Wifi Speeds with Big Pipe.

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Wifi Speeds with Big Pipe.

NastyNoble

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#191225 28-Jan-2016 10:19

So after being poorly managed by Spark with my UFB install (took about 6 months from the first appointment before I actually got UFB working) I would rather pay my ETF and go to a better/cheaper option. Someone mentioned Big Spark, but I then found out they are actually Spark, but at a reduced rate. I can only run my computer and TV via wifi since they couldn't use my existing Cat 5 ran through out my house.

Currently on wifi I am getting about 45mb download instead of 100mb (I've tried in the morning and evenings). I know it's just an approximate speed up to 100mb promised, but I would think on wifi it would be any where from 75-90 via wifi. I assume if I was to go with Big Pipe it would be the same as what I get on Spark. Is this the case.

I probably would rather go to Orcon or 2 Degrees because it appears that they have the best performance, but they don't allow you to use your own modem. Any thoughts?

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#1480512 28-Jan-2016 10:22

You ISP has no influence over your Wifi performance.

Wifi performance is purely influenced by your environment and your Wireless AP / Router, Changing ISPs won't do much with the exception some ISPs will give you a new router.

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sbiddle

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#1480513 28-Jan-2016 10:24

WiFi speed is determined by your environment and the characteristics of WiFi. Your ISP has no affect on this and changing ISP won't make this change.

45Mbps is a perfectly normal speed for WiFi.

kodiaknz

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#1480515 28-Jan-2016 10:26

You will need dual band WiFi to even think of getting close to 100Mb/s.

Also older modems/routers/firewalls may not even support 100Mb/s of throughput so check the spec of that too.

tdgeek

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#1480519 28-Jan-2016 10:27

A few corrections

Spark doesn't install fibre, the local fibre company does

The Installer isn't there to setup your home network, but you can connect your ethernet to the router LAN ports no problem

Bigpipe doesn't do wifi, that a shome network matter

I'd run ethernet from laptop/PC to the router to check the fibre speed

sbiddle

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#1480521 28-Jan-2016 10:28

kodiaknz:

You will need dual band WiFi to even think of getting close to 100Mb/s.

Also older modems/routers/firewalls may not even support 100Mb/s of throughput so check the spec of that too.

And more importantly hardware that supports 5GHz, or 5GHz 802.11ac if you want to guarantee 100Mbps. If the TV, laptop, tablets or phone are low end devices or any more than a year or so old they probably won't support 5GHz so upgrading will be of absolutely no benefit.

kodiaknz

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#1480523 28-Jan-2016 10:38

sbiddle:

kodiaknz:

You will need dual band WiFi to even think of getting close to 100Mb/s.

Also older modems/routers/firewalls may not even support 100Mb/s of throughput so check the spec of that too.

And more importantly hardware that supports 5GHz, or 5GHz 802.11ac if you want to guarantee 100Mbps. If the TV, laptop, tablets or phone are low end devices or any more than a year or so old they probably won't support 5GHz so upgrading will be of absolutely no benefit.

Yes of course, that's implicit. But I should have explained that.

People need to get over the idea of UFB circuits and "100Mb/s+" being something that is useful to a single user/device. It's not. Where 100Mb/s+ circuits come into their own is for multiple users (obviously as discussed above your network needs to be built to support it). It allows you to stream Netflix, someone else to watch TVNZ on demand, another person on youtube, and have a download or update going in the background, and streaming radio, all simultaneously with no problems to the streams.

EDIT: clarity

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#1480528 28-Jan-2016 10:43

NastyNoble:

Someone mentioned Big Spark, but I then found out they are actually Spark, but at a reduced rate.

Just for some clarity Big Pipe (I saw you mentioned it correctly in the subject so the Big Spark is obviously just a typo!) is not actually Spark. Big Pipe is owned by Spark Ventures (who are owned by Spark) but is a completely separate network from Spark and shares nothing in common with them. This is different from somebody such as Skinny (also part of Spark Ventures) that just leverages the Spark mobile network.

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jonb

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#1480543 28-Jan-2016 11:01

Spark are very competitive for UFB offerings, I've just moved from the 30/10 plan to 100/20. With the Spark supplied wi-fi router I get around 60/20 over n-wifi when in the same room, and 93/20 when connected with network cable direct to the router. As the others with more knowledge than me say above, that is normal.

This is a speedtest sat next to the hg630b router over wi-fi:

There is nothing to stop you using your existing Cat5 network, something like this diagram:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=154813

Instead of spending the money on terminating the contract early, have a look at a decent ac dual band router, if your other devices support ac wifi. Or Dual Band n wifi, which the stock Spark HG630b router does not support.

BigPipeNZ

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#1480545 28-Jan-2016 11:05

Since this is in the Bigpipe forum, I'll post a response here from us, although basically I'm re-iterating what everyone else has said so far.

Your speed over wifi is primarily limited by 2 things:

1) your devices and their capabilities (that means both your router and also the laptop/phone/tablet you connect up to it - you can have the best router in the world, but if your mobile phone doesn't support higher grade wifi, then it makes no difference)

2) your 'environment' (stuff like how many other wifi networks are around and in use, how many devices connected concurrently, trying to use wifi through a brick wall etc etc)

45Mbps is pretty normal WiFi speed on a 100Mbps connection when using ISP supplied modem. Switching ISPs won't change this.

If you think you aren't getting the right speed, you need to test whether it is a wifi problem or network problem this by connecting up via ethernet and running a speedtest that way.

couple of other points:

a) Yes, we (Bigpipe) are owned by Spark, but our network is totally separate - so performance won't necessarily be the same. (but as per above, changing ISPs won't change your wifi speed)

b) For people who already have UFB installed (like you), we have a promo where you can get your first 2 months totally free when switching to Bigpipe using promo code UFBSWITCH. That should cover most/all of your early termination fee and/or give you some extra cash to get a better router (which may or may not give improved wifi performance). You can also keep using the Spark provided router which is probably fine.

bigpipe.co.nz
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NastyNoble

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#1480759 28-Jan-2016 16:56

I appreciate everyone's response.

You guys have made some valid points about 2.4 and 5.0 ghz routers increasing the speed. I plan on using a Ubiquiti Edge Router Lite as my router. Then I will use Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC PRO for my wifi. That should improve my speeds. Anyone use a setup similar to this?

Knowing that Big Pipe uses their own infrastructure makes me feel pretty good about switching over. However the Truenet ratings really don't show what BigPipe is doing compared to it's marketed speeds. Orcon and 2 Degrees seems to be pretty solid.

However, after reading the responses from this thread I feel comfortable switching and using my own router and knowing that it is a one time fee for static IP.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Jase2985

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#1480760 28-Jan-2016 16:59

NastyNoble:

Knowing that Big Pipe uses their own infrastructure makes me feel pretty good about switching over. However the Truenet ratings really don't show what BigPipe is doing compared to it's marketed speeds. Orcon and 2 Degrees seems to be pretty solid.

They probably don't have enough panellists yet to have enough useful data

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#1480767 28-Jan-2016 17:16

NastyNoble:<snip> You guys have made some valid points about 2.4 and 5.0 ghz routers increasing the speed. I plan on using a Ubiquiti Edge Router Lite as my router. Then I will use Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC PRO for my wifi. That should improve my speeds. Anyone use a setup similar to this? <snip>

I am on HFC cable 100/10 (fibre is unfortunately not available) and use a Ubiquiti Edge Router Lite router with a single Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC PRO for my wifi (the second-generation round one, not the truly dreadful first-generation square one).

I get up to 100 Mbps via wifi using wireless ac.
Wifi speeds with wireless n are slower, but up to 80Mbps, which is pretty good.

Some laptops can cope with wireless ac, some cannot.

Remember that the weakest link in the system will determine your wireless speed. Don't expect miracles

EDIT Ubiquiti devices are not easy to set up if you don't have experience with them.

Sideface

michaelmurfy

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#1480768 28-Jan-2016 17:17

NastyNoble:
I appreciate everyone's response.

You guys have made some valid points about 2.4 and 5.0 ghz routers increasing the speed. I plan on using a Ubiquiti Edge Router Lite as my router. Then I will use Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC PRO for my wifi. That should improve my speeds. Anyone use a setup similar to this?

Knowing that Big Pipe uses their own infrastructure makes me feel pretty good about switching over. However the Truenet ratings really don't show what BigPipe is doing compared to it's marketed speeds. Orcon and 2 Degrees seems to be pretty solid.

However, after reading the responses from this thread I feel comfortable switching and using my own router and knowing that it is a one time fee for static IP.

Thanks again for the feedback.

I'm personally using an Edgerouter Lite + Xclaim-XI3 (made by Ruckus) as the access point and am able to get the 200/200 my UFB plan gives me on almost every device (they're all newer devices). Your milage may vary but the Xclaim-XI3 is a bloody good access point and has a good price point too.

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Jase2985

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#1480799 28-Jan-2016 17:55

do you have suitable skills/knowledge to setup the Ubiquiti stuff?

richms

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#1480822 28-Jan-2016 18:15

Sideface:

I am on HFC cable 100/10 (fibre is unfortunately not available) and use a Ubiquiti Edge Router Lite router with a single Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC PRO for my wifi (the second-generation round one, not the truly dreadful first-generation square one).

The older N pro will give 170ish to my phone at my cousins place on 5GHz, so AC isnt really needed if the OP is happy with only buying a 100 meg internet connection.

Also I didnt know the AC Pro's were out yet. My guy hasnt had any feedback from snappernet about them coming in for his order :(

Richard rich.ms

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