Sky Full Fibre Gigafast + Smart Home Devices = Lagging Connection

[Ashley+Mason]

Dear Community, I hope you can help here. I have Sky Full Fibre Gigafast with an average download speed of approx 900mbps (as checked with Sky's test) but individual devices (Nintendo Switch, for this example, with the "Device Priority" set via the app) are lagging with connections as slow 1.6mbps (as tested on the device). I have nearly 100 devices connected to this network, and I've been trying everything I can to make the system more robust and reliable by adding a TPLink Deco mesh system to separate the IoT devices from the main WiFi network. I do believe it is the processing side of the router at fault, as it has to handle far more traffic than in a normal household, having to deal with connected light switches, connected light bulbs, connected locks, video doorbell, video floodlight, as well as a ZigBee network and hub for sensors to assist automating some processes. I also have the router and ONT running on a small desktop UPS so if the power drops out, I can still contact the utility company as I have to use a respirator at night (priority register). My question then, is this; Does anyone have any experience replacing their main router with one NOT supplied by Sky? If so, what recommendations would you make as to make and model, that can handle multiple SSID's but also control bandwidth on each network to minimise the drain from the IoT devices? Finally, what information do I need to request from Sky to complete an aftermarket router setup, such as passwords or other WAN access information?

[TimmyBGood]

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@Ashley+Mason wrote:
Finally, what information do I need to request from Sky to complete an aftermarket router setup, such as passwords or other WAN access information?

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None (which is good because they wouldn't provide it anyway) but be aware that the bundled 'landline' voice call service (Sky Talk Internet Calls) only functions through a Sky Hub.

[Chrisee]

@Ashley+Mason therecare loads of forum threads discussing third party routers you can find by searching, the most popular brand is Asus as these are relatively simple to set up. You will need to research to find routers with the various features you mention but there is a trade off the more options the more complex the configuration and the greater the need for technical knowkedge you maybe lucky that a forum member has a matching config. 

However your post confuses me. You mention lagging which usually means an increase in response time measured in milliseconds but you quote a figure in Mb/s which is not related to processor load but WiFi signal level at the device. Your current set up sounds sensible as although you have a lot of IOT kit their use of data is tiny and therefore the load placed on the Sky hub's should be manageable. However your WIFi speeds could be affected if the Deco system is interfering with the Sky hub's WiFi. The Deco app has a useful Network Optimization tool which is worth running.

I assume you have the white Sky Max hub which is built to a cost and you can buy more powerful routers costing from around £100 up to well over £1,000 so spend sometime defining your needs and while it is tempting to buy a WIFi 7 unit with all the bells and whistles if you live alone you probably dont need them. 

[Ashley+Mason]

Thanks for replies so far; Yes, when I say "lagging" the speed as measured by Sky at the Hub is not translating to a speed which is being received by a device connected to it - in my example above the router is "losing" 898.4mbps between the ~900mbps connection that Sky are reporting on the app tests and the 1.6mbps being available on the Nintendo Switch. This is WITH DEVICE PRIORITY on the My Sky App. Sorry have already sent me a white gin to replace the black one we had before (same shape) and yes, I'm aware and we haven't migrated the landline over to the sky hub, we've just discontinued using it, but as a result, I've made sure we can always reach the internet, even if the house power goes out, the ONT and Router are backed up for approx half an hour. Long enough to get the information for the utility company to report the power loss. I cannot think of any other way to improve further, without replacing the router to something that is designed to handle the number of clients. Other suggestions would be welcome.

[Chrisee]

@Ashley+Mason therefore in technical terms your issue isn't lag but poor WiFi coverage which is a very common problem as a. Single Sky hub cannot always provide usable WiFi in every room. Factors affecting coverage are the posituoning of the hub, the layout of the property and how it is constructed. While third party routers may have slightly better WiFi range but the power they can use is strictly regulated  it sounds like you need multiple WiFi sources.

Taking these factors one by one the hub need to be out in the open on a surface so it is above obstructions like radiators. You can do little about the layout and type of construction of your home but the laws of physics mean signal is lost every time it passes through a solid object like a wall the denser the object the greater the loss. In practical terms then many houses require multiple WiFi sources.

Looking at solutions Sky sell a package called WiFi Max which can supply up to 3 extenders to achieve a minimum 25Mb/s in every room. However trying to schieve 900Mb/s in every room is possible it would cost a fortune. My own solution is to use a three unit Deco M4 system which gives me a minimum of 150Mb/s in.every room faster than the WiFi Max could achieve with 2 extenders which is ample for 99% of uses including the ones you mention. You can buy faster Deco systems and potentially they can be connected drectly to the ONT in most cases (they cannot connect directly in roughly 20% of Openreach lines) however I use my set upmin Access Point mode behind a Sky Max hub. This maintains the landline facility.

I appreciate you are currently using an analogue PSTN connection for the landline but that will,have to change as that service is due to be switched off early next year. Solutions have been developed to support priority customers and approved to maintain contact. Openreach have set up a team to support priority customers but intially ensure your needs are registered with Sky. More here https://www.openreach.com/news/openreach-clears-major-hurdle-to-pstn-switch-off/