RBI Modem options

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kiwiandy

160 posts

Master Geek

#196021 16-May-2016 13:37

I have just moved house where I was on an ADSL2 connection that reliably gave me 5+ MBPS transfer rates and and unlimited plan (although I seldom used more than 80GB per month) and moved to a new house, closer to the city that only has ADSL.

I am now giving up on my <<1MBPS ADSL connection, and trying to decide between Spark and VF or other RBI connection.

Reading the various threads on here it appears that the Huawei B315 modem doesnt offer CA and hence data speeds may not be optimum? Do you have to use the supplied modem or can you buy your own (assuming there is a better solution from Netcomm/Dlink etc) and use that instead?

Does the standard installation include an external antenna/antennas ?

coffeebaron

6233 posts

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#1553576 16-May-2016 14:05

You can only use the supplied B315 router as the connection is SIM locked to this hardware.

Depends on coverage / ISP as to whether or not external antenna is supplied.

I do installs for http://www.ultimatebroadband.co.nz/rbi-wireless.html from Waikato to Northland. You have the option of no antenna, single antenna or dual antenna. Also IP address is non-CGNAT and static IP on request.

I also do installs in BoP for http://fullflavour.nz/rural-wireless-broadband/ Optional 2nd antenna too.

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kiwiandy

160 posts

Master Geek

#1559356 25-May-2016 13:19

ok thanks for the reply, Am in Canterbury so guess you wont be that cost effective for my install :)

One more question about the Huawei Modem (yes I have tried googling the specs but cannot find the answer) is the wifi dual band or just 2GHZ only?

tangerz

625 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1559399 25-May-2016 15:06

kiwiandy:

ok thanks for the reply, Am in Canterbury so guess you wont be that cost effective for my install :)

One more question about the Huawei Modem (yes I have tried googling the specs but cannot find the answer) is the wifi dual band or just 2GHZ only?

I'm pretty sure it's 802.11 b/g/n on the 2.4 GHz band only. No 5 GHz as far as I'm aware. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong....

staticnz

151 posts

Master Geek

#1559439 25-May-2016 16:03

tangerz:

kiwiandy:

ok thanks for the reply, Am in Canterbury so guess you wont be that cost effective for my install :)

One more question about the Huawei Modem (yes I have tried googling the specs but cannot find the answer) is the wifi dual band or just 2GHZ only?

I'm pretty sure it's 802.11 b/g/n on the 2.4 GHz band only. No 5 GHz as far as I'm aware. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong....

Assuming its the same as the Spark one then yes, that's correct.

SCUBADOO

192 posts

Master Geek

#1559493 25-May-2016 17:43

FWIW We have a Huawei Model B315S - 607 router in our motorhome connected to the Vodafone RBI network.

Sitting here about 5km from Cromwell the current 4G speed is: Download 43.85Mbps - Upload 42.22Mbps - Ping 44ms.
Did I say I'm very impressed.
No external antenna fitted.
It does drop sharply during peak hours though.
Our 130GB plan appears to be tied to the router. The SIM does not work in our other unlocked Huawei hotspot.

kiwiandy

160 posts

Master Geek

#1559772 26-May-2016 06:47

OK thanks for the clarification!

I thought with RBI that the modem was able to access only one cell tower, and wasnt able to be used at any other location?

coffeebaron

6233 posts

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#1559817 26-May-2016 09:35

kiwiandy:

OK thanks for the clarification!

I thought with RBI that the modem was able to access only one cell tower, and wasnt able to be used at any other location?

Vodafone don't actively lock to tower, but they can if people abuse it. RBI is suppose to be at a fixed address.

Do checkout Ultimate Broadband they are South Island based and may be able to help with RBI or even their own network depending on where you are.

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

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SCUBADOO

192 posts

Master Geek

#1559818 26-May-2016 09:35

kiwiandy:

... I thought with RBI that the modem was able to access only one cell tower, and wasnt able to be used at any other location?

That is the way it normally operates. I'm not saying too much on this forum. (-;

Operation has been faultless for the last two months so far from Southland to Otago. Today we hopefully traverse to snow covered Lindis into South Canterbury.

lookout

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1570188 11-Jun-2016 20:57

SCUBADOO: FWIW We have a Huawei Model B315S - 607 router in our motorhome connected to the Vodafone RBI network.

Sitting here about 5km from Cromwell the current 4G speed is: Download 43.85Mbps - Upload 42.22Mbps - Ping 44ms.
Did I say I'm very impressed.
No external antenna fitted.
It does drop sharply during peak hours though.
Our 130GB plan appears to be tied to the router. The SIM does not work in our other unlocked Huawei hotspot.

Can I ask how you got the 130gb cap? Voda RBI seems to be 80gb max.

kiwiandy

160 posts

Master Geek

#1570194 11-Jun-2016 21:01

So after much soul searching I decided to stay with Vodafone as my RBI supplier, after they assured me they would install an outside Antennae, and their retentions people offered me a small discount to stay with VF rather than swap to another service provider.

After a several week wait, they finally came and installed my modem an antenna a couple of days ago.

When they arrived, my wife gave them explicit instructions on where we wanted the modem situated ( in the centre of the house adjacent to the existing ADSL Modem/Wifi router to give best coverage throughout the house).. However they decided to install at the far end of the house) :( now we get a poor signal in the bedrooms..

Im really angry about this and called the installer, who claimed that the "cable wasnt long enough to install where we requested the modem to be situated" . I pointed out that if they also installed the yagi in the same location then the cable would have been long enough...he then went on to claim that the antenna couldnt get a signal at that location, however

1) there is no object blocking the antenna at either location for several hundred metres

2) by my calculation the antenna should be aiming due south ( 175 - 180 deg) from my house, yet they have it aiming at 149 degrees?... Im only getting 1-2 bars signal strength indication on the modem.

I called VF to complain, who told me to call Downer, who took my details a couple of days ago, and then nothing more heard as yet.

SCUBADOO

192 posts

Master Geek

#1570443 12-Jun-2016 13:23

lookout:
Can I ask how you got the 130gb cap? Voda RBI seems to be 80gb max.

Netspeed offer 80GB Peak and 50GB Off Peak for $100/month

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18660 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1570479 12-Jun-2016 14:40

I'm on Netspeed, same deal. I have had issues with RBI reception though it seems to be working fairly well at the moment. I'm on the reception fringe, 20+ km from the mast through trees and over the crest of a hill. Main problem now seems to be congestion at busy times, when our speed can drop below streaming level. I installed a second antenna and our best speeds are now around 50 mbps. When we were having problems the modem would switch between different masts looking for the best signal, so it is definitely not locked to any one.

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raytaylor

4014 posts

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Trusted

#1570771 12-Jun-2016 23:45

kiwiandy:

So after much soul searching I decided to stay with Vodafone as my RBI supplier, after they assured me they would install an outside Antennae, and their retentions people offered me a small discount to stay with VF rather than swap to another service provider.

After a several week wait, they finally came and installed my modem an antenna a couple of days ago.

When they arrived, my wife gave them explicit instructions on where we wanted the modem situated ( in the centre of the house adjacent to the existing ADSL Modem/Wifi router to give best coverage throughout the house).. However they decided to install at the far end of the house) :( now we get a poor signal in the bedrooms..

Im really angry about this and called the installer, who claimed that the "cable wasnt long enough to install where we requested the modem to be situated" . I pointed out that if they also installed the yagi in the same location then the cable would have been long enough...he then went on to claim that the antenna couldnt get a signal at that location, however

1) there is no object blocking the antenna at either location for several hundred metres

2) by my calculation the antenna should be aiming due south ( 175 - 180 deg) from my house, yet they have it aiming at 149 degrees?... Im only getting 1-2 bars signal strength indication on the modem.

I called VF to complain, who told me to call Downer, who took my details a couple of days ago, and then nothing more heard as yet.

You should also get up on the roof (if you are suitably qualified) and check if the installer used roofing silicone to seal the mast anchor screws.

I was on a roof earlier today and saw the vf rbi installer had not used silicon, thus leaving four holes for water entry around the anchor screws (which werent torqued tight at all) on the decramastic roof.

Some of the installs are quite shocking.

However the length of the cable does affect the signal level, and the position of the antenna does also affect the service. A tree in the path can cause signal fluctuations and hills can cause reflections.

They may also have the antenna aimed at a less congested tower, but it wouldnt surprise me if it simply wasnt tightened and has been flapping around in the wind.

Ray Taylor

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