jonnutnut

Q: Slow Web Browsing Using Virgin Media Super Hub

Hey everyone

 

I bought  a new 12" Macbook and when browsing the web or doing anything that requires an internet connection, the Mac simply crawls, web pages take so long to load they crash and it's agonising.

 

I have called Apple support numerous times and they have exhausted the options to attempt to fix even though the problem is replicated whilst screen sharing.

 

Has anyone else encountered an issue when connecting through the Virgin Media Super Hub, or does anyone have a fix?

 

Any help would be appreciated before I turn my new MacBook into a shiny drinks mat.

 

Jon

MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Mar 4, 2016 10:44 AM

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Q: Slow Web Browsing Using Virgin Media Super Hub

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  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Mar 4, 2016 10:52 AM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 4, 2016 10:52 AM in response to jonnutnut

    It probably has trouble with IPv6 settings.    The other thing you might be able to do is switch your DNS to OpenDNS.

     

    http://www.opendns.org/

     

    Some things to consider:

     

    1. is your hub secured with a WPA2 connection if using wireless?  Others may be tapping into it if it is not.

    2. is notifications of items in the Cloud, or iCloud in use when you don't need it to be?   Look at iTunes downloads and find out if any are only stored on the cloud for some songs.

    3. Is the hub connected via Bluetooth?  If it is, then make sure all other bluetooth discovery items are turned off that are not necessary to be in use.

    4. Make sure if you are using WiFi (Airport) to connect that the hub is more than 3 meters from the computer and less than 50 meters.    (9 feet and 150 feet).

     

    Note, Virgin Mobile is notorious for throttling down your data speed after a certain amount of usage a month.  Make sure you have not exceeded this usage by consulting Virgin Mobile support.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 4, 2016 12:55 PM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Mar 4, 2016 12:55 PM in response to jonnutnut

    Do you have the same problem on other networks, or only on yours?

  • by jonnutnut,

    jonnutnut jonnutnut Mar 5, 2016 12:24 PM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2016 12:24 PM in response to jonnutnut

    Hey, thanks for the time you spent replying to my comment.

     

    I have been doing some testing, and when I tether using my iPhone the Macbook works great, super fast. When I use my neighbours BT connection it is super fast.

     

    Although I have a 200mbs connection at home, my Macbook struggles to load webpages and is just slow, I can only assume the issue is with the connection between the Macbook and the Virgin Media superhub. I don't know if the issue is Mac based hardware problems, or Virgin Media Hardware issues, all I know is that with my MacBook and Virgin Media, my computer is so slow when online, with all other connections it's fast.

     

    It's not just my Virgin SuperHub either, I took the computer my brothers, who also has the same model Macbook and a superhub and he not only complains of the same problems, but my issue is replicated with his SuperHub.

     

    An interesting revolution that neither Apple Or Virgin will admit exists even though the evidence suggests otherwise.

     

    Any thoughts on this?

  • by Linc Davis,Apple recommended

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 5, 2016 2:08 PM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Mar 5, 2016 2:08 PM in response to jonnutnut

    Please see Apple's recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points.

    Notwithstanding those recommendations, some routers work better with late-model Macs if you disable the 2.4 GHz radio mode in the settings and use only the 5 GHz mode. Note, however, that very old Apple devices and some third-party devices may then not connect at all.

  • by Craikeybaby,

    Craikeybaby Craikeybaby Mar 6, 2016 1:52 AM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 6, 2016 1:52 AM in response to jonnutnut

    This is very interesting. I am intermittently having the same issue as you - but it is really hard to replicate, so hard to know if testing fixes it. Does your connection recover when you switch the wireless connection off and on again on your MacBook?

  • by offalchin,

    offalchin offalchin Mar 7, 2016 3:24 AM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 3:24 AM in response to jonnutnut

    Hey- I had EXACTLY this issue using a Virgin media superhub

     

    The issue is the MAC is constantly looking for the most efficient network - so if you have 2.4g and 5g wireless set up then it slows to a crawl flipping between the two.

     

    The only way I managed to fix was to 'forget' the 2.4Ghz in wireless settings and only use 5 GHz - I guess it would work the other way round as well

     

    Hope this helps

  • by Craikeybaby,

    Craikeybaby Craikeybaby Mar 7, 2016 3:36 AM in response to offalchin
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 3:36 AM in response to offalchin

    I don't think that my MacBook has been connected to the 2.4ghz network, so it shouldn't be looking for it. I'll make sure it isn't though.

     

    Unfortunately I can't switch off the 2.4ghz network from the router as my printer still needs it.

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Mar 7, 2016 4:35 AM in response to Craikeybaby
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 7, 2016 4:35 AM in response to Craikeybaby

    If the printer is connected to the hub by USB, you can use any network you want.   Printer manufacturers sadly have not always kept up with wireless technologies, and it can make for a slower wireless network if you use the built-in wireless of the printer.  Alternatively you can connect a computer to the printer via USB and use printer sharing of that computer, rather than connect it to the hub, or use its own wireless, but that's only if there is a computer always in the room with the printer.

  • by Craikeybaby,

    Craikeybaby Craikeybaby Mar 7, 2016 11:18 AM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 11:18 AM in response to a brody

    The printer is an AirPrint one in a different room to the router.

     

    The MacBook was aware of the 2.4GHz, but not connected to it. I think it must have shared the wifi networks from my iPhone. I removed the 2.4GHz network from the list, but the issue happened again afterwards.

     

    I then remembered about the AirPort Express I have for travelling, so I've plugged that directly in to the router and connected to to wireless on that. Unfortunately the network is still slow and intermittent.

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Mar 7, 2016 12:36 PM in response to Craikeybaby
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 7, 2016 12:36 PM in response to Craikeybaby

    Depends on the age of Airport Express.    Some of them don't have as many frequencies as the Extreme model.

  • by Craikeybaby,

    Craikeybaby Craikeybaby Mar 7, 2016 1:22 PM in response to a brody
    Level 1 (7 points)
    Mar 7, 2016 1:22 PM in response to a brody

    I'm pretty sure it isn't a router issue, as no other device on the network, 3 x iPhone, 2 x iPad, 1 iMac and 2 x windows laptops, has any problems maintaining a connection. Yet my new MacBook struggles to keep a connection for 5 minutes.

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Mar 7, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Craikeybaby
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 7, 2016 1:47 PM in response to Craikeybaby

    There are many reasons for Macs to have trouble maintaining connections as my FAQ* explains:

     

    http://www.macmaps.com/WIFI1048.html

     

    * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

  • by jonnutnut,

    jonnutnut jonnutnut Mar 18, 2016 12:06 PM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 18, 2016 12:06 PM in response to jonnutnut

    Hey, I have solved the problem, and it only cost me £70........

     

    I had an interesting chat with Virgin, who basically told me "they know it's an issue" but then told me he shouldn't have told me. But basically said if I buy an Airport Express, and use the SuperHub in modem mode only, it'll solve all my problems, So I did, and it did!! I now have fully reliable, fast internet.

     

    So if you are struggling, get the credit card out.

  • by actingskint,

    actingskint actingskint Aug 27, 2016 7:57 AM in response to jonnutnut
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 27, 2016 7:57 AM in response to jonnutnut

    Hi to everyone here. I thought id say hello and offer a possible solution to this problem . Well maybe possibly anyway.I am not very savvy with computers and Macs , i just want to press connect and boom it works .I have a second generation Virgin Super hahahaha Hub & a i7 late 2013 Macbook .Surely in this day an age , and the money I've spent it should all go boom .For a while life was good, online chats came easily , emails were a breeze, that all changed in a heart beat , and for the last few months  I've had nothing but pure  frustration. Pages would  hang quarter way across the bar , the connection would be dreadful, my time spent building up a Bank in PKR would be all for nothing , because id lose connection and my winning pocket AA would get folded .

        However today i may have had a break through. I chatted to apple support for an hour , not for the first time i might add.I explained the pages I've read about Virgin hubs and MacBooks . After almost an hour and a few experiments with re assigning my wifi , a de clutter of old settings etc  the quite patient man suggested we could  create a new user on my mac, just to see if it would make any difference , perhaps some software glitch in my original user account could possibly affect the way my wireless wifi was searched for .

        With ltd  computer skills and a sort of a grasp of his explanation of why this might work ,  i listened while he talked me through the process. Now touch wood , sto the press , smoke me a kipper , pages do seem to be losing quicker and a sense  of normality has returned to my computer use .I have no idea if this is a 30 sec plaster on a wound or a long term fix . But i just thought id share my experience and say thanks to apple for the loan of a very nice guy.

       Perhaps by creating a new user I'm somehow  not affected by some anomaly  which has crept in via some software .Something was downloaded which affected normal use .I have no explanation for it , no more than any other frustrated  person here .But if my experience helps anybody else , then send me a thank you chocolate bar or a uk pound to cats protection , which helps rescue and care for sick animals . Tell em its for Dave L helping you to get back online . Cheers