Upgrading to Fibre, is my current router ok?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Upgrading to Fibre, is my current router ok?

MileHighKiwi

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#252809 12-Jul-2019 14:40

I'm considering moving from Vodafone FibreX 200 to Fibre with Spark and am confused about whether my current modem is suitable, or if I need to stump up the $14.95 courier fee for Spark's modem. I take it the VF supplied router (Huawei?) will no longer be required?

Cheers!

Salami

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#2275380 12-Jul-2019 14:48

It'll work.
Your current router for fibre is ok.

For fibre they just plug a network cable from the ONT device onto the WAN port of your current router to broadcast and receive internet traffic so it doesn't really matter what router you use

bignose

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#2275391 12-Jul-2019 15:23

Salami:

It'll work.
Your current router for fibre is ok.

For fibre they just plug a network cable from the ONT device onto the WAN port of your current router to broadcast and receive internet traffic so it doesn't really matter what router you use

except that for Spark the router has to be able to handle VLAN tagging on the wan port - which isn't a given on all routers (especially older ones).

Also obviously it needs to be able to keep up with the connection whilst running PPPoE - generally ok on 100 or 200mbit/s connections, but again can become an issue on older routers if you've gone for full speed

cyril7

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#2275396 12-Jul-2019 15:43

The Voda FibreX also runs vlan10 tagging on their WAN, so not sure what your on about, regardless Voda Huawei routers are identical to the Spark ones best I can tell.

Cyril

MileHighKiwi

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#2275406 12-Jul-2019 16:08

Thanks for the replies everyone, have a good weekend!

MileHighKiwi

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#2283001 24-Jul-2019 18:33

Well this turned into an absolute clusterfuc* and tomorrow I'm heading to a Spark store to get a Spark router.

The Chorus guys wouldn't help re-configure the Vodafone router, they said I need to speak with Spark and/or Vodafone. (Don't get me started on the install team from Chorus, absolute muppets, after 5 hours at my house they told me there was no space in the exchange and Chorus needs to extend the cabinet, weeks or months away they say, then they turn back up today "sorry, there was space, we got it wrong!!!)

Called Spark, "yes, you can use that, here's a link to the set up instructions (how to set up a non spark modem)"

Got into the router no problem but could not edit anything.

Called Vodafone; "you don't need to do that, you just need to enter your spark id and password.

Call Spark back; "that info is on the link we sent you" (user@spark.co.nz / password), I enter it, form rejects it with an error message "The value range is [100~1452]".

Call Spark back; "you need a new router"

This took about 2 hours from the time the Chorus guys left.

Seriously frustrated.

cyril7

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#2283009 24-Jul-2019 18:41

This does not sound right, it's very straightforward, bit of a bugger.

Cyril

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Spyware

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#2283016 24-Jul-2019 18:55

MileHighKiwi:

Called Vodafone; "you don't need to do that, you just need to enter your spark id and password.

Call Spark back; "that info is on the link we sent you" (user@spark.co.nz / password), I enter it, form rejects it with an error message "The value range is [100~1452]".

And did you choose PPPoE as the connection type??

MileHighKiwi

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#2283025 24-Jul-2019 19:09

Spyware:
MileHighKiwi:

Called Vodafone; "you don't need to do that, you just need to enter your spark id and password.

Call Spark back; "that info is on the link we sent you" (user@spark.co.nz / password), I enter it, form rejects it with an error message "The value range is [100~1452]".

And did you choose PPPoE as the connection type??

Absolutely. "A user account is required for PPPoE connections"

I've tried 3 browsers thinking its an issue with the form in the page.

tdgeek

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#2283027 24-Jul-2019 19:14

$14-95 sounds a good deal. Plus if you needed to factory reset it, it stays Spark savvy, no need to re set-up it again. And if you have an issue, Spark can support as they can access it.

sbiddle

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#2283043 24-Jul-2019 19:51

Technically speaking no reconfiguration at all would be required to move from VF UFB to Spark UFB. They both use PPPoE and VLAN10 tagging but as Spark use port based auth it would authenticate fine using the VF PPPoE details.

A router configured and working on VF would simply reconnect to Spark with zero changes once the UFB transition occurs.

It is also not the job of Chorus to reconfigure CPE. They are not paid to do this, and it's part of their job. They will however plug in RSP supplied hardware that is configured.

cyril7

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#2283055 24-Jul-2019 20:21

So just confirming this works, I have recently done exactly the same for a client, as for what creds to put in the pppoe session, it will take anything as long as its correctly formated it could be santa@northpole.ice and password frozen and it will work, it just has to be valid to be accepted by the modems web code as spark dont use it, they use port based authentication so ignore the creds, they just need to satisfy the modems web code to get it to accept.

Cyril