ISP Virgin Media Business UK Prep New Hitron Chita Router
After many years of waiting, it looks as if broadband ISP Virgin Media Business (VMO2) will finally introduce a new DOCSIS 3.1 powered router for customers, which looks as if it will be based off the Hitron Chita cable gateway and could herald the long-overdue arrival of a new 1Gbps package.
At present the fastest business broadband package on VMB – excluding high-capacity Ethernet options for larger firms – is still their 500Mbps (50Mbps upload) ‘Voom Fibre‘ plan, which for the most part has continued to be sold alongside a much older Hitron CGNV4 router – this only supports the older EuroDOCSIS 3.0 network standard.
The fact that VMB has yet to replace their existing Hitron router and launch a new gigabit speed plan has long been somewhat of a bone of contention with business customers, particularly since the provider’s consumer division – Virgin Media – has had such packages since 2019. Virgin’s consumer division actually now has two DOCSIS 3.1 routers – the Hub 4.0 (Arris TG3492LG-VMB) and Hub 5.0 (Sagemcom F3896LG-VMB).
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We don’t know why VMB have been dragging their feet so much over this, but the good news is that the first signs of change have now been spotted. A number of pages on VMB’s website have recently started to show pictures of a new router (Credits to Clive), which is the DOCSIS 3.1 capable Hitron Chita. Officially, the operator declined to answer our questions on this and instead offered just a vague comment.
A VMB Spokesperson told ISPreview.co.uk:
“We have some really exciting projects underway and our customers have a lot to look forward to in 2022.”
Unofficially, we fully expect a 1Gbps style broadband package to launch soon. But we don’t yet know if those new orders for their existing packages will receive the Chita too, or whether an upgrade service will exist for older customers.
The router itself seems like a reasonably capable device, although there’s nothing particularly special in its spec sheet (i.e. no Wi-Fi 6 support or 2Gb LAN ports, but you do get WPA3 encryption). The lack of a WAN port is also something that may irritate those who expect such things when purchasing a business product.
In terms of WiFi speed, the Chita looks as if it can reach a peak of 600Mbps via the 2.4GHz band and 1733Mbps over 5GHz. The router itself measures 65mm (W) x 240mm (H) x 210mm (D), while it promotes power consumption of 8 Watts (power save mode), 22W (typical) and 36W (maximum).
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Hitron Chita – Key Specs
DOCSIS 3.1 2×2 multi-carrier OFDM
DOCSIS 3.0 32×8 channel bonding
Switchable 5-85/5-204MHz upstream
Switchable 108-1218/ 258-1218MHz downstream
Wi-Fi 4×4 5GHz 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO and 3×3 2.4GHz 802.11n dual band concurrent internal antennas
WPA3 Encryption
16 SSIDs (8 SSIDs per radio)
Individual configuration for each SSID (security, bridging, routing, firewall and Wi-Fi parameters)
4 x 1G Ethernet (RJ45) ports
1 x USB 3.0 port
2 x HD voice ports (RJ11) with PC1.5 (NCS/SIP) or PC2.0(IMS) support
1 x Coax port (RF F Type 75 Ω female connector)
1 x WPS Button for Wi-Fi
Extensive operator control via configuration file and SNMP
TR-069 and HNAP for easy setup and remote management
Optional HitronCloud home network management support
The new router also supports both DSLite as well as 6RD for different IPv6 deployment and transition strategies, you know.. for if ever VMB actually get around to doing IPv6, which at this point would seem like a small miracle.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook and Linkedin.
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Still rubbish router from VM
Ever used one or read any reviews from people who have?
I cant believe these lot are still alive for business, how comes? I thought with everything going on, they’d soon go out of business with that attitude.
Now all they need to do is actually make DOCSIS 3.1 work nationally, like its taken Virgin this long its become a meme. Still waiting…..
3.1 works everywhere VM have network. Not sure what you mean?
“Now all they need to do is actually make DOCSIS 3.1 work nationally”
They already have.
The 1gig package is unavailable in some highly contended areas but that doesn’t mean the underlying network isn’t DOCSIS 3.1.
Why are you waiting? Do you have a house in every town in the country?
22w average power use, Christ these VM routers are power hungry
Sending and receiving lots of data over copper can be quite challenging, and there’s a whole computer and WiFi chipset to power along with a 4×1 GbE switch, too. It adds up.
To be fair the power usage does seem high. The highly rated (cough cough) Superdud 3 only uses around half this amount.
POsitive new that they have a DOCSIS 3.1 device in the pipeline, but given they seem to be stickign with Hitron, surely a unit with a 2.5 Gb/s LAN port would make sense.
yeah! like wtf did they both with 1gb ports?????
Probably a poor choice since it’s still using an Intel Puma 7 chipset.
I can confirm the Hitron Chita is definitely in use. I’ve switched over to the Voom 500 business offering this month and the Chita is what I’m using. I also overheard a call between technicians confirming the Chita is now what they’re rolling with.
I asked about 1Gbps over coaxial (Voom) but they’re apparently still testing it to ensure it’s ready for their business customers.
The reason for my tech visit, for anyone wondering, is because I had serious hiccups getting the service working due to being issued the wrong GRE tunnel credentials. That whole GRE tunnel setup was quite frustrating to encounter in itself – VM’s business offerings are not actually business-class and they need to be upfront about this. I’m thinking to complain about it (and perhaps go to the Ombudsman) as well as them blowing past the guaranteed 12-hour resolution SLA over what I insisted was a blatant issue with the GRE tunnel. It was nothing worth wasting mine and a technician’s time over. So many work hours and limited time in the evening wasted over this…
For anybody switching over from the residential service to the business offerings, let me assure you that the customer service aspect is just as rubbish.
Couldn’t careless about virgin media overpriced and greedy that’s why I got rid of them last September just waiting for 5g mast In my postcode where I live for home broadband
Who’d have thought a new 5g mast wouldn’t have enough back haul eh…………..
But could care enough to comment on an article about them… ok then
If business is 500 down/50 up currently, I wonder what the upstream of 1Gb/s is planned to be? Perhaps this is what is taking VM time to sort out.
I guess we will find out if the GRE tunnel performance issues were at the CPE end or elsewhere in their network
i have the 1G BUSINESS SERVICE with the new hitron router and iam getting no where near 1G Speed iam still getting the vroom 500 speed talking to tech support did no good so iam thinking of ditching them and going with diffrent business that can actually offer me the 1G Speed and service