New Spark Futura Modem upload issues on 4g

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sigod

32 posts

Geek

#320078 3-Jul-2025 11:47

Hi,

I just got a Futura modem on Everday Wireless and downloads are fine (40mbps - 250mbps depending on the device and the band) but uploads have been limiting to 10mbps on both 2.4 and 5Ghz wifi across all devices. If i restart the modem the uploads return to normal 40-50mbps for a few hours and then return to 10mbps. I don't think it is traffic shaping or why would it reset after rebooting?

My old huawei b315s was 40 up 40 down solid before this.

If I decided to just go back to the old router would i be able to put the sim from this router in the old one or would I need to get a new sim for the old one. On the plus side the 2.4 reception is better and allowing higher download speeds on a pci wifi card with antennas (up to 100mbps on 2.4)

Thanks

(Just as I posted that i noticed my internet cut out for a second and then it reconnected and now its giving 27mbps upload.) It's like someone from spark read this and reset the connection. Strange

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32 posts

Geek

#3389522 3-Jul-2025 20:58

The disconnect happened when doing a speed test. I'm pretty sure it caused it. I checked later in the day and the upload speeds were low again.

quickymart

13932 posts

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#3389526 3-Jul-2025 21:19

Query, do you only have wireless where you are? Is fibre not available?

sigod

32 posts

Geek

#3389693 4-Jul-2025 19:28

Yeah I do, just saving some money on a cheaper plan.

RunningMan

8954 posts

Uber Geek

#3389694 4-Jul-2025 19:36

Can you move the modem to another location? Other side of the building may connect to a different cell site and give different results.

sigod

32 posts

Geek

#3389697 4-Jul-2025 20:25

I think it's sorted now anyway thanks, currently getting 54 up and it has been like it all day.

sigod

32 posts

Geek

#3391776 7-Jul-2025 22:25

This router disconnects multiple devices after a few days. My phone reset its WiFi and Internet worked again, but my pc pci wifi card stayed connected to WiFi but lost Internet until I manually disconnected and reconnected. Upload speeds are still 10mbps after router reboots and may improve later. Also the router lost settings after one of its reboots. I'm starting to get pissed off.

michaelmurfy

meow
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#3391780 8-Jul-2025 00:19

sigod: Yeah I do, just saving some money on a cheaper plan.

So many ISP's offer cheaper plans for UFB - for example, One NZ offers "Fibre Starter" for $65/mo that has 100Mbit down, 20Mbit up. 2degrees offer a similar plan for the same price bracket or Quic offer a plan for $60/mo if you bring your own router (or purchase one from them: https://www.quic.nz/product/gwn7062e-wifi-6-router/ )

If you've got a community services card or are eligible via their website Vetta also do "Local Linkup" that'll give you 100/20Mbit broadband with a free connection and router for $26.00/mo (or $30/mo for 500/100Mbit) - https://www.vetta.online/local-linkup/

There are solutions for those who want UFB connectivity these days and I think if you've got UFB then you're better to use that over 4G as it'll provide a far more consistent connection.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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quickymart

13932 posts

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#3391798 8-Jul-2025 09:58

michaelmurfy:

sigod: Yeah I do, just saving some money on a cheaper plan.

So many ISP's offer cheaper plans for UFB - for example, One NZ offers "Fibre Starter" for $65/mo that has 100Mbit down, 20Mbit up. 2degrees offer a similar plan for the same price bracket or Quic offer a plan for $60/mo if you bring your own router (or purchase one from them: https://www.quic.nz/product/gwn7062e-wifi-6-router/ )

If you've got a community services card or are eligible via their website Vetta also do "Local Linkup" that'll give you 100/20Mbit broadband with a free connection and router for $26.00/mo (or $30/mo for 500/100Mbit) - https://www.vetta.online/local-linkup/

There are solutions for those who want UFB connectivity these days and I think if you've got UFB then you're better to use that over 4G as it'll provide a far more consistent connection.

Agreed, I just checked Spark's wireless plans and you could get a fibre plan for not much more. Also, reliability.

catspyjamas

188 posts

Master Geek

#3392182 8-Jul-2025 22:58

sigod:

This router disconnects multiple devices after a few days. My phone reset its WiFi and Internet worked again, but my pc pci wifi card stayed connected to WiFi but lost Internet until I manually disconnected and reconnected. Upload speeds are still 10mbps after router reboots and may improve later. Also the router lost settings after one of its reboots. I'm starting to get pissed off.

Extremely interresting. I was supplied with a Spark Futura modem after a hardware fault developed in my Spark Modem 2 (where lights failed to illuminate even though everything worked). On the positive side the range is excellent - it can reach way further down the house than the SSM2. However it cannot cope with more than one ethernet cable running at a time (it has 4 LAN ports & 1 WAN/fibre). It will revert to wifi on any machine running via ethernet anywhere between 30mins & 2hrs later - the modem has to be rebooted to fix it (rebooting devices doesnt work), & then it will do the same thing 30mins to 2hrs later. Also it drops internet connection 3-4 times a week - the lights all look correct & my devices show connected, but there is no internet. This is also solved by a reboot of the modem. My Smart Modem 2 & previous Huawei B618 had no such issues - they never dropped out (other than the brief netwoork initiated drop that is normal every 24hrs - usually between 2am & 4am). I could also use all ethernet ports without any issues. I could also get way better download speeds with those modems, though in pratice I haven't noticed an increase in buffering with the Futura in spite of download speeds only being between 60-75% of the Spark Smart Modem 2, & 50-60% of the Huawei B618. Upload speeds are about the same. These are back to back tests with the modems placed in the same spot & tested on the same devices.

I have an open ticket about this modem with Spark from around 3 weeks ago, but they never followed up with me. The ethernet issue is my main annoyance, the other things I can live with. Was going to follow up with them ask for a replacement, but now wondering if this is just what these modems are like.... Else I could just go back to my SSM2 with broken lights.

(And before anyone asks, fibre not an option just yet, it's a long story).

fe31nz

1229 posts

Uber Geek

#3392236 9-Jul-2025 00:19

catspyjamas:

(other than the brief netwoork initiated drop that is normal every 24hrs - usually between 2am & 4am).

I have never heard of a network doing this unless it is wrongly provisioned or the router is misconfigured. On fibre, the network usually stays up for months or years unless maintenance needs to be done or something gets damaged.

Talkiet

4792 posts

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#3392314 9-Jul-2025 11:18

fe31nz:

catspyjamas:

(other than the brief netwoork initiated drop that is normal every 24hrs - usually between 2am & 4am).

I have never heard of a network doing this unless it is wrongly provisioned or the router is misconfigured. On fibre, the network usually stays up for months or years unless maintenance needs to be done or something gets damaged.

On FWA, this momentary drop every 24 hours is normal.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

catspyjamas

188 posts

Master Geek

#3392396 9-Jul-2025 14:13

Talkiet:

On FWA, this momentary drop every 24 hours is normal.

Cheers - N

Indeed it is normal. If we have a power cut during the day, I deliberately turn my modems off/on when I get up in the middle of the night so the 24hrs drop happens when in the wee small hours.

The problems I'm having with the Futura are not that.

sigod

32 posts

Geek

#3393717 13-Jul-2025 23:49

I think i've figured out what is happening and it's not on my side.

[ Your Router ]
|
| (Event A: The Router's Daily Timer)
| - Configured to check in once every 24 hours.
|
V
[ The ISP's ACS System ]
|
| (1. The Flawed Handshake)
| - Router tries to contact the server at 12:00 PM NZST.
| - The specific server it tries to connect to is in a scheduled maintenance window.
| - (BUG #1: Lack of Load Balancer/DNS Fallback) The connection fails, logging the "Inform Fail" error.
|
V
[ Your Router's Ongoing State ]
|
| (Event B: The Random Request)
| - At a random time later in the day, the server-initiated connection request arrives.
|
V
[ A Server in the Farm ]
|
| (2. Successful Connection)
| - Your router successfully connects to an active server.
|
V
[ The Flawed Provisioning Script ]
|
| (3. The Two-Part Bug)
| - The script runs on the server.
| - It contains two separate errors:
|
+-----> (BUG #2: Mis-provisioning)
| - The script sets the router's upload speed to 1/4 of what it should be.
|
+-----> (BUG #3: Forced Disconnect)
- The script forces a network session reset.
- This is why you get disconnected.

And this:

+-------------------------------------------------+
| |
| [ Your Router's Schedule ] |
| -------------------------- |
| - Daily Inform (Scheduled) |
| - Connection Request (Random) |
| |
+--------------------------|----------------------+
|
V
+--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------+
| |
| [ THE ISP'S SERVER FARM ] |
| ------------------------- |
| |
| (The 12 PM "Inform Fail" Bug) |
| - Your router's daily check-in tries to connect. |
| - BUG #1: The server is temporarily unresponsive. |
| - Result: Connection Fails. |
| |
| (The Random "Connection Request" Bug) |
| - The server sends a command to your router. |
| |
| +------> [ Path A: The Good Server ] <-----------------------------+ |
| | - Has the correct provisioning scripts. | |
| | - BUT... | |
| | - (BUG #2: The Disconnect) A systemic script runs | |
| | that forces your connection to drop. | |
| | - Result: Internet disconnects. | |
| +------> [ Path B: The Bad Server ] <-----------------------------+ |
| | - Has the incorrect provisioning scripts. | |
| | - AND... | |
| | - (BUG #2: The Disconnect) A systemic script runs | |
| | that forces your connection to drop. | |
| | - (BUG #3: The Bad Speed) A separate script runs | |
| | that sets your upload speed incorrectly. | |
| | - Result: Internet disconnects AND speed is low. | |
| +----------------------------------------------------------------------+

I could be wrong just trying to figure it out.

nztim

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#3393727 14-Jul-2025 09:30

The toll on your time dealing with these issues, you might as well have just got fiber installed, the base home fiber starter is now 100/20 and price capped at $65 per month

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

sigod

32 posts

Geek

#3393738 14-Jul-2025 10:46

The spark $65 everyday wireless plan doesn't cap speeds like the entry level spark fibre plan does after 120gb (even though I know fibre is a more stable connection).

I could go on 2degrees fibre for $55 a month that has unlimited data. The thing is it's my family's connection and they have their phones on the same bill, but I could just leave their cell phones on it and cancel the voip landline (which isn't really needed anymore anyway) and internet and go over to 2degrees. That would solve the problem, but it seems like a systemic problem that needs to be fixed anyway.

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