topic Re: Required speed for UHD in Sky Stream

Required speed for UHD

LorenzoLiv — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:26:17 GMT

Does anybody know the genuine speeds required to wqatch in UHD? My puck is connected to the modem by a LAN cable and the speed (seriously) never drops below 48Mb yet when I set it to watch in UHD it drops all of the time so I've reverted to 1080p. I should say that it isn't the case when viewing with other sources, Amazon FireStick, etc. The TV is a new Samsung, more than capable of handling UHD. My first call to Sky Technical was unhelpful, being told that 48Mb was insufficient to watch in UHD. My attempts to counter that by telling them of the other sources not being problematic was met with a clear 'it's your fault' answer. So, given that there doesn't appear to be a way of checking the actual speed getting to the puck (I should that there is only one other device, and Amazon Echo, connected to the network in that room and that the puck is less than foot from the modem) is there a way of substantiating the Sky claim? And should I be looking to remove the UHD from my package if they can't make it work?

Re: Required speed for UHD

GD1 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:43:02 GMT

@LorenzoLiv

Minimum recommended broadband speeds apply and might change depending on your package. We’ll recommend these before you place your order.

You may need faster speeds to get the best experience. Especially when watching in UHD or streaming on more devices at the same time with the Whole Home pack. For more info, see Broadband speeds explained. We also recommend a fibre broadband connection.

If you’re with another provider, you'll need to check your broadband speeds with them.

Recommended minimum broadband speed of 25Mbps. Or 30Mbps if you add an extra Sky Stream puck or to watch in UHD.

Re: Required speed for UHD

LorenzoLiv — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:50:11 GMT

Many thanks but I'm still really unsure about this. I've just checked my speed (albeit via the Netflix app as there doesn't appear to be a check possible lon the puck itself) and it is 49Mb. The published advice states quite clearly that (minimum) 30Mb is required to watch in UHD, so it does seem a huge stretch to say that it isn't possible with 48/49Mb which really doesn#t drop below that.

Re: Required speed for UHD

GD1 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:53:51 GMT

@LorenzoLiv 48mbps isn't that great if you factor in other household usage.

Re: Required speed for UHD

LorenzoLiv — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 10:58:28 GMT

That's not what they say in their marketing though, is it? And it also doesn't account for why other sources, including Now TV, have no such problems!

Re: Required speed for UHD

GD1 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:03:12 GMT

@LorenzoLiv Sky stream needs a constant speed, other apps use adaptive streaming so lower speeds don't cause issues with the likes of Netflix, iPlayer etc.

Re: Required speed for UHD

BenJoBanjo — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:09:32 GMT

@LorenzoLiv wrote:
That's not what they say in their marketing though, is it? And it also doesn't account for why other sources, including Now TV, have no such problems!

Sky Stream is quite unique in that SkyOS which runs on it is a server-based system. Very little of the UI and none of the apps are stored on the puck itself, hence requiring a constant, stable connection to the server. If you have any form of speed fluctuation on your network you'll get issues.

NOW TV is different in that it's just an app, downloaded and stored on a smart TV or streaming device. It only requests content from the server when you request it.

Many people with slower connections than you have reportedly had perfectly smooth Sky Stream experiences, but only because their network is rock solid and the speed and quality of their connection is maintained.

Re: Required speed for UHD

LorenzoLiv — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:15:27 GMT

Thanks for this but, seriously with a latency of around 4ms I can assure you that this speed is not fluctuating! Plus, there is only one other device connected to the network and that's an Amazon Echo which is barely used. I work from home so everything else is on my work network.

I'm fine with my Now TV, so I'll be returning the puck. I have to be honest, I don't think that Sky are being remotely truthful in their marketing and information here!

Re: Required speed for UHD

BenJoBanjo — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:28:33 GMT

@LorenzoLiv wrote:
Thanks for this but, seriously with a latency of around 4ms I can assure you that this speed is not fluctuating! Plus, there is only one other device connected to the network and that's an Amazon Echo which is barely used. I work from home so everything else is on my work network.

I'm fine with my Now TV, so I'll be returning the puck. I have to be honest, I don't think that Sky are being remotely truthful in their marketing and information here!

It remains something of a mystery as to why some customers have a fine experience with Stream, and others have a terrible time with it. It's partly why I tell people that they have to try it as it's the only way to know if it'll work well enough.

It's not like Sky Q where it relies on an engineer pointing a dish at a satellite, connecting cables to a box and then to your TV. That's easy and pretty fool-proof.

With Sky Stream there are so many more variables in every single individual customer's home broadband network that it's impossible to say for sure if it'll work well or not.

I did the same as you and returned the puck. It just didn't give me the reliability I was looking for. NOW TV works perfectly on every other device we have in our household so that's now where we get Sky content from. Everything else we watch streams from other apps.

Re: Required speed for UHD

peter-marlow+1966 — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:01:47 GMT

LorenzoLiv

Hi I have sky gigafast broadband 900mps, 2 55inch sky glass tvs and puck sky live camera, and have no problems with them

Re: Required speed for UHD

LorenzoLiv — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 16:37:41 GMT

Thanks! Trouble is I actually have a house elsewhere so we just rent here and the landlord, who's actually a friend, is VERY keen on BT! Even though I keep telling him that it's 1) more expensive; 2) less good than pretty much every other supplier!

Re: Required speed for UHD

trevforum — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 19:54:26 GMT

Another factor to consider is the the HDMI cable. Whereas Sky Stream UHD runs at 50/60Hz(fps) requiring more bandwidth than Apple TV/firestick etc running some content at 24fps. You will need a premium HDMi cable for Sky Stream UHD capable of up to 17.82Gbps.

I'm on EE/BT fttc at 44Mbps download and Sky Stream has no problems running UHD/HLG/HDR streams at 50/60fps.

Also, length of cable can be a factor.