Netgear nighthawk ac2300 (r7000p)

[Zhengiskhan]

Hi,

I've brought my router from the US: the Netgear Nighthawk AC2300 (R7000P). Sky provided me with the SR203. I wanted to see if I could somehow use my router. I've tried connecting the router to the wire, and I'm able to connect my device to it but can't actually connect to the Internet. I couldn't find if my router was DHTP 61 compatible. If it isn't is it possible to use the SR203 as a modem or something?

Thanks in advance

[Chrisee · Accepted solution]

@Zhengiskhan the SR203 has no modem mode but you can disable its wifi and connect your Netgear by ethernet to one of the LAN ports and run it in Double NAT set up. There can be issues with some apps especially private vpns used by businesses and some gaming set ups but broadly most things can work.

You may be able to flash your Netgear to accept European firmware assuming the model accepts that. US and European standards differ so hardware may vary.

[Zhengiskhan]

Thank you @Chrisee !! Very helpful. Is there any benefit to doing what you described? The main concern I have with using just the SR230 that Sky provided is that the connection can be inconsistent and frequently drops when I'm on the other side of my flat, and I thought the Netgear was good for at least solving the distance issue. I do have a Range Extender, but it doesn't really help from what I see.

[Chrisee]

@Zhengiskhan no reason why you cant use the Netgear as the wifi source with the Sky hub's wifi turned off either in a double NAT set up or if the Netgear allows it as an access point (routing functions disabled simply providing wifi) The issue with the Q boxes should be managable with care.

The SR 203 can be used with the Q boxes acting as wifi hotspots but you will need a decent backhaul signal. Up unitil recently I used Powerline adapters to provide that on my own system connected to the two most distant Q boxes.

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Zhengiskhan 

The r7000p should be flashed with dd-wrt . The idea is to open up dhcp option 61 

https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Netgear_R7000P

If that works then your modem bridge would be the tp link td w9970

Instructions for setting up tp link td w9970 as modem bridge

select sky vdsl from isp list

https://www.tp-link.com/uk/support/faq/1332/

[Zhengiskhan]

Thanks again @Chrisee , I'll give it a try when I'm off work. 

@cookiemonsterukthanks but I'm a bit confused. Is the Tplink you mentioned a separate modem? I only have the provided Sky SR230 (modem and router combo from what I understand) and the Nighthawk.

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Zhengiskhan 

The tp link is a ethernet modem router that can have the router switched off (modem bridge) . In theory allowing you to ditch the sky hub and (with dd-wrt) the full potential of r7000p will be met

Read thru the dd-wrt documentation and if you can flash then consider tp link td w9970 . Its only £35 and it has been tested here

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Zhengiskhan 

Just to clarify are you on a fttc vdsl, g.fast or fttp connection ?

[Zhengiskhan]

@cookiemonsteruk 
Not sure but based on a quick Google search, I think FTTC, as OpenReach was the servicer (I'm in London).

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Zhengiskhan 

What speeds do you get.?

[Zhengiskhan]

I have SuperFast and my speed test just showed 79 mb/s

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Zhengiskhan 

Try the dd-wrt flash.  If you see a field appear dhcp option 61 client identifier after flashing then you're good to go. if not change to access point on netgear and disable wifi on the sky hub