24-10-2012, 09:06 AM
See the thing is, Virgin are on their Superhub version 1. So while it could be better, the Superhub v2 is coming out Q2 next year (so a little birdy tells me 
) and the thing about designing new products is you can only get info for R&D after you've had feedback about it. There's only so much that can be tested in a lab, a lot of problems don't arise until it's out in public. BT are now on their 6th (iirc) hub and have learned a LOT in that time, Virgin have only had the D2 hub and the v1 Superhub. Product development takes time. Remember the first iPhone? That didn't have bluetooth or MMS but people happily spunked hundreds of pounds on one when they came out. Double standards maybe?
The Superhub isn't shit, these are isolated cases. I know plenty of people with them, kind of my job to install them, and I only get the odd phone call about one that's playing up. Shelf life doesn't seem great, maybe a couple of years tops, but i've had mine now for about a year and never had to reset it, apart from to force the download of the R36 firmware.
Incidentally, the R36 firmware was a patch job to try and fix wireless issues, but not all can be fixed so easily. For instance, anyone with an Atheros AR5007EG WLAN card will have trouble regardless of channel, wireless speed or security method. Only way to fix that is a driver update, but again Windows always seems to recognise the driver as being up to date when it actually isn't. It's a known compatability issue caused by out of date drivers on the customer's PC, NOT the superhub's fault. But of course, people are quick to jump on the Superhub's back saying it's the hub that's faulty as the last router worked with their laptop, which isn't strictly true. If your old VHS tapes don't work on your bluray player, is it the bluray player's fault?
Don't get me wrong, i've heard some horror stories about the Superhubs, i'm just trying to put forward a balanced argument as all you hear from the consumer side of things is "oh it's terrible, waste of money, worst service ever". If you think that's the case, go sign up to TalkTalk. Once again they've been rated the worst service in the Ofcom service awards but hey.. must be better than the Superhub right?
) and the thing about designing new products is you can only get info for R&D after you've had feedback about it. There's only so much that can be tested in a lab, a lot of problems don't arise until it's out in public. BT are now on their 6th (iirc) hub and have learned a LOT in that time, Virgin have only had the D2 hub and the v1 Superhub. Product development takes time. Remember the first iPhone? That didn't have bluetooth or MMS but people happily spunked hundreds of pounds on one when they came out. Double standards maybe?The Superhub isn't shit, these are isolated cases. I know plenty of people with them, kind of my job to install them, and I only get the odd phone call about one that's playing up. Shelf life doesn't seem great, maybe a couple of years tops, but i've had mine now for about a year and never had to reset it, apart from to force the download of the R36 firmware.
Incidentally, the R36 firmware was a patch job to try and fix wireless issues, but not all can be fixed so easily. For instance, anyone with an Atheros AR5007EG WLAN card will have trouble regardless of channel, wireless speed or security method. Only way to fix that is a driver update, but again Windows always seems to recognise the driver as being up to date when it actually isn't. It's a known compatability issue caused by out of date drivers on the customer's PC, NOT the superhub's fault. But of course, people are quick to jump on the Superhub's back saying it's the hub that's faulty as the last router worked with their laptop, which isn't strictly true. If your old VHS tapes don't work on your bluray player, is it the bluray player's fault?
Don't get me wrong, i've heard some horror stories about the Superhubs, i'm just trying to put forward a balanced argument as all you hear from the consumer side of things is "oh it's terrible, waste of money, worst service ever". If you think that's the case, go sign up to TalkTalk. Once again they've been rated the worst service in the Ofcom service awards but hey.. must be better than the Superhub right?
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