Spark 4g Wireless Speed Limit

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark 4g Wireless Speed Limit

Ravsey

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#318550 28-Jan-2025 20:06

Hi I get 150mbps download at my house now, and am thinking of getting an external antenna. Would the antenna decrease latency and increase speed, and what is the cap that spark sets their customers at.

quickymart

14940 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 13953

ID Verified

#3336767 28-Jan-2025 21:02

150 for wireless is pretty good - how much are you trying to get? If you need faster can you get fibre?

Ravsey

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#3336777 28-Jan-2025 21:12

No fibre in the area, custom install for 30 houses in the area is $75600. I did test with modem outside and got 250mbps down, so i want to know how high that can go with an antenna.

Spyware

3818 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1366

Lifetime subscriber

#3336782 28-Jan-2025 21:18

Ravsey:

No fibre in the area, custom install for 30 houses in the area is $75600. I did test with modem outside and got 250mbps down, so i want to know how high that can go with an antenna.

You can only know the answer by actually installing the antenna. Given the antenna will be outside then 250 Mbps is a logical guess.

Spark Max Fibre using Mikrotik CCR1009-8G-1S-1S+, CRS125-24G-1S, Unifi UAP, U6-Pro, UAP-AC-M-Pro, Apple TV 4K (2022), Apple TV 4K (2017), iPad Air 1st gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPhone 13, SkyNZ3151 (the white box). If it doesn't move then it's data cabled.

MaxineN

Max
2049 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1662

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3336783 28-Jan-2025 21:19

@coffeebaron

Moreso that test might not be consistent as you'd have no idea what the tower load is. That 250mbps may not be there the next day or the next hour.

CB can advise on antennas and if you can figure out where your closet cell is, you can install and point at it to try and maximize.

However though, you're the same OP that asked about One NZ and 5G modems/plans. Thread.

We really should ask what we didn't in the original thread.

What is the objective you're trying to achieve? We really really need to answer this first.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

Talkiet

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#3336786 28-Jan-2025 21:29

Depends more on the cell sector you are on at that speed. 150Mbps o 4G is excellent. You're unlikely to go much quicker with an external antenna - at least not consistently.

Spend the money on a wireless mesh, or on a switch and run an ethernet cable to any PCs / streaming devices you are going to use regularly.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

MaxineN

Max
2049 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1662

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3336788 28-Jan-2025 21:33

Talkiet:

Depends more on the cell sector you are on at that speed. 150Mbps o 4G is excellent. You're unlikely to go much quicker with an external antenna - at least not consistently.

Spend the money on a wireless mesh, or on a switch and run an ethernet cable to any PCs / streaming devices you are going to use regularly.

Cheers - N

If they're pushing that much... Probably within 300 meters, at least L18+L21 on a very empty tower.

Very curious to see stats from the SM2 (it can show modem stats such as RSRP, RSRQ and the like right? Never fiddled with an SM2, only what One NZ had in the office and in the field).

Very curious to know OPs rough location... Surely there's "something."

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

Ravsey

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#3336810 28-Jan-2025 22:26

So I live in the Ohaupo area around 800m from the only spark tower in the area. My router runs on 2600mhz and 1800mhz secondary, and I want to know what I can get with an antenna, as the 2600 mhz is the fastest 4g in NZ, and I have a pretty average signal from my house to the tower. I therefore want to know if Spark has a cap that could make this upgrade useless. Can I add that most of the town is on fibre, and the neighbours are either on starlink or some crap wireless brand like purelink, so capicity is low and speeds are fairly consistent. I am also on a pc on ethernet as the house has a switch and proper ethernet setup.

MaxineN

Max
2049 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1662

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3336816 28-Jan-2025 22:45

Now that makes a lot of sense.

Here's my take on your situation a someone who used to work at one of the big 3.

I doubt One NZ has your address marked as Urban FWA which will let you jump on 5G fixed wireless. And it could be faster than Spark FWA, if you are very close to the cell site that's pretty much smack bang in the middle. (Again, address has to be OK'd for it).

TFF don't serve here either. So fibre is 100% no go.

If Spark is the only option, then an antenna would make it more consistent, you already have good levels but perhaps there's more out of L26 and L18.

Also it depends how Spark have setup that site. L26 could be a 2x2 MiMO whilst L18 could be a 4x4. Frequency isn't everything unless we're talking the very low bands like L700 and L900.

Can't be privy either, that's commercially sensitive.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

Ravsey

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#3336956 29-Jan-2025 11:05

What is the most I can expect from this low congestion tower.

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3566

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3336985 29-Jan-2025 13:14

Band 7 (L2600) is getting a bit marginal signal wise. Modem appears to also only do 2CA, which could be site dependant. An antenna would certainly improve signal, whether you'd get more speed is always the $$ question. In theory, uncongested 2CA can get over 200Mbps.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Ravsey

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#3337007 29-Jan-2025 15:21

Can the antenna decrease my latency by much. I get 35-50ma on a -100dbm.

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

Talkiet

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#3337009 29-Jan-2025 15:29

No, the antenna won't decrease your latency.

CHeers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3566

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3337144 29-Jan-2025 21:40

Talkiet:

No, the antenna won't decrease your latency.

CHeers - N

Technically that is correct, however using an external antenna results in a more consistent signal, thus can reduce latency spikes and other variations.

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Talkiet

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#3337149 29-Jan-2025 21:59

There are more contributors to latency and latency variation than the individual user's signal strength/consistency. I think it's unlikely that an external antenna would help much, if at all.

That said, there's only one way to know for sure - and it isn't asking on a forum :-)

Cheers- N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Ravsey

9 posts

Wannabe Geek
Inactive user

#3337150 29-Jan-2025 22:05

Talkiet:

There are more contributors to latency and latency variation than the individual user's signal strength/consistency. I think it's unlikely that an external antenna would help much, if at all.

That said, there's only one way to know for sure - and it isn't asking on a forum :-)

Cheers- N

*******

[Mod edit (MF): edited, banned]