{"id":3236,"date":"2013-05-09T13:52:57","date_gmt":"2013-05-09T12:52:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=3236"},"modified":"2013-06-03T09:56:52","modified_gmt":"2013-06-03T08:56:52","slug":"virgin-media-uk-unveil-next-generation-super-hub-broadband-router","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2013\/05\/virgin-media-uk-unveil-next-generation-super-hub-broadband-router.html","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE3 Virgin Media UK Unveil Next Gen SuperHub WiFi Broadband Router"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cable ISP Virgin Media<\/a> (Liberty Global), perhaps in an attempt to steal some of the thunder from BT<\/a>’s recent FREE Sport and Hub 4 announcements (here<\/a> and here<\/a>), has today unveiled a next generation Super Hub<\/strong>\u00a0(V2) wireless router of its own for their broadband customers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The operators first Super Hub<\/strong> (NetGear<\/em>) router \/cable modem soon became notorious for problems that stretched from corrupted downloads to poor wifi<\/a> performance and other afflictions. As a result the “broadband boffins<\/em>” at Virgin Media<\/a> hope that their new kit will prove to be both faster and more effective.<\/p>\n

The new Super Hub is currently being used by a small group of “selected customers<\/em>” and is expected to launch in the coming weeks<\/strong>. Virgin Media<\/a> also claims that it can handle even faster speeds than BT<\/a>’s Hub 4 “thanks to an extra antenna on the 5GHz channel that improves range as well as speed<\/em>“. The Super Hub will also enable concurrent access to both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz wireless channels.<\/p>\n

Virgin Media SuperHub V2 Specifications (Netgear 2013 Model)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cable Chipset: Intel Puma 5<\/p>\n

Maximum: 8×4 Doscis 3.0 channels<\/p>\n

2.4GHz Wifi<\/a> Radio: Qualcom Atheros AR9344<\/p>\n

2.4 GHz Antennas: Two Spatial streams (2×2)<\/p>\n

5GHz Wifi<\/a> Radio: Qualcomm Atheros AR9580<\/p>\n

5 GHz Antennas: Three Spatial streams (3×3)*<\/p>\n

4 x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports**<\/p>\n

1x USB 2.0 port<\/p>\n

Size: 215mm high x 69mm Wide (at widest point) x 195mm Long<\/p>\n

Weight: 520g (unit without PSU)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Virgin reminded us that BT<\/a>’s Hub 4 supports “two spatial streams<\/em>“, 3 x 100Mbps Ethernet Ports and only 1 x Gigabit Ethernet port. As above, Virgin\u2019s SuperHub support 4 x Gigabit LAN ports and its 5GHz mode is capable of speeds up to 450Mbps (300Mbps on Hub 4). We hope to have some pictures soon.<\/p>\n

UPDATE 3:46pm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sadly Virgin Media have declined to send us a picture before the official launch, though if any beta testers would like to send one our way.. :).<\/p>\n

UPDATE 7:38pm<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to our readers we’ve been able to add a little picture of the new router, which looks more or less like the previous model.<\/p>\n

UPDATE 6:50am<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks to another reader we now have a video. In addition ISPreview.co.uk understands that the included USB 2.0 port doesn’t currently have a specific function, although if it’s anything like other such devices then future support for USB flash drives and possibly USB mobile broadband modems is a significant possibility (4G<\/a> perhaps?).<\/p>\n