Virgin modem mode help

[ik9000]

Can anyone help me with how to get a netgear router working with the virgin hub3? Just received VM today and trying to get the home network set up.

The hub3 works in router mode, but comes up saying "network blocked" under info when put into modem mode. I presume the issue is with the hub therefore and not the separate router - though maybe I'm doing something wrong.

router is a netgear R7500. I've tried running the set-up wizard. It shows an IP address range. Gives "Failed to load page" when you try to open a site, and occassionally keeps just redirecting to the router admin page which is a bit confusing.

[Blastuk]

1. Set the virgin hub in to modem mode
2. plug in an ethernet cable from the designated port on the virgin hub to your wan port on the router
3. set your router up to use dhcp on the wan port

[GoNz0]

1. Set the virgin hub in to modem mode
2. plug in an ethernet cable from the designated port on the virgin hub to your wan port on the router
3. set your router up to use dhcp on the wan port

Sounds like the SH3 info page saying network blocked?
1,2 & 3 won't apply in that case

if not then rtfm as it states port 1

[ik9000]

yup tried it in port 1 and port 4 which is nearest the coax cable. and we don't have a manual. weren't sent one, there isn't one on their website and after hours on the phone to them earlier they won't email one either. not the most helpful

I found a page on the website about putting it into modem mode and followed it. ambiguity begins where it says only one port can then be used to enter the VM menu. that being nearest the coax, but it's unclear if therefore the router should be plugged into that port or in port 1.

[GoNz0]

yes it is port one, the SH2 has a note attached telling you what port. can you get in via 192.168.100.1 to see whats going off?

It may need a firmware update, usually automatic on a reboot so check your version against the virginmedia forums, probably better asking on there as well.

[ik9000]

Ok, so it is port 4 on the hub3

Problem seems to be the netgear router. After much faffing today it seems to finally have worked. For how long remains to be seen as had a few work-not-work moments...

For anyone else who has to go through this here is a step by step:

1)With just a laptop or whatever connected to the virgin hub3 via ethernet cable in port 1 log in to the hub (192.168.0.1)
2)enable modem mode, don't wait for the web browser to buffer out - just close it and unplug the ethernet cable
3) let the modem restart. Fully.
4) turn off the modem
5) Plug in the net cable to go to your router (usually yellow) into port 4. Make sure the router is NOT turned on!
6) restart the modem. Let it turn on. Fully. (the "ethernet" light will be green and the wifi logo light will be orange, with the power status bar at the bottom fully white. No lights will be flashing)
7) Wait a minute or two for good measure
8) Now turn on your router and wait for it to fully start, which for the netgear R7500 is a good 5 minutes or so. Wait for all the lights to only be blinking white, with the leftmost two - power and internet - solid white.
9) Only then connect your ethernet cables to your devices and log in to the Netgear www.routerlogin.net (I also tried to do this step via wifi but it didn't play ball. Not sure why - it shouldn't be an issue.)
10) Go to advanced - set up wizard. Let it do it automatically
11) Make sure you download Netgear Genie and run it on your machine. Skipping this was a deal breaker it turns out!
12) No need to register.
13) Under no accounts unplug the modem from the router. If you do you're back to square one. It might also apply if the router gets turned off. (I haven't tried that yet by itself since I moved everything into the cabinet and had to redo the rigmorole all over again. Luckily I have multiple net switches and some very long ethernet cables to connect to my desktop all the way over the other side of the place!)

I'm now getting:
199.84Mbps down, 12.48Mbps up, 9ms ping on ethernet
168Mbps down on wife's laptop
35.8Mbps 11Mbps up on wifes laptop (dual band N 7620 2.4GHz)
40.52Mbps down, 6.12Mbps up 33ms ping on plain old wireless N single band

Just no-one touch the router power switch ok?!

Oh and the VM hub info page (which you log into using 192.168.100.1 once you're in modem mode) still states "network access: blocked." So clearly this wasn't the issue!

[GoNz0]

I read the blocked things a firmware bug, not had that crap on my asus ac68u router m8, true about start the modem and reboot the router after if you get no signal 1st time round though.

[ik9000]

well, two days in and all seems to be ok. I'll mark this as resolved.

Typical though - now that I finally have fast internet suitable for gaming my machine is too old to play any modern titles. BF2 anyone? Crysis? LOTR BFME2? No, thought not.