Huawei HG630b + Gigatown

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Huawei HG630b + Gigatown

paul151

309 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#171245 10-Apr-2015 20:32

Hi there,

Just in the process of getting connected to fibre in the coming week or so.
I have been sent a Huawei HG630b in the mail and expect a call from Chorus in the coming week (fingers crossed) to arrange an install date.
As I'm in Dunedin I have signed up with Spark and their Gigatown promotion https://www.spark.co.nz/gigatown and start on the ultra fibre 100 plan until Spark offer the gigabit speeds.
I can see the HG630b will cut it for now but my question is will I be sent an upgraded modem like the HG659 (or similar) when the gigabit speeds are launched? It seems a bit silly to send out a bit of kit with only 100mb ports on it as part of a Gigatown promo, especially when there is a model higher that handles gigabit lan.

thommonz

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1333836 30-Jun-2015 08:17

I'm new to the Huawei HG630b and I'm on my road of discovery with it.

I had a Technicolor 589vnV2 (VDSL connection as I don't have fibre in my area yet) which I looked to replace because it had some disconnection issues. Spark 'only have one model' which was this HG630b the basic difference being that the Technicolor was ADSL/VDSL where as the HG630b is ADSL/VDSL/Fibre.

I'm less that 24hrs into my use of the HG630b and while it was straightforward to connect & get running, I'm finding that its far less configurable than the Technicolor. I had ports forwarded to a Linux machine (that I set up in the NAT menu in the 630b but don't seem to work), DDNS settings that have mandatory options that there is no help for (so that doesn't work) [Basically DDNS means that you can register a domain or subdomain and have a dynamic IP address. On connection to the network, the modem automatically updates your service details to update your IP address.] and finally, in the Technicolor I was able to assign friendly names to devices on the network, but now I can't do it and have to remember all the devices by either IP address or emac!!

Its early days, but I'm starting to think that the 630b is a mistake and I should ditch it and get something else (or go back to the Technicolor).

I'd recommend that you have a good internet-read about the 630b and not be afraid to put a few additional dollars in to get something that will meet or exceed your needs. Remember the difference in buying the Spark provided kit is that if there is a problem, they are obliged to walk you through to a solution which includes the modem. If you don't use their modem, their support is limited. Plus, they will charge it to your bill for easy payment.

Good luck!

cbrpilot

955 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Spark NZ

#1333981 30-Jun-2015 11:00

Hi Paul, yes you will need the HG659b when you get upgraded to Gigatown. When we upgrade you we will sort you out in this regard I understand.

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.