Also looking to replace my basic and extremely shabby Sky router. From looking at the link posted above - https://kevq.uk/how-to-use-a-tp-link-router-with-sky-fibre-optic it seems that you can do away with the router entirely? Or does it still need to be kept and plugged into a third party router as a kind of gateway? Quite confused... any help would be great.
Spec me a new router
- Thread starter Beerbaron
- Start date
What specifically are you trying to achieve? If it's better wifi coverage then run a cable and put an AP in a central location, if it's hardware accelerated VPN with policy based routing, then tell us etc. Calling it shabby doesn't help. You can either buy a combined modem & router capable of the correct DHCP option to support Sky, or use an old ECI/HG612 Openreach modem (depending on the type of connection, though the HG612 is backwards compatible down to ADSL from memory) and buy a standard router. You wouldn't leave the existing Sky hub installed.
I'm looking to improve my wi-fi as I have problems even in the same room (hence the word shabby used as per above) and better security. My main PC is wired so it's purely for use by other gadgets (phones, SONOS speaker system, tablet etc).
If I'm able to take the Sky provided router out of the equation entirely then that would be great. If it would be a nightmare to install and maintain though then simply connecting another would suffice.
If I'm able to take the Sky provided router out of the equation entirely then that would be great. If it would be a nightmare to install and maintain though then simply connecting another would suffice.
Is it sitting behind the TV? If you’re having issues in the same room, then there is something seriously wrong (usually something that blocks the signal VERY effectively such as a shielded TV.
No it's literally in the corner of the room next to the phone line. I've had problems with older BT hubs as well as Sky and that goes for quite a few devices which try to connect wireless to them. Previously (years ago) with the likes of Virgin, I bought a basic Linksys Router which I connected up and never had any issues. Seems to be purely when using the hubs provided by the ISP's namely Sky and BT, sadly I can no longer get Virgin in my current home.
Ive been chatting to a colleague and he has suggested the following:
Draytek Vigor 130 > UBIQUITI Networks Unifi Security Gateway Router > Ubiquiti Unifi Cloud Key Gen2 Controller Device
I can then connect this to my Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC LR
Draytek Vigor 130 > UBIQUITI Networks Unifi Security Gateway Router > Ubiquiti Unifi Cloud Key Gen2 Controller Device
I can then connect this to my Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC LR
See if you can borrow a USG before you finally make your mind up. Some things (like VPN) are not always straightforward and require scripting.
And there is a new combo device (the UniFi Dream Machine) which is a faster USG, switch, cloud key and NanoHD access point all in one box coming in the next couple of months.
They are indeed still in Beta, and they’ve yet to be reviewed. So the jury is out. But UBNT have stopped development on the firmware used in the USG and they are only working on the new UDM devices.
Just got an email from UniFi for the UDM - https://store.ui.com/collections/routing-switching/products/unifi-dream-machine. Looks like it has been released.
By the time you add in VAT it will be £300 list price.
Absolutely, the challenge for me is that it doesn’t do anything more that the current USG line-up in terms of routing. Yes, it’s much faster running Suricata, and it’s in a lovely box but the market for £300 wireless routers that don’t do much is pretty small.
ASUS have been selling over priced junk that looks like it fell out of a transformers ‘exhaust’ with larger price tags to that minority for years.
Im running a Draytek 130, into a Ubiquiti USG on Sky and its been fine.
I have a few Unifi access points, and the controller running on my NAS, the single pane of glass view is nice.
Agreed that the USG isn't as simple as it should be - if you want to do IPSEC VPN to another peer, then you will need to goto the command line, and edit a json file that runs on the controller (this sends settings to the USG every time it provisions)
If you want a 'remote access' VPN, for example from your phone or a laptop, then this can be done in the GUI
What other network kit do you have, there is only a single LAN port on the USG, so needs to go into a switch
I have a few Unifi access points, and the controller running on my NAS, the single pane of glass view is nice.
Agreed that the USG isn't as simple as it should be - if you want to do IPSEC VPN to another peer, then you will need to goto the command line, and edit a json file that runs on the controller (this sends settings to the USG every time it provisions)
If you want a 'remote access' VPN, for example from your phone or a laptop, then this can be done in the GUI
What other network kit do you have, there is only a single LAN port on the USG, so needs to go into a switch
I keep hovering over the buy button on a UDM as it would suit my needs pretty perfectly, keep wussing out though.
Doesn’t help the BT smart hub 2 they sent when setting up our FTTP connection is actually pretty good with decent WiFi performance.
Some quirks with the settings and what can/can’t be changed, and don’t like that they control the irregular firmware updates along with limited visibility of what they are doing with things (I see their public WiFi thingy magically enabled itself again the other day...)
Be interested to hear how it goes
Doesn’t help the BT smart hub 2 they sent when setting up our FTTP connection is actually pretty good with decent WiFi performance.
Some quirks with the settings and what can/can’t be changed, and don’t like that they control the irregular firmware updates along with limited visibility of what they are doing with things (I see their public WiFi thingy magically enabled itself again the other day...)
Be interested to hear how it goes
Are you still with Sky as your ISP? Would be interested to see how you get on with the Vigor 130 - recently, mine has been playing up - ive had open reach out a few times as my speed has been all over the place, and constant wan drops on the router (USG) - have relented and put back in place my old Openreach HG612 and its been stable since. Have a ticket open with Draytek and hopefully get it back to them under warranty.
Noticed a few people with Sky having issues with these Vigors, so be interested to see if yours performs OK
Noticed a few people with Sky having issues with these Vigors, so be interested to see if yours performs OK