upgraded to Spark 900/400

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › upgraded to Spark 900/400

Davoid

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#261935 23-Dec-2019 14:08

I have upgraded form the 100/20 fibre plan (been on it for about 2 years which normally gave me speed test readings of 90 to 100 download and 15 to 20 upload) to the 900/400 unplan fibre max. I was only changed over last Friday, but all speed tests done at different times of the day I can only seem to get about 200 download and 150 upload. I am using a Netgear R7000 which should be fine for the 900/400 limits. I know you won't get the full speeds, but i thought I would have gotten a lot better results than I do. Attached is my latest reading.

Is this normal sort of readings or should I be getting higher speeds?

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#2380457 23-Dec-2019 14:12

Not enough info to help sorry.

Cheers - N

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surfisup1000

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#2380458 23-Dec-2019 14:12

Are you running speed tests over ethernet cable?

The R7000 is 6 years old .... I wouldn't be confident it is up to the task, being a 6-year-old consumer-grade and non-supported router. Not saying it isn't capable, but, are you sure?

Try using the free spark modem to see if you get better speeds.

toejam316

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#2380459 23-Dec-2019 14:16

Do your speedtests to Spark's servers, and also, what sort of computer are you running your test from, over what sort of network interface, and how is your Nighthawk configured? They can just slog along at Gigabit, but in all honesty unless you NEED bells and whistles from the Nighthawk, my personal recommendation is to sell it and get one of the new Spark Smart Modems.

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Linux

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#2380464 23-Dec-2019 14:27

@Davoid That results looks like it's done over Wi-Fi which will be a bottle neck on the network

hio77

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#2380465 23-Dec-2019 14:28

Double check your running the latest firmware.

That looks cpu bound. Netgears routers are pretty bad for their pppoe support at high speed.

Many of them have been given updates to resolve this though.

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Davoid

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#2380471 23-Dec-2019 14:46

Looks like I may have jumped the gun, just spoke with Spark and my changeover may still be going through the process (even though i received an email saying all was good to go). They are going to come back to me with an answer to when and if I need a new router.

Anyway thanks for any advice.

Also forgot to mention, that my R7000 has the latest update.

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0verdose05

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#2380479 23-Dec-2019 15:20

I found that the R7000 netgear didn't allow for CTF (cut through forwading) by default so had to install advanced tomato OS instead to get line speeds.

hio77

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#2380495 23-Dec-2019 15:33

0verdose05:
I found that the R7000 netgear didn't allow for CTF (cut through forwading) by default so had to install advanced tomato OS instead to get line speeds.

Which is exactly what this sounds like.

Spark can't really keep a list of these though. Take for example the r8000 it also had this issue. But that particular model did get the fixed firmware.
Very hard for us to mantain that list. Essesially when it could get fixed by say for arguments sake.. 2degrees working with netgear as a common nz vendor. Netgear wouldn't tell us unless we also raised the issue.

Making third party vendors support a common network configuration just can be rough.

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wratterus

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#2380497 23-Dec-2019 15:38

Yep all those Netgear routers struggle to get any decent speeds with PPPoE. Pickup a HG659 off trademe to test with if you don't have one already. Also, what is the spec of the computer you're using to test with?

Edit - are you are definitely using Ethernet to test right?

Jase2985

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#2380500 23-Dec-2019 15:42

plug the spark supplied router in then test and post the results, will quickly and easily tell you if its the router or not

sbiddle

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#2380562 23-Dec-2019 17:57

There will be nothing wrong with the Spark connection. Your setup will be the issue.

Replace your poor quality router with the Spark HG659b and providing your PC is capable of Gigabit (many aren't) you'll see your speeds increase.

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hio77

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#2380564 23-Dec-2019 17:59

sbiddle:
There will be nothing wrong with the Spark connection. Your setup will be the issue.

Replace your poor quality router with the Spark HG659b and providing your PC is capable of Gigabit (many aren't) you'll see your speeds increase.

It's the spark smart modem now, get with the times Steve!

Hg659b is totally fine for gbit too though.

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Davoid

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#2380685 24-Dec-2019 08:20

on Ethernet connection.

Changed Netgear to the supplied Router from Spark, checked all settings to make sure same as listed on Spark site (HG630b - supplied under original fibre connection) all internet was working fine and did another speed test, but all i could get on the download speed was 90 to 95. Will wait to hear back from Spark.

Thanks all for the help

wratterus

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#2380687 24-Dec-2019 08:24

The HG630b only has 100mbit ports!

coffeebaron

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#2380688 24-Dec-2019 08:25

If speed is 90 something, most likely cause is Ethernet cable between ONT and Router, causing port to connect at 100Mbps.

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