topic Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500 in Broadband

Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

WH159 — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 12:20:33 GMT

Hi all,

This is my first post so apologies if say or write something im not supposed to. I have just switched from Plusnet to Sky and had my X50 Deco as primary router with Plusnet via PPPoE. I was under the impression that Deco can't be used as primary with Sky and needs to be connected to Sky Hub Max, however my service switched from Plusnet to Sky over night a couple of days ago and my broadband works fine with the existing setup. I didn't even have to change login details etc. My services has definitely switched from Plusnet 150MB to Sky 500MB.

My question is whether I should just leave everything as is or reconfigure my Deco setup to Sky? I know Sky don't use PPPoE so not sure how its working and if reconfigure, how i would go about it. I don't need to use the landline provided by Sky and would rather not have to use Sku Hub if I can avoid it. Thanks for any help I can get with this.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

TimmyBGood — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 11:57:21 GMT

@WH159

Given it's working, I'd suggest leaving it. Keep the Sky-supplied Hub safe, and handy in case they ever need you to use it for troubleshooting.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

JimM1 — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:12:30 GMT

@WH159 Would also be worth a quick power down off the Deco, leave it off 10 minutes, power it back up and see if it reconnects fine now that the transfer has been completed!

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

WH159 — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:41:07 GMT

Thank you to both of you. I just changed the connection to Dynamic IP, didn't ask for username or password and rebooted Deco and works the same. I just did it incase I was still connected to Plusnet in any way.

All good for now. Thanks again 👍

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

JimM1 — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 12:45:54 GMT

@WH159 Most FTTP connections are authenticated against the ONT so no need for the Deco to do it again!

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Sayek — Sat, 16 Aug 2025 18:28:18 GMT

Sky can be a bit funny with TP-Link. They seem to love Asus and Netgear. I joined Sky 500 late April and had TP-Link AX73 connected direct to ONT. Although I found everything smooth...my son complained on odd evening about issues with online games due to poor latency.

I got rid of the AX-73 and fitted a pair of Deco X50. The issue still continued for online gaming the odd evening.

I put the Sky router back and connected the Deco X50 to the Sky router with the Wi-Fi disabled on the Sky router and not heard any complaints from the boys playing online games. Its been a week so not sure if the issue was the Deco plugged to the ONT.

Just keep an eye on the TP-Link.. Hopefully you get no issues like me. There was no issues with normal use but online gaming 🙂

Just noticed..the Deco X50 does get a bit warm due to poor ventilation design.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Chrisee — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 07:10:31 GMT

@Sayek you have it the wrong way round TP-Link do not support the main way Sky authenticate connections which is DHCPv4 Option 61 while Asus and Netgear generally do. There is an alternative method which is DHCPv6 PD which works in around 80% of connections as it depends on the kit at the exchange so cannot be guaranteed which is how TP-Link Users connect.

Issues with latency however are different and can be down to various factors and you get what you pay for with internet gear but if you are a keen gamer look at optimising the Deco X50s settings by using its QOS feature as explained here https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/1601/.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Sayek — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 08:59:48 GMT

I apprecitate that @Chrisee

I had both TP link devices connected to the ONT using the IPv6 settings and worked great 99% of the time.

The gaming PC is connected via powerline. During some evening after 8pm the latency went crazy and not possible to play online games either poweline or Wi-Fi.

But playing games during the daytime was fine. Seemed to be drama at peak evening times only.

BTW I only have 8 devices conencted and none of them are bandwidth hungry..only the PC.

Things seems to be a lot stable now with Sky router plugged back and TP-Link as Access mode 😊

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

JimM1 — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:07:31 GMT

@Sayek You mean you had the main TP-Link connected direct on the ONT and in Router mode with the other mesh node connected to the main node either wireless or wired connection! If you get a chance throw up some off the TBB traces you have been running since you changed over to having the SR back on line!.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Chrisee — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 10:33:43 GMT

@Sayek that is interesting as the Sky hubs are not usually considered that good for gaming.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Sayek — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:16:23 GMT

I had the TP-Link AX73 router connected direct to the ONT for 3 months...operating as a "Router mode" . It was just a single TP-Link router ..no other nodes connected. Powerline was conencted to the TP-Link router to sons bedroom.

About 3 weeks ago I removed the TP-Link AX73 and fitted a pair of Deco X50..again operating in "Router Mode" . Primary node direct to the ONT. But both sons kept saying gaming has been terrible since Sky internet even with the Deco X50.

FInally refitted Sky default black router to ONT and the connected Deco X50 operating as "Access point".

The Powerline is now connected to the Sky black router.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Sayek — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:20:54 GMT

Maybe...but still less drama with boys gaming than TP-Link connected direct to the ONT.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

JimM1 — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:37:38 GMT

@Sayek did you not say you also replaced the powerline as well, Tp-Link or another brand, wired, wireless/wired combined few options on powerline devices! And dropped packets are virtually non existent in all off you traces! So nothing is hanging up the hub in the slightest, normal operation looking real good!

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

Sayek — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 17:41:26 GMT

I had a pair of old BT brand powerline been used before Covid. Replaced those with a pair of TP-Link Nano AV1000.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

JimM1 — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 18:12:32 GMT

@Sayek AV1000 does seem to work ok, had to replace my main AV600 which had been on constant for good 6 years about 2 month ago, could not find a new 600 from TP, plenty 2nd hand off the 600's but just got a new pair AV1000's, used only the one but it will be running 600 mode as the rest of the powerline is that speed! Never had a problem with the TP's into the SR203, not using sky hub now Asus hanging on the ONT and the Tp into the main Asus router!

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

harry66 — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:37:18 GMT

Hi,

Can you please confirm if this was a standard Deco X50 - and not the X50-DSL version?

I am currently hoping to use a standard X50 in place of my Sky Hub and my research suggests I would need to get a X50-DSL instead - due to some DHCP option 61 support it offers??

And did you get to the bottom of the issue or are you still using a different router?

Thanks

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Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

WH159 — Tue, 19 May 2026 13:14:01 GMT

Hey

@harry66 I'm using 3 standard X50 in mesh configuration, 1 as the main router. Didn't have any issue while I was with Sky but have since moved to Vodafone and still working great.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

harry66 — Tue, 19 May 2026 13:33:57 GMT

Thanks for confirming. Will give this a try.

Re: Using Deco X50 as primary router with Sky 500

harry66 — Wed, 20 May 2026 11:04:06 GMT

So, I had a chance last night to replace the Sky Hub with a standard X50 in Router mode.

After a couple of restarts and ONT power cycles - it is working fine so far.

I enabled IPv6 and selected Dynamic IP as the connection type, ensured Prefix Delegation was Enabled after I changed the X50 from Access Point to Router mode.

I had to mess around with enabling Qos and Disabling to remove a 100Mbps limit that it had defaulted to...

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