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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#2523992 16-Jul-2020 10:44

Question: do the Ethernet ports on the Smart Modem do any auto-sensing magic such as reducing power with short Ethernet cables, or power down when detecting no activity?

If so, I'm wondering what occurs when it is connected to an unmanaged network switch that does this.

timbosan

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#2524136 16-Jul-2020 13:14

kobiak:

timbosan:

I also posted a few times on this thread about my experiences with the Smart Modem, first as a single WAP, then adding a second Smart Modem running as a mesh unit (Ethernet connected to the first). I have ZERO disconnections, and I work from home fulltime, using the Smart Modem WAP as my connection to the world. It has been stable for 4 months, even with 2 modems running different firmware versions.

Note - I don't use the Smart Modem as a router, I use Untangle for that on a custom build PC. I only use the Smart Modem's as wireless access points (DHCP disabled, NAT turned off).

The household also uses Kodi and other streaming apps, and I have never had a dropout.

I second that. I have similar set-up. DHCP is done by pi-hole. I'm using 2 smart modems (primary as router and access point + secondary as mesh access point only), zero issues. Since the lock-down I work from home, so I would notice any disconnections.

Actually good point @kobiak - I also use PiHole but not for DHCP (that's done via Untangle), PiHole only handles DNS. Maybe the problems people are seeing are limited to the DHCP functionality in the Smart Modem?

@hio77 - not sure if you want/need to go down this path, but how about asking for peoples Smart Modem configs on this thread? Covering:

* Router
* DHCP
* WAP
* NAT
* Mesh (either Mesh Unit for 2nd Smart Modem)

it might yield some useful data?

1101

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#2524143 16-Jul-2020 13:29

hio77: I'd replace the printer....

Not really an answer :-)
Not really an option untill I can PROOVE the issue is the printer not supporting WPA2

Does the smart modem fully support WPA ?

hio77

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#2524145 16-Jul-2020 13:35

1101:

hio77: I'd replace the printer....

Not really an answer :-)
Not really an option untill I can PROOVE the issue is the printer not supporting WPA2

Does the smart modem fully support WPA ?

Testing was completed on WPA, but it's not really a supported security type given how easily it's cracked...

#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

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#2524146 16-Jul-2020 13:36

hio77:

Testing was completed on WPA, but it's not really a supported security type given how easily it's cracked...

+1. Nobody should really be using WPA these days.

Gordy7

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#2524153 16-Jul-2020 13:54

1101:

hio77: I'd replace the printer....

Not really an answer :-)
Not really an option untill I can PROOVE the issue is the printer not supporting WPA2

Does the smart modem fully support WPA ?

What is your printer and model?

How old is your printer?

What WiFi modes does your printer spec say it supports?

Have you updated your printer firmware?

Gordy

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1101

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#2524156 16-Jul-2020 13:55

grolschie:

+1. Nobody should really be using WPA these days.

Thats why I have need to prove the issue is the printer (or not) :-)

I have a gut feeling its WPA only (or its WPA2 support too buggy to use )
I'll try with an older wifi AP & see if it connects OK to that via WPA , as a test only .

WPA2 is also crackable though . Has been for some time .

------------------

The Smart modem default wifi seemed to show BOTH WPA & WPA2 enabled by default (I'll check that on my one tonight)

CNZ

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#2525022 17-Jul-2020 22:42

https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/networking-modems/routers-firewalls/listing-2705129548.htm?rsqid=ac45a7bfbdc3496297d362fd71bcd755-006

This guy clearly is not happy with his Smart modem being able to not take more than 255 devices

[URL=https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3558175835][IMG]https://www.speedtest.net/result/3558175835.png[/IMG][/URL]

PJ48

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#2525049 18-Jul-2020 08:27

CNZ:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/computers/networking-modems/routers-firewalls/listing-2705129548.htm?rsqid=ac45a7bfbdc3496297d362fd71bcd755-006

This guy clearly is not happy with his Smart modem being able to not take more than 255 devices

Surely this is a joke?? Or not....

grolschie

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#2525059 18-Jul-2020 09:32

Can he not just use a different modem/router and not have to break the contract? Seems a bit silly. Especially the asking price. Maybe it's just a protest.

Gordy7

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#2525060 18-Jul-2020 09:44

Re Trademe Severely Restricted Skinny Modem VRV9517

I doubt any modem/router will do any good for 400 devices.

Only worth $1 to cover the advertising.

Gordy

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

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grolschie

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#2525062 18-Jul-2020 09:47

Gordy7:
Re Trademe Severely Restricted Skinny Modem VRV9517

I doubt any modem/router will do any good for 400 devices.

Only worth $1 to cover the advertising.

Meanwhile, at the seller's house:

🤣

CNZ

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#2525253 18-Jul-2020 15:43

grolschie:
Gordy7:

Re Trademe Severely Restricted Skinny Modem VRV9517

I doubt any modem/router will do any good for 400 devices.

Only worth $1 to cover the advertising.

Meanwhile, at the seller's house:
🤣

I had to ask the question turns out he has a completely valid reason loads of IOT /Raspberry Pis etc but defo not your average user maybe when we have Wi-Fi connected Heated towel rails

[URL=https://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3558175835][IMG]https://www.speedtest.net/result/3558175835.png[/IMG][/URL]

hio77

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#2525287 18-Jul-2020 18:23

as someone who also has alot of ESP's on my network, I've gotta ask why they are exposed to the internet...

Mine sit on their own vlan, that runs on it's own AP. I do further complicate it by having that VLAN over a VPLS link to two other locations..

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

kiwipeter

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#2525721 19-Jul-2020 17:40

New Smart Modem and single Mesh wireless unit installed and setup. So far we’ve had a number of connected devices lose their wireless connections. These have included the PS4 console and MacBook Air. I think they have both been 2.4GHz clients but can’t say for certain. Is there a log file or something I can supply to assist in the firmware fix?

Is the client team on the support chat aware of these issues and able to accept returns and refunds if the problems become too annoying?

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