Broadband latency issues

[Biggie]

Hi

 I keep getting lag spikes in the online games i play, i rang sky this morning (been with them 22yrs) and the guy told me i need a new router, current is hub2.0 so to get that, i need sky boost, which is another £5, but he assures me this will "fix" my lag. Is he correct? Is this my only option? Are there other routers i could buy to put me on?
 Thanks in advance

 Will

[jamesn123]

@Biggie 

How is your device connected to the router? WiFi or ethernet? If ethernet is it directly or via a switch, powerline adapters etc?

Can you post your router stats?

[Biggie]

Thanks for the reply

 Both pc's are connected via ethernet (the cable is long, and old as is the router) and the statistics are  

[Biggie]

[jamesn123]

Hi @Biggie 

Your router is quite old and that would be the first thing to try to fix lag as your line itself looks fine, no drops and margins look fine. Regarding paying the extra for broadband boost, this would get you a better router than the Sky Q one that you get without boost but you shouldnt have to pay it to get a replacement router from the one you have. 

[Biggie]

They said they will do the router for free, but £9.99 delivery + £5 per month for sky boost, which he says will definately fix my issue... But he wants an 18 month extension. Does the hub 4.2 REQUIRE boost as he said? cos there are several for sale on the interwebs. Or i could buy another router and then just leave sky for thier lack of recipricated loyalty when my current contract ends.... 
 Appreciate your help 🙂

[jamesn123]

@Biggie 

No they are just trying to upsell you. It will not for sure fix your issue but it might. Regarding needing boost for the hub 4.2 this is correct, Sky only supply it via boost customers and those on FTTP/Voip calls. I would not recommend buying one from the internet as Sky now loan gear rather than let you keep it meaning it could be bricked at anytime the person selling the router is breaking contract.

[Biggie]

Ah ok , thought as it was amazon it may be legit but ill avoid.
 Im not signing up for 18 months , and it appears they wont send me the router without, so were at a stalemate.
 I dont mind buying a router as there are some v reasonable options but im reading that sky has specific req (vdsl2 and dhcp 61) do you have any recomendations, if it can be used in 6 months with the new provider i dont mind paying more but id rather get something cheap to put me on, as most of the isp seem to drop customer support if you dont use thier stuff.

[jamesn123]

@Biggie 

Asus have a good budget lineup, majority work with Sky VDSL now if not you have custom firmware that does.

If you game then a good option might be the Netgear XR500.

If you do decide to go down the 3rd party router route you'd also need a modem to sit infront of the router.

[TimmyBGood]

@Biggie 

I'd suggest being somewhat sceptical about any claim that a particular router can magically fix gaming lag: while better local hardware may well help, it cannot change the path between you and the server or mitigate the effect of all the other devices en-route.

[Biggie]

I am very sceptical mate, when asked how his magic sky boost would fix it he had no clue, he said they check my connection every day if i pay the extra, to which i replied, i can check it every day for free, he said, no no, its not he same....
 The router conversation only came about as a means to rule it out, as he pointed out immediatly that it was very old.  I have no made a complaint via email as the web chat is perma busy, it appears i can get sky as a new customer for £25 pm WITH the 4.2 router, i currently pay £28 and am expected to up that by another £5 after 22 years with them. To be honest im pretty sure its a sit it out and walk situation for me now. Unless support pulls it out of the gutter. Id rather buy a usuable router and walk than sign up for another 18 months at this point.

 Thanks for the help guys