Sky Fibre and Asus DSL-N55U Router

benji182

benji182

benji182

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Hi, Just a quick question.


I had ADSL and the N55 router from Asus and loved it. Fibre came to my area and swapping one of the Ethernet ports to accept WAN via the BT modem I can continue using it which is great for wireless etc.

However, a friend who also had the Asus N55 router has gone the Sky Fibre route and they have given him a black modem/router not the BT white modem I was given and wasn't sure if the same could be done.

Is it as simple as plugging in his Asus N55 router to one of the WAN ports? Will he still be able to access his home network away from home via the Asus Cloud feature or will that no longer work as it'll be routered through the sky box?
 
Would upgrading to an DSL-AC68U be a solution for him or do Sky lock down your login details with VDSL as I know it took both of us half a day to get the N55 to work on Sky ADSL.
 
Sky Fibre still uses MER, which means you're going to have to do the same and get the sky username and password from the new black Hub, it should take you 10 mins at most!

Get an Openreach modem off a popular auction site, get the HG612 (because a modified firmware can be put on) and then he can buy the Asus AC68U, pop Merlin Firmware on there, and enter the Sky credentials you obtained earlier on. Once you have all the goodies arrived, you should be up and running within 1 hour.

The reason they send the new hub with built in vdsl is that it's one less kink in the chain, one less piece of equipment to fail, and they can send that out and an Openreach engineer doesnt need to visit to install the Openreach modem, meaning its a simple "self install" so from a business point of view, it makes complete sense. For those that want to use their own Router such as the Asus range, it's a pain as you then need to purchase the Modem as additional kit
 
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sorry for delayed reply I'd relayed info to my friend and he's been umming and arghing about what to do.

If he bought the AC68U would he even need the HG612? or is that only if he stays with the DSL55U
 
You'd need an OR modem to use the DSL-N55U (assuming it supports MER). Starting from scratch you just need a router with a suitable internal modem (and MER support).

I still prefer the external modem option. OR modems are easy enough to source if you aren't supplied with one.
 
Thanks guys, like I said earlier it did take me a while to get his Sky details last time as it was first time I'd done anything like it.

How simple are the BT OR modems to set up once I've got the MER details from the skyhub?
 
In terms of the OR modem, you literally plug the RJ11 cable in from your master socket, put the power cable in and you're done.

Then, once you have the MER details from the hub, slap Merlin/DD-WRT firmware on the Asus, pop the details in jobs a good an!

Once the OR modem is powered on, try keep it on - switching it off and on again will throw DLM in to a hissy fit
 
benji182 said:
sorry for delayed reply I'd relayed info to my friend and he's been umming and arghing about what to do.

If he bought the AC68U would he even need the HG612? or is that only if he stays with the DSL55U
Click to expand...

The AC68U is pretty much the same as the current hub supplied by sky (meaning it has both ADSL and VDSL modems) so a separate VDSL modem isn't required, and as long as it supports MER it can be connected and should start working once you put the login details into it.
 
I should add at this point that it is specifically against the T's and C's of Sky Broadband to connect non sky supplied equipment to a Fibre line. For DSL they don't mind but won't help or support it.
 
demonix said:
The AC68U is pretty much the same as the current hub supplied by sky (meaning it has both ADSL and VDSL modems) so a separate VDSL modem isn't required, and as long as it supports MER it can be connected and should start working once you put the login details into it.
Click to expand...

I think you're getting the DSL-AC68U and the RT-AC68U mixed up.

Edit - sorry, noticed the OP was referring to the DSL-AC68U all along, not the RT-AC68U

I still think it's better to have a separate OR modem. The HG612 is more stable, offers slightly better upload (once modified fw is applied) and it means he can then reboot his router as often as he pleases without his line stats been effected by DLM - for the sake of £15-20, it's a no brainer - in my opinion anyway

MissChief said:
I should add at this point that it is specifically against the T's and C's of Sky Broadband to connect non sky supplied equipment to a Fibre line. For DSL they don't mind but won't help or support it.
Click to expand...

Back in your box you :D
 
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Just stating facts gents. Wouldn't want anyone to come on here and say 'Sky Disconnected me without any warning because they detected I wasn't using Sky equipment!'

http://www.sky.com/shop/terms-conditions/broadband/



Section 2, Subsection (j)

If you wish to use a modem or any other equipment that we have not supplied to you in order to access Sky Broadband we cannot guarantee that ADSL Sky Broadband will work with these. You must not use a modem or any other equipment that we have not supplied to you in order to access Sky Fibre Broadband.

You'll likely find this is standard across FTTC providers as it's all Openreach equipment and they like to know and test what's being connected to their equipment.
 
Do Sky have any real control on what's happening at the cabinet for FTTC connections? OR might object to what's connected to their equipment, but that isn't a Sky issue.

IMO the ISPs should have stuck with OR modems and standard PPPoE connections. If they aren't going to do that there should be a straightforward option to allow people to use their own router behind the ISP supplied kit. Even Virgin allow that on their network and they don't need to.

As an aside... Why do Sky use MER? What's the advantage beyond making it slightly more difficult for people to use third-party equipment?
 
bremen1874 said:
Do Sky have any real control on what's happening at the cabinet for FTTC connections? OR might object to what's connected to their equipment, but that isn't a Sky issue.

IMO the ISPs should have stuck with OR modems and standard PPPoE connections. If they aren't going to do that there should be a straightforward option to allow people to use their own router behind the ISP supplied kit. Even Virgin allow that on their network and they don't need to.

As an aside... Why do Sky use MER? What's the advantage beyond making it slightly more difficult for people to use third-party equipment?
Click to expand...

FTTC is GEA (Generic Ethernet Access) all the way back to the exchange, only there do ISPs have their kit (i'm sure someone will correct me there), they have no say or control from the exchange, to cab, to property.

I don't believe Sky even have the ability to check the make/model of any kit beyond the exchange. Let's be honest, you only have to go in the Sky Fibre thread in this section to see that probably 75% of all Sky Fibre customers in there are running a 3rd party router. As long as you slap the hub back on before phoning through (if you have any issues) then all is good. When you ring the Fibre team, you'll see quickly realise that only a very small handful have a clue, rest of them are just following script(s).

MER - well you answered your question, it stops *some* people from using their own router.

PlusNet and TalkTalk are happy for you to use your own router, not sure on BT's stance but i would imagine they're same as Sky with their own BT HomeHub but I believe it doesnt use MER so easy to swap.
 
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