Sky Broadband. Control Freakery?

[ringway]

I used to use my Netgear DG834N router when with 02 Broadband.

I switched to Sky Broadband 6 months ago and although my wired connection is fine the wireless signal sometimes doesn't work in a couple of the upstairs rooms (say 30 feet and upstairs away from the Sky router).

I asked Sky if I could use my Netgear router and was told I can't do this unless I write in to them requesting special permission to do so - They won't give me an email address, I have to put pen to paper and even then I'm not guaranteed a result.

I have heard of bridging routers but I don't see why I should have to do this.

Netgear support (very good and open 24/7) can't help or get involved in any way because Sky won't release the information to enable the router switchover.

Does anyone know a way around this problem?

TIA.

Paul.

 

[LTD]

Read here

Using Your Own Router on Sky Broadband | Philip Nicosia

and here

http://www.philipnicosia.com/2006/10/03/sky-broadband-username-and-password/

Never tried it but you never know ......

 

[merc07]

I set up my old broadband router to work on sky - I need a backup in case the sky box ever failed. I have the Sagem sky box and an old belkin broadband router.

As on the previous reply, you just need to get your username and password.

Cheers
Adam

 

[gaz_l]

I've been considering Sky as an ISP but this has put me right off.

My ISP will provide a router if you sign up for 12 months, but if you want to use your own, no problem - they just won't offer technical support for it. Fine by me, I know how to set up a router..

Ringway, is the antenna(e) removeable? If so, you can get a gain antenna from these people for a few quid - Wireless 2.4GHz indoor antenna. Strictly speaking, you shouldn't do this as you will then be emitting more power than you are allowed to, but the chances of getting caught are infinitesimally small and it may give you the little extra range you need.

The other way around it would be to switch off the wireless in the Sky router and plug a wireless access point into one of the ports - not a cheap solution, but a possible way round.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[flango]

I'm with Sky and the service quality of signal is brilliant best ISP I have ever used. My signal with the netgear router works on wifi at the bottom of my garden over 50m away. There were some problems with faulty routers which I had, Sky simply replaced it and the new router has performed flawlessly for over a year, think this could be a similar issue as I first had.

 

[GrahamC230K]

A shame they insist you use their router (info in link above noted) as this is partly what has prevented me from using their services.

 

[ringway]

I'm with Sky and the service quality of signal is brilliant best ISP I have ever used. My signal with the netgear router works on wifi at the bottom of my garden over 50m away. There were some problems with faulty routers which I had, Sky simply replaced it and the new router has performed flawlessly for over a year, think this could be a similar issue as I first had.

Mmm.. Makes me think.. When I got the black Sagem router from Sky I did call them to say it didn't look brand-spanking new.

Maybe I've got a duffer? What was the serial number on YOURS!


I did find this last night but I think I'll give it a miss - I could make a real mess of it.

Cheers,

Paul.

 

[flango]

Mmm.. Makes me think.. When I got the black Sagem router from Sky I did call them to say it didn't look brand-spanking new.

Maybe I've got a duffer? What was the serial number on YOURS!


I did find this last night but I think I'll give it a miss - I could make a real mess of it.

Cheers,

Paul.

Mines a netgear router that Sky supplied a nice shiny white new one

 

[ringway]

Mines a netgear router that Sky supplied a nice shiny white new one

Maybe the Sagem one is inferior kit then?

I'll give Sky another call and see if I can get a Netgear router.

Thanks Ian.

 

[moonloops]

I was on sky broadband but had the worse service imaginable - sometimes being off the internet for 5 days on end. I binned them and switched to metronet/plusnet and the line has been 100% and customer service is excellent.

I just don't understand why sky were so cr@p but I will not use them again due to inability to speak to a human about the simplest of issues!

 

[HughJarse]

Ive used my own router with sky for 3 years now.

The reason they make you use theirs is simple... Its because they set it up for you before its sent and yo ujust have to plug it in. Also when you ring them with an error, they only need to be trained in one device.

They can send you new firmware if needed etc etc.

However 3 years is a long time for them not to complain - and they dont!

You have to remember they want your trade!

Its also very easy to extract your username and password from the one they send.

 

[crockers]

With the netgear - what is yout MTU setting - I have one with AOL and they made me change mine from 1498 (the default) to 1400....so maybe Sky has their own setting ..

Perhaps someone on sky can go into their netgear and list their setting on here for you.

 

[ringway]

With the netgear - what is yout MTU setting - I have one with AOL and they made me change mine from 1498 (the default) to 1400....so maybe Sky has their own setting ..

Perhaps someone on sky can go into their netgear and list their setting on here for you.

Thanks Graham.

I'm waiting to see if I can have their permission to use my own Netgear but I'll call Sky and ask about the MTU setting. That may be all that is needed to remedy the reception problem.

 

[HughJarse]

Thanks Graham.

I'm waiting to see if I can have their permission to use my own Netgear but I'll call Sky and ask about the MTU setting. That may be all that is needed to remedy the reception problem.

Your MTU is 1498.

The better figures you need are your line attenuation, and noise level. These you can find on your router.

Now there are a couple of tricks with ADSl that you can do. Apart from undoing your ring wire ( look at my link above ), one good trick is to restart your router at about 6:30 at night and then never turn it off. Routers aren't meant to be turned on and off and they have a noise leveller. SO... if you turn it on at a noisy time of night ( noise on phone line not your neighbours having a barney!) your router will set itself so it can handle a noisy line. If you turn it on at say 10 in the morning, it sets itself up for that noise level, thus at 6:30 when it gets noisy, it doesn't handle it well and receives more errors and thus slows down.

Hope that may help a little.