Migrating from Part Fibre to Full Fibre

[skyuser247]

Hi,

I am currently on Sky FTTC 80/20 on the legacy Sky Fibre Max package using a Sky Q Hub.

My Sky Q Hub System Details:

Model ER110

Firmware Version 4.03.0704.R

DSL Firmware Version A2pv6F039m1.d24m

My Sky Connection Statistics:

Router Statistics

System Up Time: 328:39:25

Port Status TxPkts RxPkts Collision Pkts Tx b/s Rx b/s Up Time WAN MER 3489797 7084922 0 166 287 63:50:46 LAN Down 0 0 0 0 0 00:00:00 WLAN (2.4 GHz) Up 18766919 5955584 1103 447 0 328:37:35 WLAN (5 GHz) Up 12036946 5930717 0 404683 21110 328:37:16

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Broadband Link Downstream Upstream Connection Speed (Kbps) 79999 20000 Line Attenuation (dB) DS1:6.3    DS2:13.1    DS3:20.6 US0:0.1    US1:9.9    US2:14.4 Noise Margin (dB) DS1:7.9    DS2:7.9    DS3:7.9 US0:12.9    US1:13.3    US2:12.6

The SNR on my line has increased over the past year from as low as 6dB. I am in a Full Fibre priority exchange area.

Would it be worthwhile for me to migrate to Full Fibre?

My current setup is as follows:

My Hub is located upstairs in a backroom. The Hub is connected to my PC using an Ethernet cable in the same room.

I have the following other devices via WiFi connected to the Hub:

2.4GHz frequency band

3 phones

1 printer, which is also connected to my PC via USB.

5GHz frequency band

PS5

Xbox Series X

Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are located downstairs.

I would want be able to use my a separate WiFI mesh instead of the hub Wifi. I have looked at the following WiFi mesh systems:

Asus ET12 Pro 

TP-Link Deco AXE5400

TP-Link Deco BE85

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

[FLC]

Well the first question would be is FTTP actually available to you?

BT Broadband Checker

Next question would be whether you require Sky's telephone service. If you do then the Sky HUb must remain connected & a mesh system in access point mode. If not, you could look at a mesh in router mode, which would give access to more of it's features.

If going for the latter then you really need something that supports Sky's authentication. That usually means an Asus but you would have to verify actual model numbers.

I've had a couple of Deco mesh systems & while OK, weren't great. I've recently replaced with an Asus XD5 setup that's significantly better. I now only have two units where I previously needed three. But I only have part fibre with Sky's SR203 router, so don't know if they support SKy's authentication.

[skyuser247]

Yes, I can get FTTP because I live in a Full Fibre priority exchange area. I have attached a screenshot of the details below.

Yes, I want to be able to keep the phone in place. I was thinking of purchasing one of the above WiFi mesh systems that I have mentioned using an Ethernet cable to connect it to the hub. The hub will be connected to the ONT downstairs. I will then set up and configure a second one upstairs connected to my PC via Ethernet cable.

Would the mesh system be good enough for connectivity or would I also need powerline adapters? I am asking this because a 30-40 metre Cat 6A or Cat 7 Ethernet cable would need to be run between the ONT and to the upstairs backroom to have the hub in the same place that it is now. 

I know the Sky Q Hub and earlier models are being replaced by Sky. I think I would be getting the black Sky Broadband Hub - SR203. I would have to purchase the WIFi Max subscription to get the white Sky Max Hub.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

[Chrisee]

@skyuser247 the WAN connection between the ONT and the hub has to be entirely separate from the network used to connect your devices. In theory you could use a dedicated pair of wifi adapters or better powerline adapters for that connection but it is nor recommended a direct ethernet cable is strongly advised. Mesh wifi systems are for getting a decent signal in every room for your devices.

Not knowing the layout or type of construction of your home but keeping the hub near the ONT and the using a wifi mesh system should work. Powerline to devices in your back bedroom is also an option. If running cable Cat 5e is ample for gigabit speeds up to 100m but Cat6 costs around the same.  

[FLC]

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@skyuser247 wrote:

The hub will be connected to the ONT downstairs. I will then set up and configure a second one upstairs connected to my PC via Ethernet cable.

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Not sure what you mean. You can't have two Hubs unless you're thinking of buying another to run as an access point, connected to the first by ethernet? While this was a thing a few years back to make use of a spare router, it not ideal now that there are numerous mesh & access points readily available.

As you'll be using the Sky Hub for telephony, then the choice of mesh system is yours. As I said, I've found the Asus XD5 to be superior to Deco products. The ET12 looks very expensive but it's your cash. Worth bearing in mind you may get better overall performance with a greater number of less expensive units.

One thing to consider is the number of ethernet ports you require at each location, as many mesh nodes only have two.

[skyuser247]

Sorry for the confusion, I meant that if I would be keeping the Sky Broadband Hub SR203 in place, connected to the ONT, I would connect the mesh system  to the Sky Broadband Hub via Ethernet cable and turn off the Hub's wifi. 

Would I be able to connect another node of the mesh system as an access point upstairs and connect my PC to it via Ethernet cable?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

[skyuser247]

I have a few more questions pertaining to my current setup.

Firstly, I have the Sky Q Hub and because I live in a Full Fibre priority exchange area, SOGEA is not available. Does this mean that by 31st January 2027, I will have no choice but to have installed Full Fibre to have a digital home phone?

Secondly, I know that Sky are replacing the Sky Q Hub and earlier models with the Sky Broadband Hub SR203 because updates will cease by 31st December 2025. I have not been moved to ‘Internet Calls’ yet. Would my phone line still work if I didn't move over to Full Fibre after 31st December 2025 because there is nothing connected to the phone line?

I know that this is a customer-to-customer forum, but can someone clarify whether the 31st January 2027 is just for people with anything connected to their phone line, e.g. care alarm, which might stop working once the Full Fibre is in place. Or is the 31st December 2025 still technically correct for other people?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

[Chrisee]

@skyuser247 connecting a PC via a ethernet bridge connection to a mesh satellite is only worthwhile if the PC lacks a wifi card.but it should work.

To explain the switch of voice services from the old analogue service to a digital service. The plan is to decommission the old analogue voice service in 2027 but which time telcos like like Sky should have migrated their customers onto their digital voice platforms. In Sky's case that will require customers to plug their old phones into the phone socket on the back of the hub rather than the wall socket. Sky are in the process of swapping out the remaining hubs thst lack this socket which also dont meet new security requirments. 

The digital voice sefvice can be delivered over copper (this is SOGEA) or over full fibre. Up until now Sky have only switched customers who are re-contracting but that will change. Openreach are already declining any new order that requires an analogue phone connection unless the customer has alarms or medical equipment that requires such a connection.

Switching to full fibre means the copper connection to the property is decommissioned forcing the switch to digital voice.Currently  Openreach will decline any order for fibre if the customer has alarms etc. Once the switch over is complete Openreach can close roughly 4500 of their 6000 exchanges. Decommissioning the copper network is a different project and will have to wait until full fibre is far more widely available.