Help connecting to 3rd party Deco router from FTTP Openreach modem

[JSJohal]

@AndyMcManus-28  

[AndyMcManus-28]

@JSJohal 

Hi,

I never did get it running reliably through only my Deco.

I accepted defeat and put my sky hub back into the setup, disabling its WiFi and connecting by Ethernet to my Deco, which handles the WiFi signal. 

This setup has been totally reliable and works just fine, but means sky hub takes up space and needs a plug socket for power. Shame as having just the Deco is so neat and tidy.

[JSJohal]

@AndyMcManus-28 ah gutted to hear that - i'm assuming the same thing will happen for me. at the moment it's working OK and the ip address is showing in the app and seems to have authenticated properly, but i'm guessing it kept dropping out and losing the auth for you?

[AndyMcManus-28]

Exactly that. 

See how it goes, maybe there have been Deco updates that means it will work now.

If you get a few solid weeks without any drops would you report back and let us know?

[Chrisee]

@AndyMcManus-28 the DHCPv6 PD method of connecting does not work on every UK line as not all Openreach exchanges support it. Given TP-Link do not support the DHCPv4 Option 61 method which works on every Sky UK connection Deco systems are a poor choice as a replacement router. Note Irish systems are different.

However as any Deco can easily be set up in Access Point mode they can easily be configured to provide whole home wifi behind a Sky hub with its own wifi disabled.

[AndyMcManus-28]

Thanks @Chrisee .

I understand it's not supported on every line, so if my line was not supported surely it would never have worked at all?...but it worked for a time, then worked intermittently dropping in and out randomly. So that would suggest my line can handle it, and there is a hardware/software issue somewhere causing the niggles.

I never chose Deco intending it as a replacement, it was the Mesh functionality I wanted, which I get with it set up as an AP as you say. The ability to do away with the Sky hub was just a bonus so I'm not too aggrieved that it doesn't work reliably for me.

Hope it works for others!

[Chrisee]

@AndyMcManus-28 I read that and cannot explain it except that there are connection nodes at your exchange that accept DHCPv6 PD and some nodes that dont. No idea if that is even technically possible but if it was that would explain the issue.

My post was largely to summarise the position for people trying to do the same in the future and finding the thread. 

[WTB13]

Hi

Just got a Deco BE65 2 node mesh from Amazon.

This works directly connected to the ONT using "Dynamic IP" connection type (ipv4). It did take a while to sort it out and required a couple of reboots for the ONT and router. Then waiting a few minutes. but it's all flying now.

[Chrisee]

@WTB13 are you in Ireland by any chance? In the UK thst method shouldn't work as according to Sky you either need DHCPv4 Option 61 that AFAIK TP-Link doesn't offer or in 80% of exchanges DHCPv6 PD will work. In Ireland things are different as Sky buy capacity from different network providers so whatever system EIR, SIRO or Virgin Media usexwill work

[WTB13]

I'm in the UK, Cambridgeshire.

Even the Tplink website said to keep the sky hub but it works direct to the ONT.

The box does have a bright yellow sticker added to it saying "works with all UK broadband suppliers" or something to that effect 

There is an IPv6 confg in ISP setting for dynamic IP but that only shows after connection via IPv4.

Hope that helps. If anyone needs more details I'm happy to help.

[karlw23]

@Chrisee I have FTTP from the Weybridge exchange and have been using a TP-Link ER605 router for several months now - it was literally plug'n'play from the WAN port to the ONT using Dynamic IP on the WAN IPv4 side.

[AndyMcManus-28]

Hi all, good to hear others have this working now.

i too have for some time had my Deco M4 plugged directly to my ONT and it is all working fine.

I am now with Plusnet, and the Deco app shows IPv4 and PPPoE settings with IPv6 disabled.

So is it the fact Plusnet use PPPoE that has made this work reliably? 

This level of tech detail is a bit beyond me!

[Chrisee]

@AndyMcManus-28 Bt group companies like Plusnet use PPOE however Sky doesn't.

As mentioned above eoughly 80% of lines will work with the Deco kit 20% won't. 

[Chrisee]

@karlw23 the unit will be authenticating using the DHCPv6 PD method as thst is the only way thst could work on a Sky connection. You sre fortunate it works on your exchange.