MSE News: Sky takes over O2 and Be broadband: What does this mean for customers?

Stompa wrote: »

Did they specifically tell you that you could use a non-Sky router?

http://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Broadband-Talk-Orders/Can-i-use-my-own-router-or-not/td-p/1339613

Yes .

If you simply migrate they don't give you a router. The 02 one works.

Quentin wrote: »

The. O2 router will continue to work when you switch bb only to sky.

Providing a new one just seems another bribe they have the discretion of adding to the deal to persuade us to migrate early.

Yes - true really.

However my main point to hubb ( although probably didn't make it clear ) is that as he/she is also taking Line Rental with Sky, a new router would be required as the O2 router will not work in this case as far as I'm aware.

espresso wrote: »

Not sure why you would think that as it is simply not true and hubb is already confused enough!

Sky have taken steps to ensure that O2/BE routers will automatically authenticate on their RADIUS servers. Why would Sky do this if only Sky routers could be used on their network?

As far as I'm aware, Sky has 2 networks at present - SMPF and MPF.

Those choosing to have BB only will be put on the SMPF network and this will allow them to use their O2 router. Some who choose to move earlier than their migration date and have brokered a 12 months deal, are being sent new Sky hubs although their O2 router would still work as they are being placed on the SMPF network.

Those who choose to have both Sky Line Rental ( as hubb is ) will be moved to the MPF network which, at present, will only allow the Sky Hub to be used. There is of course a workaround for this if you want to obtain the appropriate info for you to use your own router.

Are you saying that there has been a change to this for those taking both Sky Line Rental and BB?

anactuary wrote: »

A friend has just swapped from BT line rental + O2 broadband to Sky for both and says the O2 router still works ie gives internet access, even though the internet light is red. Does that make sense?

I read elsewhere this evening that Sky(?) had initiated a firmware update that (amongst other things) reset users' custom configurations. I'm speculating that part of that update could be to load Sky settings so the box works when it's connected to Sky's broadband service.

As I don't use my O2 box I can't verify this.

anactuary wrote: »

The link given in post 546 gives a username but no password whereas I understood when you use Wireshark you obtain a username and password from the Sky router. I guess that means if you use [EMAIL="install@o2broadband.co.uk"]install@o2broadband.co.uk[/EMAIL] as the user, you don't need a password?

That's the way I read it. It just looks like a generic username (as opposed to an individual uername/passowrd). I'm not going to Sky though so I can't test it personally.