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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#2526612 21-Jul-2020 15:21

BuzzLightyear:
kiwipeter: Can you please give a rough idea for the fix release as if this continues I will have to return the modem and mesh devices.

Do try turning band steering off. My setup has been quite stable since doing that.

Thank you for your suggestion - I have turned this feature off and am pleased to report no more disconnections (so far) from my gaming-mad sons. I also apologise if I came across as rude earlier too, this was not my intention. Let's hope the planned firmware fixes come through in the near future and thank you to @hio77 for your input and help with the support of these devices.

Gordy7

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#2527863 23-Jul-2020 17:10

Neighbour has just got a Spark Smart Modem.

I can see a couple of (User assigned SSID)s and a couple of (Hidden SSID)s. (WiFi on 2.4 and 5 GHz)

The Hidden SSIDs have similar (but not the same) BSSIDs MAC addresses to the User BSSIDs MAC addresses, same signal levels and channels (on 2.4 and 5 GHz)

What are these Hidden SSIDs that are being broadcast?

Gordy

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

hio77

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#2527872 23-Jul-2020 17:55

Gordy7:

Neighbour has just got a Spark Smart Modem.

I can see a couple of (User assigned SSID)s and a couple of (Hidden SSID)s. (WiFi on 2.4 and 5 GHz)

The Hidden SSIDs have similar (but not the same) BSSIDs MAC addresses to the User BSSIDs MAC addresses, same signal levels and channels (on 2.4 and 5 GHz)

What are these Hidden SSIDs that are being broadcast?

Mesh Backhaul.

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

Gordy7

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#2527874 23-Jul-2020 18:17

hio77:

Gordy7:

Neighbour has just got a Spark Smart Modem.

I can see a couple of (User assigned SSID)s and a couple of (Hidden SSID)s. (WiFi on 2.4 and 5 GHz)

The Hidden SSIDs have similar (but not the same) BSSIDs MAC addresses to the User BSSIDs MAC addresses, same signal levels and channels (on 2.4 and 5 GHz)

What are these Hidden SSIDs that are being broadcast?

Mesh Backhaul.

Thanks...

The neighbour is not using Mesh.... So the Mesh Backhaul is on by default?

The Hidden SSIDs are not using any extra channels so I guess not cluttering available bandwidth/channels.

Gordy

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

hio77

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#2527877 23-Jul-2020 18:21

Gordy7:
hio77:

Mesh Backhaul.

Thanks...

The neighbour is not using Mesh.... So the Mesh Backhaul is on by default?

The Hidden SSIDs are not using any extra channels so I guess not cluttering available bandwidth/channels.

Correct. Has no impact. You could argue simantics around becon etc I suppose... But that's so minimal.

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kiwipeter

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#2528418 24-Jul-2020 21:50

Hassles here tonight with various clients randomly disconnecting. Had to reboot Smart Modem to fix.

Appears turning Band Steering off makes no difference to stability (for me at least).

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mule

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#2528421 24-Jul-2020 22:10

Have not been able to wait for the fix any longer - just not stable enough at our house.

Have changed to a TP link ax3000 which is working perfectly. So have smart modem and mesh units sitting unused.

BuzzLightyear

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#2528428 24-Jul-2020 22:50

@hio are you able to outline in more detail the actual issue identified? I know you’ve been super helpful keeping everyone informed and have communicated there will be an update which is appreciated. Understanding the root cause of the issue would be good.

hio77

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#2528490 25-Jul-2020 08:33

BuzzLightyear: @hio are you able to outline in more detail the actual issue identified? I know you’ve been super helpful keeping everyone informed and have communicated there will be an update which is appreciated. Understanding the root cause of the issue would be good.

Sure, there isn't a Root cause for some of these, apart from being a software bug.

There are 3 issues here.
1. A hard fault, causing the smart modem to reboot. Best way to reduce this is to reboot the modem at like 2am.this issue reoccurs at almost the exact time every day so a reboot in the wee hours moves the impact away.
2. An issue where bandsteering a device has a period of no ip. This is illevated by turning bandsteering off, reducing 2.4ghz power is the option I personally use. There is also a paramater change that improves this a ton.
3. After being online for awhile SSDP traffic gets lost between mesh and base unit. Rebooting modem, device and mesh fixes this. Otherwise if you use WiFi on both the same network its also fine.

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BuzzLightyear

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#2528492 25-Jul-2020 08:46

Thank you. The band steering and mesh items are both issues I've seen so this is very helpful.

Gordy7

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#2528495 25-Jul-2020 09:12

Is there any way to control or limit or roll back automatic firmware updates? I know you can back up settings.

I am about to join Skinny and use their Smart Modem which I understand updates on the Spark network.

I have been using a Spark Smart Modem (no mesh) (F/W v6.00.06 build01) on Orcon (Gbit fibre) for some time now and have found it very stable with really good data speed and very good WiFi on 5GHz all around my house.

Gordy

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

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#2528496 25-Jul-2020 09:17

hio77:
Sure, there isn't a Root cause for some of these, apart from being a software bug.

There are 3 issues here.
1. A hard fault, causing the smart modem to reboot. Best way to reduce this is to reboot the modem at like 2am.this issue reoccurs at almost the exact time every day so a reboot in the wee hours moves the impact away.
2. An issue where bandsteering a device has a period of no ip. This is illevated by turning bandsteering off, reducing 2.4ghz power is the option I personally use. There is also a paramater change that improves this a ton.
3. After being online for awhile SSDP traffic gets lost between mesh and base unit. Rebooting modem, device and mesh fixes this. Otherwise if you use WiFi on both the same network its also fine.

Hi. Earlier in this thread you said you knew exactly what my Ethernet issue might be. (PM sent the other day, BTW). Can you please detail this issue as well? I'm about to try replacing hardware (for a start my network switch) as my AVR's internet radio loses just enough packets to cut out, all the time. Thanks.

hio77

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#2528511 25-Jul-2020 09:35

Gordy7:
Is there any way to control or limit or roll back automatic firmware updates? I know you can back up settings.

I am about to join Skinny and use their Smart Modem which I understand updates on the Spark network.

I have been using a Spark Smart Modem (no mesh) (F/W v6.00.06 build01) on Orcon (Gbit fibre) for some time now and have found it very stable with really good data speed and very good WiFi on 5GHz all around my house.

06 firmware is actually pretty old and has some incompatibilities with some dsl chipsets.

The spark firmware specifically doesn't allow turning off of the remote management by design.
The skinny variant is much the same however updates slightly differently. Skinny currently run 1 version behind spark (as latest version only adds a few bridging functions)

Sounds like this modem hasn't ever connected into the spark network, so unfortunately I won't be able to hard lock upgrades for it.

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

gzt

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#2528516 25-Jul-2020 10:39

hio77: An issue where bandsteering a device has a period of no ip. This is illevated by turning bandsteering off, reducing 2.4ghz power is the option I personally use. There is also a paramater change that improves this a ton.

This sounds similar enough to an issue I started experiencing during the last week and only occurs during a heavily loaded work VPN. The VPN starts underperforming, and then it's a completely different device that drops off the network and returns later. So far I can repeat it very easily : ).

I'm about to turn off bandsteer. Can you explain the power reduction technique and how that operates, and a pointer on the parameter change.

Normally I'd run a cable and take the heavy machine off the wifi network. It's difficult this time around.

grolschie

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#2528599 25-Jul-2020 14:47

@hio77:
1. A hard fault, causing the smart modem to reboot. Best way to reduce this is to reboot the modem at like 2am.this issue reoccurs at almost the exact time every day so a reboot in the wee hours moves the impact away.

I don't see a setting in the modem config to schedule reboots. Is there one?

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