Using 4 port Sky Router on Now Broadband - model SR203

[Hyper1]

I have been frustrated by my 2 port Now Broadband router. It is n't enough for my devices.

A friend was moving out, and they had a spare Sky Broadband router with 4 ports. 

I don't know why on this forum it was n't suggested this as an option, may be I could have bought it on eBay. 

If I do a straight replacement, will it automatically work? Do I need to change settings?

[RoyB]

@Hyper1 

No it won’t work automatically, and yes you will have to change settings, but which ones, and to what, NowTV will likely decline to tell you.

Though if you look at the threads on here about using a third party router, you may find the information you seek.

At least, though, you can be sure that you do have a router which can be configured for NowTV, which is not true for every router on the market.

Which is why my unvarying advice here is to get a £12 unmanaged 4-port ethernet switch from Curry’s, and just plug that into the existing NowTV router,

[Hyper1]

Is there any chance a link?   Struggling to find the right threads

I did connect the Sky router (SR203). It would not connect to the internet.

The internet light was orange.  I was able to log in to the router, I noticed it has picked up, what I assume is the connection speed (download speed 34000, upload 6000). However, I was unable to connect to the internet. So something more needs to be done.

The Now router, I currently have is the Now HUB 2. 

> Which is why my unvarying advice here is to get a £12 unmanaged 4-port ethernet switch from Curry’s, and just plug that into the existing NowTV router,

It is just more clutter and boxes and I am trying to avoid that. I want a wired connection.

I was going to switch over to another broadband, when my contract was over. However, I postponed that due to the pandemic, as I did n't want a new broadband provider coming into my home.

[Hyper1 · Accepted solution]

SUCCESS 😀

Yesterday, I tried a lot of things such as factory reset, the in-built diagnostic healing, tried pressing connect etc.. (none of which worked)

I knew it had picked up something because I could see the numbers such as 34000 kbps and 6800kbps, which were familiar numbers to me, as that is my regular speed. However, the  internet light was orange.

Today, I decide to try again. I did nothing, just kept going through all the menu option the Sky router, looking for any settings might may need changing. Out of nowhere it starting working.

In the next message, I am enclosing the logs.

[Hyper1]

Here are the logs from the router.

Jan  1 00:00:19 syslog: [    0.135000] brcmboard registered

Jan  1 00:00:22 syslog: [   22.149000] eth1 (Ext switch port: 1) (Logical Port: 9) Link UP 1000 mbps full duplex

Jan  1 00:00:24 syslog: [   23.826000] Line 0: xDSL link down

Jan  1 00:00:25 syslog: sky dhcpc client (v0.0.1) started

Jan  1 00:00:29 syslog: [   28.828000] Line 0: xDSL G.994 training

Jan  1 00:00:33 syslog: sky dhcpc client (v0.0.1) started

Jan  1 00:00:43 syslog: [   41.833000] Line 0: VDSL G.993 started

Jan  1 00:00:52 syslog: [   50.837000] Line 0: VDSL G.993 channel analysis

Jan  1 00:00:52 syslog: [   51.273000] Line 0: VDSL2 link up, Bearer 0, us=6863, ds=34900

Jan  1 00:00:52 syslog: [   51.273000] Line 0: VDSL2 link up, Bearer 1, us=0, ds=0

Jan  1 00:01:26 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:01:31 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:01:36 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:01:41 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:01:46 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:01:51 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:01:56 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:02:01 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:02:06 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:02:11 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:02:16 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:02:21 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY
:

. (same as above deleted. Every 5 seconds)

:

Jan  1 00:08:41 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:08:46 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:08:50 syslog: [  528.325000] Line 0: xDSL link down

Jan  1 00:08:51 syslog: DHCPC_STATE_REQUESTING no valid response received. Falling back to DHCPC_STATE_START_DISCOVERY

Jan  1 00:09:30 syslog: [  551.878000] Line 0: xDSL link down

Jan  1 00:09:30 syslog: [  554.878000] Line 0: xDSL G.994 training

Jan  1 00:09:30 syslog: [  567.878000] Line 0: VDSL G.993 started

Jan  1 00:10:15 syslog: [  569.878000] Line 0: xDSL link down

Jan  1 00:10:15 syslog: [  591.878000] Line 0: xDSL G.994 training

Jan  1 00:10:15 syslog: [  605.878000] Line 0: VDSL G.993 started

Jan  1 00:10:15 syslog: [  613.878000] Line 0: VDSL G.993 channel analysis

Jan  1 00:10:15 syslog: [  614.514000] Line 0: VDSL2 link up, Bearer 0, us=6867, ds=34997

Jan  1 00:10:15 syslog: [  614.514000] Line 0: VDSL2 link up, Bearer 1, us=0, ds=0

Jan  1 00:10:46 syslog: ptm0.1 - WAN link UP.

Jan  1 00:10:46 syslog: Received valid DHCP lease from server.  Connection UP.

Jan  1 00:10:46 syslog: Connection Up. SNO/MAC/IP/SWVER:       ---- [DELETED TEXT]

Jan  1 00:10:49 syslog: TR69: Connect to Production ACS

Jan  1 00:10:49 syslog: TR69: Connection to ACS Complete

Jan  1 00:10:50 syslog: TR69: Voice Profile configuration received

Jan  1 00:10:50 syslog: TR69: Voice Profile SIP configuration received

Jan  1 00:10:50 syslog: TR69: Close ACS Connection

Aug  9 00:28:11 syslog: Voice Disconnected

Aug  9 00:28:16 syslog: bind 0.0.0.0 - Address already in use

Aug  9 00:28:16 syslog: bind 0.0.0.0 - Address already in use

Aug  9 00:28:16 syslog: bind 0.0.0.0 - Address already in use

Aug  9 00:28:16 syslog: bind 0.0.0.0 - Address already in use

Aug  9 00:29:33 syslog: Send out NTP request to ntp1.isp.sky.com

Aug  9 00:29:33 syslog: Time has been set from ntp1.isp.sky.com

Aug 11 01:29:34 syslog: Received NTP Sync Reply from ntp1.isp.sky.com

I knew I had internet as soon as I saw NTP in the logs.

NTP = Network Time Protocol. That entry could only have happened in the router was connected to the internet. Checked my browser and everything is okay!. 

According to the logs, it has taken about 10 minutes for things to be re-established.

The solution is basically do nothing.

[Anonymous User]

Hi there @Hyper1, searching for a solution to my problem and came across your thread.

I too have acquired a 2nd hand Sky sr203 router off eBay and did a factory reset on this and swapped it over for my now router 2 as the WiFi is woeful.

I waited for about 10 mins like you said and all the lights eventually went green, success! or so I thought .....

Basically the WiFi kept dropping off every few minutes after this over a period of about 40 mins and in the end I gave up and swapped back in the original now router.

I want to try again but just wanted to check if there are any other steps or changes I need to make? Has yours worked 'just as it should' since you made the swap or have you experienced any intermittent drops too?

Would the sky broadband shield be active or have anything to do with it and if so how would I disable this as a non sky customer?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙂

[Hyper1]

I have just read your message, as I don't log into it.

I can't remember what happened, but I too switched back. May be a PC security issue.