SKY BROADBAND ROUTERS AND EQUIPMENT REVIEW
Sky Broadband routers review: How good are they?
Sky Broadband is one of the few providers who currently offers three different routers, no less. Which one you get will depend on which package and extras you pick, and they are all considerably different from one another. So let’s take a closer look.
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Sky Broadband routers and equipment scorecard
Six key areas. One overall score. All calculated using our transparent methodology.
Wi-Fi quality
How good the standard routers’ Wi-Fi is in everyday use, looking at specifications, Wi-Fi bands/type, and how many devices they can support.
Wi-Fi range
How far the router’s Wi-Fi should reach around the home, with consideration given to local factors like large homes or thick walls.
Whole-home Wi-Fi
Whether the provider offers a mesh router system or extra help for larger homes, whether it’s good, and whether it’ll cost you extra.
Wired connectivity
How well the router supports Ethernet and wired devices, looking at number of ports, their speeds, and how accessible they are.
Router controls
How much control you get through the app, admin page and any controls you might have on the router itself.
Using your own router
How easily you can use your own third-party router or mesh hardware – whether you can use anything you like or if it’s limited in any way.
Fibredog Router Comparison Tool
Compare this provider's routers with each other, or with any other national provider.
Fibredog Router Range Estimator
Provides a visual mock-up of how Wi-Fi is likely to behave in your home with this provider's routers.
Fibredog Whole Home Wi-Fi Calculator
Calculates whether you need additional mesh routers, how many, and even where you should put them.
Wi-Fi quality
Sky has three current Full Fibre routers, but they don’t form a simple good, better, best choice at checkout. Your package and add-ons decide which one you get, while the excellent Wi-Fi 7 Gigafast+ Hub is reserved for two broadband speeds almost nobody actually needs.
Key differences
The Sky Broadband Hub is showing its age
The standard Sky Broadband Hub uses Wi-Fi 5, making it the oldest wireless technology supplied by any of Sky’s three routers. It supports up to 64 devices and has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, but there’s no WPA3, 6GHz Wi-Fi or customer-configurable guest network. It will do the job for an ordinary home, but it’s well behind the latest hardware.
WiFi Max provides the realistic upgrade
Adding WiFi Max to an eligible Full Fibre package gets you the Sky Max Hub. This moves you to Wi-Fi 6, WPA3, app management, device prioritisation and support for up to 120 connected devices. You can also receive up to three Sky Max Pods if Sky’s Wi-Fi guarantee isn’t met. For most homes, this is the Sky router worth having.
Wi-Fi 7 is locked behind enormous speeds
The Sky Gigafast+ Hub is a serious piece of hardware. It has tri-band Wi-Fi 7, 6GHz Wi-Fi, two 10Gbps Ethernet ports and support for up to 300 devices. The catch is that Sky only supplies it with Full Fibre 2.5 Gigafast+ and Full Fibre 5 Gigafast+. Nobody needs that much broadband speed, especially simply to get a better router.
All three routers miss a basic feature
None of Sky’s residential routers provides a customer-configurable guest network. That’s an unusual omission, particularly from the expensive Gigafast+ Hub. Sky gives you profiles, schedules, parental controls, device management and prioritisation, but it doesn’t let you create a separate Wi-Fi network for visitors.
Sources: Sky Broadband, Sercomm Corporation
INTERACTIVE TOOL
Compare routers from any provider
This provider’s routers are pre-selected for comparison with one another. However, you can use this tool to compare any router from any major provider using the dropdown menus below.
| Feature | Choose router | Choose router |
|---|---|---|
| Fibredog rating | — | — |
| Router included as standard | — | — |
| Router manufacturer | — | — |
| Router model | — | — |
| Wi-Fi standard | — | — |
| Wi-Fi bands | — | — |
| 2.4GHz supported | — | — |
| 5GHz supported | — | — |
| 6GHz supported | — | — |
| Beamforming | — | — |
| Antenna count | — | — |
| Maximum connected devices | — | — |
| Stated coverage | — | — |
| Total Ethernet ports | — | — |
| MU-MIMO | — | — |
| OFDMA | — | — |
| WPA3 security | — | — |
| Guest network | — | — |
| Antenna type | — | — |
| Gigabit Ethernet ports | — | — |
| 2.5Gb Ethernet ports | — | — |
| 5Gb Ethernet ports | — | — |
| 10Gb Ethernet ports | — | — |
| WAN port speed | — | — |
| USB ports | — | — |
| Telephone ports | — | — |
| ONT Ethernet input | — | — |
| Coaxial input | — | — |
| Power connection | — | — |
| Mesh support | — | — |
| Provider mesh product | — | — |
| Third-party router use | — | — |
| Modem mode | — | — |
| Compatible broadband technology | — | — |
| App management | — | — |
| Parental controls | — | — |
| QoS | — | — |
| Automated QoS | — | — |
| Device prioritisation | — | — |
| Anti-bufferbloat controls | — | — |
| Manual queue management (SQM/CAKE) | — | — |
| Smart channel selection | — | — |
| Security features | — | — |
| Gamer mode | — | — |
| Game traffic prioritisation | — | — |
| Gaming QoS profiles | — | — |
| Server ping routing tools | — | — |
| Latency dashboards | — | — |
| Per-device gaming presets | — | — |
| Gaming VPN routing features | — | — |
| Work from home mode | — | — |
| Automatic firmware updates | — | — |
| Firmware update notes | — | — |
| Router height | — | — |
| Router width | — | — |
| Router depth | — | — |
| Router weight | — | — |
| Power consumption | — | — |
| Router orientation | — | — |
| Wall mountable | — | — |
| Router colour | — | — |
| Self-installation | — | — |
| Browser admin interface | — | — |
| WPS | — | — |
| Status light control | — | — |
| Reset button | — | — |
| Wi-Fi on/off button | — | — |
| Where would you like to go next? | See all tools | See all tools |
Which Sky Broadband router do you get?
Sky Broadband Hub
Included with Sky’s ordinary Full Fibre packages.
It uses dual-band Wi-Fi 5, has four Gigabit Ethernet ports and supports up to 64 connected devices.
Sky Max Hub
Supplied with WiFi Max on eligible packages.
The realistic upgrade adds dual-band Wi-Fi 6, WPA3, app management and support for around 120 devices.
Sky Gigafast+ Hub
Only included with 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps Gigafast+.
It brings tri-band Wi-Fi 7, 6GHz Wi-Fi, two 10Gbps Ethernet ports and support for up to 300 devices.
Wi-Fi quality across Sky’s three hubs
The standard Sky Broadband Hub is adequate, but Wi-Fi 5 looks increasingly dated. It has eight internal antennas, beamforming, automatic updates, four Gigabit Ethernet ports and capacity for up to 64 devices. Most homes can use it perfectly well, but there’s little here to get excited about.
The Sky Max Hub is the sensible step up. Wi-Fi 6, WPA3, support for around 120 devices and My Sky app management make it substantially more modern. It also works with Sky Max Pods and the WiFi Max guarantee. The problem is that you need WiFi Max to get it on an ordinary Full Fibre package, and that'll cost you.
Sky’s Gigafast+ Hub sits at the opposite extreme. Tri-band Wi-Fi 7, a 6GHz band, WPA3, two 10Gbps Ethernet ports and capacity for up to 300 devices make it one of the most capable provider routers available. Unfortunately, it’s tied to Sky’s 2.5Gbps and 5Gbps CityFibre packages which few can get and even fewer actually need. Those speeds are spectacular, but come on! What on earth is anyone going to practically do with 2.5 to 5Gbps?
Sky has excellent router technology, but without making it sensibly available across the range. Most people must either therefore accept the old Wi-Fi 5 hub or pay for WiFi Max to reach Wi-Fi 6. The Wi-Fi 7 hub is outstanding, but buying several gigabits of unnecessary broadband just to obtain it would be completely bonkers.
INTERACTIVE TOOL
Router range estimator
See how wall materials and router choice affect the quality of Wi-Fi around a typical home.
Where would you like to go next?
How to use the Router Range Estimator
It’s pretty straightforward. Select the router from this provider, and the main construction materials of your internal walls. It’s important to remember, though, that this is just an estimator.
It can give you a rough idea, but local factors like neighbouring network interference or mixed material wall set-ups can mean the results vary considerably from the estimate. It’s meant to give you a rule of thumb and only that.
How to maximise your Sky router's range
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Start with placement
Put your Sky hub near the middle of your home if you can, out in the open and away from thick walls or cupboards.
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Test every room
Run a speed test where you actually use Wi-Fi. Our Whole Home Wi-Fi Calculator further down this page is built for exactly that.
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Use the My Sky app
Check your hub and connected devices in the My Sky app. It can help you find weak rooms before you start moving furniture around blindly.
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Move obvious blockers
Keep the hub away from TVs, mirrors, metal objects, appliances and anything that boxes it in. Give the signal space to leave the router.
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Add WiFi Max if needed
If some rooms still struggle, WiFi Max can provide up to three Max Pods when your Wi-Fi fails to meet Sky's room-by-room guarantee.
Faster Wi-Fi has shorter legs
Wi-Fi behaves exactly like sound. Ever notice how you hear the bass, meaning the low frequencies, a few rooms away, but can't hear the treble? It's the same here. The higher the frequency, the more detail there is in the signal, but lower frequencies make it through far more walls.
That's the difference between Wi-Fi bands. 2.4GHz is the slow old workhorse. It isn't glamorous or especially quick, but it's better at reaching the awkward room at the back. 5GHz is faster and better for streaming, gaming and newer devices, but it gives up sooner as you move away from the router.
Sky's router range runs from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 7. All three hubs use 2.4GHz and 5GHz, while the Gigafast+ Hub also adds 6GHz. That new band can be extremely fast nearby, but it has the shortest range. WiFi Max and its Max Pods are what actually extend coverage into difficult rooms.
Having trouble choosing a broadband provider?
No single best provider or package exists – only the best pick for you personally. Fibredog's YourMatch™ system uses thousands of provider metrics and a lot of maths to find you your perfect match.
Wired connectivity
Most people won’t spend much time thinking about the sockets on the back of their router, and fair enough. Wi-Fi handles most everyday jobs. Wired connections still matter when you want the steadiest possible link for a games console, desktop PC, network switch or NAS. What Sky gives you depends heavily on which of its three hubs you receive.
Sky’s ordinary hubs are fine for packages up to 900Mbps
The Sky Broadband Hub and Sky Max Hub each have four Ethernet sockets. On Full Fibre, one connects the hub to the ONT, leaving three Gigabit Ethernet ports for your own devices. That means a TV, games console and desktop PC can all plug in directly.
That isn’t a problem on Sky’s ordinary Full Fibre range, which tops out at around 900Mbps. A Gigabit Ethernet port can carry that speed, and 900Mbps is still ridiculously quick in normal-home terms. At 25Mbps per 4K stream, you could run about 36 at once!
The Gigafast+ Hub is built for multi-gigabit broadband
Sky hasn’t tried to push 2.5Gbps or 5Gbps broadband through a router that can’t handle it. The Gigafast+ Hub has a dedicated 10Gbps WAN port for the incoming connection, three Gigabit Ethernet ports and a separate 10Gbps LAN port for your fastest wired devices or LAN hubs.
That 10Gbps LAN socket means a compatible computer, network switch or NAS can use the full speed of Sky’s multi-gigabit packages. Absolutely nobody needs that much, but if you're going to sell 5Gbps broadband, this is exactly the router you should supply with it.
How a simple wired Sky Broadband network works
Plugging devices directly into your router gives them a steadier connection than Wi-Fi. These router diagrams show the physical Ethernet ports, including any ONT or internet port used by the broadband connection itself.
Check which port is the internet input before counting how many wired device ports you have spare.
Use the fastest spare LAN port for the device or switch that needs the most speed.
A cable still beats Wi-Fi to some degree
Even with good Wi-Fi, a wired connection is still the best option for anything that needs a steady connection. Gaming, large downloads, video calls, work computers and network storage can all benefit from being plugged in directly.
That doesn’t mean you need Ethernet cables running around the house like a heist-movie laser maze. It means the most important device near your Sky hub should probably be wired if you care about getting the most stable performance.
Sky’s hubs also have a telephone port for its internet-based home phone service; useful if you still want a home phone, but it doesn’t mean a call package is automatically included with every broadband package.
If you need a home phone, treat it as something to check separately when choosing your package. The port may be there, but Sky Talk still needs to be part of what you’re buying and it will cost extra.
How to make best use of your Sky router’s LAN ports
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Count the usable ports
On the ordinary Sky hubs, one of the four Ethernet sockets connects to the ONT, leaving three Gigabit ports for your devices.
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Gigabit ports cover 900Mbps
A Gigabit Ethernet port can carry the speed of Sky’s ordinary Full Fibre packages once normal networking overheads are allowed for.
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Gigafast+ gets a 10Gbps LAN port
The Gigafast+ Hub can pass multi-gigabit speeds to one compatible wired device through its separate 10Gbps LAN socket.
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Wire the devices that care
Gaming PCs, consoles, work computers and network storage benefit most. TVs and printers can wait their turn for a wired port.
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Add a switch if needed
If your wired sockets aren’t enough, add an Ethernet switch. It gives you more ports, not more speed per port.
What changes when you use your own router?
Your compatible router connects to the ONT and replaces the supplied Sky hub. It then becomes responsible for the home network and the features Sky’s equipment previously provided.
Hands the connection to your router
The ONT is the wall box where the Full Fibre connection arrives. It remains in place and provides the Ethernet hand-off.
Your own router connects to it through a compatible WAN port instead of the supplied Sky hub.
Takes over Wi-Fi and settings
Your router handles Wi-Fi, wired devices, guest access and whichever VPN, DNS, firewall or traffic controls it provides.
You also become responsible for compatibility, setup and router faults, while some Sky-managed functions will no longer be available.
Having trouble choosing a broadband provider?
No single best provider or package exists – only the best pick for you personally. Fibredog's YourMatch™ system uses thousands of provider metrics and a lot of maths to find you your perfect match.
Some links on this page may earn us a small commission if you click through and buy. This never affects either what you pay, or our scores and recommendations. If, however, you’d rather bypass affiliate links, use this direct Sky Broadband link instead.
