Sky Q won’t connect to 4G router

[Shimme]

Hi all,

Posting this on any thread with Mobile 4G/On Demand download Issues:
I live in an area where Vodafone 4G is the only option. My old Sky HD box never had an issue with the On Demand downloads but since getting SkyQ it fails 99% of the time.

This means that it's the On Demand service that is the problem.

I work in IT and am a senior network engineer with 20+ years of experience in troubleshooting network issues as well as working in Mobile networks too.

With 4G connections, your Public IP address will be constantly changing, not just following a restart, but connecting to a different website etc. I could explain in more detail if required.

With Sky Q on demand, there's 3minutes of Sky Ads which comes from one set of data sources before it redirects to another data source for the content. If your IP address changes during this changeover then the download fails.

Unfortunately you cannot purchase a static Public IP with 4G service due to the nature of the service.

Due to specific connectivity I require for work I bought a separate router and used ExpressVPV service which resolves On Demand download issues.

I've since used my ExpressVPN details to test the Vodafone Huawei Router L2TP VPN (for a member of this community) to see if it also resolved the issue and I'm pleased to say I can download without issue.
The configuration for ExpressVPN L2TP on a Huawei Router can be found here:

https://www.expressvpn.com/support/vpn-setup/huawei-router-l2tp/?offer=3monthsfree&offer_code=3c6hjo...

As far as I recall you can sign up for their cheapest package to test, but if it doesn't work for you then you can cancel with a full refund.

L2TP VPN configuration is very simple so can be applied to many different routers - See Express VPN for other manufacturers.

If you need any further details let me know.

Check my posts across this community for latest info and validation of a working solution.

[Anonymous]

I had problems with 4G downloads with On Demand content failing 80% of the time especially when the content had adverts. 

As mentioned using a VPN within the router config has resolved my issue. I use L2TP and have no further issues with downloads such that I can now download a HDR box set successfully. The theory is the IP address change as Sky switches to the advert content server causes the issue, probably why you've only seen the issue in the last 6 months. 

I have lots of posts on here detailing my attempts at solutions and hardware config I have in place

[Morgan+McDonnell]

@Anonymous 

I'm soon going to move to a rural area and 4G so may be in contact for advice depending on how it goes.

[Simon4g]

yes, only 'on demand' and 'sky cinema' affected 

I can record in real time as well as play back perfectly fine across all mini boxes

i can get it fully working if i connect to the ADSL but at 'sod-all' Mbs and the fact I'd need the whole Mini boxes to be on the same network means its not really practical

[Ali4G]

@Shimme , that's really useful info thank you. It isn't clear from your post, though, has this resolved all the issues?

I plan to get 4G router as we cannot get more than 2Mbps on sky. I have sky Q with an additional mini Q. The main box will be connected to my new router via Ethernet and presumably the mini Q to the main box via Sky mesh.

I plan to connect everything else to the WiFi network from the 4G router and hopefully create a mesh to get WiFi throughout the house.

I'd be grateful for any tips before I buy equipment. 

Thanks

[Shimme]

Hi @Ali4G - The only issue I had was that Sky On Demand/Catchup didn't work. The VF Huawei 4G router, with a L2tp VPN from Express VPN resolved the issue. The only reason I purchased a second router, which connects to the VF 4G router, was because I didn't want my work traffic going over the Express VPN.

Kind regards

Shimme

[Anonymous]

Bear in mind if you are using Netflix via the Sky Q box it isn't happy going through 4G using ExpressVPN. And by isn't happy I mean it didn't play content for me. Great without the VPN. 

[Shimme]

@Anonymous Yet another Sky anomaly as I have no problem with Netflix via Sky Q app.

[Anonymous]

Netflix works perfectly through 4G and through NORD VPN, but the router configured with VPN it complains it's not connected to the internet. So, for me that setup Sky on demand works but Netflix doesn't. It sounds like you have Netflix through VPN? 

I switched my SkyQ back to BT fibre (slower than 4G) so both on demand and Netflix worked. My Apple TV is using 4G now with no VPN and I can use Netflix if the BT bandwidth is being used heavily 

[Gatster]

Sky are an absolute shambles. This worked solidly for 18 months for me then suddenly, nothing, no on demand content.  Every other service works. 

Sky will do nothing to assist usually. 

[KGibs]

Same issue here in Ireland, spent an hour on the phone to Sky and there only suggestion was to replace the box which obviously is not the issue. If I am not getting all the content then I should not have to pay for it. This was working perfectly for the past year and I have no option of any other broadband provider.

[Son45]

Hello, 

I have the exact same issue. I live in rural Ireland and have no choice but to use 4G mini router with 3. This worked perfectly with Sky since 2018 and recently this is no longer working. After reading all these posts I feel like phoning sky and cancelling my subscription. It is simply illogical and unfair to prevent us from having full access to a service we are paying fully for just because we are using a 4G router!

[Chrisee]

@Son45 one work round that has worked for other users is to change the DNS settings on the Q box as 3 do use caching on their network which can confuse the Sky box. 

To change the DNS setting go to Settings/Status/Network Setup. Then go down to Advanced Settings ans choose Set Manually. On the screen with the IP Address details scroll down to DNS server which will currently have your routers address and replace that with 8.8.8.8 which is Googles public DNS server and click confirm.  

[Anonymous]

The DNS change didn't make any difference for me. Look back in posts about setting up a vpn on the router. That did work for me but caused Netflix issues, so ultimately I stopped using the 4G router with Sky Q.

[Son45]

Hi @Chrisee ,

Thank you so much for your reply. I had read this and already tested with 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 and even 1.1.1.1 but to no avail 😞 I either get the same 'Failed - No Subscription' or a Broadband Network Error. I also read another workaround using a VPN but my little Router does not cater for VPNs and also I find it very frustrating that we should have to go to all this trouble. It should work, it has since 2018 and suddenly now it's changed. Surely SKY has to fix this?

Thank you again for taking the time to reply. if I find a solution I will be posting it! In the meantime it's nice but sad to see I'm not the only one!