topic Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ? in Broadband

WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

Jen0106 — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 18:50:43 GMT

WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

im unsure whether to get it and there isn't much information about it online and if it's actually beneficial as I'm looking at upgrading to the top package speed broadband anyway. So would it be needed? Or any better?

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

TimmyBGood — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:55:13 GMT

@Jen0106

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-max

https://www.skygroup.sky/article/Sky-Broadband-releases-its-most-powerful-WiFi-yet

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

Jen0106 — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:29:34 GMT

Thank you for the links and I've given them a read. I'm just also interested in some honest reviews on if it made any difference for those with the higher speed broadband packages rather than just Sky claims.

Thanks

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

CoffeeDrinker — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:12:31 GMT

We're on a Superfast 67Mb/s connection here. We had the previous Sky Broadband Hub with WiFi turned off, instead using a 2 disc BT Whole Home mesh wifi setup. We have a lot of devices using the internet connection concurrently (Sky Stream, Glass, 3x iPhones, 2 personal laptops, games consoles etc etc). Quite often the WiFi network was starting to choke, meaning our son had to stop gaming so my wife could reliably use her work laptop with VPN.

Knowing that we have quite a few WiFi 6 devices (iPhones, laptops, Sky Stream & Glass), Sky Max Hub supports WiFi 6 and that one of the chief benefits of WiFi 6 is a hub/wifi access point can support more devices all wanting to transmit/receive at the same time, we got the WiFi Max hub to replace out BT mesh.,

We've had it several months now - our WiFi using has been rock solid using Max Hub, even without boosters (we're in a relatively new build house, so the WiFi signal covers the house ok). Even when we're watching 2x 4K streams on the two TVs, son gaming and us using our iPhones/ipads for web browsing whilst viewing, the Sky Max Hub has kept up fine.

The SKy Max Hub won't increase your broadband line speed, nor does it have a greater WiFi range than the previous Broadband Hub. It does reliably support more devices all wanting to work at the same time, especially if those devices support WiFi 6.

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

Chrisee — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 07:33:55 GMT

@Jen0106 given there are a number of different things in the WiFi Max bundle including parental controls it use will depend on what you need. However if you arelooking for better WiFi spedds in your home the potentisl provision of up to 3 extender pods maybe what you are interested in.

I ordered WiFi Max soon after launch really to test it. The Sky Max hub as @CoffeeDrinker describes is a WiFi6 device and potentially will allow you to access the full 900Mb/s od a Gigabit connection which the older Sky Hub 4 wont but these days you get that hub if you order modt new services from Sky any way.

I have a splut level home with 3 levels the hub provides good coverage on our main living area with WiFi speeds well over 500Mb/s but spedds dropped on the other two levels with devices losing connection in some rooms. After calling Sky I was sent a single pod extender that I plugged into the hall on the middle level this helped to some extent but spedds were still poor in bedrooms on the top floor. Sky sent out an engineer who checked WiFi signal strength and authorised a second pod but we agreed tge systemwas not well suited to my home given the signal from the hub to the first pod was compromised.

When operating with the pods the hub becomes triband with a third 5GHz signal used to carry the backhaul between the hub and the pods. My home has a retaining wall between levels which blocked tge direct connection to the first hub so it relied on a reflected signal. Therefore I rejected tge package and went back to using my 3 unit Deco system. Potentially if you home is suitable the pods can work well but if you have solid walls or issues like mine it is not likely to.

The pods are WiFi5 capable but can deliver 600Mb/s in optimum conditions which is more than fast enough. They are neat plug-in units and thecsystem optimises itself automatically. However note the guaranteed speeds from Sky is 25Mb/s for Ultrafast customers which isnt great and 10Mb/s for Superfast which I consider unusable.

Hope that helps.

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

Nigelpl — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 04:57:31 GMT

I recently switched from BT to Sky, I just ordered the Sky 500mb with the standard router, they sent me. The sky wifi max router and I have to say that whilst I can get speeds of upto 500Mbps on the WiFi, the reliability of the WiFi is terrible,

we are getting WiFi drop outs constantly, at times the lag can be really annoying. Even when you are in the same room as the router the connection just drops. There are only three of us and the router is in the middle of the house.

I contacted sky support and firstly they tried to sell my the WiFi guarantee for £4pm even though i have full WiFi signal and good speeds throughout the house. I ask for the old router and they said they would need to cancel my line and place a new order, just to replace the router.

They then blamed a WiFi ap I have outside which uses a different ssid, I turned that off and it's still dropping out all of the time.

for WiFi reliability it really is the worst device I have used, they also force you to configure with the app, some setting are blocked from the web interface, otherwise the broadband has been ok for wired devices, there are other also complaining on the forums of dropping connections and lag on the sky max router.

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

GJAMES89 — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:55:20 GMT

I've found the drop outs are in areas that are having the traditional landline switched off. It will stabilise. It took mine a few months but it will. They're also removing a lot of the old copper wiring too, which is causing disruptions. It is highly annoying but we all want progress in these things 🤷🏻‍♀️

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

plumbbob — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:49:02 GMT

Do I have to change all my passwords??

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

JimM1 — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:05:01 GMT

@plumbbob Unless you change the new hub ssid and the password to match your old hub then yes!

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

gary19721 — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:16:45 GMT

Worst Internet I have ever had had so many engineers out but still can't get my WiFi working I have just a small 2 bed house and the strongest signal I get up stairs is 33mbps and it just keeps dropping in every room think ill go back to BT had no problems with that

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

JimM1 — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 23:05:39 GMT

@gary19721 33Mb/s speed has not or possibly nothing to do with how strong the signal is so do keep that in mind also!

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

Anonymous — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:54:05 GMT

I have spent last night about two hours talking to Sky tech who I have to say are excellent but my problem still remains. Very poor and non existent WiFi in my tv room, the only suggestion they have is to pay £10 a month for WiFi max which I am not prepared to do. I pointed out that it states apart from the cost that I will be re contracting if I order them and they may not solve the problem.

So I have decided to try and resolve the problem my self, I'm not sure how but in sure I can overcome the issue given some time, I will come back when I have succeeded.

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

JimM1 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:14:45 GMT

@Anonymous Depending on were everything is, you may wish to look at Powerline with wired/wifi operation, may not be the fastest kid on the block but does work well depending on the use. Linked below if you need to look!

Powerline Adapters | TP-Link United Kingdom

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

splatto — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:31:15 GMT

You can try WIFI Max and then change your mind if it doesn't work. The pods are excellent when they do work.

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

JimM1 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:41:01 GMT

@splatto Are you sure, sky have this once you go Max you NEVER get to go back!

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

splatto — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:50:35 GMT

@JimM1 wrote:
@splatto Are you sure, sky have this once you go Max you NEVER get to go back!

I was told that I could cancel the WIFI Max during the generic 31 day cooling off period. As it happened I had a Pod that worked wonders a couple of days after signing up so I didn't look into it too deeply. It's also true that Sky agents are generally clueless and make it up as they go along. So I guess I'm not totally sure.............🙂

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

JimM1 — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:55:48 GMT

@splatto Got it, some don't mind the extra cost when it get's well discounted, and also the re contract to 24 months can be a little off putting especially if winding down the clock to move on!

Re: WiFi Max? Is it worth it ? What exactly does it do ?

splatto — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:04:38 GMT

@JimM1 wrote:
@splatto Got it, some don't mind the extra cost when it get's well discounted, and also the re contract to 24 months can be a little off putting especially if winding down the clock to move on!

I pay £4 a month. I need the landline for a couple more years, so at the end of the contract I might look to a third party router. I do like the Pod though, so if I get another deal in a couple of years I might keep it.