Electric Kiwi now retailing fibre

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jonathan18

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#2932436 21-Jun-2022 11:33

raytaylor:
I am pretty sure the NF18MESH is just an NF18ACV with a different firmware designed to make it easy to link the little mesh unit they also make which is a store-and-forward repeater.

The NF18ACV is a good router, has a few firmware interface bugs that will annoy IT technicians (change the local IP range from 192.168.20.0/24 and you cant login anymore) but works well for home users. The only thing i really dont like about it is the wifi range is pretty bad.

Thanks for this @raytaylor - useful to know it’s an ok device; while I’m not keen on the interface (or, at least earlier versions of it), in the end it’s not like I’ll spend lots of time fiddling with it…

Just to be sure - I’m not going to hit any limitations re number of devices connected to the network? (I’m thinking of the limits of wireless devices connected to the HG659.) I’m assuming that, as I’m using separate APs, any equivalent limit won’t be an issue anyway? Similarly, using APs also means the cruddy WiFi of the Netcomm won’t be an issue.

So, just to check - there would be no advantages of me going with the Orbi over the Netcomm?

raytaylor

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#2932804 21-Jun-2022 19:48

jonathan18:

Just to be sure - I’m not going to hit any limitations re number of devices connected to the network? (I’m thinking of the limits of wireless devices connected to the HG659.) I’m assuming that, as I’m using separate APs, any equivalent limit won’t be an issue anyway? Similarly, using APs also means the cruddy WiFi of the Netcomm won’t be an issue.

So, just to check - there would be no advantages of me going with the Orbi over the Netcomm?

Assume any router or wireless AP will accept 16 devices at any one time - idle or not. Its usually just a setting limit which is sometimes exposed to the webgui and can be changed.

A wireless extender wont add to that limit but another hard wired access point will allow you to add a further 16.

Some devices tout a higher number of devices as a feature can be connected but in my experience they just suffer from more packet collision collapse.

Ray Taylor

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Barnholbol

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#2933830 24-Jun-2022 11:12

Hi there. We're long-time Spark and EK customers. Looking seriously at the EK 800mbs fibre broadband plan. We have an Orbi router and would like to keep this (i.e. instead of the EK router). Will there be any issues? EK say they can provide better support with their router but while we're not super tech-savvy, we do not foresee that many issues provided the supply remains stable to our existing router?

Would appreciate any suggestions/recommendations from other members that have made the switch to EK. Thanks in advance 😃

MaxineN

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#2933845 24-Jun-2022 12:20

You should be able to configure it for IPoE/DHCP and vlan tag 10 very easily and it will just work.
The question is that since you’re wanting to go with the gig plan, can the orbi actually route 1gig?

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

jonathan18

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#2933875 24-Jun-2022 12:33

EK provide an Orbi router (with a second mesh AP I think) with their higher-speed plan (see my earlier post https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=290761&page_no=1#2930684) so, even if you do take up their supplied equipment it could well be fairly similar in usability/interface to your current model.

timmmay

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#2933903 24-Jun-2022 13:21

Barnholbol:

Hi there. We're long-time Spark and EK customers. Looking seriously at the EK 800mbs fibre broadband plan. We have an Orbi router and would like to keep this (i.e. instead of the EK router). Will there be any issues? EK say they can provide better support with their router but while we're not super tech-savvy, we do not foresee that many issues provided the supply remains stable to our existing router?

Would appreciate any suggestions/recommendations from other members that have made the switch to EK. Thanks in advance 😃

I once messed up my Fritzbox router configuration and couldn't log in. I called 2degrees, they used their service provider login to go in and fix the problem I created, only took 20 mins. Much quicker than resetting the router and setting it up again.

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MaxineN

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#2933913 24-Jun-2022 13:51

jonathan18:

EK provide an Orbi router (with a second mesh AP I think) with their higher-speed plan (see my earlier post https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=290761&page_no=1#2930684) so, even if you do take up their supplied equipment it could well be fairly similar in usability/interface to your current model.

Oooooooo

This is actually really cool if you already have an existing Orbi.

Wonder if they allow older ones to still connect to the new ones like the decos and the asus ones.

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

liquidcore

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#2933970 24-Jun-2022 16:53

MaxineN:
jonathan18:

EK provide an Orbi router (with a second mesh AP I think) with their higher-speed plan (see my earlier post https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=49&topicid=290761&page_no=1#2930684) so, even if you do take up their supplied equipment it could well be fairly similar in usability/interface to your current model.

Oooooooo

This is actually really cool if you already have an existing Orbi.

Wonder if they allow older ones to still connect to the new ones like the decos and the asus ones.

Unfortunately not - the WiFi 5 Orbis aren’t compatible with the WiFi 6 ones

ilottl

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#2949633 2-Aug-2022 10:14

Sorry to ask, but has anyone has experience setting up / configuring a Synology RT2600ac for Electric Kiwi or use with Vocus.

Someone kindly mentioned it needs to use DHCP which the synology is capable of doing, but am unwilling to move if it didn't work..

I have been with 2degrees, skinny and spark using that router but from memory ppoe...

michaelmurfy

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#2949644 2-Aug-2022 10:58

ilottl:

Sorry to ask, but has anyone has experience setting up / configuring a Synology RT2600ac for Electric Kiwi or use with Vocus.

Read the docs: https://www.electrickiwi.co.nz/broadband/byod/

But, your router will be fine. It needs to do DHCP w/ VLAN 10.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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