Wifi Max Router (SR213) is terrible - can I use an alternative router with Sky?

[stevendt]

I have just changed ISP from BT to Sky  and am regretting it already!

The white Wifi-Max router (SR213) that Sky have sent me is TERRIBLE if you want to do anything but watch TV and surf the web. I have quite a complex network set up at home and the router cannot be configured to provide anything like the functions that I would expect from a half decent router and the user interface is hopeless. The BT Hub had some restrictions, but I could work round them, that is not possible with the Sky router.

I cannot disable DHCP (I need my network to provide the IP addresses)

Port forwarding is basic and does not allow redirection. Plus, whoever thought that the user needing to use a separate App to configure the router port forward settings was a good idea is clearly off his trolley. Apart from that, the App doesn't work for me - when I try to enter a Port Forward, the App fails and tells me that "Something went wrong". 

The redirection from the IP address of the router to  myrouter.io doesn't  work properly - why can't I just log into the local user web address?

The Sky router cannot provide the services that I need, so the question is, can I use a third party router instead? I'd like to ditch the Sky one completely, can I just replace it, or do I have to keep it connected to enable the internet connection? (I have Gigafast boradband with an OpenReach ONT.)

.I have previously used DrayTek routers to good effect, they are expensive, but have worked flawlessly for me in the past. Assuming that I can ditch the Sky router (?), can anyone recommend a DrayTek alternative? Failing that, have others used any other routers to good effect?

I have seen a few historical posts about ADSL connections being able to use other routers, but needed the Sky router to be the gateway to the fibre, hopefully, that is not required?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm at my wits end here!

regards

Dave

[jamesn123]

Hi @stevendt 

I will be quite frank, your requirements for a network are quite above any standard user and honestly Sky isnt the ISP for you if you want to be doing all that. Sky target their service & routers at the typical domestic user and having an app to control most of the functions is typically the best for most users because almost everyone has a smartphone these days with apps controlling everything else. 

I will admit that the Sky Max hub isnt the greatest Sky have ever made and some of their controls are pretty dire but my above point still stands.

As for using a 3rd party router, you can certainly do this, and by the sounds of it you should do this if you plan on staying with Sky. If you have FTTP at your address it should be as simple as purchasing any router that has a WAN port & can authenticate using DHCP Option 61, or if you take pot luck and hope your area is IPv6 PD enabled you wont even need that functionality and you'll be able to connect any router than supports IPv6.

[JJ_Hodgson]

@jamesn123 I'm having a similar issue! Do you have any advisement on routers that allow authentication with DHCP option 61? Most specs don't seem to list this? From reseach I can see Asus routers can normally have their firmware updated by 3rd part opensource software but I'm aware this can present increased security risks compared to using the manufacturers firmware which is more likely to be quicky updated. 

[stevendt]

I use a Draytek Vigor2865ax. It supports option 61

They are not cheap, and likely overkill for most domestic users, but .i have used Draytek routers for a number of years and been happy with them. I also need to use additional WiFi access points and use Draytek AP805 (I needed additional access points with BT and Sky routers, so that is my home size/layout, rather than a problem with the Draytek router)

regards

Dave

[jamesn123]

@JJ_Hodgson 

The base Asus router firmware supports it now, however the custom firmware you are talking (Merlin) about is just as good in terms of security & features.

[JJ_Hodgson]

Cheers for the response @stevendt! Yeah they're a little too expensive unfortunately but do look incredibly good though!

[JJ_Hodgson]

@jamesn123 Excellent! That's what I've been looking for and thank you for your respone on the other thread too with the details of where Asus have confirmed this. (For anyone else reading, search for "61" in the article). Really appreciate the support!