Spark Launches new Inhome Experience - Spark Smart Modem & Spark Smart Mesh

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark Launches new Inhome Experience - Spark Smart Modem & Spark Smart Mesh

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52 posts

Master Geek
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#2368761 5-Dec-2019 13:57

Lorenceo:

"Router Information" tab at the top, when in the "Overview" section of the GUI. :)

Ah - thank you!

@hio77, further to the info to you in my DM, my router is Firmware v6.00.13 build01.

dacorbee

11 posts

Geek

#2368967 5-Dec-2019 17:54

I purchased the mesh device today. Setup was easy. Placed it in the opposite side of house. In the lounge (nearest smart modem) I get well over 300 download speeds but near the mesh I get about 20 download speeds. Also getting the 2.4g re, 5g re thing and fon SSID.

hio77

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#2368970 5-Dec-2019 18:02

dacorbee:

I purchased the mesh device today. Setup was easy. Placed it in the opposite side of house. In the lounge (nearest smart modem) I get well over 300 download speeds but near the mesh I get about 20 download speeds. Also getting the 2.4g re, 5g re thing and fon SSID.

Please factory reset your modem. That will fix the ssid issue

The location of your mesh is important. If you stick it at direct corners of the house its going to result in a poor experience.

This info graphic should help :)

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

dacorbee

11 posts

Geek

#2368975 5-Dec-2019 18:15

If I factory reset the modem, will I need to re setup up the mesh modem too?

hio77

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#2368980 5-Dec-2019 18:22

dacorbee:

If I factory reset the modem, will I need to re setup up the mesh modem too?

You might need to press the factory reset on it and let it resync yes.

Would result in a better user experience though...

Key thing is to move the mesh a reasonable distance from the modem. If it's already in an area with bad wifi, your mesh will have a bad link back to the modem and thus, only output bad wifi..

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dacorbee

11 posts

Geek

#2368983 5-Dec-2019 18:26

Cheers. Will give it a go.

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WH0A

52 posts

Master Geek
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#2372506 11-Dec-2019 15:26

WH0A:

hio77:

Right ok, i know who to whack for that then. Spark Smart modem is it's typical name :)

Can you DM me the Serial number? I'll have a look at what's being mapped under the table and make sure that's correct.

Hi again hio77 - I have just sent you a Geekzone PM with the Serial No. of the *SPARK SMART MODEM* (!) and a bit more info.

Thank you!

Hi @hio77 - just wondering if there is any news on how to get port forwarding working on these Spark Smart Modems?

(And sorry to bug you - I know you said you have been flooded lately. This issue is causing some major headaches, that's all.)

Thank you!

timbosan

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#2372568 11-Dec-2019 15:56

I am quite curious on this mesh device. I have just switched back to Spark (from BigPipe) and ended up with a new Smart Modem. So wondering about changing from my UniFi AP's to the Smart mesh (as my Unifi AP's are very old, one is 2.4Ghz only, and upgrading two of them costs a bit)

Question 1 - if you leave the Ethernet cable connected after pairing, does it use the Ethernet for backhaul between the mode and mesh?

Question 2 - if you end up with more than one mesh unit, how to do connect them using Ethernet? Just another port on the modem to the second mesh unit?

Question 3 - does the Smart model support VLAN's? I am planning to implement this for my increasing number of IoT devices.

Many thanks!

dacorbee

11 posts

Geek

#2372576 11-Dec-2019 16:06

I purchased the mesh unit last week. I’ve now returned as had an issue with the strength of the backhaul connection. From the modem to the mesh unit is a about 10 meters with walls and doors of a typical 4 bedroom house layout. I could have moved it closer but wanted to use the ethernet port for a camera. I think it’s a good unit for shorter distances it that’s not the point of a mesh system. Also having one Ethernet port stopped me from using wired backhaul and plugging in the camera.

bne

4 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2376152 16-Dec-2019 10:45

I just got one of these last week when a massive lightning storm took out my old Spark modem. Just wondering if anying knows whether this one works in Bridge mode, if so can anyone confirm the settings I should be using?

Thanks.

hio77

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#2376215 16-Dec-2019 12:23

bne:

I just got one of these last week when a massive lightning storm took out my old Spark modem. Just wondering if anying knows whether this one works in Bridge mode, if so can anyone confirm the settings I should be using?

Thanks.

Bridge mode works you change in in the WAN settings page, it doesnt do PPPoA or Half bridge mode.

Not a supported spark configuration, but i did have two of these in place of my bridge modems at home for a little while

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hio77

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#2376218 16-Dec-2019 12:27

dacorbee:

I purchased the mesh unit last week. I’ve now returned as had an issue with the strength of the backhaul connection. From the modem to the mesh unit is a about 10 meters with walls and doors of a typical 4 bedroom house layout. I could have moved it closer but wanted to use the ethernet port for a camera. I think it’s a good unit for shorter distances it that’s not the point of a mesh system. Also having one Ethernet port stopped me from using wired backhaul and plugging in the camera.

Sounds like an option for a switch.
I personally would like to see the next model have a second port in it at least to support these sorts of things though.

Sounds like you might have had quite dense walls. 2 Mesh units cover my 2 story lifestyle block quite well.

in dense 5Ghz environments though, the range does come down a little (this is to be expected, Interference and all) They survive well in the office here though, and that's literally the most wifi heavy place i have ever found.

We use it as our vendors worst case to work with :)

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hio77

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#2376220 16-Dec-2019 12:30

timbosan:

I am quite curious on this mesh device. I have just switched back to Spark (from BigPipe) and ended up with a new Smart Modem. So wondering about changing from my UniFi AP's to the Smart mesh (as my Unifi AP's are very old, one is 2.4Ghz only, and upgrading two of them costs a bit)

Have a peak at their site :)

timbosan:

Question 1 - if you leave the Ethernet cable connected after pairing, does it use the Ethernet for backhaul between the mode and mesh?

Ethernet. Also is shown in the UI which is nice. if the ethernet drops for some reason it picks back up over 5Ghz

timbosan:
Question 2 - if you end up with more than one mesh unit, how to do connect them using Ethernet? Just another port on the modem to the second mesh unit?

Yes, or Wifi Backhaul. the units will mesh off eachother too, they figure out the best path for your data.

timbosan:

Question 3 - does the Smart model support VLAN's? I am planning to implement this for my increasing number of IoT devices.

Many thanks!

TBC. sorry, haven't tested this. not exactly a supported use-case.

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

timbosan

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#2376252 16-Dec-2019 13:16

hio77:

timbosan:

I am quite curious on this mesh device. I have just switched back to Spark (from BigPipe) and ended up with a new Smart Modem. So wondering about changing from my UniFi AP's to the Smart mesh (as my Unifi AP's are very old, one is 2.4Ghz only, and upgrading two of them costs a bit)

Have a peak at their site :)

timbosan:

Question 1 - if you leave the Ethernet cable connected after pairing, does it use the Ethernet for backhaul between the mode and mesh?

Ethernet. Also is shown in the UI which is nice. if the ethernet drops for some reason it picks back up over 5Ghz

timbosan:
Question 2 - if you end up with more than one mesh unit, how to do connect them using Ethernet? Just another port on the modem to the second mesh unit?

Yes, or Wifi Backhaul. the units will mesh off eachother too, they figure out the best path for your data.

timbosan:

Question 3 - does the Smart model support VLAN's? I am planning to implement this for my increasing number of IoT devices.

Many thanks!

TBC. sorry, haven't tested this. not exactly a supported use-case.

Interesting. So my current Unifi AP's are at opposite ends of the house, and hence outside the recommended range Wifi of the Mesh units, so if Ethernet works, excellent!

VLAN's on them would be the icing on the cake; when you say "not supported" does that mean the unit's can create VLAN's? But Spark won't support it (which I am fine with).

WH0A

52 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#2376345 16-Dec-2019 15:03

Hi @hio77 - any progress with getting port forwarding working on these Spark Smart Modem devices, please?

I've again contacted Spark for help given that everything was working fine until this change of router, but it looks like the only way to get help from someone who understands anything even vaguely technical is to pay $120 for a "Tech wizard" consultation. I object to having to pay Spark to fix a problem with their modem and also to have to pay that much with no guarantee of a result! The Help Desk staff are pleasant and try to be helpful, but they have absolutely no idea how to assist.

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