Changing Sky Router to an ASUS RT-AZ86U and mesh network

[David851]

Hi all, just looking for a little guidance and any pitfalls to be aware of. Having real trouble with my current router and lack of signal in certain parts of the house. I've read that they aren't the best and often leave 'dead spaces' so thinking of changing the router to the ASUS RT-AZ86U and potentially adding a mesh network to ensure stability throughout.

Are there any pitfalls that I need to be aware of to overcome? I also have a Sky Q box, will this cause an issue when changing away from current router?

Thanks all

[cookiemonsteruk]

@David851 

The only caveat with 3rd party routers and sky q boxes is that sky q will only connect to the 2.4ghz wifi band which could lead to interference if the are other ssids in the vicinity

Other than that you lose sky internet calls if your phone needs plugged into your sky hub

[David851]

Lovely, thank you and would this router plug into the wall (we have an open reach box that we plug into currently) or is it best to leave the current Sky router in place and plug the new router in with a LAN cable and turn WiFi off on the old router?

Any recommendations on Mesh Network devices as well? Sorry, there are lots of reviews out there so trying to get some direction on what is genuinly good.

[cookiemonsteruk]

@David851 

Do you have a standard openreach mastersocket or an openreach ont 

 

With superfast fttc you would need a vdsl modem bridge, with the ultrafast ont above just plug directly into the ont.

Although nothing stopping you from using the asus as an access point whilst etherneted to the sky hub

Suitable asus aimesh that would work with that would be the rt ax 86u itself (but you don't really require the same specs as the primary router) the asus rt ax 68u, rt ax58u or rt ax56u should suffice as well

[David851]

Awesome, for reference we have this and we have super fast I believe as we can't get fibre in our area which is why I need to maximise what we do have as far and wide as I can.

thanks for the advice on the mesh products.

 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@David851 

To replace the sky hub you would need a standalone modem such as the tp link td w9970 so the asus gets the public ipv4 address and make use of the more advanced asus functions.

In the short term just use it as an access point etherneted to the sky hub

If you later decide you want a seperate modem then a few here will be able to talk you thru the process