Sky Q mini box proximity error mr209

[Dan+Ev]

Apologies for all the autocorrect goofy spelling 😁

[Valued-Customer]

Hi Dan+Eve,

Thanks for the reply'. - This is all a big faff as far as im concerned all I want is to receive the service/s im paying for as im sure we all naturally expect as a min.  Instead I find myself diagnosing my own fault/s, which is not only time consuming but terribly confusing'.

In additon, to add to these issues,  I not only have a shortage of sockets in my living area but my router was installed in a convinent place for the engineer but not for us as a household, resulting in needing to use a gigabit ethernet switch and tplink 2000mbps homeplug, which i also recently upgraded to see if this improved my speeds, which it has significantly.  This then prompted me to google the Virgin hub 3 as virgin insist it provides and supplies powerfull extended wifi throughout the home.  The reviews all stated that the hub 3 was poor in every area  https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/wireless-routers/1407886/virgin-media-hub-3-review

Now I am looking into, putting the hub 3 into modem mode only and adding a better router to further amplify and extend the wifi? and upgrading to Cat8 ethernet?

[Dan+Ev]

Yeah I agree. Reason I think I had trouble with wireless set up is because of my extension and celotex insulation. hence, wired system. Both BT & Sky have been ok on that front to be fair.

Quite a lot of the advice I've had has also been from a very helpful Sky engineer who was even calling me over Christmas to try help and advise, and I'm fortunate to have a very knowledgable electrician friend to hand.

didnt even know they did Cat8! But if you were to put wires in I'd go with the latest/ best available, why not?!

As soon as your provider goes to raise prices I believe you may be able to leave if you read the small print, that's what I'd do! In fairness it's more their fault than sky's.

Good luck with it all.

[Dan+Ev]

Just checked out your router review 🤣🤣 looks a shocker

[Valued-Customer]

Yeah it was kind of a hunch, based on logic.  If the lastest homeplugs, switches and routers are capabale of 2000mbps and beyond, then there had to be leads to support that speed,.  After a quick google, cat8 are the latest.

Anyway, i'll keep you posted. 

Thanks 

[Rhonny]

@Valued-Customer

Don't forget that no powerline or router can (yet) reach those declared speeds in real life, and the ethernet ports will be no greater than 1 Gigabit. (And Sky's speeds will come down to their servers, not your internal speeds, which aren't more than 100-200mbps from memory as they don't need things to download quicker than they can be watched.) 

In short, don't get led by the numbers on your equipment. Cat 5e and cat 6 are plenty for domestic use. Cat 8 is not unnecessary. 

[Valued-Customer]

Hi Rhonny,

Thanks, duly noted. - However my internet is provided by Virgin so I am getting 500meg fibre. - Whilst skys content only downloads at the speeds you mentioned, I will at least be future proofed and ready for any other potential new purchases, such as PS5 as I am sure this will be on both of my boys 2020 Christmas lists.

The routers and switches will connect at these speeds also which in theory should provide stronger and more stable wifi at least, which is the main thing I need to improve. - Now looking into Mesh routers'.

[Valued-Customer]

P.S. Also, some ethernet switches have something called ' Full Duplex' which doubles each port to upto 2000mbps.

[Dan+Ev]

All starting to get a bit too technical for me.! I just wanted something I could plug in and leave it to sort itself. 

[JJTC]

I just wanted something I could switch on & use reliably.  I think I might need to get the engineer out. 

[Valued-Customer]

Totally agree; - I only picked this information up over the last couple of days having been forced to conduct a little research, I just thought i'd share my findings.

Engineer is due to arrive on Tues but im doubtful they will be able to sort.

Nevertheless, I will keep you updated if I come accross an easier fix.

[Piesarus]

Cat 8 is massive overkill. As someone else mentioned don't get blinded by the numbers. Cat 5 or 6 is more than enough for the foreseeable future. 

[Valued-Customer]

Sky Q mini box proximity error mr209 - RESOLVED!

Hi Guys,

Sky engineer and problem now resolved. I will try to explain how below...

So we have Virgin Internet and Sky TV. - The sky mini box was not connecting to the Main Sky Q box downstairs and would often crash showing only the network proximity Error.

Having asceratained it was a network issue, I contacted Virgin who supplied powerline Homeplugs as suggested by someone else above. - This did not however solve the problem but made it worse  According to the engineer it was definitley a Sky/Virgin compatibility issue, based on his diagnostic testing as the mini just would not connect the main Sky Q box downstairs. 

Solution:

The engineer replaced the Sky mini box, and added a new sky wifi booster, which he then hard wired into my Virgin Router. (Ethernet from sky router, direct into Virgin router) This then fools the equiptment that we are ruuning a sky internet connection, as both Sky Q boxes now connect via the Sky booster'.

He also set the sky mini to the 5ghz channel, in the settings (001) to avoid any potential interference.

I have since removed the powerline homeplugs supplied by virgin and all seems well!

Adding additonal hardware such as plugs will only compound the problem.

P.S. If you are to use the above method, then once the mini has been restarted and asks to be reconnected to a network, press and connect using the WPS sync on the Sky Mini and Sky wifi booster only, not via the Main Sky Q box, and all should be well!!

Good Luck Guys'!

I hope this has helped and will continue to help others moving forward.

Thanks

[Valued-Customer]

P.S. If you are to use the above method, then once the mini has been restarted and asks to be reconnected to a network, press and connect using the WPS sync on the Sky Mini and Sky wifi booster only, not via the Main Sky Q box, and all should be well!!

Good Luck Guys'!

[Valued-Customer]

P.S. If you are to use the above method, then once the mini has been restarted and asks to be reconnected to a network, press and connect using the WPS sync on the Sky Mini and Sky wifi booster only, not via the Main Sky Q box, and all should be well!!

Good Luck Guys'!

[Valued-Customer]

** UPDATE!! - ISSUE UNRESOLVED. - **

Its now affecting downstairs, no network connection.  Unable to access online content. - Keeps spinning - on please wait.- Seems to be dropping wifi. Previously it was hardwired by ethernet switch with no issue but sky engineer recommended to remove and connect via wifi, but this is way way worse'.

Help'.?