wireless broadband-quality?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › wireless broadband-quality?

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tangerz

662 posts

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#1543208 28-Apr-2016 09:29

jjnz1:

Thanks for that.

I have been using it already, although as an FYI, it hasn't been updating correctly for the past few months. You are best to use the RSM website to confirm exact capabilities for each site.

Yeah I did do a cross check with RSM before I posted. They all seem to match up around there.

In all honesty, make the move to Spark Rural Wireless. You'll get much better performance because:

1 - It's 4G, so maximum speeds are several times what 3G is capable of to begin with.

2 - It's 20MHz bandwidth dedicated to data. Spark only have data on this band, unlike the Vodafone 3G you're currently connected to which has to do both voice and data. (But admittedly they have 15MHz + 25MHz on the tower you are on!)

3 - Being 700MHz, only newer handsets can connect to this band. So for a while at least, congestion (even at holiday times), should be less of an issue.

coffeebaron

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#1543240 28-Apr-2016 10:06

jjnz1:

tangerz:

Sounds like the tower you're on hasn't had the RBI upgrades yet and with the large influx of visitors to Taupo in holiday periods the system is being overloaded.

Given that Vodafone only appear to have upgraded one tower in the area to 4G 700MHz, you'll almost certainly be better off with Spark. They seem to have upgraded all their 'rural' towers around Taupo to 4G 700MHz, (4 of which you should have a decent chance of seeing from Hatepe!)

You're right. The tower hasn't been upgraded, and the VF engineer said their were no immediate plans as part of the RBI programme to upgrade any more Taupo towers with 700Mhz.

What 700MHz towers are you talking about?

I can see Omori, Taupo West(Karangahape Rd) and Tuhingamata. I am currently connected to Taupo West, but was connected to Tuhungamata for a while to see if things improved, which they didn't by much.

At the rate Vodafone are upgrading site to 4G, I think it's quite likely you will see a few of those Taupo towers get 700 this year, especially those that have no 4G currently.

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jjnz1

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#1543270 28-Apr-2016 10:55

@CoffeeBaron I have been saying that to myself since the end of last year... And I would wait 12+ months if my 3G RBI connection was a consistent 3Mbps all of the time.

Anyway, I am very happy. I have spoken to Vodafone, who are going to disconnect my RBI, so I can move to Spark. They have also given me a very good deal to move back when their 4G goes live.

As a bit of advice for anyone not quite happy with their service from day one, do ensure you let your telco know ASAP. And keep letting them know. That way down the track you have a good case to help get things resolved in your favour.

I'll let you know how Spark 4G goes...

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