topic Re: Suggestions for backup 4G router in Broadband

Suggestions for backup 4G router

jmf49 — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:07:45 GMT

Just about to have Sky Services installed - Broadband, Landline and TV. Would like to put something in place to provide backup, in the event of a services outage. Don't need instant fail over, just looking for something like a third-party 4G router with a SIM card through which I could reconnect to some, if not all services. Someone in a previous thread suggested a Mercusys MT110 device. Has anyone experience of going down this route? Would all services be reconnected by this solution, or are there restrictions to TV and Voice services? I would like to recover Internet access, as I have a CCTV Security system which needs Internet so that I can monitor when away from home. I would need 4xEthernet ports since I have two separate Lans in my house, and I assume I would need to connect to the Sky Hub via Ethernet as well. E-sim capability would be useful so that I can reconnect quickly, rather than having to wait for a physical SIM to be posted to me. I would only use this in the event of a prolonged outage so would take out new SIM-only contract for each outage. All advice welcome. Thanks.

Re: Suggestions for backup 4G router

Chrisee — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:44:52 GMT

@jmf49 I would query the need for a back up if you are getting a full fibre connection as going by my own experience line drops are very rare - downtime in past 10nyears 3 x 2 hour drops. Do not assume that the issues you see in the forum are representitive as like any support firum people post with issues not to praise Sky.

You can connect a Sky Stream puck to a mobile router simply enough as you can with most any other equipment but most cheap mobile routers have limited WiFi range and of course the speed you get depends on the mobile signal strength in your home. You can donthe same with most phones by using their hotspots. Streaming TV eats data fast as a guide an hour of Netflix in UHD van use up to 7GB of data. Getting a sim which will allow that amount of data occasionally isnt going to be cheap.

The Sky Talk landline cannot be backed up using mobile data.

Re: Suggestions for backup 4G router

jmf49 — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:58:06 GMT

Thanks Chrisee. Sadly, I have had no services since Wednesday, when Openreach put a spade through my VM cable, whilst laying cable for Sky. I am likely to be down for another week until VM can replace their cable. So I have been "burnt", do not want a repeat!

VM hub cannot use mobile hot spot, but can use modem with SIM, but not for TV and voice backup..

Would hope to use backup for a month max, can get unlimited data SIM for one month contract for as little as £12.

Thankz for warning on voice, assume TV can be recovered this way.

Re: Suggestions for backup 4G router

TimmyBGood — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:37:23 GMT

@jmf49 wrote:

can get unlimited data SIM for one month contract for as little as £12.

Perhaps keep in mind that 'unlimited' data contracts typically have a clause about 'reasonable' consumption somewhere in the small print: for Sky unlimited is actually 550GB which is a lot but not impossible with household UHD streaming.

Re: Suggestions for backup 4G router

jmf49 — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:18:31 GMT

Purchased a TP-Link Archer MR600 Router, which I installed yesterday. Purchased an unlimited data SIM card(ID Mobile) from Currys, £15 for one month. Could have got it for £12 online, but didn't want to wait.

Had to call TP-Link support during configuration, when it looked as though I couldn't use "Quick Setup". Eventually resolved after some checks and changes made. Good support from TP-Link. "Plug & Play aspect worked very well. Moved my ethernet links from VM hub to new router, and everything recognised, without having to do extra setup! Have left connection to VM router vacant at present.

So far, things looking good, a little "buffering" on some TV programs.