Sky WiFi Max Hub SR213 not working with some clients

[pedwo]

Hi,

I recentyly moved to Sky Broadband from Plusnet. I went for the WiFi Max Hub SR213 router, but have problems with some devices connecting to it. A 10 year old laptop works perfectly. However, a newish laptop connects, shows poor signal and is pretty much unusable.

I have tried forcing the new laptop to use only 2.4GHz band, and also tried forcing it to using older Wi-Fi standards.

We also have problems with a 4 year old phone connecting via WiFi. It's ok if within a metre or two of the hub, anything further and it's intermittant.

I tried contacting Sky, there is no email and the phone just goes to an automated assistant that was no help at all. How can I get this fixed?

Thanks

Phil

[JimM1]

@pedwo Use the link and make the adjustments required with your app would start with your WPA settings.

Connecting older devices to Sky Max Hub | Sky Help | Sky.com | Sky Help | Sky.com

[Chrisee]

@pedwo the SR213 is not the greatest router butvthere are several hundred thousands in use. As a WiFi6 device it requires use both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands together to achieve higher speeds so the 2 bands cannot be split. The hubs can also use both Band and Band C 5Ghz channels assuming there are no higher priority users such as radar installations in range. These higher channels are less prone to interference but have less range. Normally it is unlikely restricting a WiFi5 or higher device like your laptop or phine to using the highly congested 2.4GHz band would help indeed it is likely to  make things worse.

However 5GHz band signals do have shorter range and In older properties with solid walls can be effectivly lost after passing through one or more solid internal walls. This isnt unique to the Sky Max hub but if your home is wifi unfriendly you may want to consuderca third party solution like a whole home wifi mesh system. Sky's WiFi Max pods could help but as they useca closed 5GHz signal for backhaul may only be a marginal improvemnt. Personally I have had good results with a 3 unit Deco system providing wifi coverage behind my own SR213.

[pedwo · Accepted solution]

Hi @Chrisee 

MIght be useful to know that switching the SR213 from WPA3 to WPA2 allowed the new laptop to work with WiFi6.

Phil

[JimM1]

@pedwo Think there are a few WPA3 modes that the SR213 has, but it is all about matching what you have and as such making the decission when it does not play nice! WPA2 is alway's going to be the saviour well established and not Fruit flavoured forced.

[Chrisee]

@pedwo & @JimM1 the WPA3-T mode the SR213 defaults to should be usable by devices with WPA2 or WPA3 chips as it offers a mixed environment.The T stands for transitional and the standard was developed by the WiFi Aloiance to allow modern routers to increase security for devices thst support WPA3 while allowing WPA2 device still to connect. However there is evidence that some devices which should connect in practice are not This has been taken back to the WiFi alliance as it affects multiple router manufacturers.

Sky tell us that they will be changing the default setting for the Max hub to WPA2 while this gets sorted.  So anyone affected can either change the WiFi mode manually using the My Sky app or simply reset the hub which will changecthe default once the change is applied.

[JimM1]

@Chrisee With you on that, WPA has always been a pain for devices that have the hard time, much like the single ssid and lack off seperation, when wi-fi 6 plays nice it is good, but when it want's to throw the toys out the pram very hard to pin the sucker down. Only got a few wi-fi 6 and 2 6e so bias is way WPA2-PSK and just stuff the rest, let them get what they can out off a good 5Ghz signal, apart from my stupid Samsung A5/4 that will just not play with anything for any length off time, can't win them all!