New 3rd Party Router - To Improve WiFi

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

"RT-AX88U albeit dual-band, is described as blisteringly fast.  Both support WiFi6 (as do our Smartphones).  The ZenWifi does come in a "twin pack" for £307.49 which can apparrently aid "Meshing". 

The difference between dual band wifi 6 and triband wifi 6 is with dual band wifi 6 any wifi 5 devices have to be on the same channel as wifi 6 devices with triband you have 3 ssids one for 2.4ghz wifi, one for 5ghz wifi 5 and a seperate one for wifi 6 devices. The zenwifi don't aid meshing they are the mesh

[mae-3]

@rozel 

:

PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network. eg: the method that has been used over the last hundred years to allow communication over telephones. Will be phased out in 2025.

VDSL/VDSL2 - Very-high-speed Digital Subscriber Line, eg: method used for superfast down copper wire.

VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol, eg: the method that is being used and will be used to connect a telephone to the network now and into the future.

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

"Modem - Assuming one is required, would the tp link td w9970 sort, given my circumstances?"

The tp link td w9970 will allow the asus router to obtain the public ipv4 address which allow the asus to function as a fully functional router as opposed to an access point with the sky hub

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

"Of course I need to be able to connect to Sky's Servers - that has to be a given"

The asus will connect to the sky servers with the correct dhcp option 61 string -> anything@skydsl|anything but you are not restricted to using their dns servers. Although they would probably prefer you did

[rozel]

@cookiemonsteruk  Because you recommended a modem in your first post.  As I said my tech knowledge here isn't good, so rely on others. 

So a Twin Pack ZenWifi kit ought to do without a modem then and I'll retain Landline call availability?  And the Zen will connect to Sky's servers?

[rozel]

Ahh - you've done multiple posts going over to page 3 of this thread so only saw your first reply to mine this morning.

Please tell me more simply what you mean about a separate modem - do I need one or not - I am unsure about Access points etc etc

[cookiemonsteruk]

@mae-3 

How does zenwifi meshwork when connected to a sky hub ?(with wifi turned off) Does aimesh work or is it a manual config?

[rozel]

Guys - I would like to go to Curry's shortly - do I need a separate modem or not?  Replies so far are above my head.  You know my setup now so please advise.  And assuming I buy the Twin-pack ZenWifi kit and set up the Mesh - if it doesn't work, will I be able to add mesh nodes later?

[mae-3]

@cookiemonsteruk  & @rozel 

The ZenWifi mesh will work in access point mode and coexists with the Sky wireless system because it can be setup to use wireless channels outside that used by the Sky wireless router. But in access point mode the two ZenWifi XT8 will have reduced functionality in this configuration, eg: most of the advanced features will be unavailable and it's basically only used for wireless only.

[rozel]

@mae-3  I'm totally lost now - I simply do not understand.

1.  Do I need a separate modem or not (I've aske this now 3 times)

2. If I set up the ZenWifi units as explained in their documentation, (ie. not Access point mode) will this still work with Sky?

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

Per @mae-3 you can use your sky hub and the zenwifi will work as a mesh alongside the sky wifi . Its the advanced features that require a modem. So no you don't need a modem

[rozel]

@cookiemonsteruk  - what advanced features would be lost? And will the Sky Mesh still work too?

[cookiemonsteruk]

@rozel 

The ability to change sky dns servers to eg google or cloudflare.

Aiprotection (security software and parental control)

Use vpn on the router 

[mae-3]

@rozel 

Primarily VPN (Virtual Private Network) functionality that won't work with double NAT (Network Address Translation) incoming to your home. There are two ways of setting up the ZenWifi even behind the Sky router, eg: routed with double NAT and Access Point mode, and I am referring to the former when you only basically lose the VPN system with the Sky router in circuit.

[mae-3]

@rozel 

@cookiemonsteruk is correct that if you use the ZenWifi XT8's in access point mode then you lose all that advanced functionaliy, but you only lose what I have decribed if using the ZenWifi in routed mode behind the Sky router double NATed. It is a complex subject and you can change it around later if you are not happy or add a modem if you require everything the Asus ZenWifi XT8 offer!