WiFi Mesh with Sky Broadband

[samclark24]

Hello,

Hoping someone can please advise on the below.

I currently have Sky broadband ultra fast package. I have a Sky (provided) router plugged into an Openreach modem. I am looking to invest in a WiFi mesh system (not extender/booster) as my new house is relatively tall and hence WiFi doesn't reach all the rooms.

- If I buy a WiFi mesh system such as Google Nest, Amazon Eero, TP-Link Deco etc, will this plug directly into my Openreach modem and hence replace my existing Sky router?

- If my Sky router is being replaced by the new mesh system, what exactly am I paying Sky for still?

- By chosing the appropriate mesh system, can I upgrade my WiFi frequency from 5E to 6E?

- How do I know what mesh systems are compatible with my current Openreach modem?

Thanks,

Sam

[jamesn123 · Accepted solution]

@samclark24 

If you want to replace the Sky hub outright you need to pick a system that is compatible with Sky lines. This would be one that can authenticate using DHCP Option 61. As an example the Asus XT8 systems can do this.

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@samclark24 wrote:

- If my Sky router is being replaced by the new mesh system, what exactly am I paying Sky for still?

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Your paying for the line into your property, the internet connection Sky provide through their servers & any support you may need if a fault develops. 

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@samclark24 wrote:

- By chosing the appropriate mesh system, can I upgrade my WiFi frequency from 5E to 6E?

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Sky hubs are currently WiFi 5 (Except the Sky Max hub which is WiFi 6). WiFi 5e does not exist. You could choose a system that uses WiFi 6 or WiFi 6e but keep in mind you actually need devices that are also compatible with these standards. Many older or budget devices are not. 

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@samclark24 wrote:

- How do I know what mesh systems are compatible with my current Openreach modem?

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Any mesh system will be compatible with the Openreach modem but this is not what need to look at, you need to look at whether its compatible with Sky Fibre/Sky's authentication method of DHCP Option 61. 

[samclark24]

Thanks @jamesn123 

Is it an option to plug a new mesh system into the current Sky router so I dont have to replace it and only look for mesh systems compatible with DHCP Option 61? Or will all mesh systems be required to be plugged directly into the modem and replace existing routers?

Is there any chance that Sky Fibre/Sky's authentication method of DHCP Option 61 will be changed soon and hence the mesh system I buy no longer works?

[Chrisee]

@samclark24 additional thing to consider if you have Sky's Q tv system is that the Q mini boxes cannot connect to a non Sky wifi source. You also lose the voice line when you take out the Sky hub

I dont have Sky Q but needed better wifi in a 3 level home so use a 3 unit Wifi mesh system running in access point mode leaving the Sky hub as the router as we still use the voice line occasionally.

[samclark24]

Thanks @Chrisee 

So if I plug my mesh system into the sky router, it will still register as sky broadband so my Sky Q will still work?

[jamesn123]

@samclark24 

You could get a mesh system and plug it into the Sky hub yes, there is nothing functionally wrong with this as long as you set it up correctly. Just keep in mind you will have double NAT which can occasionally affect gaming. 

It is extremely unlikely that Sky will change the authentication method & even if they did it would likely to be to one that is already present in most routers. 

[samclark24]

Thanks @jamesn123 

If I plug directly into Sky router, do I still need to make sure it is compatible with DHCP Option 61? Or does this no longer matter if not replacing the Sky router?

[jamesn123]

@samclark24 

It no longer matters if your going through the Sky hub because the mesh system will just act as a client to the Sky hub.  

[samclark24]

@jamesn123 @Chrisee 

Sounds like the best option is to plug mesh system into Sky router directly then. If I have the mesh system in access point mode (intsead of router mode) will this still mean I have a double NAT?

[Chrisee]

@samclark24 you will have to cope with interference between the Sky Q wifi and the mesh system, Most crtical is the 5GHz band by default the Sky boxes use ch36 to 52 but can be switched to use either ch36 to 44 or ch44 to 52. 

If the only thing you want is better wifi set your new system up in Access Point mode which avoids possible issues with Double NAT etc. as the Sky hub works as a router for the network. However any specialist functions like parental control your new system offers wont work in this set up.

[samclark24]

@Chrisee 

I currently have a Sky Streaming Puck was thinking of switching it to Sky Q as I find the puck really slow and laggy. If my mesh system is in access point mode only, will either Sky Streaming Puck or Sky Q perform better or worse?

[samclark24]

@Chrisee 

If I set my new system up in Access Point mode, will my Sky Stream puck still work?

Will I also need to turn WiFi off on my Sky Hub?

[Chrisee]

@samclark24 Improving the connectivity should make the Stream pucks operate more smoothly. I have had 3 Stream pucks since launch the key thing they need is a WiFi signal free from jitter(measure of regularity)  which is actual more important than bandwidth/speed as the highest speed each can use is well under 50Mb/s. My 3 unit Deco M4 system is ideal and is very stable as a result the pucks stream with no buffering etc. With Stream you are controlling remote servers so commands take a while to operate.

We had Sky Q  before and while the lack of local recording took a while to get used to, the improved picture quality and getting used to Stream OS has meant we woulldn't go back. Neither system is fault free but Q is now pretty old system and its networking causes many issues.

[Chrisee]

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@samclark24 wrote:

@Chrisee 

If I set my new system up in Access Point mode, will my Sky Stream puck still work?

Will I also need to turn WiFi off on my Sky Hub?

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Yes to both as the pucks are simple wifi clients. I copied my Sky Hub's SSID and password to my Decos which meant devices connected without any programming.

[samclark24]

@Chrisee  so I need to connect Decos including one directly into Sky Hub and then put all 3 in access point mode and then figure out how to turn WiFi off on my sky hub and then copy SSID and password to Decos and this will mean increased WiFi via mesh system and no double NAT?