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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#2453502 3-Apr-2020 08:37

hio77:

dt:

Cheers, yeah I do need two AP's, I was thinking of two of the modems but only using the wireless functionality.

I didn't know there was a smart mesh option.. I wouldn't necessarily need the mesh functionality as the locations they would go have structured cabling running to them.. I take that the network port on them can be used for wired backhaul ? they'll work as AP's cabled into my switch? the 4x4 has piqued my interest !

they actually can be used purely for AP's too. I'd be temped to pair then use them like that (i haven't personally tried this setup though!)

Your right, they are really well priced for their wifi.

Just a note on this - I now have my Smart Modem running as a A/P in the garage (until I can get another Unifi A/P unit) and it does work, but there are some settings I had to change to get everything working. Obviously turning off DHCP (I have that in Untangle), but also NAT I think. And I removed the firewall rules I previously had from when it was my router.

Apart from that it works great, and of course being 4x4 is really fast with a good laptop!

hio77

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#2453510 3-Apr-2020 08:51

Yup, dt was talking about using the mesh for that though which is slightly easier. You only configure how you want the WiFi and let it go :)

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#2453616 3-Apr-2020 10:52

hio77:

dt:

Cheers, yeah I do need two AP's, I was thinking of two of the modems but only using the wireless functionality.

I didn't know there was a smart mesh option.. I wouldn't necessarily need the mesh functionality as the locations they would go have structured cabling running to them.. I take that the network port on them can be used for wired backhaul ? they'll work as AP's cabled into my switch? the 4x4 has piqued my interest !

they actually can be used purely for AP's too. I'd be temped to pair then use them like that (i haven't personally tried this setup though!)

Your right, they are really well priced for their wifi.

So is it possible to connect two Smart modems using ethernet backhaul as a MESH system? I ask because I am thinking of replacing my ageing Airport system, but because the Smart Mesh only has a single ethernet port, it would be great to pair two smart modems together to get the extra ethernet ports on each in the locations I currently have APs.

If it is possible - does it need the user to go in and change settings for the second Smart Modem, or does it just know to behave like a Smart Mesh unit?

thanks

Peter

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#2456090 6-Apr-2020 17:28

Just wondering if anyone has paired two smart modems as per discussion below?

If connected via ethernet, would they operate as a seamless single network with bandsteering and proper handoff with roaming devices? Could you also add in a Smart MESH? Our house has fairly impenetrable walls, so currently use four Airport APs connected via ethernet, and suspect we would need 3 APs to replace. I really need the additional ports that another Smart Modem would give me though, hence my interest in two Smart modems plus a Smart MESH, rather than a single Smart modem plus 2 Smart MESH units.

thanks

Peter

If it is possible - does it need the user to go in and change settings for the second Smart Modem, or does it just know to behave like a Smart Mesh unit?

thanks

Peter

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#2456181 6-Apr-2020 20:55

Been experiencing a lot of dropouts this past week.
So turned off bandsteering and have 2.4 and 5ghz seperate SSID.
So far so good.

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#2456194 6-Apr-2020 21:37

cooljoo: Been experiencing a lot of dropouts this past week.
So turned off bandsteering and have 2.4 and 5ghz seperate SSID.
So far so good.

was this with any particular devices? can you provide more information on when the disconnections were happening?

I've been able to replicate this issue, but only where signals are heavily interfered, smart mesh or relocating generally resolves these pretty quickly.

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#2456195 6-Apr-2020 21:38

PJ48:

So is it possible to connect two Smart modems using ethernet backhaul as a MESH system? I ask because I am thinking of replacing my ageing Airport system, but because the Smart Mesh only has a single ethernet port, it would be great to pair two smart modems together to get the extra ethernet ports on each in the locations I currently have APs.

I do not believe the modem can be put into 'mesh client' mode. I'll ask the question though.

The signal Ethernet port is certainly a constraint for that usecase so i totally get that.

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cooljoo

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#2456473 7-Apr-2020 14:11

hio77:

cooljoo: Been experiencing a lot of dropouts this past week.
So turned off bandsteering and have 2.4 and 5ghz seperate SSID.
So far so good.

was this with any particular devices? can you provide more information on when the disconnections were happening?

I've been able to replicate this issue, but only where signals are heavily interfered, smart mesh or relocating generally resolves these pretty quickly.

Had dropouts on iPhone X, iPad Pro 9.7 Gen 1, 2014 MacBook Pro and 2012 iMac.

So maybe older devices has an older wifi chipset even though it supports Wifi ac/5.

I know the iMac is Wifi n/4

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#2457843 8-Apr-2020 22:37

Apologies if this has been answered somewhere in the previous 25 pages of this thread, but I am just setting up my new Spark smart router tonight and am just wondering if I have done everything right.

Am I correct in assuming that if I have band steering on, then my devices will only show a single SSID? I was expecting to see 2 networks - one for 2.4Ghz and one for 5Ghz, however I only see a single network and it does not have the 5G designation on the end that I was expecting.

If it helps, I did change from the default network name, but I used "Network-Name" for 2.4 and "Network-Name-5G" for 5Ghz. But I am only seeing the 2.4 SSID ("Network-Name") on both my iPhone and Galaxy S7. The network with the 5G designation is not found.

I can still see two separate SSIDs for my old Huawei HG659, so I am wondering if I have setup the Arcadyan wrong.

[EDIT - Nevermind - I found the "Connected Devices" tab and have confirmed both phones are connecting over 5Ghz. Very Happy 😃 ]

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mule

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#2459251 11-Apr-2020 10:33

hio77:
@mule and @OVER please DM me your serial numbers and mac address for one of the devices struggling to connect. I'd be keen to have a poke at the logs and see what's happening, DHCP is set quite large by default so you shouldn't be hitting issues there.

Sent you a couple of DMs about this, thought it was sorted, but having same issues this morning

JimmyH

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#2462070 15-Apr-2020 17:16

I just got one, and installed it. On balance I like it. My take so far is as follows.

Pros:

1. More devices can connect, I don't have devices dropping off anymore.

2. Much better WiFi coverage of the house, even without mesh extenders.

Cons:

1. Only three ethernet ports for devices rather than four on the old router (which means I need to add a switch).

2. No lights on the front showing WiFi and port activity, which is a pain for figuring out what is going on.

3. The pdf manual on Spark's website is pretty poor, not much more than a "romper room" quick start guide. Nothing things like assigning static IP addresses, port forwarding etc. In contrast to my last two routers where there were very detailed manuals available for download.

Oddities:

1. Couldn't configure it at all using the Edge browser, as setting changes wouldn't "stick/save" . After much faffing around I tried Firefox, and it configured just fine.

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hio77

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#2462097 15-Apr-2020 18:25

JimmyH:

No lights on the front showing WiFi and port activity, which is a pain for figuring out what is going on.

I tell ya, there were certainly a discussion or two landing on this..

The colours actually do define it quite well once your used to it.

Comes down to you can never make a device for everyone, who's your real user?

the guide is a bit of a hard one, certainly feedback the folk that look after the modem take note of.

what i'd turn the question around on is, what were you wanting to find in there?

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steve98

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#2463337 16-Apr-2020 12:00

Shout out to your fulfilment team. After reading this entire 25-page thread yesterday I re-signed for another year to get the free modem and was told it would take 5 days to arrive but it arrived this morning. Very impressive given the current situation!

Looking forward to setting this up. Could you confirm in a nutshell the process for hooking it up as an ethernet-connected AP to an existing router?

Cheers!

Steve

hio77

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#2463340 16-Apr-2020 12:06

steve98:

Shout out to your fulfilment team. After reading this entire 25-page thread yesterday I re-signed for another year to get the free modem and was told it would take 5 days to arrive but it arrived this morning. Very impressive given the current situation!

Looking forward to setting this up. Could you confirm in a nutshell the process for hooking it up as an ethernet-connected AP to an existing router?

Cheers!

Steve

5 days shipping is the standard advice, but yeah it's quite often same day or 1 day if your in a main city.

If you wanna use it as an AP, just disable dhcp, change the IP address and plugin to a LAN port.

I'd plug it into your normal connection for 5 mins first and let it update though :)

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hamistheman

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#2463344 16-Apr-2020 12:13

Is there somewhere you can find out what the latest version of the firmware is ?

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