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Virgin Media reportedly prepping SuperHub 3 WiFi AC router

Virgin Media is said to be in the final stages of launching its next Super Hub router which will bring WiFi AC and four gigabit Ethernet ports to the table. 

The third version of the SuperHub is said to be based on a modified version of Netgear’s own C6250 DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless Gateway, which sports dual-band WiFi AC. This means the new SuperHub should provide faster speeds throughout the home than the previous one, which used the older WiFi N technology. 

Parental controls and DNLA support, letting you easily share content around the home and a USB 3.0 port, are also said to be on board. 

Virgin Media reportedly prepping SuperHub 3 WiFi AC router
Virgin Media’s current SuperHub – aka ‘the SuperHub 2’ 

According to industry site ISPreview, the router has already gone through its official WiFi certification process and Virgin Media is close to announcing the new hardware. 

It’s thought that as Virgin Media continues to roll out its latest programme of speed boosts across the network, new hardware will eventually be released to help people get the most out of those up to 152Mbps speeds. WiFi AC allows for much faster speeds to be transmitted around the home than WiFi N – up to 1.3Gbps compared to 450Mbps. 

In plain English this means your laptops, tablets and phones will be able to send and receive data when you’re connected to your new SuperHub. 

With the exception of Sky, all of the other major UK ISPs – BT, TalkTalk and EE – currently offer WiFI AC hardware with their packages. 

The presence of four gigabit Ethernet ports is a plus for those who prefer a wired connection over a wireless one. Older routers tend to only have one gigabit Ethernet port, meaning in shared homes and large families there would be a coin toss/punch-up to see who got the fastest port on the box. 

Virgin Media spokespeople declined to comment on any specifications and didn’t say when the SuperHub 3 would be announced. 

The last SuperHub was launched in May 2013 and was the first dual-band WiFi N router to be bundled with Virgin Media’s services. Dual-band WiFi routers use two different radio channels – 2.4GHz and 5GHz. 

Because lots of household devices such as baby monitors and microwaves use or cause interference on the 2.4GHz channel, dual-band devices give you the opportunity to use a less-congested frequency, which makes for a better experience overall. 

 

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