Nightmare with sky max hub

[Casplse]

very recently upgraded to gigafast, and a sky max hub and really wish we didn't. Prior to the router/hub upgrade, we had a had a 5-6 year old hub which was bulletproof. Since the max hub has been installed I'm getting constant WiFi disconnects, and packet drops across multiple devices. We have been sent a booster, which has made no difference, and have had our engineer visit cancelled on us an hour prior to the appointment. 

I have tried disabling the 5ghz antenna/ssid which has made no difference. I don't have an option to change the channel selection so this is not an option. Device prioritisation has no impact. Wpa2/3 has been tested, wih the same random disconnects. Signal strength is -40dbm in the room next to the router, but the rest of the property is -65/-90dbm. 

Sadly it's just gone past the cooling off period for the new contract, else I would have cancelled.

Any ideas or suggestions on how to improve the WiFi stability? Or does anyone else have the same issue with this hub? 

[TimmyBGood]

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@Casplse wrote:

 Or does anyone else have the same issue with this hub? 

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Numerous posts going back a couple of years suggest the Max Hub struggles in some properties.

[Cheeseer]

How many devices do you have? I have lots (50-60) and had the same issue. Switched to a third party router and all good. Lost the phone but who needs a landline these days anyway?

[Casplse]

We do have a lot of devices connected, possibly in the 40-50 range. 

I've been looking into a unifi UDM/switch/aps, but really dont want to go down that route at this stage. 

Was you able to get anything back on the hub if you return it? Currently we're paying for a hub that is not fit for purpose. 

[Casplse]

Sadly, I never researched the hub; my assumption was that it would be an improvement. 

[Chrisee]

@Casplse given the Sky hub is loaned you get no saving by using your own hub and you need it to hand if there is a line issue as Sky's diagnostics only work with the Skybhub.

While Unifi kit can be configured to connect to Sky lines routers from Asus are far easier for most users.

[Casplse]

Sorry, I thought I was paying £4 a month for the upgraded (max hub), when it's for the WiFi Max guarantee. I assume I cannot act on the guarantee until the engineer visit. 

[Casplse]

Just an update. 

We had a sky engineer visit. He validated a few settings and provided a 2nd pod, which has made no difference. Called sky again and have a 2nd visit scheduled for next week. I was informed that per account we can only have 3 pods, and apparently the engineer would know what to do if we needed more than the 3.

Property is about 2600sqft, with every wall downstairs being concrete block/dot and dab. 

[Chrisee]

@Casplse the add-on cost is for the WiFi Max package which you can argue is no use in your home and get removed. If your internal walls are concrete that explains the issue as 5GHz signals will lose a lot of power passing through each wall

The backhaul between the pods and the hub uses a closed 5GHz signal. In your home you will have issues with most modern WiFi systems and ideally you need Ethernet cabeling to get decent bandwidth in distant rooms although power line network kit could help. A system that can use the 2.4GHz band for backhaul maybe better likemy Deco M4 system does.

[Casplse]

Just an update. 

I purchased a three node deco XE75 today. It's only been installed for an hour, but is miles better. Zero drops since it's been setup, and really liking be able to define what devices connect to which node. Just being used as a an AP for now, with dhcp/connection being issued from the sky max hub. 

[JimM1]

@Casplse Good start and a reasonable choice with the XE75, If you are having to stay with the landline phone connected, then the Sky Hub does have to stay, AP mode reduces some functions on the TP-Link but NOT a bad starting point for you to get used to that Deco Mesh!👍