Swapping TV/Phone/Broadband package for a 5G router?

question1

Hello people,

My Sky package contract ends in 5 weeks (6/10/22). I'm currently paying £45.47 a month which goes up to £62 a month in October.
This include Sky Signature (the most basic tv package) + Broadband and at an extra £3 Broadband Boost.

I don't watch much regular TV and mostly watch Netflix or YouTube, so I'm thinking of cancelling Sky altogether and getting a 5G router or hotspot like this - https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile-broadband/pay-monthly-contracts/mobile-wifi/vodafone/5g-mobile-hotspot
or
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/business/5g-wireless-router

Questions I have.  Have any of you switched from a fixed line router to a sim router? Good move or not?

Will I still be able to use my Sky Q box to record and watch tv?

Or how can I get my Sky bill down to £45 or less?  Sky isn't perfect, but I'm generally happy with the service. Main issues are price and the router's range and signal strength isn't great.

400ixl

If you cancel Sky TV then you have to return the Sky Q boxes as they are not yours and you only rent them, so you wouldn't have them to watch or record TV.

For a 4G/5G router, you need a proper router, not a hotspot like the first link you provided as you will want something with good aerials for reception of the signal and a decent wifi.

Have you tested the mobile signal where you would likely put the router? What speeds do you get and at what latency? It will of course be different depending on which network, so you may need to test different ones to find the best for your location.

If you can get a decent signal which is consistent and has a low enough latency then it is a good alternative to fixed broadband and can often be faster than you could get through that method.

question1

I still have my old Sky+ box which they never asked back, so are you sure I would need to return the Q box that I've had over a year? I figured I would have paid for it outright by now.

I use the Three network for my mobile on 5G and get between 400 to 500 mbps. My Sky broadband is usually around 60 to 70mbps.  Admittedly 5G isn't as reliable and sometimes doesn't seem available at home, but the 4G speeds I get around similar to my broadband. 

With regards to low enough latency, what's the implications of having a high latency? Isn't latency directly related to the connection speed? 

Neil_Jones

Sky+ boxes were yours from the off., you were given that.  But they are only chunky FTA receivers as all the good functionality requires an active subscription.

Sky Q is rental.  You need to send it back if you cancel the service.  See your T&Cs.

400ixl

Ok, so sounds like a Three option may work, you however linked to Vodafone, so what is the coverage like for that network?

question1

400ixl said:

Ok, so sounds like a Three option may work, you however linked to Vodafone, so what is the coverage like for that network?

According to their coverage checker, should be fine. I linked those because they're a better deal that what Three is offering.
Will look into it further.  If Sky offer me a good deal to stay though, I'll probably do that. 

Thanks

fordyms

Three were doing a 6 month half-price deal on 5G rhubs so I went with that. Get D/L on average about 500 mbps, U/L not brilliant but average about 15 mbps.   Best thing I did kicking greedy Virginmedia into touch.   5G hub & a router, a few WiFi electric plugs, Smart TV with freesat connection to Sky Dish. If not got a smart tv, an Amazon firestick will do - everything you will ever need.   Was watching football on BT Sport in 4K yesterday.

matelodave

Check what speeds you can get by using your mobile phone with a couple of cheap paygo sims from other providers and be sure to do it at peak times if that's when you want to use it. Some access points get overwhelmed and grind to a halt when all the kids get home from school or there's summat good for streaming in the evening.

I've got a Huawei B535 4g router (no 5g at all where we live, or most places I go) and I can get around 25mbit/s with Three, 40 with EE on a good day in the Cambridgeshire Fens nowt with Vodafone or O2. We use it in our caravan and the service and quality is very variable according to location and service provider.

My mate borrowed it last week  and took it to North Norfolk, he got good service where he lives with VF but nothing at all with Three or EE, he didn't try 02, so its a case of suck-it-and-see

Bigphil1474

If you're happy with Sky, get in touch with them when you get to 30 days to go - tell them you can't afford the rise, what can they do blah blah blah, and they'll likely offer you a better price (don't say you only want to pay £45, see what they offer first).

I'm with VM and i think it's great. I've just renewed for another 18 months, going up from M200 to M500 with Sky cinema and Netflix standard on top of what we had before, and now paying £9 a month less.