Configuring D-link DWR-956 4G Router on Spark network

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Configuring D-link DWR-956 4G Router on Spark network

marcelnz

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#271941 2-Jun-2020 21:41

I'm currently on Spark's Rural Broadband internet plan which came with a Huawei B315s-607 router.

Which has been pretty good for most of the last few years, but not without a few limitations regarding wi-fi coverage around the house, as well some dips in 4G network connectivity.

It was suggested by a few people that I should look into buying a 3rd party router which should improve network connectivity as well as extending the wi-fi range (comparative to the supplied router)

So after looking online for 4G routers, I settled on the D-link DWR-956 as it 'supported' Sparks network.

However, I've not been able to get it to connect to the network....

* The retailer has suggested reading the manufacturers manual, and failing that raising a ticket with d-link customer support.

* Spark has stated they don't support non-Spark provided routers. But I should just be able to put the SIM card in, follow the routers installation wizard and wished me good luck.

* I've read a few forums, but most of it is far beyond my technical level (I've tried different APNs including an APN suggested by Spark that I hadn't seen in any forums, but no luck - or more likely I'm just trying stuff without knowing enough to get it right)

so, has anyone had any success in setting up a non-Spark router on the 4G network.... or is it a case of the supplied SIM being somehow locked to the supplied router?

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Jase2985

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#2497082 2-Jun-2020 21:58

curious to who these people were that made the suggestions to buy a different modem

@hio77 might have some input

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coffeebaron

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#2497083 2-Jun-2020 22:02

Most likely Spark SIM is TAC locked to only work in the B315 or possibly B618. Some RBI resellers can supply unlocked SIM, but don't know about this on Spark's network.

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hio77

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#2497088 2-Jun-2020 22:16

The network won't allow your modem, careful reading things online as what works on one provider doesn't mean it instantly translates to another.

I'd recommend a mesh system in bridge mode if you require further coverage.

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marcelnz

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#2497099 2-Jun-2020 22:39

There are two things that led me to believe that the router is supported the Spark network:

1) the retailer claimed it (they state "Support Spark/Vodafone/2degree 4G/LTE Network, Include Band 28/ LTE-700MHz for rural area")

2) the router itself has some pre-configured defaults for "Spark NZ" and "Spark Mobile" when going through the setup wizard

So I'm left wondering if it is the type of SIM supplied with the Huawei router that is locked. (and that there could there be other Spark SIMs that work???)

OR, if there is no Spark SIM that will work, then d-link (and by extension the retailer) are misrepresenting what networks the router can support. (they should at least be able to explain how to connect it to the network they claim to support).

(at the end of the day, I'll just return the router)

sbiddle

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#2497174 3-Jun-2020 07:34

marcelnz:

There are two things that led me to believe that the router is supported the Spark network:

1) the retailer claimed it (they state "Support Spark/Vodafone/2degree 4G/LTE Network, Include Band 28/ LTE-700MHz for rural area")

2) the router itself has some pre-configured defaults for "Spark NZ" and "Spark Mobile" when going through the setup wizard

So I'm left wondering if it is the type of SIM supplied with the Huawei router that is locked. (and that there could there be other Spark SIMs that work???)

OR, if there is no Spark SIM that will work, then d-link (and by extension the retailer) are misrepresenting what networks the router can support. (they should at least be able to explain how to connect it to the network they claim to support).

(at the end of the day, I'll just return the router)

You're confusing "the router will work with Spark" with "will the router work with my Spark FWA connection".

Yes the router you purchased will work with a Spark 4G connection. If you go and buy a prepaid or on account Spark (or 2degrees, or Vodafone) SIM card it will work perfectly.

You however signed up for a Spark fixed wireless account that is a fully end to end managed wireless solution that is tied to the hardware Spark supply. There is NO way to use 3rd party hardware with your Spark FWA connection. There are however plenty of people out there who would use such hardware in NZ on all 3 networks because not everybody is using Spark's managed FWA solution.

Nobody is misrepresenting anything - you obviously just assumed that you could use 3rd party hardware with your solution, but that is simple not the case. If you want better WiFi performance the solution is no different to a fixed line fibre or copper connection - buying a standalone wireless access point or a WiFi Mesh solution is always the best approach.

marcelnz

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#2497206 3-Jun-2020 08:55

Thanks for all the responses.

Not for a moment did I believe d-link misrepresented its capability, it's just I've been battling with this for a few days as the other help has loosely translated to 'it should work' so as a last resort I decided to post something here.

And yes, I did make a number of assumptions in the lead up to purchasing the router. (from having successfully used 3rd party routers on ADSL connections, from accepting that the router supported Sparks network, to mentioning to the retailer I was on Rural Broadband). It didn't occur to me to think that the RBI SIM was part of a managed solution (and now I know better).

Thanks again.

hio77

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#2497212 3-Jun-2020 09:14

marcelnz:

Thanks for all the responses.

Not for a moment did I believe d-link misrepresented its capability, it's just I've been battling with this for a few days as the other help has loosely translated to 'it should work' so as a last resort I decided to post something here.

And yes, I did make a number of assumptions in the lead up to purchasing the router. (from having successfully used 3rd party routers on ADSL connections, from accepting that the router supported Sparks network, to mentioning to the retailer I was on Rural Broadband). It didn't occur to me to think that the RBI SIM was part of a managed solution (and now I know better).

Thanks again.

For the Fixed Wireless Product to be supported End to End, there are different APN's used to deliver the service.

These APN's are restricted. This allows the quality of the product to be a defined experience rather than the wild west that we have in fixed line products.

Alot of the Fixed Wireless Product's testing and assurance is built around particular device models.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.