Trying to boost the SkyQ mesh

[GuyTrem]

Hi all,

I'll give a quick overview of my setup :

TPlink VR2800 modem/wifi router connected to sky broadband 

2 * TPlink RE200 range extenders connected with the same wifi SSID as the main router, so devices can pick best route to internet. 

SKY Q main box connected via ethernet to one of TP link extenders and set to ethernet broadband connection. 2.4G and 5G wifi still enabled .

SKYQ mini connected via ethernet to one of TP link extenders 2.4G and 5G wifi enabled. 

Sky Q mini connected via wifi

SkyQ mini connected via wifi. 

So..the original issue was that having moved the main Q box into a cupboard below the TV , the broadband connection for the main box and the Q connection to the minis was intermittent. Now the main box is connected via the TP link extender, the broadband link is stable. The issue is that the minis ( even the one connected via ethernet ) still have the occasional bad connection ....picture stuttering etc. I run Netflix speed test on the mini ( ethernet one ) and its getting 30Mb...so I am wondering if the Q mesh link from the main box is the culprit ...it seems as though only sat feed tv is degraded. . I believe q mesh only uses its own 5Ghz wifi link, so the ethernet connection wont help. 

I have an old Sky Q booster ( white one ) , so am wondering if this will boost the Q mesh or is it just used to boost broadband. ?

Anyone got advice how to sort this. I dont want to take the main box out of the cupboard ( its a media wall and sits hidden below the telly using the bluetooth connection from the new sky remote ) 

[oldfella]

Hi @GuyTrem 

Not aware that you can clone Sky Q WiFi and so I suspect the minis are still trying to connect to the main Q box WiFi mesh.

Only a Sky Q booster will work with Q and not the normal Sky one.

Best if you can get all the minis connected by the same method as the main Q box.

ie Ethernet to TP link device.

[GuyTrem]

Ok , so a slightly different question. The only weak link seems to be the main box to the router. I will try connecting via ethernet over a powerline adapter. I will need to leave the other mini boxes on the 5GH SKy mesh . 

Question is , has anyone ever got this to be stable ...ie the main box connected to internet via ethernet and then the minis use the sky mesh to connect to it . ? ( I have a sky Q booster helping the mesh ...I can see it logged into the mesh SSID on the 5GHz band ) 

[Chodley]

Hi

What mesh are you talking about at the end there? I don't think it's possble to see what devices are connected to the Q mesh without the kit the sky installers use, and your extenders are not a mesh.

minis can use an ethernet network to get to the Q, doesn't have to be the internal mesh.

Could maybe try the Q booster on ethernet out of the back of the Q (via a switch if you need to also use that socket for the powerline) - might allow the minis to find it and therefore the Q. This networking is so unusual it's worth trying anything.

[GuyTrem]

Ok , to explain a bit further. 

I think I am correct when I say that the main SkyQ box will connect to a 3rd party modem/router on the 2.4GHz band or via ethernet. It then creates its own sky mesh on the 5GHz band ( with a different SSID to the router ) which the mini boxes connect to . If you install a SkyQ booster2 ( which I have ) , it seems to connect to the 3rd party router on the 2.4Ghz band , but also connects to the sky mesh on the 5GHz band. I can see this because if I log in to the booster on its web ui , I can see the two different SSIDs being used. ( one to the router and the other to the skymesh. ) . So I am assuming that the booster is boosting the two SSIDs around the house. 

My query was what happens if I hard wire the main Q box to the router, but leave the mini's using the skymesh ....is this a stable setup ?

I ask because I heard in the past that its an all or nothing scenario....ie all boxes on wifi ( including the main q box ) or all boxes hard wired . Mix and matching doesnt work well ?

Any thoughts ?

[Chodley]

Ah ok.

I think that will work. The booster isn't acting as a hotspot for the 2.4GHz network afaik, just the Q's mesh.

What might be glitchy is the Q might flip to using wifi now and again for the internet connection, and if that's flakey, as it usually is, it will cause problems.

[oldfella]

Hi @GuyTrem 

Not sure what a Sky Booster 2 is.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-booster-what-do-you-need-help-with.

Only the Q WiFi booster will connect to the Main Q box by WiFi.  Ordinary Sky Boosters will not.