OpenWrt with BT Homehub 5A router on Sky VDSL2/FTTC

Installing and Using OpenWrt Network and Wireless Configuration
1

I recently switched to Sky broadband from ADSL to VDSL2/FTTC , now using their factory supplied SKY SR203 router. I am trying to re-configure my existing BTHH5A router to work with SKY/VDSL2/FTTC. I seem to have made good progress, but am still unable to get a solid blue LED, broadband connection (No Internet).
Heres what I have done so far.

  1. Upgraded my BT HH5A router to OpenWrt 24.10.6
  2. Configured WAN Interface as below, to USE DHCP Option 61 with a dummy username/password as supplied on a similar thread.
    BT Homehub 5A with NowTV fibre

I instead used DHCP ClientID:
anything@skydsl|anything
616E797468696E6740736B7964736C7C616E797468696E67

Status
System
Hostname OpenWrt
Model BT Home Hub 5A
Architecture xRX200 rev 1.2
Target Platform lantiq/xrx200
Firmware Version OpenWrt 24.10.4 r28959-29397011cc / LuCI openwrt-24.10 branch 25.292.66247~75e41cb
Kernel Version 6.6.110
Local Time 2025-10-19 18:29:52
Uptime 1h 52m 24s
Load Average 0.01, 0.09, 0.13

From http://192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/luci/

root@OpenWrt:/etc/config# cat network

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

config interface 'loopback'
option device 'lo'
option proto 'static'
option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
option ula_prefix 'fd2b:3034:a402::/48'
option packet_steering '1'

config atm-bridge 'atm'
option vpi '1'
option vci '32'
option encaps 'llc'
option payload 'bridged'
option nameprefix 'dsl'

config dsl 'dsl'
option annex 'b'
option tone 'a'
option line_mode 'vdsl'
option ds_snr_offset '0'
option xfer_mode 'ptm'

config device
option name 'br-lan'
option type 'bridge'
list ports 'lan1'
list ports 'lan2'
list ports 'lan3'
list ports 'lan4'

config device
option name 'lan1'
option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config device
option name 'lan2'
option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config device
option name 'lan3'
option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config device
option name 'lan4'
option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config interface 'lan'
option device 'br-lan'
option proto 'static'
option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
option netmask '255.255.255.0'
option ip6assign '60'

config device
option name 'dsl0'
option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:47'

config interface 'wan'
option device 'dsl0'
option proto 'dhcp'
option clientid '616E797468696E6740736B7964736C7C616E797468696E67'

config interface 'wan6'
option device '@wan'
option proto 'dhcp'

I still dont get a solid blue "broadband b LED" status, as previously on this HH5A router. It flashes sporadically. Heres the system log:

Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.notice kernel: [ 0.000000] Linux version 6.6.110 (builder@buildhost) (mips-openwrt-linux-musl-gcc (OpenWrt GCC 13.3.0 r28959-29397011cc) 13.3.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.42) #0 SMP Sun Oct 19 16:37:45 2025
Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 0.000000] SoC: xRX200 rev 1.2
Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 0.000000] printk: bootconsole [early0] enabled
Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 0.000000] CPU0 revision is: 00019556 (MIPS 34Kc)
Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 0.000000] MIPS: machine is BT Home Hub 5A
Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 0.000000] Initrd not found or empty - disabling initrd
Sun Oct 19 18:42:01 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 0.000000] Detected 1 available secondary CPU(s)
............
Sun Oct 19 18:42:29 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 4 names
Sun Oct 19 18:42:29 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /tmp/hosts/odhcpd - 2 names
Sun Oct 19 18:42:29 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: read /etc/ethers - 0 addresses
Sun Oct 19 18:42:31 2025 daemon.warn odhcpd[1682]: No default route present, setting ra_lifetime to 0!
Sun Oct 19 18:42:34 2025 daemon.notice dsl-notify: Switching to TC-Layer EFM/PTM
Sun Oct 19 18:42:34 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 65.005897] Lantiq PTM driver, version 1.0.27, (c) 2001-2013 Lantiq Deutschland GmbH
Sun Oct 19 18:42:34 2025 kern.info kernel: [ 65.005897] PTM (E1) firmware version 2.16.0
Sun Oct 19 18:42:34 2025 kern.warn kernel: [ 65.016914] ifxmips_ptm: PTM init succeed
Sun Oct 19 18:42:34 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan' is enabled
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: DHCPDISCOVER(br-lan) 8c:dc:d4:d4:64:77
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: DHCPOFFER(br-lan) 192.168.1.173 8c:dc:d4:d4:64:77
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /etc/hosts - 12 names
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /tmp/hosts/dhcp.cfg01411c - 4 names
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq[1]: read /tmp/hosts/odhcpd - 2 names
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: read /etc/ethers - 0 addresses
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: DHCPREQUEST(br-lan) 192.168.1.173 8c:dc:d4:d4:64:77
Sun Oct 19 18:42:35 2025 daemon.info dnsmasq-dhcp[1]: DHCPACK(br-lan) 192.168.1.173 8c:dc:d4:d4:64:77 DESKTOP-PEQQQSJ
Sun Oct 19 18:42:40 2025 daemon.warn odhcpd[1682]: No default route present, setting ra_lifetime to 0!
Sun Oct 19 18:42:49 2025 daemon.err uhttpd[1853]: [info] luci: accepted login on / for root from 192.168.1.173
Sun Oct 19 18:43:25 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Network device 'dsl0' link is up
Sun Oct 19 18:43:25 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan' has link connectivity
Sun Oct 19 18:43:25 2025 daemon.notice netifd: Interface 'wan' is setting up now
Sun Oct 19 18:43:25 2025 kern.warn kernel: [ 115.567667] enter showtime
Sun Oct 19 18:43:25 2025 kern.warn kernel: [ 115.585102] enter showtime
Sun Oct 19 18:43:25 2025 daemon.notice netifd: wan (3290): udhcpc: started, v1.36.1
Sun Oct 19 18:43:26 2025 daemon.notice netifd: wan (3290): udhcpc: broadcasting discover
Sun Oct 19 18:43:29 2025 daemon.notice netifd: wan (3290): udhcpc: broadcasting discover
Sun Oct 19 18:43:32 2025 daemon.notice netifd: wan (3290): udhcpc: broadcasting discover

Can anybody help me and tell me what I am doing wrong?

2

The uhdcpc@ broadcast discover seems to indicate DHCP client is searching for a DHCP server to assign an IP address? Correct?
I also tried mirrorring the MAC address of the sr203 router, but didnt help. Maybe it does need a specific username/password?

3

For better readability, please use the </> button on top of the message window when you post cli output.

5

Got it working! Followed step3 on the openwrt page (dsl0.101) for VLAN ID 101:

For VDSL (FTTC):

  1. Go to LuCI → Network → Interfaces.

  2. Under the 'DSL' tab, set 'Annex' to 'ADSL (all variants) Annex A/L/M + VDSL2 Annex A/B/C', set 'tone' to 'A43C + J43 + A43', set 'Encapsulation mode' to 'PTM/EFM (Packet Transfer Mode)', and set 'DSL line mode' to 'VDSL'.

  3. Under the 'Interfaces' tab, Edit the 'wan' interface and, for the 'Device' drop-down, select the last item ('custom') and type in 'dsl0.101' (without quote marks). This is a notation shorthand to place a VLAN on a device without previously declaring the VLAN. VLAN 101 is used for BT Openreach network compatibility.

6 
BusyBox v1.36.1 (2025-10-19 16:37:45 UTC) built-in shell (ash)

  _______                     ________        __
 |       |.-----.-----.-----.|  |  |  |.----.|  |_
 |   -   ||  _  |  -__|     ||  |  |  ||   _||   _|
 |_______||   __|_____|__|__||________||__|  |____|
          |__| W I R E L E S S   F R E E D O M
 -----------------------------------------------------
 OpenWrt 24.10.4, r28959-29397011cc
 -----------------------------------------------------
root@OpenWrt:~# cd /etc/config
root@OpenWrt:/etc/config# cat network

config interface 'loopback'
        option device 'lo'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
        option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
        option ula_prefix 'fd2b:3034:a402::/48'
        option packet_steering '1'

config atm-bridge 'atm'
        option vpi '1'
        option vci '32'
        option encaps 'llc'
        option payload 'bridged'
        option nameprefix 'dsl'

config dsl 'dsl'
        option annex 'b'
        option tone 'a'
        option line_mode 'vdsl'
        option ds_snr_offset '0'
        option xfer_mode 'ptm'

config device
        option name 'br-lan'
        option type 'bridge'
        list ports 'lan1'
        list ports 'lan2'
        list ports 'lan3'
        list ports 'lan4'

config device
        option name 'lan1'
        option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config device
        option name 'lan2'
        option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config device
        option name 'lan3'
        option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config device
        option name 'lan4'
        option macaddr 'a4:08:f5:9a:98:46'

config interface 'lan'
        option device 'br-lan'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
        option netmask '255.255.255.0'
        option ip6assign '60'

config device
        option name 'dsl0'
        option macaddr '6c:a0:b4:c9:28:22'

config interface 'wan'
        option device 'dsl0.101'
        option proto 'dhcp'
        option clientid '616E797468696E6740736B7964736C7C616E797468696E67'

config interface 'wan6'
        option device '@wan'
        option proto 'dhcp'
        option clientid '616E797468696E6740736B7964736C7C616E797468696E67'

root@OpenWrt:/etc/config#

The 'b' broadband light now flickers with sporadic activity (I know this LED is configurable),

Freedom at last from that buggy Sky SR203 router.