Spark rural wireless. Do we need a new modem?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark rural wireless. Do we need a new modem?

YvonneW

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#268123 29-Feb-2020 15:59

We are on Spark Rural Wireless broadband. the speed is not good but apparently we don't have an alternative provider in our area.

We have the modem that came when we changed from copper (which was even slower). It is now well over 3 years old. Would we get any improvement by buying a new modem?

I know nothing :-)

nakedmolerat

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#2429327 29-Feb-2020 16:03

Do you have external antenna?

YvonneW

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#2429330 29-Feb-2020 16:09

No we don't.

Dummy question but how would we do this please?

I know nothing :-)

hio77

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#2429336 29-Feb-2020 16:58

YvonneW:

No we don't.

Dummy question but how would we do this please?

Best option would be to call up or chat and see if you can move to an antenna plan.

90% likely your address is iver Antenna mandatory now, or Antenna optional, the agent will take you through all the terms etc there.

If you have the B315 as part of this we would move you to a B618 - Which is slightly more preformant in the same conditions too (not often worth the cost of a replacement though)

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YvonneW

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#2429367 29-Feb-2020 17:57

Spark have an Antenna plan? Didn't realise this. I will try. Thank you.

I know nothing :-)

hio77

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#2429387 29-Feb-2020 20:08

Yup. Just not sold online as its quite a complex product.

I do hope one day it will somehow slot into the website.

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YvonneW

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#2429443 29-Feb-2020 21:04

Thank you. I'll phone them on Monday. Is it something my husband could fit or is it complicated?

In the roof or on the roof?

I know nothing :-)

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snnet

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#2429444 29-Feb-2020 21:10

they're better exposed - I did mine myself, you need to figure out where your signal is coming from though - had mine aligned to a cell site on a platform then they decided to remove it lol

hio77

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#2429469 29-Feb-2020 22:37

YvonneW:

Thank you. I'll phone them on Monday. Is it something my husband could fit or is it complicated?

In the roof or on the roof?

it's all relatively simple, but there are some complexity in positioning it correctly (sure you could sit there speedtesting, but that wont perfect things!)

as part of sparks process, Downer come out and do a professional install

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YvonneW

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#2429490 1-Mar-2020 08:39

Better they (Spark) do it then.

What happens if they position it and then move the cell site? (see above!)

Is the 'feed'/reception from the antenna hard wired into the modem because we want everything... At the moment we take the modem to the beach occasionally (I know we shouldn't)!

I know nothing :-)

pj2019

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#2429492 1-Mar-2020 08:48

YvonneW:

Better they (Spark) do it then.

What happens if they position it and then move the cell site? (see above!)

Is the 'feed'/reception from the antenna hard wired into the modem because we want everything... At the moment we take the modem to the beach occasionally (I know we shouldn't)!

Rural Wireless is regionally locked, you may get a warning when you breach it.

To check the new Anntena option for a rural wireless best call on Sunday and take you time to understand their T&C.

hio77

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#2429544 1-Mar-2020 10:50

YvonneW:
Better they (Spark) do it then.

What happens if they position it and then move the cell site? (see above!)

Is the 'feed'/reception from the antenna hard wired into the modem because we want everything... At the moment we take the modem to the beach occasionally (I know we shouldn't)!

More likely your example is a new site is built that's better for you.

In that case spark manages it as part of the upgrade

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snnet

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#2429586 1-Mar-2020 13:46

YvonneW:

Better they (Spark) do it then.

What happens if they position it and then move the cell site? (see above!)

Is the 'feed'/reception from the antenna hard wired into the modem because we want everything... At the moment we take the modem to the beach occasionally (I know we shouldn't)!

Don't worry, I'm sure they won't attach it to a temp site like I did - I didn't expect it to disappear a week later 🤣

Thankfully the main cell site actually provides better speed

hio77

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#2429677 1-Mar-2020 16:24

snnet:

YvonneW:

Better they (Spark) do it then.

What happens if they position it and then move the cell site? (see above!)

Is the 'feed'/reception from the antenna hard wired into the modem because we want everything... At the moment we take the modem to the beach occasionally (I know we shouldn't)!

Don't worry, I'm sure they won't attach it to a temp site like I did - I didn't expect it to disappear a week later 🤣

Thankfully the main cell site actually provides better speed

Oh, missed what you had said, now i get it.

Yeah our installers will point you at the correct site. Temporary sites would be ignored as they are normally events only.

That's one of the gotchas that installing your own could catch you with.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.