topic Advice on options for a custom router in Broadband

Advice on options for a custom router

Tom_23 — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:38:20 GMT

I've just moved into a new house which has fibre, after being in the middle of nowhere and relying on Starlink. I've gone with Sky's Full Fibre 500, which was activated yesterday.

Setting everything up went OK, and I was impressed by my first speed test. However, I found setting up some of my devices onto the new network to be difficult. Mainly the SONOS speakers I have, which after doing the factory reset on them to make them forget the old network, could not pick up the Sky hub at all, along with some smart bulbs that were being difficult to get into the system.

So I've been looking into options to get a 3rd party router, as I did that with Starlink and everything worked perfectly. The downside is the one I brought was a TP-Link, which I've read is most likely incompatible with the 'Option 61' that Sky uses.

Thus to my question; does anyone have a suggestion for a router that would work on its own, without the Sky hub? I'm after something mid-tier, ie. good for gaming, prioritising traffic if I'm playing online and my partner is streaming stuff in another room, for example. I've read other threads regarding similar circumstances, but I'm not 100% savvy on all of the tech talk, thus I thought to explain my situation in as much detail as possible to try and find the right options.

Many thanks in advanced.

Re: Advice on options for a custom router

Chrisee — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:49:07 GMT

@Tom_23 the range from Asus are reasonably easy to set up,connected directly to the ONT as they support DHCPv4 Option 61. Good range of units ar various price points.

Re: Advice on options for a custom router

cookiemonsteruk — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:05:13 GMT

@Tom_23

As @Chrisee suggests the asus rt ax line of gaming router rt ax82u, rt ax68u, rt ax86u, rt ax88u plus some asus tuf and asus rog routers all have qos prioritisation/adaptive qos

Re: Advice on options for a custom router

Tom_23 — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:48:23 GMT

Thank you both for quick replies. The RT-AX82U looks like a good candidate.

From your experience, should that solve the connection issues I am having, with the speakers and smart items? Silly question, since they were fine on the TP Link, but I'd rather be sure before purchasing.

Re: Advice on options for a custom router

Chrisee — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:57:42 GMT

@Tom_23 that is something nobody can really predict as you shouldn't have had issues with the Sky hub. However if you buy online you have 14 days from delivery to send the unit back if it doesnt work as younwant.

Re: Advice on options for a custom router

Tom_23 — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:23:56 GMT

@Chrisee Thanks, that's understandable. I might have another play later to see if I can get stuff to talk, otherwise I'll give the Asus a go.

Re: Advice on options for a custom router

cookiemonsteruk — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:27:05 GMT

@Tom_23

The main benefit will be to toggle adaptive qos between gaming, streaming packets etc on the fly using the asus app