Google Nest Wifi Pro (6e) not working

[NeshP]

Hi folks, I'm in need of help. I've been using a Sky Trial hub and have got used to the faster speeds its delivering to my devices and also handling the Gigafast plan i'm on. Unfortunately I need to revert back to the slower Hub4... and I cannot get the newest trial hub due to the way i have my home set up.

I was looking into 3rd partty 6e hubs/routers and bought a Google Wifi Pro - plugged it directly into the ONT and couldn't get it to work - having read a couple of threads, it seems that its not compliant with the connection methodoligy that Sky use...

So my question is...  What router do I buy that will work? and what settings do i need etc...

[Chrisee · Accepted solution]

@NeshP Asus make a range of routers thst can be configered to work and seem popular choices going by other forum members posts. Any router needs to support DHCPv4 Option 61 which is the authentication system Sky use - you need to enter a string in the user field in the form anything@skydsl and a random password like A123B456. I believe Netflix routers can be used as well but seen less posts on these. 

Most of the whole home wifi kits like Google wifi, TP-Link Deco etc can be used behind any Sky hub with its wifi turned off if set up to run in Access Pint mode - its a set up I use myself without any problems.

Somewhat jealous you got to test the new Sky hub but be careful what you post as I assume you signed a NDA.

[TompKelly]

After multiple attempts I can now finally confirm you are able to get rid of your sky broadband router and have a Google wifi mesh system! I have tried multiple different workarounds using the sky router (v4.2) including disabling DHCP, placing the Google wifi in the DMZ, assigning static IPs - all of which didn't perfectly solve my multiple router/NAT problems! Anyway here is my setup... 

Firstly you must ensure your sky router is connected to the openreach ONT and fully working with the default settings (DHCP must be enabled). Then you need to factory reset your Google Wifi router and ensure it is connected to a spare sky router ethernet port. When you set up the router in the Google home app, the WAN/internet setting MUST be DHCP (not static or PPPoE). This allows the sky router to assign an IP to the google wifi router but most importantly will allow you to enter the advanced settings after setup. 

Once the Google wifi is set up and working you need to re enter the Google home app and into network settings and advanced settings. Here you must enable ipv6. Once you are sure it has been enabled, remove/bin the sky router and connect the Google wifi router directly to the ONT and after a few minutes you should have a WAN IP automatically assigned and access to the Internet! 

As has been discussed on multiple previous threads, sky broadband ipv4 usually authenticates via DHCP option to 60/61 (MER) - this is not available on the majority of third party routers/mesh systems unfortunately. I understand most sky FTTP exchanges are ipv6 enabled and Google/other mesh systems will authenticate via this without issue. 

Hopefully this is helpful, it has certainly solved some of my double NAT issues and general bugbears.