My experience with the new Sky Broadband Hub

[Steve-35]

---

@Chrisee wrote:

Sure @Tyl3r99 I am sure one of the Oracles will post as soon as we know something firm.

---

More chance of a firm answer from you guys @Chrisee than anyone ever likely to get from customer services 

[TomThumb5ive]

I’ve just been reading a tech sheet on the new wif standard of IEEE 802.11.ax aka wi-fi 6.

Anybody with the new router SR203 see any mention of this new standard in the specs anywhere?

It is sky after all. so I doubt it , but it would be nice for sky to lead the way a little rather than playing catch up on the tech front

Tom...

[Chrisee]

@TomThumb5ive no it doesnt and I would not expect the new standard on any isps kit for a couple of years.  The standard was only ratified in January of this year. I know the new Sky hub design was completed some time before that. It will also be sometime before new devices support the standard so currently the only real use is for router manufacturers bragging rights.

[Treble3]

The new router and mesh system should be up for order this week should of been last week but got put back 

[Chrisee]

Hope you are right @Treble3 but as it has slipped so many times I will believe it when I see it. 

[Tyl3r99]

If I'm a VIP customer with sky Q could I be able to receive the new router as a thank you or anything or is it only available with those super fast 100+MB fibre packages 

[Chrisee]

As yet @Tyl3r99 Sky have made no announcements so we will have to wait and see. However on past experience I would not expect any will be given away without Sky getting something in return like a new contract or purchase of an extra service but lets hope @Treble3 is correct then we won't have long to wait.

[rscott]

---

@TomThumb5ive wrote:

I’ve just been reading a tech sheet on the new wif standard of IEEE 802.11.ax aka wi-fi 6.

Anybody with the new router SR203 see any mention of this new standard in the specs anywhere?

It is sky after all. so I doubt it , but it would be nice for sky to lead the way a little rather than playing catch up on the tech front

Tom...

---

802.11ax isn't due to be ratified until end this year, early next, so there's no way anyone can release a device which complies with that standard yet.

[TomThumb5ive]

@rscott 

Apart from the range  netgear / asus / TP-link routers & Samsung’s / Huawei / & possibly the new I phone 11. To name but a few.......

Tom...

[Chrisee]

@TomThumb5ive so what does that prove? I know some makers love to add the latest specs to their list as it impresses people with limited technical knowledge and means their latest product has a plus. TV manufacturers have been doing this for years.

As it happens the fastest external speeds the  Sky Hub 4 can support will be around 250Mb/s and for most of us it is 80Mb/s so the older wifi standard wifi 4 better known as 80.11ac is amply fast enough at a theoretical 1.3Gb/s so what improvement is 10Gb/s going to give you in real life?

[rscott]

---

@TomThumb5ive wrote:

@rscott 

Apart from the range  netgear / asus / TP-link routers & Samsung’s / Huawei / & possibly the new I phone 11. To name but a few.......

Tom...

---

None of which can comply with a standard which doesn't exist yet.. 

They'll all be built to work with various draft versions and will need firmware updates after it's ratified.

I remember the pain of 802.11n draft devices, so will be waiting until it's stable before upgrading.

And, as @Chrisee  says, there's not that much need for the speed in the average household when the current specs more than exceed the speeds possible with FTTC.

[TomThumb5ive]

---

---

@Chrisee wrote:

@TomThumb5ive so what does that prove?

That the latest tech is indeed available with wif 6 

I know some makers love to add the latest specs to their list as it impresses people with limited technical knowledge and means their latest product has a plus. TV manufacturers have been doing this for years.

As it happens the fastest external speeds the  Sky Hub 4 can support will be around 250Mb/s and for most of us it is 80Mb/s so the older wifi standard wifi 4 better known as 80.11ac is amply fast enough at a theoretical 1.3Gb/s so what improvement is 10Gb/s going to give you in real life?

For the less technical minded, plenty of info out on the interweb If you care to look.

You are right tho that most people would be happy with a none theoretical max of 80 Mbs ,  

If they could actually attain those speeds over wifi in all corners of there homes.

Tom...

---

[BirrBoy]

Hi All

How can I get a grip on one of the SR203  ??

Also join the testing crew  ??

D

[Chrisee]

@BirrBoy you can't jointhe testing as that phase is complete but the launch is thought to be very soon.

[tarbat]

---

@Chrisee wrote:

@BirrBoy you can't jointhe testing as that phase is complete but the launch is thought to be very soon.

---

Today. Press release says:

The next-generation Sky Hub

• Customers who upgrade to the Sky Broadband Boost service will receive a brand-new Sky Broadband Hub, designed with the latest generation of ultrafast technology[3] in mind, and built to address households’ ever-increasing connectivity needs.
• The new Sky Broadband Hub offers Sky’s most reliable home broadband service to date. Users can check their own speeds and connected devices online or through the My Sky app
• With a streamlined design, the Sky Broadband Hub features eight antennas that provide better WiFi coverage across different rooms and multiple floors.

Will those of us already on the Boost package automatically receive the new hub?