Is it worth updating our Sky Router for another (better) router?

GunJack

If you're moving to a FTTC service, your new router will be a VDSL one (it may also do ADSL, but not all will). Stick with it, 'coz if you're going to buy a decent VDSL router, it'll cost you....

Chino

GunJack wrote: »

If you're moving to a FTTC service, your new router will be a VDSL one (it may also do ADSL, but not all will).

I don't have it, but I thought Plusnet Fibre used a standard router connected to a BT Openreach modem:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/hardware

m0nkeylover

Chino wrote: »

I don't have it, but I thought Plusnet Fibre used a standard router connected to a BT Openreach modem:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/hardware

They do. Which is handy if you wanted to change the Plusnet supplied router for a decent one.
I have plusnet, i'm using an Asus AC66u instead of the supplied router. The plusnet router is average at best, it isn't a patch on the Asus. No dropouts, massive increase in wifi speeds and coverage, dualband with Ac connectivity for newer devices.
If you have a large household with lots of connections i'd definitely recommend upgrading the router. Personal opinion of course.

quish

Billion 8800nl all in one modem/router works great with plusnet

GunJack

Chino wrote: »

I don't have it, but I thought Plusnet Fibre used a standard router connected to a BT Openreach modem:

http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/hardware

one of the initial problems with FTTC was that openreach insisted on a "standard" huawei modem, with the user having to use a separate router for networking. Things have changed however, and now some (like talktalk) will give you an all-in-one modem/router for VDSL.

bluesnake

I'm an ex-sky punter.

On sky often uses (but not always) MER (RFC 2684) (MAC Encapsulated Routing) and not all routers support this. Apparently some of the router that do support this still do not work on Sky.

http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/sky-broadband-fibre-help/47792-how-get-round-sky-mer-use-your-own-router.html

http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/technical-discussion/46464-skys-mer-why-does-not-work-other-routers.html

Also you will have to extract your password. there is a youtube video that shows how to do this.

Also, the sky router does not seem to handle many multiple open connections like found when using torrents. I had to reboot by black router many times. The wifi is poor too.

If you have the Totally Unlimited Broadband package, you may find that if you watch films from other sources, or use a vpn that can transverse many countries, your bandwidth may be mysteriously capped, even though you may not be viewing films. Sky recommends that you go onto their business fibre package.

I moved to plusnet. This was a good move - so far. Their package is not totally unlimited as they say the do traffic shaping, but I do not notice it, and if they do then the traffic is way less shaped then when I was at sky.

I ditched the crud thomson router, and bought a second hand Draytec Vigor 2820N from ebay for £40 and has been rock solid. Never yet had to reboot it, and can't say a bad word about it. No yoy cant use this router in sky as this model does not support MER. Think the 2830N with the correct firmware will though, but it is about £80 from ebay, and you had better check first.

ukjoel

Another Sky customer here but not for long....

Our speed was similar to OP so we upgraded to fibre as only real option at the time.

Their router is awful and is heavily locked down. Sky only want to sell you their TV packages, anything else and they dont really care.

We will be switching suppliers at end of contract after 10 years at 3 different properties.

shoperholicnot

I have just moved to Plusnet from BT , I was getting a lot of dropped wireless connections with BT and figured the Plusnet router probably would not be much better so bought a ASUS RT-N56U...it is fab! No more dropped connections when streaming TV
Definitely worth the outlay, especially if you have a smart TV and multiple devices across the house.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-RT-N56U-Wireless-Hardware-streaming/dp/B004TPWRSK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1421541510&sr=8-4&keywords=asus+router

C_Mababejive

Chino wrote: »

If you read the thread you will see that subscribers who haven't migrated from O2/Be have also been able to get their third-party routers working without much difficulty using the router settings mentioned in the thread.

Well as i have a day off and its freezing outside i thought id dig out my old Netgear DG834GT router and give it a whirl.

I plugged it in and as expected, it didnt work.

I had to use some packet sniffing software,analyse the data flow between my lappy and the router via an ethernet connection and extract the embedded sky username and password.

I then logged onto my router and filled the necessary data into the setup screens,also changing from the default Sky DNS settings.

Now working

guide here

http://www.dankross.co.uk/2014/11/use-router-sky-broadband/

lancslass2008

***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***


BIG thank you to everybody who commented and helped on this thread. So, yesterday we had Plusnet fitted. It is indeed a BT fibre connection but the package is sold by PlusNet.


So, the whole thing is MILES quicker. Here's the result of this mornings test:


4th Feb 06:45
Download 18.39 Upload 6.19 Ping 21


As you can see the download speed is up massively. However, we are expecting 60MB+ shortly because the engineer told us "Just let it settle down for a few days and the speed should rise", which sounds strange as I thought a connection was a connection.


Anyhow, the speed is a lot better and we're wondering why we never left SKY sooner.


Let's hope we get that 60MB+ we've been promised.


Once again, thanks all.