Poor WiFi Signal

[Laurenj0310]

I've recently joined Sky on their Fibre500 and the router provided seems extremely subpar compared to the router I had with my previous provider.

I upgraded from Fibre 300 with my previous supplier and the signal is terrible in my home office since moving to Sky.  I really don't want to be spending extra for Sky Max, I live alone so there's not like I have many devices running concurrently and it's the same property I was in with my previous provider so I know their router was more than capable of managing signal throughout my property. I have gone from having full coverage throughout my home, and my home office has gone from working perfectly fine to buffering through client  calls, extremely slow sharepoint connections. This is clearly related to the quality of the router because I never had any issues with my previous suppliers.

I'm at my wits end currently, I can't move the home office, I work from home for 40 hours a week and I really don't want to be tied into a 2 year contract with Sky if I can't get decent signal in the one room I require it the most.

[JimM1]

@Laurenj0310 What sky hub do you have just now link below say what you see, and which hub/router did you have previous supplier if you know!

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/broadband-diagnostic-which-sky-hub

[Laurenj0310]

Hello, the Sky hub looks to be a Sky Max, it's model number SR213-02-UK-wht and the Plusnet hub I had was a Plusnet Hub Two, model GRV9517UWAC34-A

[JimM1]

@Laurenj0310 The sky Max hub that you now have, and if you also have the addon package to allow you to get a Max booster is about all you can do now to improve your wireless wi-fi signal unless you can move the Max hub closer to where it covers both your area's.

You could have a look at the wireless securities on your Max with the sky app and adjust it to WPA2-PSK mode, linked below will cover the instructions to do that!

Sky Max change settings link.
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/change-wifi-max-hub-settings-a

[jamesn123]

Hi @Laurenj0310 

Unfortunately all routers are different & where one may perform great in one home, another may not perform as well. As you've found out the Sky max hub may not offer as much range as your old plusnet hub. 

There isnt a lot you can do about this other than trying to move the hub more centrally & adding boosters, the latter requiring the max subscription. 

[unhappybob]

Exactly the same has happened with me. Previously with BT - wifi throughout the house. Now newly witth Sky - the white rectangular hub - and the wifi is nowhere near as good.

The solution is to pay more money for Sky Max - 3rd party boosters probably won't work. Does make you wonder if this deliberate.

Have to say I'd have expected the brand new Sky hub to at least match a BT hub that must have been three years old, but it's clearly subpar. Had I been told that, I wouldn't have signed up with Sky.

[JimM1]

@unhappybob Wifi 5 against Wifi6 so there is a difference! You can try some off the help adjustment's linked below! WPA3-T to start with.

Sky Max change settings link.
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/change-wifi-max-hub-settings-a

[unhappybob]

thanks for the reply. im no expert but as 6 is supposed to be better than 5, i'll happily put my limited technical abilities to the test.

what does "WPA3-T to start with" mean, please? Switch to WPA3-T?

[JimM1]

@unhappybob Use the supplied link, advanced settings, wireless securites and drop back to WPA2-PSK mode off operation, yes wifi 6 is faster, the faster you go the less the signal distance is output from a hub!

[unhappybob]

thank you - will give it a try

[unhappybob]

it's already on WPA2 - try WPA3 or WPA3-T, or will that just make the penetration worse?

[JimM1]

@unhappybob No leave it on the WPA2 that is best to match your old BT Smarthub2 if that was the Router you had from BT. Also take a look at the other sky help? Are you connected on a FTTP Fibre or a FTTC Copper OR Master Socket!

https://www.sky.com/help/broadband/my-broadband-speed/improving-wi-fi-signal-to-my-devices/articles/...

[unhappybob]

think it's a master socket connected directly to fibre, as installed by BT a couple of years ago

[JimM1]

@unhappybob That's good, then also good chance your sky Max hub is sitting exact same place as where the old BT one was correct? ONT's looks like the link below...

Optical Network Terminal | Sky Help | Sky.com | Sky Help | Sky.com

[unhappybob]

we don't have an ONT

sadly, when we took fibre from BT, I moved the hub from the centre of the house to near the master socket/tv because I was correctly advised that it wouldn't affect wifi throughout the house. Not overly keen to have to reposition and recable it, but I suppose that sadly has to be an option. Feel Sky should provide a free booster - not keen to give them any more of my hard earned. 

Can't believe live-chat was offering an engineer to visit to check whether the hub is working properly FOR FREE - when all online diagnostics say it is - and yet Sky won't provide a booster that would almost certainly cost less...