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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61 posts

Master Geek

#2515129 30-Jun-2020 14:49

hio77:

nzmatt:

If you are on the Spark Entertainment plan, because of Lightbox disappearing you have the right to cancel the contract. Cancel the contract and sign up for another term and get the free modem....

Please don't do this.

Just ask to resign..

I got the free smart modem by just resigning for 12 months on the same plan (Entertainment Fibre Max).

Picked it up in store. The only thing they checked was that I was in the last 3 months of my plan (I was in the last month).

Not picked up my Mesh yet - but planning on picking one up this weekend.

The new smart modem has been good - noticeable wifi speed and range improvements.

MikeB4

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#2515595 1-Jul-2020 11:10

Is there any indication as to how wide spread the drop out issue is? I have looked at social media and there does not seem to be any complaints that I can find. Is this a "tinkerers" issue or is it affecting all or some of the new hardware users.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2515622 1-Jul-2020 12:19

MikeB4:

Is there any indication as to how wide spread the drop out issue is? I have looked at social media and there does not seem to be any complaints that I can find. Is this a "tinkerers" issue or is it affecting all or some of the new hardware users.

Correct.

It's a very small number nomatter how i cut the data.

That doesn't impact the efforts we are putting into resolving this though. Personally my day to day isn't Devices :)

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

MikeB4

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#2515623 1-Jul-2020 12:27

I used to be a tinkerer and I am sure that is why I lost my hair but medication may have had a role in that. I now unbox, set up default and get on with life. Surprising haw well things work like that.

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2515685 1-Jul-2020 14:47

hio77:

MikeB4:

Is there any indication as to how wide spread the drop out issue is? I have looked at social media and there does not seem to be any complaints that I can find. Is this a "tinkerers" issue or is it affecting all or some of the new hardware users.

Correct.

It's a very small number nomatter how i cut the data.

That doesn't impact the efforts we are putting into resolving this though. Personally my day to day isn't Devices :)

I imagine many simply don't notice. I find it especially annoying because my internet radio on my AVR doesn't gracefully recover. Other devices recover better, e.g. with a simple browser refresh.

timbosan

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Uber Geek

#2515697 1-Jul-2020 15:04

MikeB4:

I used to be a tinkerer and I am sure that is why I lost my hair but medication may have had a role in that. I now unbox, set up default and get on with life. Surprising haw well things work like that.

I hate to take this thread too far OT - but I so agree with this statement. The SmartModem's have proven themselves as great performers, and 100% stability (for me, in my setup, as WAP's). Plug them in, remove the DHCP and NAT, and done. I can also get a Mesh unit, plug it in, and move on with more important things, rather than dealing with obtuse network issues.

hamistheman

82 posts

Master Geek

#2515748 1-Jul-2020 16:52

Just for reference, I haven't modified mine, and notice it. The other two people in my house don't - they just assume "internet issues", its only when i'm shoulder surfing i notice it. on their devices.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

hamistheman

82 posts

Master Geek

#2515750 1-Jul-2020 16:55

hio77:

nzmatt:

If you are on the Spark Entertainment plan, because of Lightbox disappearing you have the right to cancel the contract. Cancel the contract and sign up for another term and get the free modem....

Please don't do this.

Just ask to resign..

I'm assuming that if you cancel the contract, then move to another provider, there's no way to get the firmware updates (even if a security patch is deployed at some point)

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2515842 1-Jul-2020 17:15

hamistheman:

I'm assuming that if you cancel the contract, then move to another provider, there's no way to get the firmware updates (even if a security patch is deployed at some point)

At this stage, on the spark variant, yes.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Naithin

41 posts

Geek

#2515942 2-Jul-2020 00:39

hio77:
MikeB4:

Is there any indication as to how wide spread the drop out issue is? I have looked at social media and there does not seem to be any complaints that I can find. Is this a "tinkerers" issue or is it affecting all or some of the new hardware users.

Correct.

It's a very small number nomatter how i cut the data.

That doesn't impact the efforts we are putting into resolving this though. Personally my day to day isn't Devices :)

If we have a modem experiencing this issue then, is it worthwhile getting it warranty replaced and trying again if the number of incidences are low?

How far off a firmware fix are we? Any indications from the hardware provider yet?

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2516779 3-Jul-2020 13:51

Naithin: If we have a modem experiencing this issue then, is it worthwhile getting it warranty replaced and trying again if the number of incidences are low? How far off a firmware fix are we? Any indications from the hardware provider yet?

I wonder if the ONT is a factor? Some are on Chorus, others on Enable. Not sure if they use the same ONT device. I'm on Chorus in a fibre-only neighbourhood.

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2516789 3-Jul-2020 14:17

grolschie:

Naithin: If we have a modem experiencing this issue then, is it worthwhile getting it warranty replaced and trying again if the number of incidences are low? How far off a firmware fix are we? Any indications from the hardware provider yet?

I wonder if the ONT is a factor? Some are on Chorus, others on Enable. Not sure if they use the same ONT device. I'm on Chorus in a fibre-only neighbourhood.

Access Type does not inflence this.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2516790 3-Jul-2020 14:19

hio77:

Access Type does not inflence this.

Then there's only really 2 h/w devices in conflict? The Smart Modem and the Mesh Unit?

timbosan

2159 posts

Uber Geek

#2517689 5-Jul-2020 19:25

@hio77 - Just to keep you up to date with my setup, I have changed my network as follows.

Old - 2 x Unifi A/P's + Smart Modem as a another A/P (different SSID)

New - 2 x Smart Modems, second is connected to the first via Ethernet. This is running great (although I do miss some of the nice info the Unifi portal gives, such as machine names that the Smart Modem lacks), and gives the following config:

It seems that the first Smart Modem sees the second as a Mesh unit (hence the different picture) as they are both running in AP mode ( I can see this in the Wireless Logs Window, and the second image below also shows the 2nd modem as a Mesh unit). However, I also see an UPGRADE option, any idea what its for??

And just to make it fun, you will see in the above image they are both running different firmware versions! Even though they arrived (direct from Spark) without a week of each other.

Question 2 - can I upgrade manually? As in supply a link to a firmware file via the menu system?

The only issue I see is that there are TWO SSID's now, I assume that's because they are modems and not mesh units?

hio77

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Lizard Networks

#2517693 5-Jul-2020 19:29

My, that's really gotten confused!
I'm not quite sure what to advise as I've got more questions about why it's worked the way it has..

6.00.12 is the factory firmware currently. So your other one will have been updated.

Upgrade button will take you to the mesh firmware upgrade screen. So that won't be too useful with a second smart modem.
Currently spark doesn't provide direct links to the firmware.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

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