Discover how to get more out of your connection A quick guide to your Virgin Media Hub 3.0 and WiFi Weak Wi-Fi? Contents The basics • Six tips for winning WiFi 02 • Hub 3.0 LEDs explained 04 • WiFi card 05 Setting up your Virgin Media Hub 3.0 • Connecting to your Hub 3.0 wirelessly 06 • Connecting to your Hub 3.0 manually 07 • Windows 10 setup 08 • Mac setup 09 Other useful stuff • Troubleshooting 10 • Jargon buster 11 • Meet The Inclusives 12 01 Six tips for winning WiFi Six tips for zzz winning WiFi Here’s 6 simple tips to make sure you enjoy Give your the full range and power of your new gadgets and gizmos a break Virgin Media Hub 3.0 Remember that You can add so many some devices things to your wireless 10 network: computers, have limits consoles, smartphones, TVs and even music 11 New devices tend to Get a clearer systems. Just bear in be better for wireless 12 mind that your WiFi is signal connectivity than older shared out between kit. But it isn’t just about Interference can weaken them, so if you’ve got age – tablets and your Hub’s powers, so it’s a busy household it’s Switch channel smartphones are a best to position it away probably better to with a reboot brilliant way to get from other electrical download large files late online, but right now devices, like baby at night, or download Your Hub transmits their small size means monitors and wireless movies and music before signals on wireless they can’t quite keep up Don’t tuck your speakers. you play them. channels in the 2.4GHz with newer computers Hub 3.0 away and 5GHz bands. when it comes to speed. If another gadget nearby Hiding your Hub in a TV is also using one of the cabinet or closed same channels (for Keep your shelving can block your example, your Hub 3.0 upright wireless signal. It’s best neighbour’s router), out in the open. Your Hub works best the two devices could when it’s standing on be duelling it out for the its base, lights facing airwaves. Turn your Hub into the room. off and switch it back on again. It’ll automatically pick up the least congested channels, giving your Hub more room to do what it does best. 02 03 LEDs WiFi card Hub 3.0 LEDs explained Here’s my card The lights on the front of your Hub tell you what’s It’s always good to have your WiFi ID and password on and connected. Here’s what each one means. handy – so we’ve popped them on a removable card. ) d Internet LED WiFi LED This fl ashes during setup, then This fl ashes during setup, stays green for 2 minutes when then stays green for 2 minutes you’re done. It isn’t on during when you’re done. It isn’t on normal use, but turns red if during normal use, but turns there’s a problem. This light red if there’s a problem. fl ashes green when the This light fl ashes green if Hub’s downloading a you press the WPS button. software update. Base LED Lights up when your Hub’s turned on, then fl ashes and changes colour during set up. It’s white during normal operation but turns red if there’s a problem. If you spot any issues, try our Troubleshooting tips on page 10. WPS button Pressing this button lets you use WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) to add a wireless device or computer to your network. 04 05 Setting up your Hub 3.0 Connecting to your Connecting to your Hub 3.0 wirelessly Hub 3.0 manually Ready to get online? If your Hub’s on, Whether you’re on Windows or a Mac, here’s you’re just a few easy steps from the action. how to get going with WiFi on your machine. Installed by our technician? Windows 8 setup Your computer should already be connected to your Hub. • Step 01 Want to add another computer or device, like your tablet or smartphone? Just go to your device’s wireless manager, find your SSID and enter your From the Start menu, move your mouse WiFi password (see page 5), or follow the instructions for your computer’s to the top right or bottom right corner of operating system on the next few pages. the Start screen. A side bar with 5 icons will appear. Try a wired connection by plugging one end of an ethernet cable into one of the four internet ports (marked INT 1-4) on the back of your Hub 3.0, and the • Step 02 other end into your computer or laptop. Or head to virginmedia.com/help for a hand. Click the icon at the bottom of the sidebar and your settings panel will pop open. Did you plug the Hub in yourself? Settings When everything’s connected and you’ve called the Virgin Media activation number, your Hub will take about 15 minutes to download the latest software and reboot itself. When that’s done, it’ll be online and • Step 03 broadcasting a wireless signal. All you need to do then is connect up and Click the Available icon to show a list go. Don’t forget, it can take about 30 minutes after you’ve called to activate of WiFi networks, then choose your own your broadband service for it to go live. WiFi network (its name will be on your Hub WiFi card – see page 5). If you’re having any hiccups, check your QuickStart guide. Remember: if you’ve already had broadband in your home you’ll need to reconnect all your devices to your Hub. For example newer versions of alarms and energy monitors may connect to your broadband. If you’re unsure, check the device instructions or contact the manufacturer. 06 07 Setting up your Hub 3.0 Windows 10 setup Mac setup • Step 01 • Step 01 From the Start menu, choose Settings, then Network First click the AirPort wireless icon in the and Internet. Or, click the Network icon in the top right of your screen, just near the clock. notification tray right next to the clock. Can’t see this icon? You’ll want to connect to your Hub by going to Apple > System • Step 02 Preferences > Network > AirPort. Or, on older Macs, through Applications > Internet Choose the WiFi option to see available networks. Connect. Your router should appear in One of these should be the network name printed on the list as something like VM123456 (your your Hub’s WiFi card – see page 5. actual network name will be on your Hub WiFi card). • Step 03 Click to choose your WiFi network, and tick the box • Step 02 saying ‘Connect automatically’ before you click Click your network name. You’ll then be Connect. prompted for the password printed on your Hub WiFi card, then click OK – and that’s it! • Step 04 You’re away. Enter your WiFi password (it’s also on your Hub’s WiFi card), and click to confirm. That’s it! 08 09 Troubleshooting Jargon buster Troubleshooting Your Hub 3.0’s designed for plain sailing. But if you’ve noticed a dropped signal, there are plenty of easy fixes. 1. The old off-and-on trick Details to access the clicking the wireless icon 8. Find the right spot for Turn everything off and settings page are printed in the bottom right-hand your hub. wait 60 seconds. Then on the base of your Hub. corner of your screen. Where you put your Hub turn on the Hub again. can sometimes affect its Wait a few minutes while wireless performance. your Hub reconnects to A quick look at this handy the internet, then turn on 4. Is your WiFi 6. Wire it up picture should help you your computer or device. turned on? If you aren’t having much find the best location. Double-check that your luck with a wireless computer’s wireless is connection, try creating switched on. On a laptop, a wired connection Jargon buster 2. Check your there might be a small (see page 6). When connections side button. Some tablets you’re online, head to Do place centrally Reposition Hub or device to avoid Have a quick look at and phones also give you virginmedia.com/help obstructions Breaking down some all your cables and the option to turn wireless for more help with your connections and make on and off, or to go into wireless connection. broadband barriers sure everything’s firmly flight mode. Monitor in place. SSID (wireless network name) Don’t hide behind Don’t place Hub large metal or device near An SSID, or Service Set Identifier, is the network 7. Add a bit more oomph object such as interferers name attached to your Hub, and what you connect flat screen TVs To improve coverage in to with your computers and devices. 3. Got the right hard-to-reach areas at You’ll find the name of yours on the WiFi card at passphrase? home, try adding the bottom of your Hub. Have you entered your Powerline adaptors to WiFi password correctly? 5. Have a word with your your network. Take a look WiFi password Check the WiFi card that WiFi manager at virginmedia.com/ This is the WiFi password you’ll be asked to enter comes slotted into the Your computer’s Wireless powerline for more when you’ve chosen your SSID.