Sky Broadband Hub and Sky Q Hub routers

Aaron Howdle | August 18th, 2023

If you’re a Sky customer or thinking of becoming one, it’s good to know what to expect from the equipment Sky provides you. We have all the details both on Sky’s most recent routers, as well as those of old.

Sky is almost as well known for broadband as it is for TV. Sky Q TV packages now rely on internet streaming as part of the service, so a decent router is a must. Previous Sky routers have been adequate but certainly not great. The 2013 Sky Hub saw many years of service and fell behind the competition in terms of speed and signal strength.

The later Sky Q Hub was a necessary improvement, but is eclipsed by the superior Sky Broadband Hub. New Sky broadband packages come with the Sky Broadband Hub as standard. Let's take a look at what makes it an attractive option, both for existing Sky customers and those looking to change their provider.

How to get a Sky Broadband router

The Sky Broadband Hub is supplied as standard with all of its current internet packages. This is good news for new Sky customers, because the latest router is a real improvement on previous models from Sky. Indeed, the internet is awash with existing Sky customers asking how they can get one. The main reason behind this seems to be it’s improved signal range, which gives better wifi reception throughout the home.

For existing customers there are a couple of ways to get one. It may be possible to upgrade your broadband package to get the new hub. Alternatively, you can get a Sky Broadband Hub by adding Sky Broadband Boost to your package at a small extra monthly cost. The final option is to buy a Sky Broadband Hub.

In most cases, you can expect your new Sky router to arrive in the post within a couple of weeks of signing up to a new Sky package. If an engineer is required, then the time can vary depending on when an appointment is available.

Sky Broadband Hub features

All Sky broadband packages now come with the Sky Broadband Hub. Let’s have a look at some of its features.

• VDSL2/ADSL 2+ – VDSL2 means the hub can be connected by super-fast fibre optic cable to your home (once it becomes available), while ADSL2+ means you can also connect via a phone line
• Smart channel selection – The Smart Hub automatically connects your devices to the fastest wifi channel and frequency available
• Smart scan – The router continually checks your network connection as well as its own performance and automatically reboots if there's a problem
• Dual band – Like many modern routers, the Smart Hub uses both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands
• Four gigabit ethernet ports – Four gigabit ethernet ports, so you can use a wired connection for up to four devices
• Eight antennae – The hub has eight aerials, providing a better wifi signal than previous Sky hubs. Your wifi signal should provide a good connection throughout your home
• Internet calls – Sky Broadband Hub has a VOIP handset socket to allow the connection of an internet phone handset
• Number of Devices – Up to 64 devices can be connected

If there are any unfamiliar terms you'd like a more in-depth explanation of the terms used above, you can check out our jargon-busting guide.

Setting up a Sky Broadband router

If you require an engineer to get your Sky Broadband up and running, they will also set up your Sky Broadband Hub for you. If not, then you will need to do it yourself. For full instructions on various different types of phone socket, it is best to visit the Sky website instructions, which also has pictorial instructions. But if you want an overview to get an idea of how easy it is then look no further.

Your activation date is shown on the box your hub arrives in. When your activation date comes around, the first thing you need to do is unplug everything from your wall mounted telephone socket. Then find the micro filter supplied with your Sky Broadband Hub and plug it into the phone socket. You can then plug your telephone into the micro filter in the socket marked 'phone'.

The next step is to position the hub near your phone socket, preferably in a raised position to get maximum wifi coverage around your home. Your Sky Hub comes with a grey cable, sporting a white plug at one end and a purple one at the other end. Plug the white end into the micro-filter, and the purple end into your Sky Broadband Hub’s purple socket.

Next, connect the power supply plug to the hub before plugging it into the mains. There are four led lights on the front of the hub. When the first 3, indicating, power, internet and wifi are all showing a green light, you are ready to go. The log-in and password details for your wifi are shown on the back of the hub.

Once your router is up and running, we'd suggest you start making it as secure as possible. Our guide to securing your wifi router can help.

Legacy Sky routers

The Sky Broadband Hub is an improvement on previous Sky hubs. The main improvement being its eight antennae, which give much better wifi coverage around your home. Previous versions struggled with bad reception in some rooms. But there are still plenty of previous Sky Hubs in circulation. The previous two being the old Sky Hub and the Sky Q Hub

• Sky Hub – This router has been knocking around since 2013 and was being supplied with its entry level Essential Broadband package until fairly recently. It uses the older, slower, 802.11n wifi standard, allowing connections at speeds of up to 100mbps, which is much slower than later Sky routers. Up to 32 devices can be connected
• Sky Q Hub – This router was provided to Sky Q customers and while it was an improvement on the 2013 model, its five antennae gave it less range and a weaker signal than the 2019 Sky Broadband Hub. However it could be connected to 64 devices and provided wifi speeds up to 1Gbps