Google Nest Wifi & Sky Hub FTTH

[IrishBaldy]

Good morning 👋

We recently got Sky Fibre 1Gb (FTTH) installed, replacing a standard Virgin Media 500Mb connection (not FTTH).

When using VM, we had our network setup as VM line>VM Hub>Nest Wifi Router. This worked perfectly and we could create a Wifi mesh using a 2nd Nest Wifi unit, with zero drop in speeds across Ethernet.

With Sky, we did the same essentially; FTTH>ONT>Sky Hub>Nest Wifi Router. This created a huge drop off in speed both across Wifi and Ethernet, with only 10% speed delivered. This apprears to be due to a double NAT possibly. If we remove Nest Wifi, we get full speed across Ethernet, but lose the wifi mesh and ease of management via Google system.

I've accepted that setup won't work. However, my question is; is it possible to replace the Sky Hub with another simple router I can put in modem/bridge mode, then connect that to Nest Wifi? I'm aware Nest Wifi can't accept the connect direct from the ONT box (that would be ideal).

FTTH>ONT>Sky Hub New Router>Nest Wifi Router

If so, what router would you recommend? Keeping in mind the end game is to utilize Google Nest Wifi.

[TimmyBGood]

@IrishBaldy 

The ONT is already being a 'modem', as in it's handling the signalling mode shift.

Any device sitting between the Nest and the ONT will have to be a router (presenting credentials/configuration to the external Sky Broadband service) and so you'd be double-natted.

Without a Sky Broadband Hub you also lose Sky Talk Internet Calls, which may or may not be an issue.

[IrishBaldy]

Thanks @TimmyBGood 

We don't use Sky Talk or anything extra whatsoever, we're only broadband.

So you think there's no way we can avoid the double NAT issue even if we replace the Sky Hub with another?

[TimmyBGood]

@IrishBaldy 

Possibly through experimenting with DMZ settings, I suppose: that might even be possible with the Sky hardware.

The fundamental issue is that Nest router is really built for the US cable internet market, and so is just fine on Virgin cable with their Superhub in modem mode.

[IrishBaldy]

can you think of any other reason why Sky Hub and Nest Wifi aren't friends?

[TimmyBGood]

@IrishBaldy 

I'd note Google uses the word 'modem' a lot, and a Sky Broadband Hub on FTTP is fundamentally not a modem.

[jamesn123]

@IrishBaldy 

With you being on a 1000mbps service and you mentioned in your first post that you are getting roughly 10% of that (100mbps) over the Google system I suspect your problem is the Sky hub has negotiated a 10/100mbps ethernet connection with your Google WiFi hub and not a 10/100/1000mbps connection. This can happen when the ethernet cable your using is of low quality as the Sky hub is extremely picky when it comes to ethernet cable wiring & quality. Can you try an alternative, good quality Cat5e or higher ethernet cable?

[PaulN1980]

@IrishBaldy Did you manage to resolve the issue?

[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. 

[Wish-it-Worked]

Can anyone confirm if this final suggestion works in Ireland? I tried these steps and no joy