Decent replacement for Sky FTTP router…

Diggsy · 12 Jun 2022 at 23:17

As title, anyone know of a decent replacement for the Sky FTTP router? It’s been nothing but a nuisance lately. If I have a power outage, the router simply refuses to connect until I remove the power lead from the wall for 2 minutes then reconnect it. Even then it takes an age to reset itself. If I’m away from home when there’s an outage, obviously I wouldn’t be able to do this.

I also find the WiFi coverage to be average at best. I’ve installed a 4 disc BT Whole Home Mini set to work around this, but it’s not ideal really, as I also have a couple of smart devices that refuse to work with the merged 2.4 and 5 channels of the BT discs, so I’ve also had to install 2 Netgear boosters which I have set to 2.4 only. It’s maybe a tad clumsy but it just about works.

I’m therefore wondering if there’s something I can completely replace the Sky router with? Anyone know of something that will do what I need and be a lot more reliable than the Sky rubbish? Thanks

Cottee · 13 Jun 2022 at 07:31

I use a TP link archer AX11000 tri band gaming router, and AX1800 one mesh wi fi extender.

I’ve never even plugged the sky router in and I have no problem with good speeds in the garden.
they are not cheap but worth it in my opinion.

Diggsy · 13 Jun 2022 at 12:44

Cottee said:
I use a TP link archer AX11000 tri band gaming router, and AX1800 one mesh wi fi extender.

I’ve never even plugged the sky router in and I have no problem with good speeds in the garden.
they are not cheap but worth it in my opinion.

Thank you! So, can you confirm this connected straight to the Openreach box on the wall and logged you in with no issues etc? Sounds like a great option if that’s the case, the Sky one really is garbage

the-evaluator · 13 Jun 2022 at 13:01

Diggsy said:
the Sky one really is garbage

Is the router really garbage or is the wifi side of things the problem? Chances are the routing side of the Sky box is absolutely fine.

I'd be looking to keep the Sky router and offload the wifi role onto a dedicated wireless access point rather than dropping £350(!) on a "gaming" router that made me feel a little bit sick every time I saw it. I like Ubiquiti access points, but there's plenty of choice.

Diggsy · 13 Jun 2022 at 13:09

the-evaluator said:
Is the router really garbage or is the wifi side of things the problem? Chances are the routing side of the Sky box is absolutely fine.

I'd be looking to keep the Sky router and offload the wifi role onto a dedicated wireless access point rather than dropping £350(!) on a "gaming" router that made me feel a little bit sick every time I saw it. I like Ubiquiti access points, but there's plenty of choice.

The main things with it are the WiFi coverage isn’t good (I have that resolved by using BT Whole Home discs for my WiFi) and also the fact that it simply does not recover any time it loses power. My area suffers from an odd power outage now and then and it’s a real nuisance that the Sky router insists on being completely unplugged from the mains for a couple of minutes before it starts operating again. Without doing this almost none of the lights on the box are lit.

I’m not bothered too much about costs to replace it, but yeah I would agree I don’t need an expensive gaming router, I just need something that’s reliable. I’m not even overly fussed about the WiFi coverage because I have that mostly sorted, that said it would be good if the replacement had decent WiFi as it would at least give me more options.

Sparx · 13 Jun 2022 at 14:41

Sounds like a UPS would be more useful in your situation

Diggsy · 13 Jun 2022 at 15:07

Sparx said:
Sounds like a UPS would be more useful in your situation

I like your thinking

…that’s a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut though

Caged · 13 Jun 2022 at 15:10

Have you tried getting Sky to replace your router? It's not normal that it won't recover from a power loss.

Sparx · 13 Jun 2022 at 15:12

And a £300-400 router is no sledgehammer?

Tbh a decent UPS is like £100 odd, if you have frequent power cuts (presuming they are very short) I'd genuinely recommend one. Connect up your router/modem/PC and anything else important you like.

Look up the APC BE850G2-UK for around £112.

Diggsy · 13 Jun 2022 at 17:05

Thanks again for all the suggestions guys. The UPS is actually maybe not a bad call (power outages are usually only several seconds long), as is contacting Sky and asking them to replace it. I’m going to call them in the morning and see what they say.

Cottee · 13 Jun 2022 at 18:16

Diggsy said:
Thank you! So, can you confirm this connected straight to the Openreach box on the wall and logged you in with no issues etc? Sounds like a great option if that’s the case, the Sky one really is garbage

Yes it’s connected straight into the ont. You need to change the settings in the router but it’s pretty simple.

I had issue’s with the BT kit and got a great deal on the Archer and I have never looked back since, it’s been rock solid for a year and half using both BT and Sky Fttp But is expensive.

Diggsy · 13 Jun 2022 at 19:28

Cottee said:
Yes it’s connected straight into the ont. You need to change the settings in the router but it’s pretty simple.

I had issue’s with the BT kit and got a great deal on the Archer and I have never looked back since, it’s been rock solid for a year and half using both BT and Sky Fttp But is expensive.

Excellent! Thanks again. It’s certainly expensive but I can keep an eye on it, definitely gives me an option.

Sparx · 13 Jun 2022 at 21:08

Diggsy said:
Thanks again for all the suggestions guys. The UPS is actually maybe not a bad call (power outages are usually only several seconds long), as is contacting Sky and asking them to replace it. I’m going to call them in the morning and see what they say.

UPS ideal then, you'll never notice it even happened then.

a1ex2001 · 14 Jun 2022 at 06:20

Diggsy said:
Excellent! Thanks again. It’s certainly expensive but I can keep an eye on it, definitely gives me an option.

And dear god it is absolutely hideous! I could only have one if it lived in a cupboard! The design looks like something that would have been stuck on a 1l Corsa in a 90’s copy on MaxPower magazine!

murdg123 · 31 Mar 2025 at 18:04

Cottee said:
I use a TP link archer AX11000 tri band gaming router, and AX1800 one mesh wi fi extender.

I’ve never even plugged the sky router in and I have no problem with good speeds in the garden.
they are not cheap but worth it in my opinion.

Can you help me and share the settings you used? Just flipped to sky on a deal and my AX11000 aint liking the change!