Wireless Nation modem

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ageorge

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#280104 26-Nov-2020 15:48

They have good plans for 4g, but their modems are tad expensive.

Does anyone know if I can use alternatives; for example a Vodafone B525 or are they totally different network?

The chaps at Wireless Nation say they can set up my account if they have the replacement modem sim number and IMEI number of the base unit/modem.

Regards,

Al.

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#2611274 26-Nov-2020 15:52

I am sure Wireless nation SIM cards will be TAC locked to a IMEI range of devices! So that SIM card will only work in a Wireless nation modem

Linux

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#2611275 26-Nov-2020 15:53

What price were you quoted for a modem?

ageorge

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#2611278 26-Nov-2020 15:56

Theyre $199, but not sure how long we will be using the service otherwise for example there are wireless nation modems on trademe some at a good price.

You are right, the sim is locked to the modem, but if an ex user wants to sell me their modem WN will transfer the account over (so they said).

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#2611279 26-Nov-2020 16:01

ageorge:

Theyre $199, but not sure how long we will be using the service otherwise for example there are wireless nation modems on trademe some at a good price.

You are right, the sim is locked to the modem, but if an ex user wants to sell me their modem WN will transfer the account over (so they said).

I am sure they are not SIM locked but TAC locked which is very different from SIM locked

ageorge

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#2611311 26-Nov-2020 17:46

As I understand it, Wireless Nation use Vodafone wireless. There is a Vodafone B525 Router, anyone know if this modem would also work with Wireless Nation?

coffeebaron

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#2611361 26-Nov-2020 19:49

Yes any Vodafone (or RBI reseller) sold B525 will work. Only catch is if you have an older SIM, they may need to send you a new SIM.

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ageorge

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#2617231 7-Dec-2020 09:16

I got my modem new from Wirelessnation. Its a lovely B618 LTE made by Huawei.

Does anyone know what the aerial ports MAIN and DIV are? eg why split the external aerial; would not MAIN suffice?

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#2617458 7-Dec-2020 12:31

ageorge:

I got my modem new from Wirelessnation. Its a lovely B618 LTE made by Huawei.

Does anyone know what the aerial ports MAIN and DIV are? eg why split the external aerial; would not MAIN suffice?

Main is used when only one antenna. Both ports are used for full MIMO performance.

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#2617460 7-Dec-2020 12:41

https://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/spring18/cos463/lectures/L16-mimo.pdf

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gardner

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#2660937 22-Feb-2021 09:26

I just tried a Wireless Nation sim card in a ZTE MF910 and a Nighthawk M2 2100 LTE routers. Both of these routers support B28 and work with Vodafone, Spark, and 2degrees. Neither worked with Wireless Nation.

The signup process indicates $300 for one of their approved modems.

It would have been nice if they told me they were TAC locked instead of just "we can't offer any support to help you configure your own modem" which made it sound like I could just enter the APN with hardware that works on Vodafone and be on my way. I really should have asked.

ageorge

626 posts

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#2660938 22-Feb-2021 09:32

gardner:

The signup process indicates $300 for one of their approved modems.

$200 I paid. I find their service excellent, and most economic when you are rural. Been with them now since start of this thread. We do have an issue though with Spark tower being overloaded. When WirelessNation gets slow, my 4g phone also slows so its not an aerial issue.

Most of the time have no problem with Netflix and the like.

Al.

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#2680939 26-Mar-2021 10:37

I have been experiencing issues with network saturation during peak times. I have been getting 1Mbps around 9pm. I am working with their techs who have been telling me to reboot the modem and things like that.

This is based in Nelson and usually on the 1700MHz band.

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#2680968 26-Mar-2021 11:14

gardner:

I have been experiencing issues with network saturation during peak times. I have been getting 1Mbps around 9pm. I am working with their techs who have been telling me to reboot the modem and things like that.

This is based in Nelson and usually on the 1700MHz band.

@gardner How is rebooting the modem going to help with network saturation? This is nothing but a waste of time clearly the serving site needs more capacity

michaelmurfy

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#2680973 26-Mar-2021 11:20

@gardner This round the Hope / Richmond area? There is a fair few people on RBI around there which causes congestion. I've got a friend in the same boat.

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ageorge

626 posts

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#2680984 26-Mar-2021 11:48

gardner:

I have been experiencing issues with network saturation during peak times. I have been getting 1Mbps around 9pm. I am working with their techs who have been telling me to reboot the modem and things like that.

Wireless Nation have been great but I have ongoing network congestion problems which happen in common with my modem/router and my 4g phone at same time, both on Spark/Skinny so its clearly a network issue. But Spark tell Wireless Nation to tell customer to reboot the modem as you have experienced, a total waste of time.

I find with the supplied modem B618s that the signal meter on both the front panel, and interface has little bearing on throughput. If you disregard both, and move the modem around the house doing a speedtest (linetest.nz) in each location, also swing the modem around so its internal antenna are in correct alignment. Finding the right receiver location can make a big difference, even if the modem and interface are showing 5 bars is meaningless.

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