Ob1kxb: Just an update.

Just switched from Spark unplanned Mobile Broadband to 2Degrees and all issues have disappeared entirely!

Confirmed it’s purely a Spark/Huawei issue

What sort of connection speeds are you getting with 2 degrees fixed wireless.

ajw:

 

What sort of connection speeds are you getting with 2 degrees fixed wireless.

 

Not wireless, 2Degrees Fibre... Besides them doing CG-NAT (stopping any services that require serving out traffic like VC etc) - so I got a static IP address which addresses that - the service has been great... good solid connection.

Reporting back. New modem and SIM picked up from Spark. It took them a WEEK to activate it. Agonizing. On the phone with them every day. Finally connected, and guess what... same issue.

What's the point of internet if you don't get notifications until you leave the house.

More likely related to CG-NAT timing out sessions. Change provider or technology as current service not fit for purpose.

Just adding an update. My parents, being "loyal" Spark customers didn't change ISP. They suffered, and we suffered with them for over two years. Spark stopped investigating... and the CSR that was initially helpfull stopped replying to my emails. They tried to sell my parents Geek Squad or whatever to "fix their clients" which I find unscrupulous at best.

Well they got Fibre yesterday with the Tairua roll-out, which uses the same router, and guess what... magically fixed.

Absolute shocker from Spark. Avoid them at all costs, and tell your boomer parents to get a real ISP not hell bent on screwing them on price for terrible service.