Connecting a Windows 7 PC to full fibre

[western206]

I currently use Sky's ASDL broadband (Sky Broadband Essential) which of course uses a copper connection.

Openreach aim to complete the switchover from copper lines by the end of next year.

If I switch to a Sky fibre product - and save around £5/month - can I expect problems connecting to a Windows 7:computer? I have three of these, all around 12 years old, and want to hold off changing to Windows 11 until absolutely forced to do so.

I suspect there may be a speed restriction with Windows 7 which wouldn't bother me. Just need to know whether it woul actually work with an Ethernet cable and using Wi-Fi.

[TimmyBGood]

@western206 

There should be no problem with connecting, although PCs of that vintage may have only 100Mbs ethernet.

Note however that letting Windows 7 anywhere near the internet really isn't safe.

[western206]

Really helpful - thanks. I've read that some people have required to fiddle endlessly with Win 7 settings  - that's not for me! Take the point on security. A lot of browsing is done on an iPad although as I discovered this morning Safari won't connect to this forum, but DuckGoGo will. Very odd.

[TimmyBGood]

@western206 

One bit of fiddling is avoided by using ethernet: an older operating system and wireless hardware may well not like the WPA3 encryption used by a Max Hub, but cabling the connection removes that as an issue.

[western206]

That's bad news. The PCs are spread across two rooms. I wonder if Sky would do a cable connection to both? Looks like I would need that done and carry the extra cost (assume there would be'.

The television uses a wi-if connected streaming stick.  Can I assume that would be unaffected?

[TimmyBGood]

@western206 

It's possible to move the encryption down from WPA3 to WPA2 using the Hub administration tabs in the My Sky app.

Sky won't carry out any internal network cabling even if you offered to pay.

[western206]

This is nudging me towards my back up plan of switching to MacBooks and ditching Windows.  Presumably that would eliminate any problems with Wi-Fi? My experiences with Apple devices has been great, barring a very occasional glitch. I would just need to deal with the hassle of migrating stuff over.