Swapping the Sky hub for a router of your choice

Harry Deerpark

If you are a Sky broadband customer and want to use a different router other than the Sky hub, send me a private message and I'll send you instructions on how to extract the username and password you need to setup the router of your choosing. You put this password into your new router's configuration page. Usually, instructions on how to access your router's configuration come with the router.

2 days ago, I set mine up, it took about 2 hours to setup but my Internet has been running fine since - I'm back to my trusty Eircom-supplied ZyXel P-660HW-T1 v3 that allows me to control my firewall settings.

I believe Sky issues these hubs because they have a compulsory firewall that makes it a nuisance for programs like uTorrent, but it can also be a nuisance for other programs that don't involve peer-to-peer file-sharing that you use on your computer and require Internet access.

Please note that Sky do not support using a different router other than their routers and hub they supply - this means if you have an error with your Internet connection, Sky may refuse to assist you because you're not using their router/hub. You've been warned.

Padraig Mor

Harry Deerpark wrote: »

Please note that Sky don't not support using a different router other than their routers and hub they supply - this means if you have an error with your Internet connection, Sky may refuse to assist you because you're not using their router/hub. You've been warned.

Note also that their Terms and Conditions explicitly require you to use the Sky Hub to access their service.

Not that stopped me setting up a separate TP Link modem and Asus N900 router (spoofing the Sky Hub MAC address) yesterday.....;)

Boskowski

You could use the Sky Hub as pass-through, like a modem, and let the local routing be done by the router of your choice. That is if your own router has an ethernet wan port.
Then you have all the functionality your own equipment provides and still be within the terms & conditions.

As a sidenote I was a bit pissy with Sky when I learned about this requirement and even pissier when I asked Sky support 'why' and the agent I spoke to came up with some total bull story about encryption between the exchange and the router which only the Skyhub can handle.

Turns out in reality they just use a non-standard authentication method and put the Skyhub into their t&c's to make support for them easy.

But at the end of the day they still give me three times the speed eircom gives me for €15 less every month. Minor inconvenience so...

Padraig Mor

Boskowski wrote: »

You could use the Sky Hub as pass-through, like a modem, and let the local routing be done by the router of your choice. That is if your own router has an ethernet wan port..

Would that cause hassle if you're using port forwarding etc though?

Basq

Gonna give this a shot this weekend..

keno-daytrader

Basq wrote: »

Gonna give this a shot this weekend..

I followed the guide and Sky is working fine with my netgear router.

Joe Hart

Could you post these instructions up here.

Harry Deerpark

Joe Hart wrote: »

Could you post these instructions up here.

No, I'm mailing it to you because I always get infracted or banned for the silliest of things.

carzdark22

any chance you could let me know as well . sky switched me over before i got my hub and now have no internet for the last two days and have been told it will be sometime next week before i get it

Joe Hart

carzdark22 wrote: »

any chance you could let me know as well . sky switched me over before i got my hub and now have no internet for the last two days and have been told it will be sometime next week before i get it

I wouldn't hold yoru breath. I've been waiting 10 days for mine. Finally got a package in the post and its someone elses wireless hub for a sky box. So thats another 30 minutes on the phone and a week waiting for my order.

paul72

any chance of the instructions as i hate the sky hub would rather go back to my old Netopia, thanks mate

Harry Deerpark

paul72 wrote: »

any chance of the instructions as i hate the sky hub would rather go back to my old Netopia, thanks mate

Sent you a PM.

codie

Hi could you pm me too please,see does it make any difference to my internet speeds .Hopefully it will as I'm near throwing the whole out the window with my 1/2mb at eve/night.

iPhone.

Anyone got a link to these details online? would be a lot handier for everyone if it was located somewhere on a suitable and amenable forum or as a DL.

aindriu80

The Eircom router is crap. It wouldn't allow me to media share and would regularly require a restart.

pbarr

aindriu80 wrote: »

The Eircom router is crap. It wouldn't allow me to media share and would regularly require a restart.

Is this with the Zyxel or the Netopia modem?

Harry Deerpark

aindriu80 wrote: »

The Eircom router is crap. It wouldn't allow me to media share and would regularly require a restart.

What's media share and why did you have to restart it?

I don't I have restarted mine in over a week. What brand or model router is it because they have several? They even have different zyxel models because Eircom sent me out another one for no reason.

paul72

thanks mate i give it a shot over the weekend

aindriu80

pbarr wrote: »

Is this with the Zyxel or the Netopia modem?

This one

http://www.eircom.net/accessories/broadband/broadbandtab/zyxelp660/

What's media share and why did you have to restart it?

Basically in my phone settings I can share all contents of my phone to the network so my PS3, laptop or TV can pick up video, pictures and music.

I had to restart the modem fairly often even after contacting Eircom. Every few days I reckon. The modem felt a bit cheap to me but it was free when I signed up for Eircom.

aka_alex

Any chance of those instructions also. Need to check connection speed as from 12mb connection I get .6mb max. Am convinced its the hub that's the problem. Thanks.

jca

Could you pm me the details please. I would love to get back to my Netgear N router.

Padraig Mor

What's with all the cloak and dagger stuff? The instructions are here:
http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/extracting-sky-router-passwords/51163-how-get-username-password-sky-hub-sr101.html

It's not illegal, or even in violation of Sky's T&Cs, to extract the user name and password.

slyi

Great thanks helped a lot. Once I got the skydsl password using wireshark method. I then need to set my ADSL router (Netgear DGND3300v2) to use PPPoE with Multiplex:LLC,VPI:8,VCI:35 and it is working great.

ace.la

Hi, can you please send me details on swapping sky hub for my eircom router.

Thanks.

macker64

I would be much obliged if you could pm me these instructions also.

jca

Padraig Mor wrote: »

What's with all the cloak and dagger stuff? The instructions are here:
http://www.skyuser.co.uk/forum/extracting-sky-router-passwords/51163-how-get-username-password-sky-hub-sr101.html

It's not illegal, or even in violation of Sky's T&Cs, to extract the user name and password.

No need for pm. Just follow the instructions.

degsie

Old thread I know, but I am about to pull the trigger on http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TD-W8980-N600-Wireless-Gigabit/dp/B00BP0SASI to replace sky hub. So the only info I need is user/pass, PPPoE with Multiplex:LLC,VPI:8,VCI:35, is that it? I already have the user/pass.

Anybody else using a TP-Link?

TheDriver

i have one, replaced a Vodafone modem. Mighty yoke, great signal strength and constant connection when the old VF one needed a push every now and then

degsie

TheDriver wrote: »

i have one, replaced a Vodafone modem. Mighty yoke, great signal strength and constant connection when the old VF one needed a push every now and then

Are you using it with Sky?

iPhone.

degsie wrote: »

So the only info I need is user/pass, PPPoE with Multiplex:LLC,VPI:8,VCI:35, is that it? I already have the user/pass.

Anybody else using a TP-Link?

Not using the TP Link, using a Netgear router with Sky myself, but the settings you have listed are all you need. LLC8 VPI8 VCI35 and your extracted user and p/word.

degsie

iPhone. wrote: »

Not using the TP Link, using a Netgear router with Sky myself, but the settings you have listed are all you need. LLC8 VPI8 VCI35 and your extracted user and p/word.

Thanks for that. Have the TP-Link N600 working with Sky. Much more functionality now available, can change DNS, DDNS, set up a VPN, better parental control..... btw Argos are doing 25% off that TP-Link modem/router atm.

NomadicGray

Still able to send these details? This Sky router seems crud, wouldnt mind going back to the Zyxel one or just buying third party

degsie

Just use the supplied link posted earlier.

NomadicGray

degsie wrote: »

Just use the supplied link posted earlier.

Yeah I did that since, missed it first time. It doesnt give me the details though just "=w7.P", no idea why, made sure I was selecting it as printable text. Might try again tomorrow

byan8toim705qf

Can somebody PM the instructions for this. Thanks!

degsie

Ella Mealy Saxophone wrote: »

Can somebody PM the instructions for this. Thanks!

Why? Too lazy

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84191354&postcount=22

toby2111

Is this complicated /hard for non tech heads like me? My sky hub speeds are erratic even though I'm getting 17mg into the house. I've an old Eircom router that I might use. Also is it easy just to switch back to the sky hub if the eircom router is not much better?

degsie

toby2111 wrote: »

Also is it easy just to switch back to the sky hub if the eircom router is not much better?

Yes, no problem. In fact you would have to do this is you ever have to contact Sky support. They will not help troubleshoot if don't have a Sky hub connected.

P.S. The hardest part of the process is getting Sky username/password. Some guides on youtube should help, e.g...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvmn3xI77Os

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvmn3xI77Os

supersilver

okay i got my name and password, where in my eircom router do i put it?

degsie

supersilver wrote: »

okay i got my name and password, where in my eircom router do i put it?

Network settings > Broadband > Internet connection

drunkmonkey

Could anyone pm me the settings trying to set up a N900

HotSwap

Sorry for posting in an older thread, but it is exactly fitting the question that I have. Do you know will this technique still work with the Sky Hub / 100Mb Fiber Package that sky are offering today? I'm not a customer yet, but considering it if switching to a device of my choosing is not a painfull task.

Thanks!!

PAKNET

HotSwap wrote: »

Sorry for posting in an older thread, but it is exactly fitting the question that I have. Do you know will this technique still work with the Sky Hub / 100Mb Fiber Package that sky are offering today? I'm not a customer yet, but considering it if switching to a device of my choosing is not a painfull task.

Thanks!!

It will.

Was running that way on an F1000 up until very recently (switched to a different provider in recent weeks).

HotSwap

Do you know will I be able to use the calculator to generate the user/pass from the MAC or will I have to do some wireshark stuff?

PAKNET

HotSwap wrote: »

Do you know will I be able to use the calculator to generate the user/pass from the MAC or will I have to do some wireshark stuff?

I wiresharked it, can't say if the calculator will work.

Follow the video tutorial posted above and wiresharking it is very easy

HotSwap

Do you recommend a F1000? maybe I can use one of these and put it into bridge mode seeing as they are available cheep on adverts....

I was thinking more along the lines of getting something like the ASUS AC55U:

https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking/DSL-AC55U/

What do you think?

PAKNET

Nothing for or against the F1000 - only I had one lying spare

You need to make sure your modem supports OpenEir's Vectoring - there's a thread with some "tried and tested" modems that do support it:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057632871

The problem is not all modems that claim to support Vectoring will actually support OpenEir's implementation. You're entering trial and error territory buying one that someone hasn't already tested and verified works.

For example I have a Fritz!BOX 7430 which does claim to support vectoring but absolutely will not vector on my line (although Digiweb support do say there is a fix underway which is due to be implemented mid-March).

Richard tea

Not sure if I'm understanding the thread correctly. I have the white sky hub the last few years. Speeds of up to 70mbs are available in my area. The package I'm on allows for speeds up to 24mbs yet I can only manage 15mbs at best. From what I gather sky want to install a new point and sign up for another contract to avail of the speeds up to 70mbs. So basically could changing the modem/router allow me to at least achieve nearer the 24mb I should be on?

PAKNET

Richard tea wrote: »

Not sure if I'm understanding the thread correctly. I have the white sky hub the last few years. Speeds of up to 70mbs are available in my area. The package I'm on allows for speeds up to 24mbs yet I can only manage 15mbs at best. From what I gather sky want to install a new point and sign up for another contract to avail of the speeds up to 70mbs. So basically could changing the modem/router allow me to at least achieve nearer the 24mb I should be on?

The main reason for this thread and wanting to use your own modem is because the Sky supplied one is extremely locked down - but if there's nothing you need to or would like to do that isn't currently provided for by your sky modem then I wouldn't bother personally.

Re your speeds it sounds like you are on ADSL2+ but can be upgraded to VDSL2 ("Fibre").

If you call sky they'll handle the upgrade and ship you out a new modem.

Replacing the modem with one of your choosing won't in itself get you faster speeds because they must physically jumper your line into the nearest cabinet as part of the upgrade process.

SchrodingersCat

I was able to get by Bipac 7800N router to work on my sky ADSL connection using the following settings:

dijkm88

Hi all.

I have been searching and googling for the correct settings getting the SKY modem/router replaced for a different one.

The main reason is I need to forward ports, which are blocked by Sky's supplied modem/router, and setup a VPN connection. I work for the IT industry.. But I seem to not been able to get this working.. Hopefully someone here can help me..

My connection is sky Fibre, I get about 48 down and 20 up.. What should I do?

I have used packet capture to capture the username and password and the other information that was needed.. But still to no luck...