Using third party router with Sky FTTP

[Skull+Treaty]

@Kaaaarrrll @cookiemonsteruk 

Couldn't find an emulator for the C80, so not sure on the specifics; found some info that might be helpful.

Authentication is based on information inserted by the network (Openreach DSLAM/OLTs), not what information is put in to DHCPv4 Option 61 by the client.
Approx 80% of Openreach's total GEA footprint, that's both FTTC and FTTP, should now support Leightweight DHCPv6 Relay Agent (LDRA), that Sky need to natively authenticate DHCPv6.
It's believed it is 100% of FTTP services, as well as G.Fast.
If your non-Sky router is correctly configured for DHCPv6 PD and can obtain a lease, then DHCPv4 will work following that, without the need for DHCPv4 Option 61 Client-ID.
DHCPv4 Option 61 "Client-ID" will be needed for the other 20% of customers on older Openreach equipment.
There is no "login" ID or password required, but the contents of DHCPv4 Option 61 used by the Sky Hub look like those previously used as PPP CHAP username/passwords from way back when.
DHCPv4 Option 61 is called "Client-ID", and is nothing to do with "MER". "MER" could also be called IPoEoA and Sky uses simply IPoE. There's no ATM involved with VDSL2 or GPON.

[Kaaaarrrll]

Thanks for looking for me. So is option 61 a selectable option when it's available in the router or is it something else? 

I have a very basic understanding of networking...

[Kaaaarrrll]

Additionally, are there any routers that people know for sure will work as a full replacement for the Sky hub?

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Kaaaarrrll 

Dhcp option 61 is in theory available on all routers its just some manufacturers  make it easy to access in gui to ensure their routers are as mass market as possible. More and more are starting to provide that compatibility as sky are the second largest isp in the uk and the only one requiring authentication in this manner and tp link don't want to lose out on that market segment.  

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Kaaaarrrll 

"tp link don't want to lose out on that market segment.  "

Apart from the c80 apparently ☹

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Kaaaarrrll 

Netgear are the only ones at the minute to list native dhcp 61 router list :-

Product	Firmware version
R9000	V1.0.4.28 and above
RBK50	V2.5.0.22 and above
RBK13	V2.5.0.22 and above
R7800	V1.0.2.64 and above
XR500	V2.3.2.56 and above
XR700	V1.0.1.10 and above
RAX40	V1.0.3.62 and above
RAX80	V1.0.3.88 and above
RAX200	V1.0.1.12 and above
D6220	1.0.0.16 and above
D6400	V1.0.0.38 and above
D7000 V2	V1.0.0.38 and above

Take a  look above to compare best equivalent netgear router

[Skull+Treaty]

@Kaaaarrrll 

A lot of the newer ASUS devices (when updated with the latest firmware) are compliant with required authentication. 
Pretty sure most of TP-Link's combo modem routers are compliant also - Same with Netgear combo modem routers. 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Kaaaarrrll 

Additionally all asus routers that can be flashed with asus-merlin should support it

Tp links that can be flashed with dd-wrt should support it

Be warned asus merlin and ddwrt are 3rd party firmware implementations that may void warranty

[Skull+Treaty]

@Skull+Treaty wrote:

@Kaaaarrrll 

Pretty sure most of TP-Link's combo modem routers are compliant also - Same with Netgear combo modem routers. 

---

Scrap that, just remembered you're FTTP, so modem router combo not relevant 

[cookiemonsteruk]

@Kaaaarrrll 

Ignore everything in netgear list that start with D.  They are vdsl modem routers

[Skull+Treaty]

@Kaaaarrrll 

Have a look at this link, scroll until you see the screenshot posted - using a TP-Link via IPv6 - might help you with yours. 
https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Broadband/Sky-FTTP-with-TP-Link-Archer-C6/td-p/3476098

different model but could be a similar set-up

[Chrisee]

@Kaaaarrrll you should not need to mess around with Option 61 where you have a Sky FTTP connection in the UK - Ireland is different.  Read this post made by a senior Sky engineer you will see that you should be able to connect by using DHCPv6 prefix delegation without any other authentication. 

[Skull+Treaty]

@Chrisee  aye, some info from that post is on a previous page on this topic ; )

[Kaaaarrrll]

based on what I was reading I thought it would be like this. But simply enable IPv6 on the to link hub doesn't seem to do anything. 

is DHCPv6 different to IPv6?

[Kaaaarrrll · Accepted solution]

Good news everyone! I was able to get connected to the internet, so i am happy to confirm that the TP Link Archer C80 works as a full replacement to the Sky Q Hub. After some fiddling and on the verge of giving up, i changed a setting for the sake of it, and it worked!.. 

So for this router to work with Sky FTTP, IPV6 needs to be enabled, WAN connection type needs to be set to Normal and get IPv6 address needs to be set to Static.

Thank you for the help you have given me!

Regards

Karl