FAQs

How to connect a router to the Virgin Media Hub/Super Hub

Details

Written by Administrator

This FAQ is relevant to the Vigin Media Hub and Virgin Media Superhub

Updated 14/9/2011

As Virgin released the r30 firmware 13/9/2011 which includes the option to turn the Superhub into a basic modem this FAQ should no longer be needed for the Superhub, this FAQ can still be used for the Hub which as yet has no equivalent firmware update

Previously Virgin Broadband users in the UK on Virgin's cable network were supplied with a standard DOCSIS modem and were required to connect their own (or Virgin supplied) router to allow multiple devices to connect at the same time.

Recently Virgin Broadband have changed what they supply and now use the Hub and Super Hub (custom Netgear routers) which are wireless capable and supports multiple devices. However some customers still prefer to use their own router instead of the Hub/Super Hub especially when wanting to support multiple Xboxes with an Open NAT which (at time of writing) some users have reported the Hub does not support. (The Superhub should support multiple Xboxes with an Open NAT see the details on this page)

If you simply connect your own router to the Hub/Superhub will will encounter NAT issues even with one Xbox as you are "double NAT'ing" Virgin have hinted that they will in the future release a firmware update for the Hub/Superhub to allow you easily turn off its routing functions and make it a very standard modem so you can connect your own router.

Until this time there is a workaround available so that you can correctly connect your own broadband router to the Hub/Superhub wth the Hub/Superhub acting as a standard modem and handing off all of the work to your second router.

• Plug your cable router’s WAN port into any of the LAN ports on the Hub/Superhub
• Plug your PC into any Hub/Superhub LAN port and access the management page by entering 192.168.0.1 into your web browser
• Login to the Hub/Superhub the username/password details are on a sticker on the side of your hub (more help here)
• On the LAN IP page examine the DHCP lease info; you should see your PC and the second router list.
• Note the MAC address of the router and add it to the DHCP reservation section and give the second router an IP address of 192.168.0.10. (Use ipconfig /all in a cmd window to find the MAC address of your PC if your not sure which is which)
• Now go to the DMZ host page on the Hub/Superhub and enter the same IP address of the second router (e.g. 192.168.0.10)
• Additional Suggestion:- At this stage it would also be wise to turn off the Hub/Superhub wireless functionality and firewall and let your second router provide this for you
• Turn off the second router and back on again, plug your PC into the second router, login to the second router and set the router’s WAN setup for "Does your Internet connection require a login" to NO, this may also be known as Internet Connection type - "Automatic Configuration - DHCP" (it varies from router to router) and then you should see the WAN or Internet as 192.168.0.10
• Connect any remaining devices to the second router
• The changes are now complete

The instructions above will work for the VMDG280 and VMDG480

Full credit for these instructions go to lowei of the Official Xbox Forums, thank you for sharing this.