Skymax Hub drops Smart Devices, also poor signal range.

[Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh]

I had the old Sky Q wireless hub, which worked fine and gave no problems at any point. 

Out of the blue, Sky emailed to say that they would no longer be supporting this hub, and that I could have a new Skymax Hub free of charge if I wished. Why not?

Really wished I hadn't. The performance of this new hub is terrible compared to the old one. 

The signal range is less, and it randomly drops the internet entirely (generally only for a few seconds though) on an almost daily basis. 

The main problem however is with my Smart Device connections. These drop or disconnect on a daily basis, often several times a day, even when my broadband connection is in place (all green lights on the hub, phone connected to WiFi). 

It is clearly a problem with the hub rather than the Smart Devices, as it is fairly random as to which are affected at any one time: sometimes it's the Ring doorbell, sometimes it's my Alexa devices, or my Nest thermostat etc. It's rarely all at the same time, usually one or two while the others are connected without any problems - again indicating that the Hub is the problem, not the devices themselves. 

The main problem has been with my Sonos setup: this has now started dropping several times a day, sometimes it reappears by itself, several times I have had to reinstall every device via the Sonos app as a new system - most frustrating. 

I'm resetting the router on an almost daily basis, this provides a temporary solution, before it started again hours, maybe a day later. 

Is anyone else suffering this with the new Skymax Hub?

[Chrisee]

@Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh was not aware Sky were swapping the older Q hubs for the new white SR213 Sky Max hub as most people get the older black SR203 Broadband and have to buy the WiFi Max bundle to get the white hub

Surprising you have found the range to be less than the old flat Q hub as my tests and other tests found the opposite however not contesting you are having issues. Do you have Sky Q TV boxes by any chance as one cause of apparent loss of range is caused by the loss of use of the Q tv boxes wifi hotspots for your devices. In this case you need the matched pod extenders that can come as part of the WiFi Max bundle.

One other difference between the older hubs and the new one is the increased dependence on the 5GHz band which in older properties can cause an issue. Also the new hubs do not allow the SSIDs to be split which can help with older IOT equipment. My own solution is to use a third party Home WiFi kit rather than using the Sky hub's wifi but my home is relatively wifi unfriiendly.

[Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh]

Apologies, didn't realise there were different Skymax hubs: mine is indeed the older black one, which would perhaps explain why Sky were happy to 'upgrade' it for free...

[Lowthian+Terrace]

Interesting to hear that it's not just me that this is happening to! 

I also had the same email from sky saying that the Sky-Q hub would no longer be supported, and that I could request a new hub from them. 

I seem to be experience similar problems with the new sky broadband hub:

- Google nest devices randomly report "no connection".

- Smart IOT devices drop connection / appear offline.

- My phone often has trouble connecting to WiFi, or is connected but the throughout is so slow the WiFi is unusable (switching phone WiFi off and back on usually sorts it).

- WiFi signal / coverage seems worse! I have noticed there are places in my house (furthest from the hub) where I can get a 5Ghz connection yet cannot get a 2.4Ghz connection! (Shouldn't the 2.4Ghz signal reach further (but with less signal strength) then the 5Ghz connection (which should be a stronger signal, but with less range)?

I never had these issues before, and the devices I now have problems with haven't changed (nor has their location within my house).

I'm seriously thinking about ditching the new hub, and reinstalling the old Sky-Q hub.

[Chrisee]

@Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh sounds like the unit Sky has sent is faulty as the range and stability oof the Sky Broadband hub should be significantly better then the old Q hub assuming they are out in the open on a surface so the signal isn't compromised.

[Chrisee]

@Lowthian+Terrace same advice applies to your situation so ask Sky to replace the unit you have. Continueing to use the old Q hub is not advised as going forward it wont get updates for security issues. I used two different examples for several years of the same model hubs you have (SR203) with none of the issyes either of you report.

[Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh]

It's in the same place as the old Sky Q router, so can't imagine that's the problem. 

[JimM1]

@Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh When you got the replacement hub from sky did it come with everything you required, and if needed did you also swap all of the components out?

[Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh]

Yes, replaced everything and followed the setup instructions to the letter. 

[JimM1]

@Blaaaaaaaahhhhhhh Can you take a picture connection for the master socket arrangement and attach / post it up for viewing, use the camera icon below if you have not done so before.

Moved from Q style to SR style many years ago, and SR was way better than the older Q, but it is all home specific... You can put the Q back on and test if you feel that strong it is bad, both work no issues, and if it is a poor SR replacement then it has to be dealt with via sky.