Fixed Wireless Geo-Locking

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Fixed Wireless Geo-Locking

ajobbins

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#261576 4-Dec-2019 15:44

Does anyone know the current state of geo-locked for Skinny fixed wireless broadband? I know they have in their T&Cs that they can disconnect you if you 'move the device without telling them', but how likely is that to be enforced?

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#2368189 4-Dec-2019 16:03

Not very. According to 1st hand experience. Modem installed nowhere near the account's nominal address, never has been.

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#2368198 4-Dec-2019 16:15

I do have a modem I want to get rid of. Used it at home during trials, then moved to Plimmerton for in-laws to use while waiting for fibre in new home. I asked a Geekzone contact at Skinny (who has now left the company) to make sure to change the address... A few months back I plugged it here at home to check when the SIM expires and got an email almost straight away complaining about location with a warning.

I actually contacted Skinny support to change address - never got a reply and don't know if it worked but I turned it on this week to check expiration again and no warning...

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SATTV

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#2368202 4-Dec-2019 16:17

I got this for home when it first came out and it was great, then sucked due to over subscription.

I was going on holiday and asked if I could take it there, I gave them the address and when I arrived I topped up my account.

Two week later, holiday over and took it back to Auckland, I was using Skinny back at my place and I got an email within two days saying that I had to stop or they would block me.

So yes they can tell and do send notices.

It is very easy for them to do.

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ajobbins

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#2368204 4-Dec-2019 16:20

SATTV:

I was going on holiday and asked if I could take it there, I gave them the address and when I arrived I topped up my account.

Was the holiday address in a place they official offer coverage? Looks like they have specifically locked out certain areas that are common holiday spots

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SATTV

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#2368207 4-Dec-2019 16:24

ajobbins:

SATTV:

I was going on holiday and asked if I could take it there, I gave them the address and when I arrived I topped up my account.

Was the holiday address in a place they official offer coverage? Looks like they have specifically locked out certain areas that are common holiday spots

Yes - it was Omokoroa.

When we asked the following year they said no as it was at capacity.

If you want portability go to Netspeed. Cost more but you are not geolocked and you get a static IP

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hio77

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#2368220 4-Dec-2019 16:48

Please do not rely on the fact that geolocking might not be enforced.

it will be, and pleading ignorance isn't a valid excuse.

The process for updating addresses is simple...

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#2368226 4-Dec-2019 17:03

@hio77:

The process for updating addresses is simple...

Except I followed the process (email from account, serial number, modem number, account number, etc) and never got a reply from Skinny. As I said I am thinking of getting rid of the modem (in Offers/Wanted) but if not gone by 23 Dec, then it's a e-waste dump.

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hio77

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#2368245 4-Dec-2019 17:28

freitasm:

hio77:

The process for updating addresses is simple...

Except I followed the process (email from account, serial number, modem number, account number, etc) and never got a reply from Skinny. As I said I am thinking of getting rid of the modem (in Offers/Wanted) but if not gone by 23 Dec, then it's a e-waste dump.

I can't comment on that transaction you had with support.

the geolocking is bound to the service, not the modem itself to be clear.

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#2368247 4-Dec-2019 17:29

Correct. The service address is linked to the SIM/account.

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nutbugs

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#2368343 4-Dec-2019 19:44

@freitasm is the skinny modem sim locked? What model is it? I use netspeed and am on the lookout for a backup modem. They always fail at a crucial time 😊

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#2368353 4-Dec-2019 20:03

I have no idea of SIM locked... If it is a normal SIM size I could not test as I only have nano SIM here - will check. Look for my thread on the other sub-forum.

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#2368381 4-Dec-2019 20:41

Locked to 4g last I checked...

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#2368383 4-Dec-2019 20:45

The modems are locked to Skinny or Spark SIMs, not the exact SIM but provider locked.

I've tried swapping Spark & Skinny SIMs between Huawei modems - works fine, just set the profile to suit.

However neither Voda nor 2DM SIM showed any interest in connecting when fitted to a Spark or Skinny supplied modem.

Same with the Spark / Skinny cards in a D-Link 4G router - no action at all.

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#2368451 4-Dec-2019 21:25

I've tested both Vodafone and 2degrees SIMs in Skinny modem. Works no problem, just change the APN and it's 4G only.

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Jiriteach

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#2368526 5-Dec-2019 03:55

Following the process, I tied to update my address with customer service yesterday and they told me, they don’t even have an address for me!

Arguably I’ve only moved literally 200m up the road so it’s not a biggie but after spending a while talking with them, they didn’t even hold an address for me!

Also, yes the Hauwei’s (B315 and B618) work with 2degrees and Vodafone sims but are locked to 4G. Just need to set the APN.

I ended up also purchasing a Vodafone B315 which has firmware that supports mixed mode (3G and 4G) which is nice! I use this for 2degrees and Vodafone sims. It has specific firmware for the Vodafone network.

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