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Virgin Media launches new dual band Super Hub, the ‘UK’s fastest wireless router’

Virgin Media has launched its new next-generation Super Hub wireless router that makes use of dual band technology. 

Thanks to multiple antennas, the Virgin Media 2013 Super Hub promises better coverage around the home. It’s got two antennas providing coverage on the 2.4GHz band and three on the 5GHz band. In layman’s terms this means WiFi performance is less likely to be affected by other gadgets around the home. 

Virgin Media launches new dual band Super Hub, the ‘UK’s fastest wireless router’
The new Virgin Media Super Hub is the fastest wireless router in the west – for now

Virgin Media recently produced a Wanted!-style poster detailing ‘Broadbandits’, gadgets like baby monitors, microwaves and cordless telephones. These devices use the 2.4GHz band so your WiFi can get congested. The 5GHz band is less congested so WiFi performance here is generally smoother.

Independent testing carried out by the University of Bristol and Farncombe Consulting compared the 2013 Super Hub against routers from TalkTalk, Sky and BT’s Home Hub 3. 

It claims the 2013 Super Hub was found to typically be 6-9 per cent better than the competition during testing, and set a new performance benchmark in the 5GHz band.

Virgin Media will be testing its new Super Hub against the new BT Home Hub 4 over the coming weeks, but claims the extra 5GHz antenna gives it a top speed of 450Mbps against BT’s 300Mbps.

Joe Lathan, director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: “As the number of gadgets that connect to the internet grows, the more people need superfast broadband so everyone in the home can get online at the same time.

“Our Super Hubs are designed to help customers get the most from their fibre connections and we’ve designed our new Super Hub to deliver the best in-home WiFi experience for customers on our fastest speeds – those who regularly connect lots of devices to the internet at the same time.”

The new Super Hub will be free to new Virgin Media broadband subscribers up-to-60Mbps and up-to-100Mbps services, while existing customers on 60Mbps or 100Mbps will be able to get one with a £49.95 charge to cover an engineer setup visit.

New and existing customers on the 30Mbps service will still be able to order in the original Super Hub.

The full specification for the Virgin Media 2013 Super Hub is:

  • Cable chipset: Intel Puma 5
  • Maximum inputs: 8×4 DOCSIS 3.0 channels
  • 2.4GHz WiFi radio: Qualcom Atheros AR9344
  • 2.4GHz antennas: 2 spatial streams (2×2)
  • 5GHz WiFi radio: Qualcomm Atheros AR9580
  • 5GHz antennas: 3 spatial streams (3×3)
  • Ethernet LAN ports: 4 x Gigabit 
  • USB 2.0 ports: 1
  • Dimensions: 215mm high x 69mm wide (at widest point) x 195mm long
  • Weight: 520g (unit without PSU)

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