topic Is my Sky Max hub broken? in Broadband

Is my Sky Max hub broken?

Jackinory — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 21:36:20 GMT

Sky have offered to send a new one, which I'll probably take them up on. But the WiFi keeps dropping and reconnecting within seconds, which is weird as it is. But the signal also keeps dropping and is so inconsistent. Upstairs it's 30mbs instead of 70, but close a door and suddenly it's 5 or less. Some days it goes in to the far room at 40 with the door open, door closed it's 20, some days it won't connect when upstairs but will stay connected at about 10mbs when I've gone down to reconnect.

That's not normal for a hub, is it?

I'm aware of walls, etc, but this is only going through one wall and one floor for the far room, and one floor for the other rooms.

Re: Is my Sky Max hub broken?

Chrisee — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 06:24:57 GMT

@Jackinory perfectly normal and nothing weird at all if you understand the physics of WiFi signals. High frequency microwaves which WiFi uses lose strength as they pass through solid objects. In many homes the direct path from the hub to a room requires the signal to pass through multiple internal walls. However a path with reflections through doors can have higher strength. A wooden door while better than a wall will still reduce the signal when closed,

The aerials on Sky hubs are designed to concentrate the signal horizontally which is why it is important to make sure the hub is on a surface above things like radiators which will block the WiFi signal completly (microwaves are blocked by metal). Modern routers use 2 bands the 5GHz band has less range as the higher frequency signals suffer greater loss passing through walls etc but can carry more data. The 2.4GHz will penetrate solid objects better but cannot carry as much data and unfortunately is more prone to interference from your neighbour's wifi.

Each home is different but in many you need multiple Wi`fi sources to get usable speeds in every room. Sky sell an add-on called WiFi Max which can have up to 3 extender pods if an engineer agrees tgey are needed butvthe guranteed speed is either 10Mb/s in every room rising to 25Mb/s if you have full fibre Ultrafast briadband. You can but your own kit as I do myself with a 3 unit WiFi mesh set up I get arond 200Mb/s in every room.

Re: Is my Sky Max hub broken?

Jackinory — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 08:36:40 GMT

I mean I can get an extender no issues, but it's definitely not operating as should. I understand how WiFi works but the drop range and inconsistency isn't normal.