topic Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender in Broadband

Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

cwatts1801 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:54:20 GMT

This has been half covered in other threads, but I'm looking for a definitive answer from someone that knows what they are talking about. Preferably not a throwaway "Just upgrade to Max" or "Buy a mesh setup". I am aware of the drop off in speeds with an extender, it serves a purpose and has worked fine until now.

It seems overnight either updates are pushed to the Hub or maintenance is undertaken and my TP Link extender loses connection, in itself this is not a problem but it is extremely difficult to reconnect the extender to the 5ghz band. I do not require the 2.4ghz band on the extender.

It's temperamental but if I disable the 2.4ghz in the MySky app and connect the extender to the Hub using the TP LINK Tether app, it will SOMETIMES work, other times it takes 5 or 10 presses of the WPS buttons on both devices to get it to connect. If I then re-enable the 2.4ghz band the connection to the extender will almost certainly drop again overnight and I have to start the process again.

Does anyone have a more sane solution to this, because I am tearing my hair out trying to understand what the actual problem is (bearing in mind that if Sky allowed you to split the bands, this literally would not be an issue but here we are).

Needless to say, disabling the 2.4ghz in the app knocks out my home cameras and doorbell, so that creates another problem in reconnecting all of those but necessary as I use the extender for working at home.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

JimM1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:15:50 GMT

@cwatts1801 You need to go find out what CHANNELS the Tp-Link will work in with the sky Max hub, it auto channels up and if the Tp cannot follow suit then it will drop the 5Ghz connection!

Sky Max use's them all in the 5Ghz band but devices just may not support or work!

Wifi 6 Channels in the 80Mhz band so find out what the Tp works in

42,58,106,122,138,155 and 171..... Lot's of device will not work, i keep my Asus down at Channel 114 or 100 for the 160Mhz band, WILL not allow it to go any higher or trouble will begin!

www.wiisfi.com heavy reading but will explain!

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

cwatts1801 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:13:53 GMT

Hi Jim,

Unfortunately this is not a particularly helpful answer. As it's not clear where you would find this information, nor does it explain much as the TP Link has been working without issue for over a year until December when these issues began.

Are you able to explain where I can find the channel information for the Hub? You said the Hub "auto channels up" can you explain what this means and why the Hub does this? I have never heard this before.

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

JimM1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:19:51 GMT

@cwatts1801 Install a app on your phone, that may allow you to see what is happening, Android is well supported but not apple devices.

Netspot works, so you may also just wish to trash your Tp if it's not working well with your sky Max hub!

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

cwatts1801 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:23:29 GMT

Jim,

"trash your Tp" is exactly the answer I was expecting, that's why I made the point in the original post looking for sensible answers and not throw away's.

The TP Link has worked without issues for over 12 months, why would I throw something away when Sky's hardware is the problem? I see you are a serial answer giver on this board, but chiming in with non answers doesn't help anyone. Your "badges" i expect do not translate to "people actually helped".

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

JimM1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:33:27 GMT

@cwatts1801 If you are looking then you will also see posted would never have a sky Max for love nor money, you are the one who has, not me! Also never advise anything other than sky Pod's as they match and work through the range possibly! Care not what you think!

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

Chrisee — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:57:43 GMT

@cwatts1801 while I appreciate your desire to continue to use your TP-Link extennder my experience is it is very dificult to use a third party extender with Sky Max hub. It can work as your set up did but then fail again as you are finding. Sky do update their hubs but I am not aware of a recent update causing the change but if there was there is nothing uou can do about it. My guess is while you were lucky currently you aren't.

There are several reaons why I never recommend third party WiFi extenders firstly as the Sky Max hub supports WiFi6 which requires the 2.4GHz and 5GhZ bands to be synchronised so the two cannot be split . Secondly the new hub supports Bands B 5GHz channels which requires the hub to use DFS to avoid interference with higher priority users of those frequencies meaning no manual channel selection. Thirdly running two unmatched WiFi sources in one area is a recipe for interference.

Your choice if you dont want to use Sky WiFi Max, which is a desire I sympathise with, is to either configure your TP-Link to operate in Access point mode linked to the hub by Ethernet or if that is impractical use a set of Powerline adapters which avoids the first two issues. Alternatively turn off the Sky WiFi and use third party WiFi for your whole network which is my approach this need not be expensive my set up cost under £100.

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

cwatts1801 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:05:05 GMT

Thanks for a compassionate answer Chrisee, I think I will look into some powerline adapters.

Jim - if "care not what you think" is your attitude, I think you may be best suited to stay scouring forums and pretending to help than ever coming across real human beings in the outside world, because it won't get you very far.

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

JimM1 — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:09:00 GMT

@cwatts1801 That was purely directed to you, afraid you started it all! Let's just leave it there and hopefully PL works for your requirements!

Re: Sky Max Hub - 2.4ghz & 5ghz issues with TP-Link RE450 Extender

Nimbob — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:26:49 GMT

Hey everyone,

I have been reading over this thread and thought I would pop a little reminder in to treat each other with kindness and respect. Some of the conversation has veered off topic and onto personal debates which arent suitable for the Community. Please see the below rule from our Community Guidelines..

Be nice, and treat fellow Community members with respect and understanding.

Thank you.