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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#2658899 18-Feb-2021 11:19

johny007g:

.... Also don't know cost of buying new spark smart modem but when talking to faults was advised that I would have to purchase new one and on checking unplan fibre max conditions modem not included in plan since November 2020 so would not buy unless I can find out if router faulty and get replaced under warranty.

I have picked up new unused Spark Smart Modems off Trademe for $50 plus shipping.

Gordy

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

mattoktanz

19 posts

Geek

#2658901 18-Feb-2021 11:23

PJ48:

Without knowing too much about how these devices work, I am suspicious that the problems emanate from leasing and maintaining IP addresses, as I have always been able to solve the problem by putting a reliable router (in my case an ER-X) between the internet and the Smart Modem/Mesh units, and just running them as APs.

Would be great if someone from Spark can explain why the firmware has been rolled back and what is happening?

yes mine was saying couldn't get IP address .. i did think of just running DHCP server on my 'server' and have it handle it instead. I've statically set a Wifi IP address on my phone and I will see if when it drops it does reconnect without issue. If that stays good I'll fire up DHCP

johny007g

351 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2658903 18-Feb-2021 11:27

Gordy7:

I have picked up new unused Spark Smart Modems off Trademe for $50 plus shipping.

Thanks for that will to keep a check on that when I decide what I want to do.

johny007g

MrSteel

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#2659157 18-Feb-2021 19:37

scobb: At the risk of tempting fate, I’ve been running my 3rd replacement Smart Modem (with V15 firmware) since last Friday and it hasn’t missed a beat, whereas the previous 2 were frequently and randomly restarting or refusing to allocate IP addresses.

The problem for me with the HG659 (and the reason I “upgraded”) is that I believe it supports a maximum of 32 connected devices. I regularly have 35-40 devices connected, and the new modem supports 64.

This is the main reason I upgraded to the Smart Modem as well, because of the 32 device limitation that the HG659b have. However, since the firmware rolled back to V15 for the Smart Modems, I had no choice but to plug back my old trusty HG659b for now - just for the stability.

It was just getting embarrassing having Skype/Teams meeting with your workmates when working from home, and getting disconnected so often because the Smart Modem keeps rebooting (sometimes 3 or 4 times within an hour). Whatever issue they found on the V16 firmware, I do hope they fix it soon and re-release it again.

scobb

32 posts

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#2659272 18-Feb-2021 21:53

6 days into my ownership of my 3rd Smart modem and I just got my first reboot :-(. So frustrating. I’m reasonably heavily invested in the Spark infrastructure (3 Smart Meshes and the Smart modem) so don’t want to give up on it.

I’m really not sure what else to do. How do we get some feedback from Spark to at least acknowledge the issue and provide an indication on how they propose to resolve it?

johny007g

351 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2659557 19-Feb-2021 12:21

Hi just changed my Spark Smart modem over to old HG659b and working ok so far but speed so much slower but better than having IP configuration and disconnection failures. Noticed settings for HG659b router are what spark help desk girl emailed me, are for this router to change channels not for spark smart modem which told her I had .

johny007g

JohnnoW

12 posts

Geek

#2661072 22-Feb-2021 12:12

I've just had some luck with the IP issues with the VRV9517 SmartModem.. Thought I'd pass it on in case it helps anyone else.

We've been having the same issues with devices not obtaining IP addresses or connecting for about three - four weeks now. Everything was fine up till then.

I finally got sick of it today and contacted Spark, initially through the android ap chat, and then asked for a call, and ended up talking to someone.

Ran through the scenario with her, all the usual questions and answers, re-boot the ONT etc etc. Then she put us on hold for quite a long while.

She came back and asked me to re-boot the modem again. And suddenly wi-fi devices are attaching normally again! I asked what they did - she declined to reply. I can't see any change in the firmware version - still

v6.00.15 build05

Had a troll though settings and they haven't done anything that I can see on that side. All my config is still there.

Whatever they did prior to that re-boot resolved the issue immediately. Phones and other devices are now joining immediately and receiving IP addresses as they should. Back to how we were 3-4 weeks ago.

YMMV - and admittedly early days - we've only been 'back' for an hour. But if you are having the wi-fi connection/IP allocation issue, it might just be worth calling Spark.

And yes - I would love to know what they did...

Cheers,

Jon

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

JohnnoW

12 posts

Geek

#2661238 22-Feb-2021 18:35

Sorry Team, It's gone again...

Next plan new modem...

Stan999

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2663102 26-Feb-2021 12:35

I’ve just upgraded from a HG659b to a Spark Smart Modem and so far it seems all good. Wifi around the house is much improved but there’s still one area where we’ve always had a LAN cable that Wifi is still a bit weak. The LAN cable is great for plugging into one computer but I’m wondering if I can now use the HG659b as a WiFi access point at that end of the house? I’ve tried plugging it in to the LAN cable and can see it’s WiFi signal and log into it but can’t access the internet. Are there some setting I need to change? I know I could buy a Spark Smart Mesh but am trying to save some money and reuse existing equipment that still has some useful life left in it. Thanks

grolschie

911 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2663106 26-Feb-2021 12:47

Still no friendly faces from Spark dropping in on this thread...

Gordy7

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#2663110 26-Feb-2021 13:08

When you have the LAN cable plugged into the HG659, does the HG659 show up in the Smart Modem Device list?

Maybe the HG659 WiFi connected computer can't see the Smart Modem DHCP server.

You could try static LAN IPs in the computer you are connecting to HG659 WiFi.

192.168.1.101 Computer LAN

255.255.255.0 Mask

192.168.1.254 Smart Modem Gateway address

You might also need some DNS settings in your computer LAN settings.

8.8.8.8

and

8.8.4.4

Gordy

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

Insanekiwi

592 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2666068 1-Mar-2021 11:00

Hi - I know it's a very generic question. I have Spark fibre with Huawei HG659B modem since 2019. I get a very good speed upload and download (~900mb/400mb) and it's hooked up to Orbi AC3000 and another wifi router which has longer 2.4 range for my security devices.

My main issue is with the modem needing a reset every few days otherwise everything drops off and goes online. Simple turn off and turn it on solves the problem - but it's annoying as well as not effective for my security cameras etc.

It's always the modem as once it being switched off and turned back on fixes the problem fully.

Will changing to new Smart Modem fix the problem or do you have any recommendations please?

(By the way wifi from Huawei is turned off and I only use Orbi and Netgear AC3200 routers for my wifi needs. Everything else is LAN wired)

Gordy7

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#2666108 1-Mar-2021 11:33

Before I switched to a Spark Smart Moden I used an HG659 (not B) for several years. Very good speed.
The HG659 failure mode I had was loss of Lan (and WiFi ) which a reset by repowering fixed. I tried all sorts of Lan tests before giving up and using the Smart Modem. Loss of the HG659 while away from home was a pain.

Gordy

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

Insanekiwi

592 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2666117 1-Mar-2021 11:47

Gordy7: Before I switched to a Spark Smart Moden I used an HG659 (not B) for several years. Very good speed.
The HG659 failure mode I had was loss of Lan (and WiFi ) which a reset by repowering fixed. I tried all sorts of Lan tests before giving up and using the Smart Modem. Loss of the HG659 while away from home was a pain.

Yes I am losing everything including LAN and Wi-Fi (but I guess these are LAN too to other routers)

Currently on the helpline with Spark - and they will send me a new Smart Modem. Hopefully this will fix the problem!!

Stan999

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2666247 1-Mar-2021 14:04

Gordy7:
When you have the LAN cable plugged into the HG659, does the HG659 show up in the Smart Modem Device list?

Maybe the HG659 WiFi connected computer can't see the Smart Modem DHCP server.

You could try static LAN IPs in the computer you are connecting to HG659 WiFi.

192.168.1.101 Computer LAN

255.255.255.0 Mask

192.168.1.254 Smart Modem Gateway address

You might also need some DNS settings in your computer LAN settings.

8.8.8.8

and

8.8.4.4

Thanks for your suggestion. I’ll give it a go once confident about the smart modem and needing to switch back. I’ve had a problem with my PS5 since switching over, despite its wifi tests running ok and getting 65 mbps wifi speed my gameplay freezes for a couple of seconds a few times an hour. This never happened with the old modem which only had 35 mbps. Is this the modem resetting problem that other people have referred to or something else?

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