Replace Sky Hub SR102 with 3rd party router/modem

[Bunnman]

Hello All. This is my first ever post.
I have very recently taken Sky Fibre Unlimited and have retained the above Hub as I was already a Sky customer on Broadband Unlimited before. My worry is that everywhere I read the sky product gets a dreadful write up and I was considering changing it - yes I have looked at the T&C's and can see that this may not go down too well with sky.
I considered either a Billion BiPAC 8800AXL combined router and modem or a combination of a modem and a Billion 7800N, or a Billion 7800DXL.
The house has never had anything but sky installed and there is no modem present.
My 2 questions are:
1. which do you consider to be better the combined router/modem or the 2 separate units please?
2. I understand that I need to obtain the user/password combination from the sky hub and am confident I can achieve that having researched a bit on google re Wireshark etc, but can the BiPAC 8800AXL also be accessed in the same way as the single router in order to add the user/password ?
Thanks for any assistance and advice in advance

[sachinbadiani]

Hi Bunnman,

I faced the same decisions last week. My Sky Fibre Pro Unlimited went active today (25/02/2015) So here goes :

1) I've got the 8800axl to replace the SR102 router. Why? Cos I wanted the gigabit ports (to connect to my PC) , and the AC wireless speeds (as I've got laptop and apple iOs devices). So much easier to deal with one device - whilst I was waiting for the fibre to go active, I set up my wireless settings etc and to set up Chromecast and all devices around the house. And then in the meantime I was connecting via ADSL (easily explained in the manual supplied). To extend the wireless upstairs, I've set up the TP-LINK wireless access point (as well as having CAT6 cabling round the house). So no dead spots round the home or garden

2) If you go for the 8800axl - then remember to see this thread: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3012&start=10#wrap and in particular this post: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3012&start=10#p8965

That really helped me to set up and get going. Remember this step: Set the '802.1P Priority' to '0' and the '802.1Q VLAN ID' to 101

[Bunnman]

Hi sachinbadiani

Thank you very much for the response. Apologies for my delayed reply but I have been away.
You seem to have cracked the set up along with the thread "help".
I guess you had no problems with the extracting password and username process?
I have also been using the TP Links around the house for a while now with success How are you finding the range and speed since changeover.

KR's
Andy