Routers Compatible With Sky FTTP Broadband (Option 61 DHCP Capability) [UK Based]

[JJ_Hodgson]

Hi all,

The Ask:

What routers are out of the box compatible with Sky's FTTP broadband allowing for configuraiton to DHCP option 61?

The Issue:

I recently switched to Sky broadband and have been sent a Sky Max Hub (SR213) which keeps dropping my wired and wireless connections intermitently; from research it doesn't appear to be the most reliable router in history. Issue is with the router and not the FTTP connection following engineers coming out today to check. Hence looking to replace the hub to keep the broadband and TV deal I'm getting.

The Background:

I've trawled the forum and the internet in general (google is not my friend right now) and am stuggling to find a recent post that advises on routers that can, out of the box, support Sky's FTTP broadband. Most specs don't mention Option61 and older forum posts provide details of routers that are no longer sold. I'm aware I could get a router and update to open source firmware, however I'm wary of this due to the potential security risks when vunelalbilities are identified (i.e. source manufacturer is likely to resolve quicker). I have also considered trying to use Sky's router as a "modem" however this doesn't seem overly simple.

I'm at a complete loss and am presently pulling my hair out trying to find a solution. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Many thanks in advance!

[Sayek]

Get one these bad boys 😎

Sky love Asus hardware. 

[JimM1]

@JJ_Hodgson First part is do you require to have a landline connected to the system, if the answer to that is yes and you need sky to give you the landline then you have no option but to use a sky supplied hub!

[Chrisee]

@JJ_Hodgson this is a common question which I and the other forum super users answer quite frequently. Support for DHCPv4 Option 61 is offered on most of the Asus and. Netgear routers. TP-Link do not. With other brands it is a bit hit or miss. If you research a router that meets your requirments post its details and someine should be able to confirm whether it is suitable

Confusingly 80% of Openreach lines do not need the option 61 method as they support the more common DHCPv6 PD authentication which is supported by almost all dedicated routers. There is no way in advance to know which system your line.requires as it is down to who made the kit in the exchange. 

My own experience is that the SR213 is highly stable with my own running for months untouched so it is possible you have a rogue unit or an issue in your home or line .The main complaint of the SR213 is its relatively poor wifi performance which I consider is largely down to its reliance on 5GHz signals to link to its extender units.

[JimM1]

@Chrisee To supplement this i am also going with the SR213 5Ghz band so high up the frequency range it is pushing in close to the 6Ghz which also has all off it's foibles for wi-fi, the WPA3-T mode appears problematic but then again that for sure is to be expected. Not every device is going to be happy trying to wi-fi wireless connect, and the wi-fi6 protocol is supported WPA2-PSK for a home network!

Asus prices are insane, the products are good, fast, Tri-Band backhaul clear and just work, but you do sometimes have to sit back workout what is going on, a badly placed device can just mess up what you think is a good mesh! 

[Chrisee]

@JimM1 Sky have switched the default WiFi security setting on the SR213 to be WPA2 while the wifi alliance are sorting out compatability issues with WPA3-T. A factory reset should switch the defaults on older examples but new ones have the new default.

[JJ_Hodgson]

Cheers for your response, they look excellent but yes a little too pricey for my needs unfortunately!

[jamesn123]

@JJ_Hodgson 

The Asus RT-AC/AX series are good and not overly expensive. 

[JJ_Hodgson]

Cheers for your responses all!

@Sayek: They look good but are a little too expensive for my needs and wallet unfortunately.

@JimM1 & @Chrisee: I don't require a landline so am all good on that front. Given your respponses, can you tell if the following are compatible with DHCP Option61? I'd rather not chance purely the IPV6 authentication method just in case! The routers I'm looking at are:

• Netgear Nighthawk RS300
• ASUS RT-BE92U
• RT-AX89X

I'm ideally looking for Tri-Band WiFi7 to future proof and handle more WiFi devices (and remove an existing router configured as an AP to handle traffic) but I have 7 wired devices that I'd rather not use a switch for, hence considering the RT-AX89X.

Cheers in advance!

[JJ_Hodgson]

Cheers for your response @jamesn123! One of the routers I'm looking at comes under that series (Asus RT-AX89X). How can you tell it's DHCP option61 capable though please as I was up last night going through specs and am now starting to think I don't know where / what I should be actually looking for in the specs.

[jamesn123]

Hi @JJ_Hodgson 

Netgear in the past have been hit & miss in terms of DHCP Option 61 so not sure I would go there.

The Asus ones will work fine. 

[jamesn123 · Accepted solution]

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@JJ_Hodgson wrote:

Cheers for your response @jamesn123! One of the routers I'm looking at comes under that series (Asus RT-AX89X). How can you tell it's DHCP option61 capable though please as I was up last night going through specs and am now starting to think I don't know where / what I should be actually looking for in the specs.

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See the Asus FAQ here (Point c about 1/4 of the way down the page)  https://www.asus.com/uk/support/faq/1011715/

Basically any router that supports the latest firmware or any firmware built in the last couple of years will have the compatibility. 

[JJ_Hodgson]

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@jamesn123 wrote:

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@JJ_Hodgson wrote:

Cheers for your response @jamesn123! One of the routers I'm looking at comes under that series (Asus RT-AX89X). How can you tell it's DHCP option61 capable though please as I was up last night going through specs and am now starting to think I don't know where / what I should be actually looking for in the specs.

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See the Asus FAQ here (Point c about 1/4 of the way down the page)  https://www.asus.com/uk/support/faq/1011715/

Basically any router that supports the latest firmware or any firmware built in the last couple of years will have the compatibility. 

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This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you so so much! My fiance also thanks you as I now wont be coming to bad at 2AM googling routers and option 61! 😅

[Sayek]

@JJ_Hodgson 

Asus is bit like shopping at Marks & Spencer...not everyone can afford to visit them 😊

But if you don't mind visit Aldi or Lidl then TP-Link make decent routers and mesh. 

Only trouble is they don't work very well if connected direct to the ONT but works fine if you leave the Sky basic black router plugged in with Wi-Fi disabled and set the TP as access point.

I am currently using a pair of Deco X50 (retails £129) on Full Fibre 500 and does a decent job round the house. 

TP Link does not have advance setting options like Asus but fine for the average home

[JimM1]

@JJ_Hodgson Link to the Asus wireless mesh styled but not spidered aerials Tri band does get expensive especially if you are looking at Wifi7 as your kick-off point!

Whole-Home-Mesh-WiFi-System｜WiFi 7｜ASUS United Kingdom