topic Re: Using 3rd Party Router in Archive

Using 3rd Party Router

Nigelbrand — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 13:53:51 GMT

Thinking of moving to sky fibre broadband from TalkTalk. I am currently using a TP link router and a TP link extender to extend the WIFI throughtout the hpouse. TP link router is much better than supplied TT router. If I moved to Sky fibre can I still use my current set up of TPlionk equipment?

Thanks

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

cookiemonsteruk — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:00:53 GMT

@Nigelbrand

Could we have the full model for tplink

Sky uses ipoe/dhcp option 61 authentication

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

cookiemonsteruk — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:04:08 GMT

@Nigelbrand

Also clarifying is tp link a pure range extender or integrated mesh. If mesh are you still using tplink as router ?

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

jamesn123 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:10:51 GMT

@Nigelbrand

If you are using a TP-Link router/modem e.g. Actually replaced the TT router completely then you need to make sure it can authenticate on Sky fibre using DHCP Option 61.

If you are using a TP-Link router/mesh system simply plugged into the TT router than that should work fine.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

cookiemonsteruk — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:34:32 GMT

@Nigelbrand

Ideal situation

Tp link modem router has modem only mode

Tp link mesh is is also a dhcp option 61 compliant router that can be pppoe'd with vlan id 101 and bridged to the modem then you would retain full wifi functionality of the mesh if it is wifi 6

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Nigelbrand — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:17:59 GMT

Thnaks for the replies

TPLink router is Archer VR900 AC1900 Wireless VDSL Modem Router

TPLink Extender is RE450

The extender is not as mesh system as I am aware of and the router has replaced the router supplied by TT. This gives us good WIFI coverage.

Please note that I am not a IT guru.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

mae-3 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 16:23:35 GMT

@Nigelbrand

The Archer VR900 is fully compatible with Sky and supports DHCP Option 61, and can replace the Sky router completely.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Skull+Treaty — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:29:03 GMT

@Nigelbrand

As @mae-3 post, should be no issues with the TP-Link device you currently have.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Littlebird2 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:57:15 GMT

I spent a few hours discussing this subject with sky last night...If you take sky talk and the voip phone then I don't believe there are any 3rd party routers that are compatible. If someone knows of one please shout as it would make my day! As it stands my plan to replace the sky router with a archer or nighthawk are on hold 😞 Really wish I had realised the voip phone would limit my options)

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

jamesn123 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:58:52 GMT

@Littlebird2

Just stick a router infront of the Sky hub then. You dont HAVE to replace it

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

mae-3 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:59:10 GMT

@Littlebird2

You are quite correct about the VoIP issue, there are no alternative routers compatible with Sky VoIP.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Littlebird2 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:05:19 GMT

I have minimal connectivity in some locations and poor streaming, we have boosters/extenders - sky engineer out next week. I've tried a different router and it made a huge difference but it meant no landline ( which we need because mobile is rubbish) and I having two routers isn't an option cos of the double NAT.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

mae-3 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:06:54 GMT

@Littlebird2

How about using an alternative VoIP provider like Vonage?

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Littlebird2 — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 18:14:27 GMT

Thanks, I will look at Vonage - hadn't considered having a second voip service. I'm reluctant to change isp so will see how things are post engineer visit.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

CyberFriday — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:28:42 GMT

@jamesn123 wrote:
@Nigelbrand
If you are using a TP-Link router/modem e.g. Actually replaced the TT router completely then you need to make sure it can authenticate on Sky fibre using DHCP Option 61.

If you are using a TP-Link router/mesh system simply plugged into the TT router than that should work fine.

@jamesn123 Sky report that 80% of Openreach's network can authenticate natively on dhcpv6. So, no need for option 61.

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Broadband/Third-party-router-with-FTTP/td-p/3541862/page/2

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Chrisee — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 08:24:55 GMT

@CyberFriday thst post refers to FTTP connections where an adapted SR203 is connected to a ONT. FTTC and G.fast connections using a copper phone line and a moddm definitely need the Option 61 log in.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

CyberFriday — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 23:01:08 GMT

@Chrisee wrote:
@CyberFriday thst post refers to FTTP connections where an adapted SR203 is connected to a ONT. FTTC and G.fast connections using a copper phone line and a moddm definitely need the Option 61 log in.

@Chrisee Missed the subtlety of FTTP. For those of us where FTTP isn't an option when we see "fibre broadband" mentioned without FTTP then the default is FTTC.

Why do you say FTTC and G.FAST on copper "definitely" need option 61 is that because it doesn't natively support IPV6 or for some other reason ? And is that an edit that @-rpnz- should make to his post to ensure it covers all the bases ?

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Broadband/Third-party-router-with-FTTP/td-p/3541862/page/2

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Chrisee — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 07:02:21 GMT

@CyberFriday Sky do not support third party routers so the knowledge we have is built up from experience however to get any modem/router combination to connect to a service over copper you need the authentication step - its just the way Sky have set things up some of which will predate the introduction of IP6.

Sky UK's choice of Option 61 (MER) rather than PPOE catches a lot of people out as while some routers like Netgear and TP-Link support Sky's VDSL service out of the box others like Asus units need different firmware. Multiple systems however wont connect as they lack the vital Option61 support these include Google Wifi, Netgear's Orbi etc.

Just to total confuse everyone Sky Ireland use PPOE so it is important to know which system is being discussed in the thread if you use search.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

CyberFriday — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 18:22:51 GMT

@Chrisee wrote:
@CyberFriday Sky do not support third party routers so the knowledge we have is built up from experience however to get any modem/router combination to connect to a service over copper you need the authentication step - its just the way Sky have set things up some of which will predate the introduction of IP6.

Sky UK's choice of Option 61 (MER) rather than PPOE catches a lot of people out as while some routers like Netgear and TP-Link support Sky's VDSL service out of the box others like Asus units need different firmware. Multiple systems however wont connect as they lack the vital Option61 support these include Google Wifi, Netgear's Orbi etc.

Just to total confuse everyone Sky Ireland use PPOE so it is important to know which system is being discussed in the thread if you use search.

@Chrisee Fully aware of Sky's policy on not supporting non Sky routers. And, it's thanks to that approach that I first became aware of the lovely sound drop out issues as i had to switch back from my Draytek 2860 to the "lovely" sky q hub before opening a support call for something else. Although I was pleasantly surprised to see Sky stepping into the thread i linked to in post 17 on this thread. And post that i was able to remove my option 61 credentials and must be on the 80% of the network nativley supporting authentication on IPV6. And i have FTTC on copper so i don't "definitely" need option 61 as you mention in your post 16. This was where i was confused as that wasn't the message that @-rpnz- was giving (you only need it if you are on the 20% of the network not supporting IPV6). I know it is complicated topic, particularly when you consider the range of technical expertise across the sky customer base. So, can i ask @-rpnz- to consider pinning an article based on their earlier post This will help clarify the situation in a single authoritative source.

Re: Using 3rd Party Router

Chrisee — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 06:44:37 GMT

@CyberFriday genuinly surprised you have been able to authenticate a FTTC connection without using Option 61. Never heard of that before and it is a useful data point especially as potentially it opens up a range of choices of equipment that does not support that option. However it is a gamble as I know of no way to no which exchanges fully support IP6 andcwhich don't.

I will be surprised if Sky post an article as up until now they have refused even simple requests like posting the log in string but hopefully you can prove me wrong - again. As I undestand it it is not a technical decision but a marketing one.