Wireless Router

[Booty40]

I have sky wireless broadband, but i want to change my router, if i just bought one and plugged it straight in would it work???? If not what else do i have to do.
( While staying with the same provider). TIA

[ChuckFickens]

Nope it wouldn't work.

The minimum you'd need to setup are your username and password for internet access.

You should also setup the wireless security as most routers come unsecured as default.

[Aquariel]

As Chuck says, it won't work unless you have those details, although there are ways to extract the info from your current router if you look around various forums (it's probably not advisable to mention how to do it here).

But please note Sky actually say in their T&Cs that using a router other than the supplied one is against their terms and conditions, and they could cut you off, so it's at your own risk if you do.

If there's a specific reason you need a new one, contact Sky and explain - they may give you a better one free.

[Booty40]

Thanks for your help. Its just that when i go on youtube it buffers all the time and i wondered if it was my router?

[ChuckFickens]

Nope, it's almost certainly not your router.

Do a speed test here and post what your download speed is.

http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/

[Booty40]

My download speed is 333kbps

[Booty40]

Thats what the test said ????

[squarebear]

That is pretty slow. A new router will do nothing for you.

This is where they con you by saying up to 20Meg broadband. This covers everything from 0 to 20Mb!

[Booty40]

Did it again 332 kbps upload speed 304

[Booty40]

ok thanks.

[Aquariel]

A few common things you could try to determine if it is a router problem:

1. Instead of using it wirelessly, connect the computer directly to the router via the network cable to see if this makes a difference to your download speeds.

2. Connect the router to the main telephone socket, if it isn't already.

3. Try changing the telephone splitters, if you can get some spare ones.


Hopefully these will improve things - if not, hassle Sky as your speed is a lot slower than average.

[AlBags]

Yes ... slooooow.
He didn't actually say he was connecting wirelessly or cable .. but that is the next test. Connect the LAN cable (usually yellow) and see what you get then.
Sounds like quality/line/connection issue to me at the moment. Is this off an ADSL outlet/BT main telephone inlet? .. or an extention socket from it with a filter added?

[Booty40]

Thanks Aquariel i will try your suggestion, & thanks Albags too. ( I'm a bit thick what are the telephone splitters?)

[AlBags]

I think he meant filters. They rarely fail tho .. but you are better using an ADSL faceplate on the incoming master socket .. even if you have to run an extension from that adsl front outlet.

[ChuckFickens]

I'd disagree that the filters rarely fail, I've seen loads of the cheapo ones supplied by ISPs fail. totally agree that a NTE5 faceplate is a far better option though.