NF18ACV vs NF4V Netcomm

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ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2276305 14-Jul-2019 13:23

noroad:

As an FYI, there is a mesh wireless unit coming soon (this year) for the NF18 that should resolve the wifi penetration issues. The mesh unit(s) can connect via cable or wireless back to the NF18 that acts as a wifi controller.

Its not a penetration issue; the signal is good, its holding ability is where the problem is eg my phone will show a decent signal but no internet, whereas another phone will have connection. If I flip phone 2.8Ghz to 5Ghz then back the connection re-establishes. Its like the phone or TV is at fault but since its only started since the NF18 and NF4V, it would see to be a modem/wifi issue.

Cant try 802.11b defined, as with these there are no settings for specific protocols.

noroad

949 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2276582 15-Jul-2019 00:08

Are you exceeding the default 16 maximum clients per band default setting? You can up that in advanced settings.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2276666 15-Jul-2019 07:49

noroad:

Are you exceeding the default 16 maximum clients per band default setting? You can up that in advanced settings.

No, but I may have sorted it. Will give it a couple of days to be sure, and advise.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2284897 28-Jul-2019 17:47

I may have the answer.

The later firmwares dont seem to have for ADSL a setting for Annex-M which gives the higher upload throughput whereas NF18ACV.NC.AU-R6B016.EN firmware with older GUI does have.

I upgraded to this but it was buggy as hell, even though I reset the modem via the menu.

It kept dropping off connections and needing reboot until I pressed the reset button at back of modem for several seconds and redid the settings. Since then 3 days ago I have had no problems whatsoever.

Regards,

Al.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2285021 29-Jul-2019 05:53

I should have said FACTORY RESET via menu. I doubt whether you need to factory reset AND reset with RESET button, but definitely to use the RESET button (10 second press) to clear any residue errant memory locations.

nitro

657 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2285039 29-Jul-2019 08:39

ageorge:

I should have said FACTORY RESET via menu. I doubt whether you need to factory reset AND reset with RESET button, but definitely to use the RESET button (10 second press) to clear any residue errant memory locations.

yes, it is not uncommon for these devices to have those 2 reset procedures to be doing different levels of reset.

good to hear you have your issue sorted.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2285063 29-Jul-2019 10:05

nitro:

yes, it is not uncommon for these devices to have those 2 reset procedures to be doing different levels of reset.

good to hear you have your issue sorted.

Never too old to learn; but over 40 years never had to do any more than a factory reset.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2287535 2-Aug-2019 10:02

FAILED EXPERIMENT - SWAP INTERNAL AERIALS FOR EXTERNAL 2.4Ghz

This stays on same thread, as it ends up comparing the NF18 to the NF4.

I used to upgrade drone remotes from internal can aerial to external aerial which made a massive difference in their range.

So I thought why not use the same aerials and replace the Netcomm internals?

https://imgur.com/gallery/e37CGel

The above series shows steps I took to replace.

You can see I stuck cellophane over those crazy bright LED.

I used my trusty phone dbm strength to compare against. These values are relative signal strength from my office only:

To Bedroom 15m, To mailbox 20m

NF4V unmodified 55dbm,65dbm

NF18ACV unmodified 60dbm,75dbm

" short AE 60dbm,75dbm

" long AE 60dbm,70dbm

Summary that those little internal PCB aerials work well and almost as good as cheap Chinese external aerials.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2287561 2-Aug-2019 10:42

Im giving firmware NF18ACV-NC2-R6B013.EN another shot.

Anyone know if there is Annex-M setting available in this firmware where?

I had read elsewhere the later firmware had improved wifi cover and definitely agree they must be driving the amp harder:

2.4Ghz bedroom and mailbox:

50-55dbm,60-65dbm

Thats better than the NF4v only with the new firmware.

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2301465 19-Aug-2019 09:05

After several weeks of using the NF18ACV Im now used to how it behaves in our household.

Latest firmware NF18ACV-NC2-R6B013.EN has effectively increased the signal to most rooms but there continues to be serious dropouts even with a reasonable signal.

Ive now ceased using the Netcomm unit as wifi base, rather just as modem/router and feed a DIR-825 D-Link as the wifi base.

The D-Link, despite a considerably less penetration signal, provides a more reliable throughput with none of the 1 second + pings that we have been getting from the Netcomm (over wireless). D-Link wifi is rock solid with usual pings around 30ms.

Netcomm recommend their base units are kept away from portable phones and microwave ovens, and the microwave in kitchen a few metres away effects throughput badly. Conversely, the lower signal D-Link punches through all interference devices here.

In fact, I was thinking of dumping the Netcomm and buying a ASUS RT-AC1200G until I found they dont have VOIP phone ports.

Cheers, Al.

Morgenmuffel

631 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2350684 9-Nov-2019 11:51

noroad:

As an FYI, there is a mesh wireless unit coming soon (this year) for the NF18 that should resolve the wifi penetration issues. The mesh unit(s) can connect via cable or wireless back to the NF18 that acts as a wifi controller.

Sorry to dredge an old post up people, did this wireless mesh unit ever materialise, as we have an NF18acv located at one end of the house and down the far end of the house we have a weaker signal, and would it plug into ethernet ok as i have an ethernet port down there

'We love to buy books because we believe we’re buying the time to read them.' WARREN ZEVON

quickymart

13933 posts

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#2382014 27-Dec-2019 22:59

Thread bump, I was looking at a possible new Netcomm router as well, my NF4V is great but I would like to look at upgrading and maybe give this one to my Mum to increase the wifi at her house.

Has anyone had any experience with one of these (looking at as a possible replacement)? https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/MODNCM1901/Netcomm-NL1901ACV-ADSLVDSLUFB4G-LTE-CAT4-Wi-Fi-Mod

noroad

949 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#2382036 28-Dec-2019 00:08

Thread bump, I was looking at a possible new Netcomm router as well, my NF4V is great but I would like to look at upgrading and maybe give this one to my Mum to increase the wifi at her house.

Has anyone had any experience with one of these (looking at as a possible replacement)? https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/MODNCM1901/Netcomm-NL1901ACV-ADSLVDSLUFB4G-LTE-CAT4-Wi-Fi-Mod

Yes, that's identical to an NF18acv but with more memory, updated GUI, updated case (as per the nf18MESH below), improved 2.4G, and 4G LTE (hmm, when I say all that out loud it really does not sound identical!). NL19 will be mesh capable as well. As an FYI, the new wifi mesh units are now with the ISP's for testing. The "V2" of the nf18 has just turned up too (improved 2.4, double memory and redesigned case). There is some ability to retrofit the cloudmesh into the NF18acv, but the future is really with the NF18MESH, the new GUI is much improved. The primary path for these devices will be via ISP's rather than via retail for a while I would say however. If your ISP uses Netcomm I'd suggest giving them a bump to volunteer to test the new platform.

https://www.netcomm.com/solutions/cloudmesh#cloud-mesh

With the Mesh units of course the speed is always better if they are ethernet attached rather than extending via wifi (these units do both), so mileage may vary according to your circumstances.

quickymart

13933 posts

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#2382043 28-Dec-2019 07:08

Thanks for all that, my main concern was that the wifi quality would be as good as/equal to the NF4V - I see the 18 had quite a few issues with wifi (as outlined in this thread).

ageorge

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2382046 28-Dec-2019 07:41

Hi guys. Im with Slingshot and they have a policy of insisting you use their modems if you want VOIP.

So Im back to the NF18ACV. The good news is they have a new firmware which has made a significant difference over the last months with wifi. My daughters still complain about dropouts, but they are less frequent and more often when the microwave is used. I could use a dlink as wifi host, but the upgraded slingshot modem is good enough.

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