topic Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT in Broadband

connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

warbkingtonlounge — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 18:55:32 GMT

Hi all, I understand that the Sky/ Openreach ONT is a router so as such I can plug my main deco m5 directly into it and use decos in router mode.

Are there any settings I need to be aware of if I go this route?

If this is a no go and I decide to keep my landline how do I link the sky router to another third party device so I can link decos and have VoIP?

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

JimM1 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 19:19:08 GMT

@warbkingtonlounge

1. The ONT is a modem only device

2. The deco m5 is a router device, there are settings required so search the forum to see

if this model has been connected to the ONT directly and working....

3. YOU will not be able to have any Landline operation from SKY unless you use the SKY supplied

router, it is NOT possible with any other manufacturer's router.

If this is a no go and I decide to keep my landline how do I link the sky router to another third party device so I can link decos and have VoIP?

Your question the decos would be best set into AP mode, all connected by ethernet if possible,

but it is too vague until you make some decision which way you are going....

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

Eeeps — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 19:37:33 GMT

@warbkingtonlounge wrote:
If this is a no go and I decide to keep my landline how do I link the sky router to another third party device so I can link decos and have VoIP?

Personally, I'd arrange a double NAT with the Sky hub set to provide a DMZ for the Deco.

In this case the NAT provided by the Sky hub is a simple static translation.

Only the address of the IP headers is changed; port numbers remain the same.

IP packets from the Internet have the destination address changed from your WAN address to the address of your Deco.

IP packets from the Deco have the source address changed from the Deco address to your WAN address.

Double NAT problems occur when both routers have to keep state information for dynamic translations of addresses and ports.

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

warbkingtonlounge — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 17:16:39 GMT

Thanks but I dont understand any of that.

🙄

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

Eeeps — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:52:44 GMT

@warbkingtonlounge wrote:
Thanks but I dont understand any of that.
🙄

OK, sorry.
This is what the arrangement should look like.

The top version is the normal situation with the Sky Hub

The bottom version is the way to keep the Sky hub (for phone) and add your own router.

By way of a simple (hopefully) explanation...

Data is sent over the Internet using packets (using the Internet Protocol or IP) that contain address information.

Every device has an IP address. But because there are many different applications used (web browsers, e-mail, WhatsApp, etc) on the same device a port number is used to select the application.

So, for example, if you want to send a packet to a web server at 212.58.237.1 you would use the standard web port 80 (or more likely port 443 for a secure connection).

The IP packets contain not only the destination IP address and port number but also the source IP and port number. This is because the web server will want to send data back to you (the web page) and needs to know how to find your device.

So what is NAT?

Internet addresses come in two types, Public and Private.

Public IP addresses are globally unique just as a normal postal address is.

Private IP addresses are anything but unique; every Sky router uses the same Private IP range meaning that the IP address of devices in your home are very likely to be used many thousands of times in homes (and offices) across the planet.

The reason for Private addresses is that there are now so many devices in the world that there are not enough IP addresses for each to have it's own unique Public address.

This is where NAT (Network Address Translation) comes in.

When the device on your home network sends a packet of information to the BBC web server, it uses the correct IP address and port number (212.58.237.1:443) but the source IP will be the non-unique Private IP address (e.g. 192.168.0.20).

The packet will get to the bbc web server OK but when the web server replies with the web page it sends the data to the Private address (192.168.0.20) which the Internet routers can't find!

This is resolved by NAT in the Sky Hub (or any Internet Gateway router).

As the IP packet from your device passes through the Sky Hub, it changes the source address to that of the unique Public IP address for your Sky Hub. At the same time it allocates a unique source port number and also remebers that this port number is assocated with your device at Private IP address 192.168.0.20.

The BBC web server now returns the web page to your Public IP address (the Sky Hub). The Sky Hub then uses the port number to forward the web data to the correct device.

This process is used for all the devices you have in your home on your Private LAN (or local area network).

Multiple devices can all view web pages from the BBC at the same time using only the single Public IP address provided to you by Sky.

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

Chrisee — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:00:31 GMT

@warbkingtonlounge there is a second set up which I use with my own Deco set up. The Sky hub remains as the router with the voice line. You can disable the Sky hub's wifi to avoid interference. Connect the Deco by an ethernet cable. In the Deco app go to the Advanced section in the More menu and choose Access Point rather than Router for the operation mode.

You lose some of the specialist functions like Parental Control but thst may notvwork in the Double Nat set up either.

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

warbkingtonlounge — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:22:55 GMT

With this can I still have a guest network on the deco mesh?

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

warbkingtonlounge — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:27:51 GMT

Wow, thanks for taking the time to explain this too me.

My fftp is being installed next Friday so I'll see how I get on.

My current fftc set up is sans sky hub, as I have replaced it with a TP link archer and deco m5 mesh. My reason for my post was I understand th Archer is not compatible with fftp.

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

warbkingtonlounge — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:34:29 GMT

So main deco to sky hub wan via ethernet and then ethernet from hum or devo to my switch . This switch hosts my security cameras and hue hub etc.

Hub wifi off

Deco access mode

Guest 2.4 ghz on deco via app

Yes?

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

JimM1 — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:41:46 GMT

@warbkingtonlounge

The main question is DO YOU NEED to have a landline or voip phone with sky.

There is a chance that your deco will work connected to the ONT...

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

warbkingtonlounge — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:44:41 GMT

I read that deco don't support MER that's sky uses. Connection to ONT was my preference.

Re: connecting TP Link Deco M5 direct to ONT

JimM1 — Sat, 06 Jan 2024 01:31:28 GMT

@warbkingtonlounge

Search this post on the sky forum.

Help connecting to 3rd party Deco router from FTTP Openreach modem

Also from the TP-Link you may wish to read this

https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/kb/detail/412758