Sky and ASUS Routers – setup simplification help

[Ian]

Hi all,

I have a really odd set up that I’d like help simplifying.

I recently moved house, having 2 houses for a duration I have my old set up using a ASUS RT-AC3200. I’ve got all manner of fixed IP’s on it to about 15 devices, Linux, Citrix the lot and don’t really want to have to reconfigure them. I have multiple LANs configure using the visitors functionality but that’s easy to sort out.

The new house has an RT-AX88U with no real exciting set up Other than it has to act as an “Access Point” mode to a Sky Broadband router since sky make it painful to remove it from the chain apparently.

So I’ve moved into the new house bringing my RT-AC3200 with. I LOVE the QoS and traffic throttling capabilities so want that as the router that everything connects to (including the kids Wi-fi devices). This is where it gets interesting.

If I plug the RT-AC3200 into a netgear switch on the new network with the WAN being Ethernet, all works well, it just annoyingly is on a different subnet and I’ll have to re-route a load of cabling. If I plug in the RT-AC3200 into the RT-AX88U directly it keeps dropping the WAN saying the DHCP Server does not function correctly :( I could move all of this into one big cupboard and have a ridiculously complicated set up, or…..

1. Buy ANOTHER router ADSL for Sky and work out how to replace the sky freebie (any recommendations ? I like the bandwidth monitoring and throttling of ASUS). And the ASUS ones too. Oh and that means remapping all of the static IPs on 15 devices
2. Replace the RT-AX88U with the RT-AC3200 Change it to an access point and lose all the QoS I like :( Keeping the static IP’s though.
3. AOIdeas ?

My broadband is 6Mbps down, 0.5Mbps up, hence why I need to monitor what’s going on, as I work from home a lot too. In addition I also have to use 4G for video conferencing.

Thanks in advance

Ian

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[UK Sentinel]

Hi Ian, nice little conundrum, firstly can I ask why connection is so low, are you located where there is no other / faster options ?

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[Ian]

Near Colchester, this is the fastest option I can currently get, old copper wires with FTC, one day they will fibre it up to the house but I might not live that long.

 

 

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[UK Sentinel]

Ian wrote:

Near Colchester, this is the fastest option I can currently get, old copper wires with FTC, one day they will fibre it up to the house but I might not live that long.

Bad luck, so you are on ADSL, just need to know the basics before going forward as a new modem may be a good way forward for your sky connection

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[UK Sentinel]

your RT-AC3200 is a dual core 1 GHz processor, the RT-AX88U is a quad core 1.8 GHz processor with wifi 6 standard, so a little more future proof.

Also, try this link to so what synch speeds are available in your area –

https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

https://www.sky.com/shop/choose/add-broadband/product-selection?irct=BBSpeeds-Hero-swcb

My thoughts:

As you connection has a low synch rate/speed, I would opt for a Broadcom modem as they synch higher than other modem chipsets, something like a BT HG612 from Ebay for around £20 if you are using ADSL etc…..

If there is a faster isp service/package available, the the DrayTeK 130 modem and is a good choice at higher speeds and it shows line stats etc,, (alas not Broadcom DSL chipset)

Then use the ASUS RT-AX88U set up to run on Sky credentials (easily done) and then have the RT-AC3200 as a access point or use AiMesh etc. (should work OK)

Some re-configuration required, but a good use of the kit you have and removes the Sky router which is far from ideal

is the QoS for the RT-AC3200 and AX88U that different, if they are I assume this is just because the firmware for the AX88U is less mature ?

 

There is also another firmware suitable for ASUS routers called ASUSWRT-Merlin, and is worth a look – https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/   as this will enable the use of  SKY MER DHCP option 61 (MER) if you are using PPPoE etc.

A lot to consider

 

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