In my previous blog I talked about the reasons why you should ditch your isp router in this blog we will cover how to ditch your isp router.
The process can vary depending on your broadband provider and type.
Identifying Your broadband type to ditch your isp router
First off in order to ditch your isp router you need to establish what type of broadband you have ie do you have ADSL, VDSL, FTTP, Cable etc.
Best way to do this is to checkout our handy page here where all the broadband types are listed this should give you an idea as to what type you have you can also query this with your ISP to be sure.
Once you have established they type of broadband you have be it FTTP or 5G you next need to see how your current router connects to the internet and what settings are needed.
Most ISPs use one of the following ways to connect to the internet
- PPPoE, most common one found here in UK used by big providers such as BT (EE+Plusnet), Zen, IDnet, Aquiss etc.
- DHCP, next common one used by some big providers such as Sky and Virgin Media.
There will be some that don’t fit the norm but where there’s a will there’s a way!
Setup for FTTP based Broadband
Now becoming the standard FTTP which this site is all about is Full Fibre broadband where fibre comes all the way into your home.
Most FTTP installs involve a device called an ONT (Optical Network Terminator) <Pictured above> this device essentially converts the Fibre optic light signal into an electronic signal presented with an RJ45 network port.
If you have FTTP with an ONT you just need a router that has an RJ45 port for WAN which vast majority do now you will of course need one that supports the speed of the ONT and its best to future proof when you can.
ONT’s may come with just 1Gbps ports but increasingly come with 2.5GbE and above speed ports ready for multi gig broadband that said most can auto negotiate to a lower speed.
Once you connect the cable between you ONT and your routers WAN port you next need to configure the correct settings on your router to match your ISP’s settings.
As per the last section this will either be using PPPoE mode which will require the PPPoE username and password from your ISP.
With PPPoE some providers like Aquiss support RFC 4638 (jumbo frames for PPPoE) so it is also possible to adjust the MTU of your interface to 1508, eliminating the 8-byte overhead for PPP/PPPoE encapsulation on supported routers.
Most ISP’s will give you your PPPoE credentials when asked if they don’t then there are more advanced ways to find out your credentials but maybe at this point its better to switch to a different ISP that supports you using your own router.
The other method DHCP is usually more straight forward and just requires you setting your routers WAN mode to DHCP/Dynamic.
On some FTTP networks like City Fibre you may need to also set a VLAN ID for both PPPoE and DHCP agai your ISP’s should provide this info or a quick google of <ispname> use own router will usually point you in the right direction.
Sky is an odd one where they use DHCP but with require some addtional options and config.
They use DHCP option 61 with MER authentication which is not supported by all routers so if your with Sky do your research properly to choose a compatible router.
Saying that my realtives recently switched over from Plusnet to Sky and use a TPLink mesh WiFi system as their router that I setup for them.
This switched over seamlessly desptie still being set in PPPoE mode and with plusnets PPPoE credentials!
Switching over to the correct DHCP mode and it still works without having to set the Option 61 or MER auth so your milage may vary!
If your FTTP provider does not give you an ONT but instead the fibre goes straight into their router like Virgin Media does on their FTTP network then all is not lost.
In this case you can either try putting the ISP supplied router into a modem/bridge mode that switches off all the router functions and passes the internet though to your router or if that’s not possible like with Virgin Media or you want to eliminate the ISP router altogether then you may be able to use an SFP+ module to plug the fibre directly into your router.
This works for a number of providers including Virgin Media FTTP bypassing the Hub 5X read more on my blog here.
FTTC, G.Fast, ADSL
If your using a copper/part fibre based service like FTTC, G.Fast or ADSL then you will need to ensure you have a compatible router with a modem built in or a sperate modem.
With G.Fast you would usually have a Modem fitted by Openreach that you can then plug into your router.
For FTTC/ADSL many routers have built in modems for these or you can purchase an appropriate Modem to use with your own router.
Once the modem side is handled the setup is then the same as the FTTP section above with either PPPoE or DHCP for the WAN settings.
Mobile Broadband 4/5G
If your using a mobile broadband service on either 4G or 5G then you will need a router that is compatible with your network and standard with the correct mobile modem built in.
There are many options out there again do your research to pick the right one for your network and needs.
Alternatively you can opt to use your ISP’s 4/5G router and put it into Modem/Pass though mode or if that is not supported use double NAT to use your own router downstream this requires more work to setup and has disadvantages.
Fixed Wireless Access or FWA
If your using a Fixed Wireless Access or FWA broadband where you get your broadband wirelessly (not to be confused with 4/5G or satellite broabdand) then you will need to speak with your ISP about using your own router.
If they don’t offer any support and they are your only option then you may have to use the double NAT option where you plug your own router into the ISP router.
You will want to disable Wi-Fi, DHCP etc on the ISP’s router and then ensure the IP range you use on your router does not conflict with the one used on the ISP router.
A lot of FWA use an ariel that is then connected to a router if this is the case then try connecting the ariel RJ45 cable into your router and set to DHCP and it may well just pickup an address and work.
Satellite broadband incl Starlink
If your using a Satellite based broadband service like Starlink then your options may be limited and you may not be able to totally eliminate the ISP router.
Speak with your provider and or do a google search to see if its possible if not you will have to use the double NAT method descried in the last section.