topic common question: alternative router choices in Broadband

common question: alternative router choices

StevioinMatrix — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:00:53 GMT

Hi all, recently took upo sky fibre, connection and speed is fine but the router is drastically restricted. Trying to run a homelab with a few apps and the supplied sr203 is.....no words. Anyway, I've had a peruse through these threads about alternative routers and phrases such as 'DHCPv6 Delegation Prefix authentication and option 61' are mentioned a few times, Asus is metiioned a few times albeit with its own issues to. So what are my options for a not a stupid priced router that works inplace of the sr203 and into the future if I use another fibre connection? Perhaps something that works with a opensource firmware.
It's my first time on fibre and somewhat confused. The openreach box on the wall, is that the modem or do I need modem+router combo unit?

Thank you

Re: common question: alternative router choices

TimmyBGood — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:37:56 GMT

@StevioinMatrix wrote:

The openreach box on the wall, is that the modem or do I need modem+router combo unit?

The ONT is the 'modem' because it handles the optical - electrical signalling conversion.

I don't think you'll find a router which contains an optical modem anyway, and modems built into routers for use with copper broadband (ADSL/FTTC/G.fast) are irrelevant to FTTP (although the presence of one isn't a problem as long as the device also has a WAN ethernet port)

Re: common question: alternative router choices

Me134 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 04:49:06 GMT

@StevioinMatrix Be aware that if you don't use the Sky hub then you will lose access to the landline, if that's important to you. It's the only reason I've not replaced my Max hub entirely, I've just turned off it's WiFi. I won't recommend any standalone routers as I don't have experience of that.

Re: common question: alternative router choices

Chrisee — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:09:17 GMT

@StevioinMatrix third party routers can be connected directly to the ONT but the router you choose has to be able to authenticate the connection. Sky use two methods of authentication which are DHCPv6 PD which works on alll of their City Fibre connections and 80% of Openreach lines. If your connection is in the 20% of Openreach lines where the exchange equipment does not support that method you will have to use DHCPv4 Option61 you have read about. That method is not supported by every router manufacturer while the first method gennerally is. .Frustratingly .there is no way of knowing which method your Openreach exchange requires . Asus routers have been a popular choice for Sky customers as they support both authentication methods and they are generally considered reliable but they are not cheap. TP-Link's routers for example do not generally support DHCPv4 Option 61 but are cheaper.

What model router you require depends on the features you require for example if you have a household with gamers who will want to play whike other family members are online then you may require QOS which prioritises gaming traffic minimising lag. The more features the higher the price. Every router brand have their fans so be careful when researching in this forum especially if going back more than 18 months as things change. One key feature which determines price is the WiFi standard the unit supports but having the most expensive WiFi7 router will not guarantee fast WiFi in every room of most UK homes without buying WiFi satellites. A top end system can therefore cost thousands but be over kill for most domestic users who want to play games, stream video and work from home.

You mention open source firmware which again requires some knowledge but the popular OpenWRT project is well established and can unlock features. Flashing a router with third party firmware will affect equipment warrranties so you need to know what you are doing but risks appear small. It is an interesting area with an active community of knowledgeable users..

Sky's diagnostics require a Sky hub to be online so you will have to keep your's around if you require support with a line issue in the future and as mentioned Sky's landline will only work through their hubs.

Re: common question: alternative router choices

2muchTV — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:02:15 GMT

@StevioinMatrix wrote:
Hi all, recently took upo sky fibre, connection and speed is fine but the router is drastically restricted. Trying to run a homelab with a few apps and the supplied sr203 is.....no words. Anyway, I've had a peruse through these threads about alternative routers and phrases such as 'DHCPv6 Delegation Prefix authentication and option 61' are mentioned a few times, Asus is metiioned a few times albeit with its own issues to. So what are my options for a not a stupid priced router that works inplace of the sr203 and into the future if I use another fibre connection? Perhaps something that works with a opensource firmware.
It's my first time on fibre and somewhat confused. The openreach box on the wall, is that the modem or do I need modem+router combo unit?

Thank you

What's your budget?

Do you have Sky Q and mini boxes? These don't always play happily with 3rd party routers.

Will you be using Sky voice/ telephone? If so you have to use their hub.

Are you only after 1 router or would you like to be able to use or upgrade to a mesh system?

I've been a happy Asus mesh user for many years, having upgraded through 3 different Asus models and 4 different ISPs all using PPPoE authentication which Sky does not use.

However, every one of my Asus models could work with your Sky FTTP line- in one way or another. Indeed any make of router could work with your line- in one way or another.

Any router can work in access point (AP) mode which means you will have to keep your Sky hub and connect your new router to it via an ethernet cable. You can then turn the Sky router WiFi off. Obviously you will have 2 devices running and is not the neatest. When I did this in the past, I hid the ISP router.

To discard the Sky router, the router has to be able to authenticate with Sky's servers... I'm sure I've read of Sky customers using Asus routers for this. However, whichever router I tried, I would open and unpack it very carefully having checked that I can easily return it to the retailer for a refund if it does not work.

Re: common question: alternative router choices

Me134 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:40:22 GMT

@2muchTV wrote:
@StevioinMatrix wrote:
Hi all, recently took upo sky fibre, connection and speed is fine but the router is drastically restricted. Trying to run a homelab with a few apps and the supplied sr203 is.....no words. Anyway, I've had a peruse through these threads about alternative routers and phrases such as 'DHCPv6 Delegation Prefix authentication and option 61' are mentioned a few times, Asus is metiioned a few times albeit with its own issues to. So what are my options for a not a stupid priced router that works inplace of the sr203 and into the future if I use another fibre connection? Perhaps something that works with a opensource firmware.
It's my first time on fibre and somewhat confused. The openreach box on the wall, is that the modem or do I need modem+router combo unit?

Thank you
What's your budget?
Do you have Sky Q and mini boxes? These don't always play happily with 3rd party routers.
Will you be using Sky voice/ telephone? If so you have to use their hub.
Are you only after 1 router or would you like to be able to use or upgrade to a mesh system?

I've been a happy Asus mesh user for many years, having upgraded through 3 different Asus models and 4 different ISPs all using PPPoE authentication which Sky does not use.

However, every one of my Asus models could work with your Sky FTTP line- in one way or another. Indeed any make of router could work with your line- in one way or another.

Any router can work in access point (AP) mode which means you will have to keep your Sky hub and connect your new router to it via an ethernet cable. You can then turn the Sky router WiFi off. Obviously you will have 2 devices running and is not the neatest. When I did this in the past, I hid the ISP router.

To discard the Sky router, the router has to be able to authenticate with Sky's servers... I'm sure I've read of Sky customers using Asus routers for this. However, whichever router I tried, I would open and unpack it very carefully having checked that I can easily return it to the retailer for a refund if it does not work.

"Indeed any make of router could work with your line- in one way or another." not true if you mean plugging into the ONT directly, they might have to support DHCPv4 Option61 which some (TP-Link?) don't. There's no way that I'm aware of except by plugging a 3rd party router into the ONT to find out what your local exchange supports.