Not a techno geek but with 4 bed house and  2 bed granny extension Wi Fi coverage with Virgin was poor, even with 2 Virgin supplied extenders 

 

1st attempt was with an ASUS mesh  even with their direct help by e mail and telephone I failed.  At no time did they say that Virgin hub (router ) has to be put in modem mode. Thought ASUS was faulty and Amazon were great arranging return and full refund.

 

After reading more and Wi Fi in granny ext. varying from bad to non existent tried again with TP Link M9plus.

 

First put Virgin hub 5 in modem mode using IP address and modem password on bottom of hub.  Don't know why but in trying to set up TP Link and failing a few times  (explanation latter) and sometimes the Virgin hub restarted OK and full content green light (signaling modem mode) but often it was flashing green which is not correct.

 

Then tried setting up TP Link using smart phone app.  They say it's easy but during set up they ask what type of connection Virgin use!  With Virgin hub in modem mode now no access to Wi Fi. - so find info our first for your Supplier!  After trying one on top of list (on second page) and failing I tried Dynamic link on 1st page and it was correct.

 

Then went through TP link a number of times and failed to get it to "talk" to Virgin hub.  Result "no Internet"  message.

 

Read many posts on TP Link forum and Virgin Community until I found 1 that gave a clue.

 

In modem mode Virgin hub only has one port on back working and it needs to start up with the TP Link mesh router already configured and set up!!

 

So to set up TP Link

 

1. Find out your suppliers (ISP) protocol before switching off your Wi Fi. For Virgin it's Dynamic.

 

2.  Log into your Virgin hub using Virgin router IP address and router password from bottom of Virgin hub (Note this is different from your Wi Fi password).  Check it starts up (5-10min) with solid green light.

 

3. Set up your IP Link mesh router with name and password ( nice to use the orginal ones eg in my case the Virgin ones - then all appliances immediately recognise it.

 

4. STOP before stage where it asks to connect to Internet. But leave TP link on.

 

5. Switch off Virgin hub and restart it with TP Link on and eithernet cable plugged into one of the virgin hub ports.

 

6. My understanding is that on start up it will recognise port to use as a modem and connect. 

 

7. Go back to TP Link app and enter stage connect to Internet.

 

8.  It works -  but it's essential that you boot up hub with TP link mesh router first configured and switched on and plugged in.

 

9. Once working set up TP mesh extra units around the house.

 

Possible problems ' don't know why but on start up 50% of the time the virgin hub starts with flashing green light - try again it must be solid green showing its in modem mode.  I have read conflicting advice on what port to use on Virgin hub.  It worked for me 1st time but some say use Port 1 and others Port 4.

 

Can now use multiple appliances without buffering in annex.  Internet speed is lower.  My non geek understanding is that while original Wi Fi was faster is was a narrow bandwidth but with mesh system it widens the bandwidth.

 

If anyone want to correct any of the above or explain any technical points better please feel free.

 

Sorry for the long post but it's for non tech geeks like me that try, fail, try again,  read some more, and finally succeed.  😀