Sudden Decrease of 4G signal level on Wireless Broadband

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Sudden Decrease of 4G signal level on Wireless Broadband

aaristotle

145 posts

Master Geek

#205310 8-Nov-2016 13:06

This morning our Spark 4G Wireless Broadband speed dropped from 20 Mb/s download to varying from 300Kb to 3MBs.

On checking the signal level lights on the modem I found it was toggling from 0-1 out of 3 bars, and on the modem web management page 0-1 bar out of 5. For the last 5 weeks it has been 2-3 bars out of 3 on the modem and 4 out 5 bars on the web page.

I called Spark however after power cycling the modem no improvement was noticed. Apart from taking a record of possible 4G data issues in the area in case others started reporting similar issues the helpdesk person couldn't provide any other escalation path.

I am in Mangawhai Heads (Quail Way) so I am not sure how prevalent Wireless broadband would be in the area, and if anyone else would notice a speed decrease and then bother to report it.

I also noticed at the same location I am only getting H+ on my Spark phone instead of the 4G symbol I was getting previously, and similar speeds as the modem is running at now.

Its blowing a gale up here at the moment so is there any likelyhood of an antenna on a tower being blown out of alignment?

Any other possible ideas? Nothing has changed at the house I'm in.

firefuze

510 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1665736 8-Nov-2016 14:04

May not be of much help, don't know which team you spoke with at Spark orginally but could be worth trying their dedicated Wireless Broadband support desk at 0800 500 049

aaristotle

145 posts

Master Geek

#1665813 8-Nov-2016 15:53

That was the number I called on, although I suspect I was transferred to the level 1 help desk.

It hasn't improved at all, and though it stays connected even with 0 bars showing, Internet network traffic stops for a few minutes before recovering again for a similar period.

I will try calling again and see if there are any other avenues to try.

aaristotle

145 posts

Master Geek

#1666214 9-Nov-2016 08:53

I don't know if it was coincidence but as the wind started to die down about 6pm last night reception went up to 2 bars out of 5 and download speed of about 15Mbs. This morning it's perfectly still, 3 bars out of 5 and download speed is 34Mbs.

BarTender

3606 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1666275 9-Nov-2016 09:24

aaristotle:

I don't know if it was coincidence but as the wind started to die down about 6pm last night reception went up to 2 bars out of 5 and download speed of about 15Mbs. This morning it's perfectly still, 3 bars out of 5 and download speed is 34Mbs.

Perhaps getting a dedicated directional antenna might be the go. Weather can most definitly impact your signal strength.

surfrazgandhi

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1666318 9-Nov-2016 10:38

Please pm me your Spark Acc#.

Thanks

Surfraz Gandhi

wirelessresolve

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1666454 9-Nov-2016 13:00

Hi there aaristotle

I work on the Spark Wireless Resolve helpdesk for this product. If you contact us on 0800 830 830 (our direct number for the Wireless Helpdesk) - just push 0 when the automated responder starts talking, and you'll be redirected to the dedicated helpdesk. Just mention this Geekzone topic as well so we can get the ball rolling quicker.

Thanks