iPhone and broadband problems

[Dolly10101]

We got our Sky  Broadband in March 2023. The network has been superb across all devices (laptops, TV etc.) however, it is terrible across our iPhones. We are having to switch to mobile data frequently to use our phones. 

I was almost convinced something was wrong with our iPhones but then guests (with iPhones) also have the same issue when they visit. It is increasingly frustrating, any idea if there is a fix for this or is there a known Sky we can turn off limit IP track but why should we?Broadband/iPhone issue? We never had this issue with BT & we were with them for 2 years.

[jamesn123]

@Dolly10101 

Something about how the Sky mesh works means that you need to disable the IP tracking

[mae-3]

@Dolly10101 

Sky routers don't like working correctly with iPhones/iPads in particular and it is clearly a design issue with Sky's wireless mesh which is proprietary when using rotating MAC addresses and limits the IP tracking used by Apple.

I use both these features with my own equipment and they work 100% without issues.

[Dolly10101]

Have you turned your tracking off too? 

[Dolly10101]

@mae-3  Have you turned your tracking off too? 

[mae-3]

@Dolly10101 

Nope, I leave the feature on but use an Asus XT8 ZenWifi router without issues.

[Dolly10101]

@mae-3 @Can you just switch out the routers? 

[mae-3]

@Dolly10101 

Yes, you can just switch out the routers but the router you choose should support DHCP Option 61 to authenticate with Sky's backend, and you lose the VoIP phone when swapping out the router for a third-party router. That is for FTTP, for FTTC (telephone line Sky superfast) it is more difficult because you'll need a VDSL2 modem either included in the router or a separate unit.

[Dolly10101]

@jamesn123 @What does turning off the tracking do, will it compromise the phone at all? Thanks 

[jamesn123]

@mae-3 

No it does not compromise security at all. Its bascially just a fancy tracking blocker for like website ads 

You can read up on it here https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT212614