x-box and network problems (Virgin Media)

[Milo 683]

I've had to temporarily disable wireless security to get the x-box to connect to Live. The WPA2 signal was full strength on the laptop and every other device that is connected however the x-box suddenly stopped seeing it. I disabled the security and now it can see the network and connect.

Any ideas what the problem is and how I can re-enable WPA2 without the x-box losing the signal again?

I should add, I must have been a mass murderer in a past life as I am saddled with the little black box of shite that is otherwise know as the Virgin Superhub. It is the worst wireless device in the world and randomly disconnects and drops the signal for no other reason than it is fcuking useless. It would be more use as a doorstop. Virgin should forget about doubling their speeds and concentrating on producing a set up that works and rather than the horseshit that goes under the name, Superhub. I am not alone in battling daily with this 1980s piece of hardware, the internets are littered with similar stories (albeit maybe not as colourful).

[Calm Chris 749]

Ours has worked faultlessly for a year or so, it was a self instal so no Virgin engineer to feck it up. While I'm refurbing the home office at the moment, it does make quite a good door step- that's multifunctional for you.

It's placed in the mid house level, wi fi wise signal 10-15m distance on any floor with up to 3 doors / walls as obstruction and no problems.

Since you say the laptop is fine, might the fail be more to do with the Xbox and it's wifi bit than the vm hub?

[Milo 683]

To be fair, it's probably 2 separate problems. The wireless signal from our superhub is incredibly poor. The hub is on the middle of 3 floors - there are spots throughout the house where the signal is very bad, to the point you lose it. Even sitting within 6m of it, with no physical obstructions, it can drop out at any time. The Virgin forums are littered with similar tales of woe and the hub seems to be universally acknoweldged as a cheap and nasty bit of kit that has known limitations.

A possible solution is to use it as a modem and buy another [proper] router. That's like buying a car and them saying the engine is pants and it cuts out but if you buy your own engine and fit it yourself, it may work.

I should add, most the internal walls are stud walls.

Anyway, I digress. The x-box problem seems to something to do with how it communicates with the hub. No settings were changed - it worked yesterday and today it doesn't. Google semed to suggest this is not uncommon and one solution was to disable security on your wireless signal. I did that, and it works. Only I'm not happy with having an open network. We live in a area where logistically it's unlikely a neighbour could pick it up* (I can only see 1 other neighbour's intermittently and it's a very weak signal) but that not's the point. Ideally, I'd like a permanent fix. Disabling WPA2 was to preserve my sanity as removing online PS3s/x-box access in this house causes more trouble than I can be bothered with.

* even if they did, they'd soon get sick of it randomly giving up

Edited February 17, 2012 by Milo

[byron13 0]

How old is the xbox wireless dongle thing? Older ones don't do wpa2 !!!

[Milo 683]

X box is only 7 months old and is worked without any drama on WPA2 until now

[CarMad 740]

Well the fist thing I'd do is check what channel you are using and see what other people are using as well.

There are a few program's that can do this just do a google or get this http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/

Most wireless issues are because everyone uses channel 6 day or 1, don't leave it in auto mode it never works. Walk around the house and check for all the networks and what channels they use a pick one for yourself that is 2 clear channels away from the others if you can. I'm willing to bet this might solve many of your dropout problems straight away.

And if you really think the Superhub is the problem remove it from the equation. Put it into bridge mode and attach your own wireless hub to it and hey presto you can once and for all know if its that that is causing you the grief.

It's funny really as many people say its the worse wireless in the world but a few settings changes, turn off the flood protection and fix the wireless channel and it has been the most stable that I've owned.

[Milo 683]

Unfortunately I've tried the flood protection and manual channel solutions as well as the frequency, a long time ago. I really don't think it's interference as where we are, I struggle to pick up anyone else's network, in fact I have only ever managed to pick up one other network and that is so weak it is very seldom available.

Eldavo offered me an all singing and dancing router a while back to try bridge mode but at the time Virgin had made it extremely difficult to do so. The latest firmware for the hub, R30, apparently makes it much easier and he kindly offered it to me again yesterday so I will give it a go.

And like I have already said, a quick Google and a browse of the Virgin forums reveals many others having the exact same problems as me. Whatever the problem is, it lies with the Virgin and their hub and it ruins what is otherwise a superb service.

[CarMad 740]

That's a shame, it's a Netgear router under the covers I think so you would have thought they know what they are doing.

I must be lucky I host a website and stream lots of data and I can't remember the last time I lost a connection and rest it, hopefully that will continue.

[Milo 683]

Well, I've now got the hub in bridge mode and using a Belkin Pre-N router*. Wow, what a difference. The x-box is reporting a 3 (out of 4) bar wireless signal. I've had a wander around the house and all the blackspots are reporting an excellent signal.

I've still got it set as an unsecured network for the time being - I need to come back to that problem. One step at a time, if the house is connected to virtual x-box and PS3 worlds, my life is a whole lot easier.

* it took a call to the North East IT Helpdesk though. They were pretty crap, laughed and swore a bit and took the piss. Wouldn't recommend them.

[eldavo69 1,811]

When you complain that there's no instructions and they're there in the box in front of you, helpdesk finds it hard to stay serious.

[Milo 683]

Hidden. They were hidden in the box.

[eldavo69 1,811]

Hiding in plain sight, like the reset button?

[Milo 683]

48+ hours later.....Superhub in modem mode and router working a treat (although not sure it supports the speed of my connection very well).

I secured the network using WPA2 via the router rather than the hub, and the x-box connected without any drama. X-box continues to show 3 out of 4 bar strength and has never dropped out once so it proves the Superhub was to blame for the flaky connection throughout the house.

If anyone else suffers from a weak wireless signal from their Virgin Superhub, I'd strongly recommend you stick it into modem mode and attach a proper router. I only wish I'd done it months ago.