Sky max hub just ordered

[will28]

Hi

@JimM1 (It's wy2k from EE forum)

Just re-ordered sky super fast broadband (returning from EE as after 2 years).

Anyway can you split 2.4ghz/5ghz bands or turn off 5ghz temporarily 

Reason I ask is I have smart plugs that won't allow me to set them up unless the WiFi is 2.4ghz only.

Or alternatively would just changing the WiFi network name/password to the EE ones be a better option?

Thank you 

[JimM1]

@will28 You can split bands if you get the sky SR203 wifi5 hub, if you get the sky Max SR213 wifi6 hub, no splitting bands, all app controlled, no web interface, temp suspend the band, and can set the WPA on it from the WPA3-T, up or down. Link all about the max.

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

[will28]

When setting up my smartplugs which I figure will use wpa2 most likely is there an option sky max hub to use wpa2 for those that don't support wpa3 but have wpa3 in use as well for the devices that do support it?

Or should I just set it to wpa2? 

• Thanks

[JimM1]

@will28 Two things you should do, the sky Max hub gets a real bad rap for wireless wi-fi signal strength never used it would not have one, had enough off app after using the EE Smarthub+ for a year, and WPA3-T is the go between for older/newer mix and match, i always set WPA2-PSK mode nothing wrong with it works well! It's a try and see, wifi6 had to have WPA3 as a conformity as it was a requirement, and like all newer ISP are all doing the NO split bands, have been an Asus router user for years, so now just parked all the sky gear back in it's box, and Asus is all up front and centre on the ONT using the TRI band and all split 2.4Ghz and the two 5Ghz bands!

Having Max paying the extra subscription does allow for upto 3 extender pods from sky, when they connect unlocks the hidden backhaul wireless ssid but have never used or analyzed and do not know anyone using to do any check's! They also seem to get a very bad rap as well! 

[JimM1]

@will28 Links all about the sky Max service.

getting sky max and how to get the pod's
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-max
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/enhanced-wall-to-wall-wifi-guarantee
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-booster-what-do-you-need-help-with

[JimM1]

@will28 The only thing to watch is the 5Ghz band on max, it is auto channel non adjustable, and for some reason likes to be way up the channel band and some older devices just cannot handle that frequency range. So any trouble on connecting 5Ghz devices make that the first thought!

[will28]

I was hoping the biggest issue would be having to turn off 5ghz while I set up my smartplugs up on the new network..at least what I had to do with the EE router then once they were setup I could turn 5ghz back on and the plugs still worked.

But I'm guessing if I have to use wpa3-t? I won't benefit from WiFi 6 if any of my devices can use it anyway?

[JimM1]

@will28 You should have NO issues, my wi-fi 5 laptop connected on a wifi 6 hub, the Asus with full 160Mhz channel selection and at max speed no issues with WPA2 mode, same as my wifi 6 and 6e devices!

1733/1733 (Mbps) thats the current link speed wifi5 3 year old Asus laptop to an Asus AP.

[will28]

Did have a look at Asus routers but they can be quite expensive so even more hoping the sky router I'm getting I won't have issues with I mean only in a small flat but felt made sense to have the best sky router so I was ready for full fibre broadband if/when I can get it.

Oh and my laptop gets connection speed of 866mbps with the EE router.

[JimM1]

@will28 It's worth the try, you can compare it against what you get just now for the EE that you are using, EE Smarthub+ was a good router until EE Stuffed the FW up end of Feb, and it compared just as well as the SR203 hub, 20 years a sky user, and 1 year EE wilderness and if they had not messed up would probably still be with them!

Asus are way expensive there is NO doubt about it, but they work just great!

[will28]

Yes thinking that's my baseline the EE router as long the sky max router performs as well as if not better I'll be happy and has no issues at least that last long time or repeat often.

[JimM1]

@will28 will type up what i would be trying getting a new sky Max hub for you tomorrow, NO idea if it would/will work but sure worth a try!

[JimM1]

@will28 If this was me, as soon as you get the sky Max hub would be trying to set it up all offline.

Using a laptop/PC and connecting it by Ethernet if that is possible to the Hub, then see if it will connect and you have some method off web manager control to it, access will be through the browser on http: //192.168.0.1 you may have to put a http :// but remove that space between the p and the : this web page always turns a http to a https.

Change the sky ssid and password to that off your current setting that you are using on the EE/BT router, DO keep a note somewhere safe so you have it as a Full Factory reset wipes all the values back to out off box state, then go set the wireless wpa to WPA2-PSK....

If you don't wish to set the sky ssid/password then you have to go through the process of reconnecting all off your devices to the new hub!

Connect the hub to your Master Socket when sky advises you that it is all good to go and you have been transfered to them, just let the hub connect do it's thing, get any FW updates it needs, any reboots it requires etc 

Then this is the important part, the App is required to do any changes once sky see that the hub is on the network, it CLAMPS it all down at this point and NO MORE web interfacing to the unit, sometimes it takes 24hrs for the App and the Hub to play nice with each other as there is a lot going on between both so this requires you to have patience with it all, if you are using a landline then also 24-48hrs for that all to gel together and is a plug in at the back off the hub!

As i say have never had or used the SR213 hub but do believe you can set it up before sky grabs it all but it will all depend on how it reacts with the supplied FW version on a new OOB situation!

[will28]

Thanks.

Yes going to take a picture of the EE router SSID and password and it's on wpa2 at the moment not sure if I need to keep it on that to avoid things not working namely smartplugs?

Do I have to change the SSID before the app takes over or can you do that in the app anyway?

Would have to connect my laptop by WiFi to the router for the web management interface but that's fine as you can connect to WiFi without it being plugged into the phone line if that's required?

[JimM1]

@will28 No problem with the Wi-Fi connected via the laptop to set it all up, will be fine once you get the connection to the hub ssid and password, the WPA mode is up to you try the WPA3-T and see how it goes, and issues then you just need to fold it back, once the unit is connected to sky that is when the web connection all get's stopped then app is the only method off connecting to it to make the changes.

It's as they say a roll off the dice, do it all before and you may just have a very smooth changeover, do it after then you just may have a little delay as you wait for the app and the hub all to connect before you can make any changes that you require!