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

1 | ... | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | ... | 78

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2468499 23-Apr-2020 11:32

I've been using this modem as an AP for just about a week now and I'm having multiple problems including:

1) With band steering on, 5Ghz capable devices continually dropping to 2.4Ghz and staying there

2) 2.4Ghz band selecting the same channel as my neighbours when set to 'auto' and not changing to anything different, even when manually set to a different channel via the UI and save

3) Frequent drop-outs (3 - 4 times per day) where multiple wifi devices all lose the signal then reconnect again ~1 minute later

4) Less frequent but even more annoying drop-outs where devices then get the "cannot join this network" message for several minutes

I cannot see anything meaningful in either the Systems Log or the Wireless Log. The Wireless Log in particular seems to be a table showing a live view of what's currently connected rather than a history of errors etc.?

I have tried factory resetting and starting again in case I had made a user error but still seeing these issues.

I hoped this would be a good replacement for an Airport Express which barely skipped a beat in its 7-year life, but at this stage I'm thinking of returning it and buying something like a Ubiquiti Unifi.

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2469009 24-Apr-2020 08:44

steve98:

I've been using this modem as an AP for just about a week now and I'm having multiple problems including:

1) With band steering on, 5Ghz capable devices continually dropping to 2.4Ghz and staying there

2) 2.4Ghz band selecting the same channel as my neighbours when set to 'auto' and not changing to anything different, even when manually set to a different channel via the UI and save

3) Frequent drop-outs (3 - 4 times per day) where multiple wifi devices all lose the signal then reconnect again ~1 minute later

4) Less frequent but even more annoying drop-outs where devices then get the "cannot join this network" message for several minutes

I cannot see anything meaningful in either the Systems Log or the Wireless Log. The Wireless Log in particular seems to be a table showing a live view of what's currently connected rather than a history of errors etc.?

I have tried factory resetting and starting again in case I had made a user error but still seeing these issues.

I hoped this would be a good replacement for an Airport Express which barely skipped a beat in its 7-year life, but at this stage I'm thinking of returning it and buying something like a Ubiquiti Unifi.

Well I'm going to have to agree with the above. Major dropouts for everyone happening with the WiFi. The internet connection seems to stay up but everyone gets kicked off for minutes before all comes good again. We run all Apple equipment and the previous Draytek 130 with Airport express connection was solid albeit the WiFi coverage was average. I'm thinking I will have to go back to that or perhaps turn the WiFi off on the Smart Modem and use the AirPort express in bridge mode again.

snnet

1410 posts

Uber Geek

#2469059 24-Apr-2020 10:40

Have you tried forcing the 5GHz channel to one that isn't a DFS channel? I did this with my modem (different brand) when I was having similar issues

As for the UI not saving things are you using Chrome?

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2469060 24-Apr-2020 10:47

snnet:

Have you tried forcing the 5GHz channel to one that isn't a DFS channel? I did this with my modem (different brand) when I was having similar issues

As for the UI not saving things are you using Chrome?

Did not know what a DFS channel was so found this page which explains why having DFS on might cause dropouts.

https://netbeez.net/blog/dfs-channels-wifi/

So you’re saying try using the non DFS channels 36-48 or 149-165?

snnet

1410 posts

Uber Geek

#2469063 24-Apr-2020 10:50

myopinion:

snnet:

Have you tried forcing the 5GHz channel to one that isn't a DFS channel? I did this with my modem (different brand) when I was having similar issues

As for the UI not saving things are you using Chrome?

Did not know what a DFS channel was so found this page which explains why having DFS on might cause dropouts.

https://netbeez.net/blog/dfs-channels-wifi/

So you’re saying try using the non DFS channels 36-48 or 149-165?

Correct - it appears to have fixed my issue with several things going haywire at home but here is one relative to NZ

https://www.rsm.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/documents/b8c1468d8e/5-ghz-info-leaflet-2019-update.pdf

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2469084 24-Apr-2020 11:05

So going for a higher channel is better as more bandwidth? I’m located on a lifestyle block and I cant see any other Wifi spots with my phone/computer scanning for Wifi.

Gordy7

1906 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2469173 24-Apr-2020 12:41

Gordy7:

Has anyone had success with IPv6 working on the Spark Smart Modem?

My ISP (Orcon) provides a /56 prefix but the modem/router displays a /64 prefix.

The modem/router appears to display a correct /128 address.

I have the modem/router configured for Wan AutomaticIP.

External IPv6 tests show no valid IPv6 address.

IPv4 works correctly and shows expected addresses and DNSs.

Modem firmware v 6.00.06 build 01.

As Spark does not provide IPv6 addresses then there may be no need for the modem to support IPv6.

Repeated tests this morning and IPv6 is working well. Same firmware and settings as used previously.

Used https://ipv6-test.com/

IPv6 tested ok and with very good overseas speed test results.

Spark router still shows /64 assigned prefix for Orcon /56 allocation.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

PJ48

295 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2470499 24-Apr-2020 18:55

I am using the Smart modem paired with 2 smart mesh units over ethernet backhaul, and coverage and connectedness seem excellent. I am not experiencing the dropouts that other people describe. The coverage seems much better than my ageing Airports.

I note that all units choose to use exactly the same frequencies, even though I am using ethernet for all units. That is the exact opposite to how I used to configure my Airport expresses when I set them to use non-overlapping channels (all with same SSID) to avoid channel interference. Will this cause problems to have 3 APs in the house all using the same channels for both 2.4 gHz (11) and 5 gHz (149)?

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2470574 24-Apr-2020 21:20

Ok so tried manually changing the channels and it seemed good for a while. Then it dropped out. This thing is a piece of xcbgfh

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2470639 25-Apr-2020 07:39

I left my 5Ghz channel set to auto and it always picked Channel 149 so doesn’t help with my dropouts.

antant

115 posts

Master Geek

#2470825 25-Apr-2020 10:25

Also recently received one of these, experiencing a few more wifi "freezes" than we were on the HG659b. Generally laptops have stayed connected fine, but the iPads/iPhones have kept having small issues ... One thing I've just remembered is for the 2.4Ghz band, Apple recommends you have it set to 20Mhz only, not 20Mhz / 40Mhz. (Link - https://support.apple.com/bg-bg/HT202068 )

I certainly don't claim to be a networking expert, and any improvement may be just be coincidental, this was just what I found after some googling when we had similar issues following the arrival of the HG659b. In our iPhone / iPad household I do remember when i changed this setting on the HG659b things did become a lot more stable. So trying that now.The layout of our house means we tend to stick to 2.4Ghz rather than 5Ghz.

Also we did end up turning off band-steering as the Chromecasts just didn't seem to like it (was fine for the first 24 hours or so, then they started protesting). Anyone else found this?

snnet

1410 posts

Uber Geek

#2470837 25-Apr-2020 10:54

antant:

Also we did end up turning off band-steering as the Chromecasts just didn't seem to like it (was fine for the first 24 hours or so, then they started protesting). Anyone else found this?

I had issues with a different modem when it was using DFS channels (as I mentioned in previous posts above) with all sorts of devices. Could this be why, rather than just the band steering option? I've used chromecast with band steering in the past and it's been perfectly fine

myopinion

938 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2471009 25-Apr-2020 13:54

I've tried all the suggestions here but we're still getting "internet connection" dropouts between the router and our devices (iOS, Mac). The phones/iPads are still connected to Wifi but are getting pop ups saying you are not connected to the internet do you want to use cellular instead. Checking the router admin page it says still connected to the internet!

I tried turning Wifi off and used my AirPort Express as the access point and still same issue, even though the internet has not dropped out but has been up for a day.

Gone back to my old Draytek Vigor 130 and AirPort Express for now as it provides a rock solid connection, just not the best Wifi.

Seems like the issue is within the new "Smart Modem" itself and not necessarily a Wifi issue.

steve98

1395 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2473232 29-Apr-2020 11:32

I replaced mine with a Ubiquiti Unifi AC Lite a few days ago and I've not had a single drop-out or issue since. The issues I were seeing were definitely with the Smart Modem.

BuzzLightyear

411 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2473238 29-Apr-2020 11:40

steve98:

I replaced mine with a Unifi Ubiquiti AC Lite a few days ago and I've not had a single drop-out or issue since. The issues I was seeing were definitely with the Smart Modem.

Did you keep the smart modem as a modem and Unifi as Wifi or replace the whole lot? I'm thinking of doing the same.

1 | ... | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | ... | 78