Changing broadband supplier - change network name so old devices connect automatically?

ptrichardson

newbieFTB wrote: »

I'm currently with Sky broadband and am switching to Now TV broadband.


I have lots of devices that auto connect to the WiFi - printers, phones, computers, Chromecast etc I also have two external CCTV cameras that connect to the WiFI and the only way to reset them to a new wifi connection or change the wifi password is to get up on a ladder, remove the canera from it's casing and do a hard reset (they were internal cameras that I've adapted for outdoor use with a 3rd party outdoor case)...


I was wondering if I copuld do the following to avoid the need for resetting the cameras...


My current wifi has the broadcast name Sky12345 and the password abcdefg, my new broadband will have the name NowTV12345 and the password gfedcba - is there any reason I can't juist change the broadcast name of the 'new' broadband to Sky12345 and the password to abcdefg so that all my devices automatically connect and the cameras think they are using the same wifi as before? Is it really that simple or am I missing something?


For info, the Sky router and NowTV router look identical so it seems the NowTV router (NowTV hub two) is just a rebadged Sky router, not surprsing as NowTV is owned by Sky.

Yup.

I've done this twice in a row now, my Wifi Name is basically my OLD address

GunJack

Tom99 wrote: »

Why then can't you just keep the Sky router and change the connection details?

Because sky lock down such details in their branded routers, and although there have been hacks to extract those details to use on other routers, I'm not aware of one that allows the changing of connection details within the sky firmware.*

*but, tbf, I haven't looked for a while, it's possible that this has been achieved in the last couple of years, but would have thought it unlikely as most people would be looking to replace the usually-sub-standard sky supplied router with a decent one, hence the hack for extracting the connection details from the sky firmware

newbieFTB

GunJack wrote: »

Tom99 wrote: »

Why then can't you just keep the Sky router and change the connection details?

Because sky lock down such details in their branded routers, and although there have been hacks to extract those details to use on other routers, I'm not aware of one that allows the changing of connection details within the sky firmware.*

*but, tbf, I haven't looked for a while, it's possible that this has been achieved in the last couple of years, but would have thought it unlikely as most people would be looking to replace the usually-sub-standard sky supplied router with a decent one, hence the hack for extracting the connection details from the sky firmware

Coincidentally when I was trying to set up my old cameras using portforwarding and fixed IP addresses I couldn't get it to work properly on the Sky router, so I tried to use an old BT homehub that I knew the camera settings worked OK on. Wasted far too many hours looking for a way of using the old BT router with Sky broadband to no avail, when I rang Sky their technical dept claimed to not know their 'broadband connection settings' which were needed to use a non-Sky router. I suspect that NowTV will be similar, given that they're owned by Sky and are sending out the same rebadged routers.



As the cables/power supply etc are identical I don't need to faff about moving furniture to get to the sockets, I'm hoping I will unplug the old one - leave all the wiring in place and plug into the back of the new one then simply change the broadcast name and pasword to match my 'old' Sky info and *fingers crossed* all my devices will be tricked into thinking they're using the same broadband.

AndyPix

newbieFTB wrote: »

and the password abcdefg, .

Shudder

stragglebod

AndyPix wrote: »

Shudder

I don't think that's their actual password - assuming @newbieFTB isn't my mum of course

AndyPix

^^ hehe i didnt think they could be substituting !!
More coffee needed

newbieFTB

Thanks to all for their input, switchover today was today and everything appears to have worked seamlessly (so far). I changed the router broadcast name and password to match the old one and all my devices seem suitably fooled.

AndyPix wrote: »

^^ hehe i didnt think they could be substituting !!
More coffee needed

Password is definitely not abcdefg, it's U8RQP3VZ...



































...just kidding, I'm not telling the interweb my wifi password

Neil_Jones

And this is one of the advantages of using your own kit as opposed to swapping things out every time you change provider. You change provider and router, you usually have to reconnect something (most devices get on if you reuse the same SSID and code, there are always exceptions to this rule0). Use your own kit, all you change is the internet username and password in the router and everything else you know will work. Happy Days.

buglawton

GunJack wrote: »

Because sky lock down such details in their branded routers, and although there have been hacks to extract those details to use on other routers, I'm not aware of one that allows the changing of connection details within the sky firmware.*

*but, tbf, I haven't looked for a while, it's possible that this has been achieved in the last couple of years, but would have thought it unlikely as most people would be looking to replace the usually-sub-standard sky supplied router with a decent one, hence the hack for extracting the connection details from the sky firmware

Inability to connect my wown router/have my own router settings would be an instant dealbreaker for me. Wouldn't even trust 'hacks' as they can break.

stragglebod

newbieFTB wrote: »

...just kidding, I'm not telling the interweb my wifi password

So you're not my mum then?