Considering switching to Spark

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Considering switching to Spark - a few questions

lokhor

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#277028 22-Sep-2020 14:22

I am currently with MyRepublic, who I went with for various reasons including a 3 month discount and the fact that I have Google Wi-Fi which doesn't support VLAN tagging and they allow turning this off. I found out after I joined that they use CGNAT though so I have to pay for a static IP to be able to access services on my PC at home. I also work from home most of the time, and have found the stability to be a little poor with some services (MS Teams for example) dropping out frequently some of the time even on a wired connection. I'm on a full 950/450mbps plan so its $108/month.

I am thinking about switching to Spark because they have a pretty sweet deal with the Xbox Series X + Gamepass for $52/month. I also pay $22/month for Netflix Premium and I believe there might be a plan that will reduce this?

My questions are:

What is performance like?
Do Spark do CGNAT?
How can I use Google Wifi, will Spark let me turn off VLAN tagging?
- If Spark don't turn off VLAN tagging what options do I have for a cheap bridge that will fit into a tiny comms box?
Are there any good deals I can take advantage of?

Cheers,

Nick

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

nztim

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#2572099 22-Sep-2020 14:26

UGH @ My republic,

big pipe and skinny both spark brands don’t use VLAN10 tagging spark do

TBH not having VLAN Tagging on google wifi makes the product inferior for the NZ market

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

l43a2

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#2572100 22-Sep-2020 14:28

What is performance like? Good
Do Spark do CGNAT? No
How can I use Google Wifi, will Spark let me turn off VLAN tagging? No, Spark uses VLAN tagging 10

lokhor

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#2572101 22-Sep-2020 14:30

nztim: UGH @ My republic,

big pipe and skinny both spark brands don’t use VLAN10 tagging spark do

TBH not having VLAN Tagging on google wifi makes the product inferior for the NZ market

Yeah I know its a pain in the butt that Google Wi-Fi doesn't support it, and I wouldn't buy one new. I got it second hand for cheap from relatives and don't really want to spend on another mesh WiFi setup.

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nztim

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#2572106 22-Sep-2020 14:44

lokhor:

nztim: UGH @ My republic,

big pipe and skinny both spark brands don’t use VLAN10 tagging spark do

TBH not having VLAN Tagging on google wifi makes the product inferior for the NZ market

Yeah I know its a pain in the butt that Google Wi-Fi doesn't support it, and I wouldn't buy one new. I got it second hand for cheap from relatives and don't really want to spend on another mesh WiFi setup.

I would consider bigpipe then, no fees for statics apart from the one off, and your google wiifi will work just fine

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

chevrolux

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#2572111 22-Sep-2020 14:50

Just get a little tiny Mikrotik to do the VLAN tagging and you can use Google Wifi on Spark - @sbiddle did a write up on his blog about how to configure a Mikrotik to do that.

Something like this will be perfect - although it runs SwitchOS rather than RouterOS which is what Steve's guide follows. Regardless, it will do the job of tagging the VLAN for you without issue.

lokhor

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#2572121 22-Sep-2020 15:02

chevrolux:

Just get a little tiny Mikrotik to do the VLAN tagging and you can use Google Wifi on Spark - @sbiddle did a write up on his blog about how to configure a Mikrotik to do that.

Something like this will be perfect - although it runs SwitchOS rather than RouterOS which is what Steve's guide follows. Regardless, it will do the job of tagging the VLAN for you without issue.

Thanks, after some extensive googling I found his article here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/sbiddle/8744

I have an old Huawei router that I previously set up as a bridge for this purpose, but was concerned about space and power in the comms cabinet I have. Might just have to figure something out there though as I don't really want to spend $90.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

SATTV

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#2572177 22-Sep-2020 15:14

Look at Voyager.

Can turn off VLAN tagging

Does not do CG-NAT

One off fee for static IP

No contracts.

Human answer the phone in New Zealand.

Cost is very good too.

I know enough to be dangerous