Not a good start!

Ordered sky on 16/01/07 for migration from newnet. Came home on 26/01/07 to find no internet access. Phoned Newnet "No problems we know of". I had a hunch and phoned Sky. "Yes sir you went live today" "I don't have a letter or Router" I replied...... Slight pause then "Its on its way", I replied "Can you give me my log in details so I can use my existing setup"? "I'm sorry, Sky is incompatible with other routers" he replied, "Rubbish" I said. "Sorry, you'll have to wait for the router" he replied. Result, no internet all weekend! Not a good start.

It is, of course, completely compatible with other routers.

Ufortunately the user name is the MAC address of the router with @sky.com on the end and the password appears to be generated from the MAC address.

Once you have their router you can extract the login details (there is a hack to do this) at which point you can use any router.

Unfortunately before you get the router there isnt much you can do.

I am wondering if SKY actually log the MAC address of all the routers they send out or whether someone elses login would work on your line ...

Yeah, the CS guy was just reading a well rehearsed script "that's the answer I have here" he said. I have done the 'hack' and got my log in details. I'll try them when I suspect the Netgear is playing up. On another note, I cannot get one of wireless computers to access the internet, the wireless laptops have no problem. The computer can see the router but stalls at obtaining network address. I manually set the ip etc, then it connects to router. But will not access the internet. Strange.

I was told that the first connection will associate your "account" with the login details of your specific router. Then they can (in theory) tell you the login ID and password that has been used on your line.

Check you've got the network key, encryption type, etc. correct - that symptom is most commonly caused by incorrect login details (there's no "Sorry, try again" response in 802.11*).

I have entered exactly the same security settings as my laptop (which works fine), but the pc is not allowed access wirelessly, it just sits at the obtaining network address message. I have manually assigned the address and it logs onto the router, but for some reason there is no internet access. As a test I ran a temporary network cable to it and it works fine. The pc has a Belkin usb network adaptor, I wonder if there is some strange compatibility issue.