Anyone found a good replacement for sky buddy?

[TimmyBGood]

@melanie+bracken @Heddfan 

As indicated above, Buddy was always a rebadged version of the Circle internet control system.  As far as I'm aware no UK ISP now bundles this, but it's available as a standalone hardware plus subscription product (although priced in dollars and primarily aimed at the US market).

[TD1969]

Hi All, I have found a top replacement method for the lack or Sky Buddy

I was luckly that someone near me put a TP-Link WiFi for free collection.  Anyway I grabbed it and installed it.  It's really simple and has all the key app features as Sky Buddy had (filtering by age, time off limits etc). Super simple to use.

Here is the details-

Product is a TP-LINK DECO AC2200 (reset button)

Step 1. Connect to Sky Router with ethernet cable and plug power supply into the wall

Step 2  Download TP-Link Deco App for free, theb open the app, it will search for the router, and once found will connect and ask several questions, such as email, name you want to call the WiFi, just follow the prompts. EASY.

Step 3. Get the kids to connect to this WiFi and as they connect you can assign their devices under their name.  Keep doing this for all kids or like me I set up different names to set different times and age restrictions. So similar to Sky Buddy you should not get it wrong.

That's it.. hope this post helps others and can restore balance in the home post Sky Buddy removal.

[Ultrafast+1+upgra]

family link app by Google. 

[Vikki9336]

It's disgraceful! They were the only ones who I could control all devices with, I'm leaving because of it!!! I was also willing to pay to find another, but they don't control apple (I'm android) but daughter now has an apple, sure it is because they can't be Controlled by even paid programmes, family link only until 13, and not apple, mortified!! My daughter is getting into all sorts of trouble now, totally defiant, and why remove the modem when half the TV, adult devices work because of it, I also work from home!!! Then she switched to data!!!! Please anyone, help!!! [removed]

Moderator note: removed swearing

[Chrisee]

@Vikki9336 Sky launched this week a new router which comes with parental control built-in called Wifi Max its so new nobody has reviewed it as yet however it maybe worth a look see https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-max

One feature though is as it works on the fouter not the device is it cannot control uuse of mobile data but it should work with any device. One advantage of Apple products is that parents can control a child's phone through the Apple account system see https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201304

Hope that helps.

[TimmyBGood]

---

@Vikki9336 wrote:

 daughter now has an apple, sure it is because they can't be Controlled by even paid programmes,

---

Apple builds devices for adults, informed by a philosophical resistance to outside authority going back to its earliest days: that was the basis of the original Mac in 1984 which was a 'pirate' project even within the company itself.

Apple devices can be brought under external control, but only with school/college-level technology: for personal use, they are inherently designed to be resistant to such things.

[Scotser]

Me too. I made sure they took the £5 monthy fee off my bill as they weren't going to do it. I relied on it to monitor and manage my teenagers' internet. 

[Scotser]

Totally sympathise. It's made me seriously re-consider re-contracting with them in December as it was withdrawn with little or no reason and was the major difference with other ISPs. Being able to manage and monitor your children's internet access is really important to heck of a lot of parents if they don't want them on instagram...or worse... till 3am every night.  In the end after an hour and half on the phone they'd only take £3 off my monthly bill. The alternative is using a daisychained router like any of these: Best routers with parental controls 2023 | Android Central and stopping WIFI access on your SKY router through the settings, but it is a pain and means you have to re-set all your devices to it. 

[Scotser]

Great advice but just missing one step....to disable wifi in the Sky Router through the Sky router admin tool. Otherwise they can just bypass your TP Link!

[TimmyBGood]

---

@Scotser wrote:

Being able to manage and monitor your children's internet access is really important to heck of a lot of parents if they don't want them on instagram...or worse... till 3am every night.

---

The Sky Max Hub reintroduces time limits:

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

Note that this Hub isn't currently compatible with Sky Q television.

[Scotser]

Yes but it's setting it to turn off at a certain time which is needed.

[TimmyBGood]

@Scotser 

I believe that's what the 'Downtime' setting does.  Unlike Buddy this doesn't use a software client on each device: the restriction is applied at the Hub and blocks WiFi data exchange with the device(s)

Schedule a downtime

Make certain times of the day internet free times by setting a schedule. Great for bedtime, lunchtimes or when they need a break.

Tap Create a downtime schedule in the profile. Follow the prompt to name it and choose the days and times that they can’t use the internet.

Need to add another? Tap Create another schedule and do it all again.

Tap Wake up in the profile during a downtime to give them access to the internet again. It won’t cancel the schedule – the downtime with start again on its next scheduled day.

[Vikki9336]

The new router doesn't provide what the buddy did!!! I can get parental control through any provider, limiting everything, doesn't work with apple, when the buddy could control anything that it picked up, apple included!! All devices individually. Doesn't work with sky Q? So you want us to upgrade and recontact? 🤣🤣 I only stayed with sky broadband for buddy. Families everywhere must be screwing, and kids accessing things they shouldn't at anytime. It doesn't work on data, buddy could control outside the home just in data. Why no can provide this elsewhere is beyond me. The apple control you sent won't work from my android, I've even been to safeguarding teachers, social workers and IT specialists that can't find this level of control and you stop it!! The customers your losing and the money that could of been made and you get rid. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😡😡😡

[TimmyBGood]

@Vikki9336 

No-one contributing to this forum is a decision maker within the upper echelons of Comcast (Sky) and the vast majority are subscribers, not staff : we can only provide the information and insight which we can gather ourselves.

[Charnondall]

Not sure if anyone found a replacement or Sky Max is better but i'm in the same position where it's driving me crazy not having Broadband Buddy. It was such an easy way to set limits without the kids trying to negotiate for more time!

I plan to leave Sky in May, go to virgin and get this router - (Removed)

It has a built in parental control UI that lets you customise a whole range of access rights for different devices. Plus it requires no monthly sub. Its called Safe Access - (Removed)

Moderator note: Removed third party links