Best Broadband for multi-device use family

inspector_monkfish

Hello

I'm with Sky Fibre Broadband and having lots of problems.

I'm now looking for advice on the best broadband provider for a typical modern family of teenagers plus myself and my wife that require a reliable wifi when using use a lot of devices throughout the house?

Probably similar to many families really. How do you all get by without smashing the router to pieces with a hammer !!!

Our problems are some of the time things connect fast and work perfectly, then for no reason it will just disconnect. For example we have a Sonos music player, which we control via iPhone or iPad through the app. We connect to the songs through the phone, choose some songs to play and all is fine. Then 5 minutes later, you might want to control the volume, but you can no longer connect because the iPhone will have lost connection, but the Sonos is still happily playing music!

Thats just one example, there are many many more.

We've pretty much reverted to using 3G/4G even indoors if using our iPhones.

I've spoken to Sky endlessly, they are no real help. Done all their troubleshooting tests etc, over and over and over with different advisors. As well as trying all the different channels.

I have a Sky 2.0 hub - i asked for a Sky Q (3.0) hub, but they won't send me one.

At our wits end now, so if anyone has any advice on a better provider that can give us a better more reliable service, i am all ears!

thanks in advance
IM

esuhl

So... is it just the wifi causing problems? If so, and the router isn't faulty, it's nothing to do with Sky. You probably won't gain anything by changing ISP.

I've occasionally had problems with devices being reassigned IP addresses by the router. You could try logging in to the router's web interface and reserving static IP addresses for your local devices. Then turn off all your devices, turn off your router... then turn the router on, and then the devices.

You could also try the free version of InSSIDer, which will show all the local wireless access points, which channels they're using, and the signal strengths. It might help you pick a less-congested channel for your wifi signal.

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

If none of that helps, you're either going to have to move the router to a more central location of the house, so that you get better signal coverage, or you'll need to buy some more hardware to extend the range:

You could run an Ethernet cable from your router to a second wireless access point (AP) somewhere else in the house. This would probably be the best option.

You could use Powerline extenders to create a 2nd wireless AP. This is probably more expensive, and not as ideal as using Ethernet, but it's a good compromise that avoids having to run a cable through the house.

You could get a wireless repeater. This will result in a high lag, so fine for general use, but not gaming. Possibly less reliable than powerline adaptors.

Replace your aerial. If your router has a removable aerial, you could replace it with a "high gain" aerial to improve signal strength and coverage.

J_B

Do you and/or can you get fibre broadband?

inspector_monkfish

thanks for the reply
i will definitely look into your suggestions

for now, Sky have just this evening agreed to send me one of their hubs they usually give you if you sign up for Sky Q, as they say the dual band with may help with our multiple devices.

So we will see how we get on with that when it arrives. If still no good, then yes I will have to try looking into some of your helpful suggestions.

Thank-you
IM

inspector_monkfish

J_B wrote: »

Do you and/or can you get fibre broadband?

its Sky Fibre

inspector_monkfish

esuhl wrote: »

So... is it just the wifi causing problems? If so, and the router isn't faulty, it's nothing to do with Sky. You probably won't gain anything by changing ISP.

I've occasionally had problems with devices being reassigned IP addresses by the router. You could try logging in to the router's web interface and reserving static IP addresses for your local devices. Then turn off all your devices, turn off your router... then turn the router on, and then the devices.

You could also try the free version of InSSIDer, which will show all the local wireless access points, which channels they're using, and the signal strengths. It might help you pick a less-congested channel for your wifi signal.

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/5936-inssider.html

If none of that helps, you're either going to have to move the router to a more central location of the house, so that you get better signal coverage, or you'll need to buy some more hardware to extend the range:

You could run an Ethernet cable from your router to a second wireless access point (AP) somewhere else in the house. This would probably be the best option.

You could use Powerline extenders to create a 2nd wireless AP. This is probably more expensive, and not as ideal as using Ethernet, but it's a good compromise that avoids having to run a cable through the house.

You could get a wireless repeater. This will result in a high lag, so fine for general use, but not gaming. Possibly less reliable than powerline adaptors.

Replace your aerial. If your router has a removable aerial, you could replace it with a "high gain" aerial to improve signal strength and coverage.

thanks for the reply
i will definitely look into your suggestions

for now, Sky have just this evening agreed to send me one of their hubs they usually give you if you sign up for Sky Q, as they say the dual band with may help with our multiple devices.

So we will see how we get on with that when it arrives. If still no good, then yes I will have to try looking into some of your helpful suggestions.

Thank-you
IM

lee111s

Buy your own router.

Most ISP supplied devices are low end cheap tat.

Mister_G

lee111s wrote: »

Buy your own router.

Most ISP supplied devices are low end cheap tat.

Providing you can get hold of your Sky login.

lee111s

Move to a supplier which doesn't hide login details. It's a very strange practice and one I've never really understood.

JJ_Egan

saranmahesh wrote: »

Go for BT infinity or virgin media. Its more recommended than sky fibre

Makes no sense as BT and SKY fibre are essentially the same fibre .At a guess BT is not more recommended than Sky but your sources may have more information ??

lee111s

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Makes no sense as BT and SKY fibre are essentially the same fibre .At a guess BT is not more recommended than Sky but your sources may have more information ??

The only similarity is between the master socket and the fibre termination point at the headend exchange.

The router is different, as is the backhaul used to transmit data into and incoming from "the internet".