topic Upgrading to Superfast in Archive

Upgrading to Superfast

Anon1087 — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:19:11 GMT

Hi, I've been on the Essentials broadband for a long time but am beginning to find it slow and restrictive, so I am thinking of upgrading to Superfast (Ultrafast does not seem to be available here as the upgrader webpage only listed Superfast as "here's what is available at your address" )

Am I correct that Superfast is fibre? Is it fibre to premises or just fibre to cabinet? Would I need to have an engineer come out and inmstall a new line or something to my house?

I use the PC upstairs in the bedroom, so the Sky Hub I currently have is connected to a phone extension socket there, and I connect the PC to the Hub using an ethernet cable (it's a bit faster and IMHO more secure than wifi).

If I have a new line or socket installed, I assume that means the new router (I assume a Sky Q) would have to be downstairs and I'd need to use wifi to connect.

I do have a wifi card but it's ancient and only 802.11g - I've read that this should cope with speeds up to 54Mbs but would it be better to get a new card, if so, what should I aim for? I'd assume that a PCI-E based card is generally better than a USB one, and a dual-band one would future proof things if Ultrafast became available here. I understand the Sky Q is 802.11ac so I assume I chould get a card that matched this?

My city is actually being cabled for gigabit fibre but sadly my street is still in "design" phase, which means at least six months before they actually start laying the cables and that adds another 2-3 months on top. Annoying, the strees five minutes walk away can get it now.

Re: Upgrading to Superfast

jamesn123 — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:43:01 GMT

@Anon1087

Edit: wrong thread

Superfast is fibre to the cabinet and doesnt require any new cabling or socket so the upgrade would be a simple speed boost on your line along with a new router

Re: Upgrading to Superfast

mae-3 — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:45:47 GMT

@Anon1087

Sky Superfast is VDSL2 which is fibre to the cabinet (FTTC). As for the wireless on the computer that really does need the card replacing for something better and even on USB 2.0 wireless would be good but PCI-E would perform better and have better antenna. 802.11ac is the standard you want for improved wireless speed and so it won't impact other devices on wireless.

Re: Upgrading to Superfast

jamesn123 — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 22:58:28 GMT

Certainly would recommend upgrading the WiFi card as @mae-3 suggests if you do move the router. However an upgrade to superfast should not require you to move the router or change anything you have setup in your house since its a change done to the outside cabling.

Re: Upgrading to Superfast

Anon1087 — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 23:47:44 GMT

Perfect - just what I needed to know, thanks. Would I get a new router, as I have the older Sky Hub and iirc anything above Essential needs a Sky Q one?

As it's just a change outside my house then I would continue to connect the router to the extension socket upstairs and an Ethernet cable from PC to router. Which mean sinternally it's all wired connections which I prefer over wifi, saves me buying a new card too although they are cheap enough!

Re: Upgrading to Superfast

jamesn123 — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 23:50:38 GMT

@Anon1087

Yeah you'd get the Q router unless your area has already deployed VOIP calls in which case you will get the latest Sky Hub (SR203)