Can You Set Your Sky Hub Modem to Bridge Mode? If you have a Sky Hub Modem and you wish to add an additional WiFi router into the mix, then you are probably wondering about how to sort it out. Sky publishes no bridge mode setting for its hubs, so the job has to be done another way.
We have compiled some useful information about getting that set up for you, which will save you a lot of time, even though these are intended as work arounds to get similar functionality.
Setting up your Sky router doesn't have to be a daunting task, and we compiled a few things for you to try in order to just that. If this is what you are after then read on.
Sky Hub Bridge Mode
Key Takeaways
- Sky documents no bridge or modem-only setting for any of its hubs, and years of consistent customer reports say the same.
- Sky has never explained the absence, so focus on the connection instead: try plain automatic DHCP into the ONT first and add a DHCP Option 61 client ID only if that fails.
- You'll learn to achieve similar results using Double NAT, where a second router sits behind the Sky Hub to create its own network.
- We walk you through disabling the Sky Hub's built-in WiFi via the 192.168.0.1 admin panel, including turning off both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
- The practical fix is to enable bridge mode on your own WiFi router instead and link it to the Sky Hub's Ethernet port with a cable.
Sky Hub Modem Mode
If you have been searching for how to configure an additional WiFi router to start communicating with your existing Sky router then you are in luck, but we have some bad new, followed by good news.
The bad news is that Sky Hubs are unlike Virgin Media routers on this point. Sky documents no bridge or modem-only setting on any of its hubs.
This means that if you wanted to put your Sky router into Bridge Mode, there is no published setting to switch on. This is not great news, but don’t give up just yet.
With Sky being one of the most popular providers in the UK, it has a couple of different configurations that are compatible with third-party WiFi routers.
If you are weighing up whether to bother at all, our guide to using your own router with any UK ISP sets out where Sky sits among the providers; some document the whole process, while Sky publishes the least about it.
Understanding your Sky setup is the first step. Plenty of providers document a bridge or modem-only mode on their own kit.
Sky documents none.
What the connection does need is DHCP rather than the PPPoE username and password most UK providers use. On some Sky lines the router also has to send a DHCP Option 61 client ID before the link comes up, and on others it does not.
Not every WiFi router carries an Option 61 field, so the sensible order is to try plain automatic DHCP first and only reach for that setting if the line refuses to connect. All of this covers Sky UK home broadband; Sky Ireland signs in over PPPoE with VLAN 10 instead.
With that being said, we need some good news. Here it is, we have a brief explanation of the most common ways to set up your additional WiF router with your Sky router.
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Sky Hub Modem Only
As we said, Sky documents no ‘Modem Only’ mode for sky hubs, but there are many ways to do the same thing.
These are the easiest steps to follow:
Use Double NAT
Don’t panic! Setting up a Double NAT on a Sky router is not hard at all.
By using double NAT, two separate private networks are created when one router is connected behind another router.
However, it may cause issues when playing online games, browsing secure sites with SSL, and opening a specific service port, but this is not always the case.
These knock-on effects come from running two routers in series; we explain the trade-offs and the cleaner alternatives in what double NAT is and how to fix it so you know what to expect before you commit.
Each set up is different, so you will need to experiment with your settings if you come across any issues when getting this configured with your Sky router.
Disable Your Sky Router’s built-in WiFi
The only thing you need to do is connect the WiFi router to the existing Sky Hub and set up your WiFi network.
Most modern WiFi routers such as the Netgear R6260 that we covered here come with their own app for your iPhone or Android device.
To avoid unwanted interference, you have to turn off the Wi-Fi in your Sky Hub as soon as this is completed. Your Sky router has a few additional requirements that it needs to have in place for this to work, so be sure to read on and see what is needed next.
To disable your WiFi, all you need to do is follow these 3 easy steps below:
- Ensure that you have access to your home broadband network, preferably with an Ethernet cable. This is necessary because you will lose connection to your Sky Router if you are connected to the WiFi when you disable to WiFi. (Think about it as sawing through the tree branch that you are sitting on)
- In your browser, type 192.168.0.1 and hit enter. (If your IP address on your router is different or has been changed from the default then enter that in instead)
- Enter the following details when you see the sign in page:
Login with username: admin
Your WIFI password or sky (case sensitive)
Login to your account and select the Wireless section of your admin panel. Next, you will need to disable the hub's wireless signal.
Goodbye shoddy old WiFi! But we can’t rest yet, there are a few more important steps to complete on your Sky router before the job is done.
Setting up your WiFi router in Bridge mode
For this part you will need to log into your wireless router and make the appropriate changes to bridge mode.
Each manufacturer is different, so be sure to consult your owner’s manual for a quick rundown on how to do it.
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How Do I Bridge My Sky Router?
As we have seen, there is no published bridge setting on the Sky Router itself. Instead, you will need to do something else, which is simple. All you need to do is put your WiFi router into bridge mode.
Neither modem-only mode nor bridge mode appears anywhere in Sky's documentation for the Sky Hubs. You can, however, enable bridge mode on the WiFi router and share the Ethernet port with the Sky Hub.
To do this you are going to need an Ethernet cable.
If you are on Sky full fibre, your line terminates at a separate Openreach ONT rather than the Sky Hub; in that situation you may be able to skip the Hub entirely and wire your own router straight to the box. Start with the router set to plain automatic DHCP, and only add a DHCP Option 61 client ID if the connection will not come up. We cover that exact path in connecting your own router to an Openreach ONT.
Does Sky Hub Have Bridge Mode?
Sky documents none. Its hub settings help, and the setup guides for the Sky Q Hub, the Sky Broadband Hub, the Sky Max Hub and the Gigafast+ Hub, are all silent on it, and customers have been reporting the same for years. But you have options to side step this issue, and as we have seen, it is very easy to do.
If you do not have a WiFi router that you would like to add into your existing setup, then take a look at the Netgear R6260 that we recommended for Virgin Media users.
It is packed full of features and it performs exceptionally well for it’s price point. You can read the full article here.
Can You Put A Sky Router Into Modem Mode?
Sky documents no Modem Mode on its routers, but you can disable the WiFi through the admin login.
Just be sure to disable both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks.
Many people only disable one of these and then wonder why their WiFi is still showing up on their smartphones and laptops.
What Is a Bridge Mode Router?
How does bridge mode work?
When a modem is put into bridge mode it stops doing the router jobs, so features such as NAT and DHCP are switched off and the connection passes straight through to the router sitting behind it.
This has some pros and cons, so you will want to experiment with your settings to find the right balance for your needs.
Conclusion
As we have seen, setting up an additional WiFi router is not as difficult as it seems. You just need to understand some basics before getting started.
You will also need some Ethernet cables and an additional WiFi router in order to complete the setup.
We hope that you have found this interesting and helpful, and as always, happy surfing until next time!
Related guides: if a setting goes wrong you can always start fresh with our walkthrough on how to reset your router on every UK ISP, and for picking the right hardware to sit behind the Sky Hub see our roundup of the best mesh WiFi systems ranked by real user reviews or the best budget WiFi router under 100.