topic Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub in Broadband

Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

Nexus1972 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:04:08 GMT

Just moved today from virgin to SKy - on the broadband hub i dont see anywhere to configure modem mode. I run my own routing at home and don't want to be double nat-ing my connection.

My question is this - are voip connection details available for me to connect a third party voip system to so that I can replace the sky box with a dedicated modem only device.

Bit of a deal breaker and as im inside 14 days I may just have to cancel. Never occurred to ask this as every broadband ive had for the past 20 years has allowed this.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

GD1 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:05:41 GMT

@Nexus1972 There is no modem mode on the Sky Broadband hubs.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

Chrisee — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:12:28 GMT

@Nexus1972 in practice double NAT set ups rarely cause issue as most apps are pretty happy. However if you want the Sky Talk line you have to keep the Sky hub. If you are happy as many people are to useca third party VOIP solution then you can replace the Sky hub with minimal issue.

Sky use a different authentication system that requires the router to support DHCPv4 Option 61 which Asus and Netgear routers do but TP-Link doesn't. You maybe fortunate yhst your line is one of the 80% thst supports the DHCPv6 PD alternste but thhat is something you cannot count on.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

TimmyBGood — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:23:01 GMT

@Nexus1972 wrote:

are voip connection details available

No.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

Nexus1972 — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:37:03 GMT

well thats pretty easy then I guess I'll take my number to a&a and ditch sky whilst still in the cooling off period.

I run a pair of pfsense firewalls with failover between toob and virgin (now sky). So I'll just look for another provider that does modem mode. My pfsense gives me real ids AND ips and allows me to seemlessly failover and perform routing based on gateway groups.

- im surprised even virgin had modem mode with voip on router working.

I guess sky cater to the masses and dont care about edge cases.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

marko1988 — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 18:23:45 GMT

I don't understand why you can't put Sky router into modem mode afterall it's just a BT hub/router at heart and I've been able to do this with BT routers in the past.

I don't know what Sky's problem is, I imagine they loose customers because not all of us are IT iliterate and would like some control over of home networks. We're still paying Sky the same amount for a service!!

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

JimM1 — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 19:00:05 GMT

@marko1988 You may think so, but you cannot put a BT Router into modem only mode! You think you can then prove it!

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

TimmyBGood — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:02:24 GMT

@marko1988 wrote:

afterall it's just a BT hub/router at heart

Why would Sky be using a router from a rival ISP? The Max Hub in particular is Comcast hardware, software and server-side services

@marko1988 wrote:

I've been able to do this with BT routers in the past.

As noted, domestic BT Hubs also don't have a modem-only mode: their Business Broadband models do.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

Deb3000 — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:34:42 GMT

I think this is another case of the postee assuming BT and Openreach are the same entity. He probably means a router on Openreach's network as a generic case.

I'd have to agree with Chrisee, double NAT is not usually an issue. Ten years ago, when FTTC first came out, I ran a Billion 7800, (ADSL only), through a BT Home Hub 5 for 18 months with no issues and that was before anyone even talked about double NAT. Since the move to Digital Voice, 2 years ago, I've been running my Draytek through a BT Smart Hub 2 and again, no double NAT issues, even without using the DMZ host setting. Even my VPN is fine.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

JimM1 — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:37:19 GMT

@Deb3000 Problem is that you know what you are doing!

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

SuperUser19 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:02:58 GMT

Hmmm, interesting.....

I'm moving over to Sky Hub Max from Virgin Media. Does the SHM also not allow modem mode?

I only want the Sky Hub to interface to Sky's network. I want to do all my own switching and routing and my own WiFi. I use TP-Link Deco WiFi7 units in mesh mode that work great. I don't want to use Sky's IP schema for my network if I can avoid it nor the Hub Wifi - I've got my own WiFi. I want to stay with what I am currently doing. I know I can run the Decos in AP mode, and if need be at a push I can readdress some of my static IP addresses. But I must be able to turn off the Sky Hub Wifi.

I don't mind double NAT, the Sky hub can do what the heck it wants so long as I can turn its WiFi off.

Re: Modem mode 0on Sky Broadband Hub

JimM1 — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:13:12 GMT

@SuperUser19 No issue turning the wireless wi-fi signal off on the Sky Max Hub.