4 was a significant upgrade on Hub 3 with enhanced features and improved performance. It comes with seven antennae and supports a 3×3 configuration on the 2.4 GHz band and a 4×4 setup on the 5 GHz band, utilising the 802.11ac standard. This combination ensures that users can enjoy faster and more stable WiFi connections, which are suitable for high-demand activities such as HD streaming, online gaming, and multiple simultaneous device connections.
One of the key features of the Hub 4 is its support for DOCSIS 3.1, a cutting-edge technology that enables ultra-fast broadband speeds. This advancement allows for higher data throughput and better handling of network congestion, making it ideal for households with heavy internet usage. The Hub 4 includes four Gigabit Ethernet ports, ensuring that devices requiring stable, high-speed wired connections, such as gaming consoles, smart TVs, and desktop computers, can operate without interruption. This makes the Hub 4 a versatile and future-proof option for modern homes with diverse internet needs.
In addition to its hardware improvements, the Hub 4 retains several features convenient to its predecessor. These include the WPS push button for easy device connections, a removable password/QR card for quick and secure network access, and support for a guest network to access visitors temporarily. The Hub 4 is also compatible with Virgin Media’s Intelligent WiFi technology and WiFi pods, which help to optimise the network and extend its coverage. Overall, the Hub 4 offers a substantial upgrade in performance and features, making it an excellent choice for users who need robust, high-speed internet connectivity and enhanced network capabilities.
The Hub 5 is a leap forward from previous models. Like the Hub 4, it has seven antennae and supports a 3×3 configuration on the 2.4 GHz band and a 4×4 setup on the 5 GHz band. But it goes further, fully embracing the 802.11ax (WiFi 6) standard. This means users can experience significantly faster speeds, lower latency, and better performance in crowded network environments, perfect for 4K streaming, online gaming, and managing multiple smart devices simultaneously.
A key feature of the Hub 5 is its support for DOCSIS 3.1, enabling ultra-fast broadband speeds that far surpass those of DOCSIS 3.0 found in the Hub 3. The Hub 5 includes one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port and three 1 Gbps ports, providing robust wired connections for high-speed internet access to various devices such as gaming consoles, smart TVs, and desktop computers. This makes it a versatile and future-proof option for homes with diverse and high bandwidth needs.
While they look very similar, the Hub 5x takes the advancements of the Hub 5 even further. In addition to seven antennae and support for WiFi 6, the Hub 5x introduces XGS-PON technology. This fibre optic technology offers symmetrical upload and download speeds, which significantly improves the DOCSIS 3.1 technology used in the Hub 5. This makes the Hub 5x particularly suitable for households requiring extreme internet speeds and bandwidth for activities such as ultra-high-definition video streaming, cloud gaming, and remote working with large data transfers.
Both the Hub 5 and Hub 5x maintain the user-friendly features seen in earlier models, such as the WPS push button for easy device connections, a removable password/QR card for secure and quick network access, and support for a guest network. They are also compatible with Virgin Media’s Intelligent WiFi technology and WiFi pods, optimising network performance and extending coverage. Compared to the Hub 4 and Hub 3, the Hub 5 and Hub 5x offer significant enhancements in speed, technology, and future-proofing, making them ideal choices for users who demand the best in-home networking solutions.
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