Using own router

Was talking to sky today about possibly moving over to them.

The sales rep said it is not possible to use an alternative router as the username and password are built into the router they send out to you. Also they would not support you using another router.

Is it possible to obtain the required details to use alternative equipment? Maybe they refuse to give them out?

I'm very sceptical about changing to sky from Zen, conversations like this don't help.

Yes, it's easy. There's an online calculator available or wireshark to capture the username and password

Just had a read, few disclaimers on breaching terms and conditions.

Maybe I'm wrong but I kinda see it that they only support their own router due to lack of technical abilities of their support staff.

If you will be using Sky LLU search their forum for O2/Be settings, There's no issue using non-Sky routers on LLU. However their T&C's prohibit use of non-Sky hardware on their fibre products.

Edited by IanBB (Tue 05-May-15 23:55:07)

Yeah it's fibre I want to order. Will have a read up about the free router sky provide.

I think they only support the Sky Router so it makes it easier to train staff on how to diagnose problems with it. For 99% of their customers who likely are happy to use the router provided it makes sense to do this.

In reply to a post by Ripley:

Yeah it's fibre I want to order. Will have a read up about the free router sky provide.

Sky fibre uses a special authentication method which not all routers support.

I suppose that is the way forward when working in such a large scale.

The Sky Hub SR102 they provide is OK, but that's all.

4 x 10/100Mbps ethernet, single channel 2.4GHz up to 144Mbps WiFi with pretty poor range due to poor interior layout (unshielded PSU in close proximity to the WiFi antennas).

The WiFi also has a known "issue" whereby it can't handle more than about 16 simultaneous devices. Sky acknowledge the issue, but who knows if it can be fixed or if they are even looking into it.

Basically, depending on your needs, it can be fine. Most posts on the Sky forums though tend to recommend adding a second router/access point and turning off the Sky Hub Wifi.

"16 simultaneous devices"

Who needs anything close to that?

I find its range is ok and covers from loft room to ground floor rooms

Do add an access point on a downstairs window sill for summer garden coverage though

That's my thought as well, but there have been a few people with that problem over on Sky's forums.

I suppose if you consider a family of four with teenage kids; four phones, four tablets/iPads, a couple of laptops, printer, smart TV, Chromecast, AppleTV, NowTV box , couple of games consoles, all connected wirelessly..... it can soon add up without you realising I suppose.

Yes but not simultaneously. Four people using 4 devices at once need to get out more!

We have often over 16 devices connected to the router... It's always fine for us. We have multiple phones, printers, apple TVs, two sky boxes, laptops etc connected.

The phones, printers, Apple TVs, smart TVs etc would be always connected if we are home.

Range wise it's a lot better than the home hub 4 in my house.

The T&C's may prohibit using non - Sky routers but I've been using my own router for well over a year now on my fibre connection and they know I am. It's because they wanted me to pay £69 for a new SR102 when my old Sagem router blew up and I refused. As I told them, if they want me to use their router they should supply a replacement FOC.

I've never had any problem getting support from them but they have a dedicated team for Fibre Pro that know what they are talking about.

did you get the username/password details from SKY or did you the details from the router

My personal experience with the sky SR102 has been poor. My old be box works much better, and I'm using that now on ADSL. It's the sky hub that's putting me of moving to fibre with sky

I used the username/password from my old ADSL2 router Sky supplied because I never bothered extracting them from the fibre router before it expired.

Could you PM me instructions on how to use wireshark to do this please. I've never used wireshark.

http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/extracting-sky-router...

Thanks.