topic Re: Wifi Max user review in Broadband

Wifi Max user review

Chrisee — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:24:29 GMT

I had heard a lot about the new hub that Sky were launching so I ordered Sky Max on Monday. I thought it might help others if I posted my impressions.

The order process most people can.order online my account won't allow that so I had to call Sky. It was pretty painless but if you want to add Sky Max it starts a new 18 month contract for both the Wifi Max bundle and your broadband service in my case Ultrafast +. Before I put the phone down I had emails confirming the order.

Delivery Sky used DPD whokept me informed and a large box appeared while I was eating breakfast. As with other Sky products the packaging has no plastic. The largecshipping box had a smaller box with the router, its power supply and an ethernet cable.

Setting up I actually read the included instructions and followed them. It was very easy and quick simply plug it all in and turn on the power. There is only one LED which changes colour but it went white within a couple of minutes significantly faster then older Sky hubs.

Connecting devices is simple there is a card in the packaging with a QR code you scan with a camera which connected my phone in seconds. For my Sky Glass and Sky Stream pucks the process took a little longer as you have tomuse the WPS function using the button on the side of the unit. Each unit took seconds to connect. Of coursectgerecwill be some devices that need you to type in the wifi passcode but only do that if you have to.

You can simply change the SSID and passcode usingbthe My Sky app to match your last router if you prefer which is even easier.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Chrisee — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:50:54 GMT

Control while there is a web interface like the old hubs you actually are encouraged to use the My Sky app. If like me the app doesnt pick up that you have the new unit log out and log back in. It is pretty simple just go to the Broadband section and the new sections are there

The hub's web interface is still there but apart from diagnostics it is not necessary to access it but if you do its quite different and much easier to understand. It works with ios devices which the old Sky routers struggled with.

Performance like any wifi device performance depends on the layout and construction of the home. My hub sits on a surface in our main living area and throughout that level I can fully access the 500Mb/s my connection delivers. I ran some tests using a piece of software called Wifi Sweetspots which measures the true network speed to the hub and the new hub delivers over 800Mb/s to a device with Wifi6 on Wifi5 devices it is 600Mb/s the same as the older SR203 it replaces.

The wifi range is not suprisingly similar to the older hub (after all they have the same transmission power and probably aerial design) so on other levels in my home speeds are much the same as the older router delivered. I have ordered a pod unit from Sky who can see the speeds etc from their end. When that arrives I will post some tests at greater distance.

Verdict its early days but overall I like the new router it certainly looks smart and modern. The control is a huge improvement over the older hubs web interface which always had issues. This is not a unit for the enthusiast as it is heavily locked down however it seems significantly faster so hopefully should be ablecto deal with a modern household's requirements. It has better security by offering WPA3 and configurable security levels. It supports wifi6 and so for those with devices that offer that it should give faster speeds. It offers parental control something I know many users want.

The key unknown is how it works with the pods I would prefer it if Sky sent at least one pod with each hub as I suspect most homes will need at least one. Time will tell on that.

If people have questions I will do my best to answer them.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Ney02 — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 22:34:17 GMT

Have been offered this for extra £10 a month but as I only joined Sky FTTC after moving fromBT just under 3 months ago . Have decided to hold of until nearer the end of the year before thinking about getting it.
I do currently have Sky wifi boost with my package.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Chrisee — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 06:21:15 GMT

@Ney02 probably a sensible decision if only intersted in getting better wifi as the new unit is really only a gain for customers with FTTP systems you also need devices thst support wifi 6 and which can use the higher speeds it provides. The package also includes a quite good parental control function allowing control at a device level on when and what can be accessed. I no longer have young kids at home somthat is not something I have tested. There are also improvements in security - the unit supports wpa3 the latest wifi security level and offers some better protection against security threats.

The Wifi Max package replaces the Boost package so the on cost is not great as you should becablecto access the pakage at £7.50 a month so only adding £1.50 to your bill.

Since I wrote the review I have added a pod to improve the range which is working to some extent. I am waiting on an engineer to visit both of these have not cost me any more.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Davy58 — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 21:18:09 GMT

I got mine today for only £5 a month extra. As I had Netflix for 3 tvs at £8 a month extra via Sky, I downgraded to the £4 a month for 2 tvs instead so only costing £1 a month for the hub.
anyway, I set it up and speeds for glass tv are slightly lower than old sky router even with Ethernet connection. Upstairs, my Amazon Cube kept loosing internet constantly so swapped it with the one

downstairs which is a new one and ok now.
not particularly impressed with the speed. Thought it would have been better. Downstairs with cube connected its constant but upstairs is where I've lost the Wi-Fi speed. Thought if I'd got it and paid extra for it the Wi-Fi would have been a lot better

would I be better calling them for a booster they do or send it back and use old sky router instead? What are the thoughts on this and are they not so easy in getting a new booster? Thanks.

WiFi Max

Re: Wifi Max user review

jamesn123 — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 09:50:46 GMT

@Davy58

You shouldn't have lost ethernet speed. What was the speed before & now?

Re: Wifi Max user review

Davy58 — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 11:39:48 GMT

It's the Wi-Fi that has suffered upstairs. Ethernet is ok as it's connected directly to the router

Re: Wifi Max user review

jamesn123 — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 11:47:24 GMT

@Davy58

Okay I was just referring to this part of your post;

@Davy58 wrote:

I set it up and speeds for glass tv are slightly lower than old sky router even with Ethernet

Regarding your WiFi, coverage should be pretty similar, not really any better or worse. The speed should be better closer to the hub but then further away iit should perform similar to your old hub.

If the signal isnt reaching in the same places or its slower then I'd just request a pod to see if that improves it for you.

Re: Wifi Max user review

neillondragan — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 09:15:33 GMT

Hi There

I also received my new Sky Max router on Friday and whilst it looks great I was not impressed by the speeds at all and my old router is now back in place. Upstairs ion the house was hard toreach, plus on doing Netflix speed tests from my Sky Glass TV was only giving 150MBPS yes I know that is fast but the old black router is giving 550MBPS on Wi Fi. So not impressed really not sure why it is slower?

Re: Wifi Max user review

Davy58 — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 11:54:47 GMT

I contacted sky to disconnect this and for me to send it back and use old router. Got the usual, please stay etc but got through to cancellation and woman very good at her job. No problem, will revert everything way it was but have still charged me delivery for the new router after she said they wouldn't. Told me I don't need to send it back and use as an ordinary router. I've disconnected it and packed in original box with label to be sent to them in case they ask for it. Speed on old router back to exactly way it was before plus my laptop couldn't pick out the name of new router but has with old one so that's working again. Speed on new router dropped and was intermittent upstairs so no good at all. Old one didn't have these problems. Why pay for something that is worse than what you already have?

Re: Wifi Max user review

vectra62 — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 16:39:24 GMT

will this improve sreaming quality as it is quite poor at the moment.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Chrisee — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 17:12:34 GMT

@vectra62 impossible to answer as actually you dont need wifi6 speeds for streaming as UHD streams can only use less than 50Mb/s but require a clean signal free from interference.

The Wifi Max hub has very similar range as the Broadband Hub and the main gain is the provision of the pods which act as extenders although Sky make you jump through hoops to get those to get more than one an engineer has to come out and authorise them.. With extenders forming a wifi mesh streaming should improve but an awful lot depends on the layout and type of construction of you home. There are multiple other ways of getting a stable network which can work out cheaper than paying the wifi max fee every month.

Re: Wifi Max user review

John+B1 — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 11:58:31 GMT

What are these pods? Are they wifi 6 and set up a mesh.

I am thinking about wifi max but the info on what they provide is not great.

I have a large thick walled house and will need boosters which I assume these pods are.

I would want them to be wifi 6 as well. Are they. Secondly can they be plugged into my ethernet network ad my old hubs are.

Many thanks

Re: Wifi Max user review

jamesn123 — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 10:33:38 GMT

@John+B1

The Max router itself is WiFi 6 but the pods are WiFi 5 I believe

Re: Wifi Max user review

GWILLIAMS34343 — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:24:15 GMT

returned it, the range was not as I expected and couldnt be bothered with the rigmarole of their customer services

Re: Wifi Max user review

Chasloyal — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:46:49 GMT

Sorry about digging up an old thread but I would like a bit of input from those who have the Wi-Fi Max router.

I've just give my notice to BT as they won't let me renew at the price new punters pay even though we've got Halo 3, not worth a rub then.

Never had any issue in 7 years and the Smart Hub 2 has always been solid too but I'm not prepared to be mugged off so I'm walking.

Even EE are offering the price I want to pay and their supplied Smart Hub Plus seems very decent too. EE are still BT under different branding so I just want a clean break from them.

We've got a lot of devices in the house with numerous smart TV's, lots of Ring cameras, bundles of Sonos speakers, games consoles etc so 500 is the right speed and Sky are doing a great deal on it at the minute but am getting bad vibes about this router not being up to it if I was to switch to Sky broadband.

Anyone's experiences, good or bad, with this Max router would be most welcome, thank you in advance.

Re: Wifi Max user review

jamesn123 — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:55:13 GMT

@Chasloyal

If your expecting the same level of quality as BT then you will likely be disappointed. The past has proved that Sky's offerings are never as polished or at the same performance level as BTs.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Chasloyal — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:50:47 GMT

Thank you for getting back to me on this and thank you for the candid honesty too.

Having a done a bit more noseying in a couple of other forums and reading various reviews I am beginning to think I may blow this for a game of soldiers and take the EE option begrudgingly.

Re: Wifi Max user review

John+B1 — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:39:33 GMT

I switched to sky and have Q.

You can't have wifi max with Q, as it is not compatible.

They will try and move you to their streaming services to give you wifi max. Don't do it.

Re: Wifi Max user review

Chasloyal — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:54:06 GMT

I did actually read about that issue from last summer so assumed Sky would have ironed out those creases by now but clearly not, wowsers

Funnily enough when we moved to FTTP Openreach had to whack the connection/ONT wall box right in the front our gaff.

That resulted in the router being right next to the AV unit so I chose to connect the Q Box to the Smart Hub 2 via ethernet rather than WiFi.

I'm guessing that with our own personal set-up it means the Max router would play nicely with the Q Box but I'm veering even more towards EE now just in case it didn't.

It would appear moving our broadband to Sky is fraught with a high risk of aggravation so I will just bite the bullet and take the EE offer.

Thank you so much for the heads up mate, I am most grateful.