Skinny "smart modem" / Deco M5 mesh

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Skinny "smart modem" / Deco M5 mesh - advice needed

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GeekyMcGeekface

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#3153165 28-Oct-2023 18:18

freddy123:
michaelmurfy: Yep, it’s the smart modem 3 just with skinny branding. it works totally fine with the smart mesh 2.

Thanks for the clarity. If it works for you then clearly Skinny's staff just don't know what they are talking about (and based on my chats with them I do think that's the case...).

Did you have to make any settings / configuration changes in order for the Mesh unit to work with the Skinny modem? I'm not an expert in these things but I know, from reading, that Spark use VLAN tagging and Skinny don't. I have no idea if there are other differences between Spark and Skinny. Did you have to do anything special to make the two "talk" to each other, or was it just plug and play?

I called Spark today for advice and they were equally as unhelpful as Skinny, so I'm going to have to rely on your guidance/ answers to my questions above before I decide whether I am capable of setting this up myself

allan

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#3153185 28-Oct-2023 20:57

freddy123:
michaelmurfy: Yep, it’s the smart modem 3 just with skinny branding. it works totally fine with the smart mesh 2.

I called Spark today for advice and they were equally as unhelpful as Skinny, so I'm going to have to rely on your guidance/ answers to my questions above before I decide whether I am capable of setting this up myself

Frankly I'd ignore the non-advice you have been getting from Spark & Skinny. If @michaelmurfy says the Skinny/Spark combo will work, it will work...

michaelmurfy

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#3153210 29-Oct-2023 00:10

There is nothing you need to do to get the smart mesh to work apart from following the instructions that come with it (plug it in and wait until the light stops flashing from memory). Everything else from that point just works. Configuration changes go across, it’s honestly seamless.

There’s nothing at all you need to do any different. Once it’s paired then you’re set.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

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GeekyMcGeekface

22 posts

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#3153441 29-Oct-2023 17:57

michaelmurfy: There is nothing you need to do to get the smart mesh to work apart from following the instructions that come with it (plug it in and wait until the light stops flashing from memory). Everything else from that point just works. Configuration changes go across, it’s honestly seamless.

There’s nothing at all you need to do any different. Once it’s paired then you’re set.

Thank you. I think you've done enough to convince me this is the best plan and I'm going to give it a try.

One more question: will the Skinny Smart Modem be able to support me linking two Smart Mesh units to it via ethernet backhaul? Am I correct to assume that any LAN ethernet port on the Smart Modem (and I believe there are 3 LAN ports from reading the description on the Skinny website) will work for this purpose?

At this stage my vision for the setup is as follows:
1. ONT (Chorus) box >
2. Skinny Smart Modem >
3. 2x Smart Mesh units linked back to the Skinny Smart Modem via ethernet backhaul.
4. Ethernet switch linked to the Skinny Smart Modem (using the third and final available LAN port on the Skinny Smart Modem >
5. PlayStation and TV connected via ethernet cable to the ethernet switch.

Does this sound like a solid approach / any forseeable issues?

Thanks again

michaelmurfy

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#3153464 29-Oct-2023 19:36

Yep that sounds fine to me!

GeekyMcGeekface

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#3168442 5-Dec-2023 16:11

Hi all, just thought I should round out this thread for anyone who is looking for answers in future.

In summary, I went for the Skinny Smart Modem 3 and two Spark Smart Mesh 2 units.

michaelmurfy was correct (and Skinny's customer service was wrong): the Smart Mesh units work seamlessly with the Skinny Smart Modem without any config changes being required.

Currently I have the Smart Mesh units connected wirelessly rather than via ethernet backhaul (I'm yet to set up the wiring) but other than that the setup is exactly as described in my last post above. I can't imagine the ethernet backhaul changes will have any negative impact, only positive if anything!

Internet is a world away from what it was. Great connection throughout the house and hitting 300/100mbps in many areas.

Thanks to everyone who gave advice

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