Converting Spark b315 Router to work with Skinny?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Converting Spark b315 Router to work with Skinny?

noddy76

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#265463 22-Jan-2020 17:24

Is there anyway I can just grab a Skinny sim and throw it in my spark B315 router, and reflash the router if needed to get it working on Skinny wirelessBB?

Asking because i'm getting the run-around from Orcon/Chorus for a fibre install, the spark wireless broadband dies in a few days (I shouldn't have cancelled it until the fibre was installed, but too late now) and I might only need skinny wireless for a month or less, so don't want to drop $99 on a router from skinny.

hio77

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#2404800 22-Jan-2020 17:27

You are required to purchase the modem.

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noddy76

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#2404845 22-Jan-2020 17:42

Yay, another corporate policy of electronic waste maximization. I guess I can dump it at the nearest spark store for recycling once i'm done with it?

Hmm, 2nd hand skinny b315 on trademe.. I can buy and use that right?

1024kb

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#2404851 22-Jan-2020 17:53

You won't need to reflash firmware to swap from Spark to Skinny. There's a simple profile to reset - look up the details online, type it in, restart, hey, connected.

Obtaining a Skinny 4G fixed wireless SIM without buying a modem - that's gonna be the tricky bit.

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Jiriteach

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#2405012 22-Jan-2020 20:30

The service ships the Skinny routers with a sim card included. This is actually the important part.
No you cannot just throw any Skinny sim card into the device.

If you are going to buy one on TradeMe - you need to make sure, the seller has not removed the included sim card.

The firmware versions between the Spark and Skinny B315's are effectively the same just has Skinny branding.

I have a few - should really sell them.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

noddy76

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#2405015 22-Jan-2020 20:39

Thanks, put the word out and will be picking up a Skinny B315 after work tomorrow from a mate that was about to bin it.

noddy76

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#2406209 24-Jan-2020 19:36

So, after picking up said skinng 4g wireless router, how the heck does the old owner unlink the router from his account? He's poked around and can't find an unlink option anywhere? Is it a case of emailing skinny support with the router numbers?

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1024kb

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#2406215 24-Jan-2020 19:49

You can't swap owners on the Skinny system, or couldn't last time I tried. The workaround goes like this:

Get him to change the account contact email.
The contact person name is fixed, can't change that.
Delete his CC payment details & add yours.
Change account password.
All done.

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Jiriteach

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#2406231 24-Jan-2020 20:34

1024kb: You can't swap owners on the Skinny system, or couldn't last time I tried. The workaround goes like this:

Get him to change the account contact email.
The contact person name is fixed, can't change that.
Delete his CC payment details & add yours.
Change account password.
All done.

Guide on this is here - https://support.skinny.co.nz/article/selling-your-skinny-wireless-modem-673.html

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

Jiriteach

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#2406232 24-Jan-2020 20:34

noddy76:

So, after picking up said skinng 4g wireless router, how the heck does the old owner unlink the router from his account? He's poked around and can't find an unlink option anywhere? Is it a case of emailing skinny support with the router numbers?

https://support.skinny.co.nz/article/selling-your-skinny-wireless-modem-673.html

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

noddy76

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#2406238 24-Jan-2020 20:49

Okay, thanks, thats the solution we came up with anyway.. stupid bloody system that it is.

Kiwifruta

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#2406239 24-Jan-2020 20:49

Can you not call Spark and ask them to not cancel your Wireless BB service?

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#2406241 24-Jan-2020 21:05

If you want to pay Spark prices you might consider that. I switched to Skinny for the same service network with a much bigger allowance for less $$.

I figured that more data for lower price must be a better deal, even without taking my shoes & socks off.

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noddy76

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#2406291 24-Jan-2020 21:46

Kiwifruta: Can you not call Spark and ask them to not cancel your Wireless BB service?

Nope, they aren't interested in doing anything unless I sign up for a 12 month term on a new plan. They wouldn't even allow a change of address on the old plan. Otherwise I would have just moved the existing connection here and used it till we got Fibre sorted out. So now i'm with Sparks low-rent twin for a (hopefully) few weeks. But given how rubbish orcon/chorus are being, I might still be on wireless in 6 months..

Kiwifruta

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#2406332 25-Jan-2020 00:05

noddy76:

Kiwifruta: Can you not call Spark and ask them to not cancel your Wireless BB service?

Nope, they aren't interested in doing anything unless I sign up for a 12 month term on a new plan. They wouldn't even allow a change of address on the old plan. Otherwise I would have just moved the existing connection here and used it till we got Fibre sorted out. So now i'm with Sparks low-rent twin for a (hopefully) few weeks. But given how rubbish orcon/chorus are being, I might still be on wireless in 6 months..

The Skinny deal has good pricing, but hope you get fibre soon.