Sparks Smart Mesh 2 product now available

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ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3036142 13-Feb-2023 19:49

For info, after a long day of back and forth with various Spark CSRs on iMessage (neat functionality compared with live chat), I finally got a clear answer. They confirmed that the Smart Modem 3 guest network *does* repeat across any attached Smart Mesh 2 units.

I’m still not 100% convinced, and would love to hear from anyone who knows what they are doing and who is running Smart Mesh 2 with a guest network. Otherwise I’ll purchase one on the basis it works and try for a refund if it fails to work. Cheers

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3043757 1-Mar-2023 19:54

After getting a different answer in store (guest network doesn’t extend) to what I got from online chat (guest network does extend), I’m trying here once again:

Does anyone on GZ have a Smart Modem 3 and Smart Mesh 2 combo?
If you do, I’d sincerely appreciate if you could check and confirm if guest network functionality works across both devices.

This really shouldn’t be so hard for Spark to confirm and provide consistent messaging around.

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3057756 1-Apr-2023 23:17

With a Smart Modem 3 now connected to a Smart Mesh 2, I can confirm that the guest wifi network from the Smart Modem 3 does *not* extend via the mesh unit. Which is the opposite to what two different Spark online reps told me. Sigh.

Bung

6488 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#3057761 2-Apr-2023 00:04

Maybe @cbrpilot could check the online reps reference material.

toejam316

1466 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3057764 2-Apr-2023 02:19

Don't have much insight to provide, but after doing a little bit it digging it looks like it's connecting to and rebroadcasting a singular SSID, rather than everything on the Smart Modem. All the documentation I've found references two forms of setup, WPS, or directly connecting with a cable. I assume this is using the vendor's mesh stuff to manage the master node and the mesh nodes, if you're looking to have multiple SSIDs, have you tried logging into the GUI on the Smart Mesh to see if you can set up the guest network on that also?

Otherwise, you may be better suited with another vendor's mesh product, like Netgear's Orbi.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3057780 2-Apr-2023 08:51

It appears to me with limited testing that the guest SSID is broadcast from the mesh unit, but when trying to connect to that guest SSID it just sits spinning. I suspect this is something to do with the comms between the mesh unit and the base, but I don’t know how to troubleshoot further. I’m waiting for Spark to message me back but I’m not holding out much hope.

I can’t log into the mesh device directly, it appears to auto-redirect me to the login page for the smart modem when I try to browse to the mesh device IP.

It’s not the end of the world if this ends up being a fail but Spark should do better with making this limitation clear a) on the website (FAQ?), and b) with their CSRs. It’s not an unreasonable consumer expectation that a mesh unit also extends guest wifi.

Happy to try any GZ-suggested troubleshooting.

NightStalker

317 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3059472 5-Apr-2023 19:10

Hi @ashtonaut

How are you connecting the mesh to the base modem. Is it via ethernet or wireless.

Ive been looking at these myself and I cant seem to find much in the way of manuals etc.

I did find some info for the "mesh 1"

open browser
go to "http://smart.mesh"
login with admin/admin
you will be prompted to change password etc

NOTE: If you're using the Smart Modem you'll be redirected to the Smart Modem's setup page. Smart Mesh will copy the Wi-Fi settings from your Smart Modem"

- this seems to suggest if its not connected/paired or used with a different modem/router you may be able to access the mesh 2's interface.

This might provide access to additional settings. If it does I would also check firmware as well.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3059476 5-Apr-2023 19:34

After 3 days of back and forth with intermittent Spark iMessage chat support, I now have confirmation from Spark that the guest wifi **does not** work via the Smart Mesh 2. Which matches my experience with the unit.

What a waste of time. They have agreed to a refund, will have to see how that goes in store.

If anyone from Spark is reading this, can you please put this information online under the device FAQ or something? It would have saved a lot of hassle. I think it’s reasonable for consumers to assume that guest wifi is also extended by the Smart Mesh 2, especially when this was confirmed by two separate Spark CSRs before I made my decision to purchase…

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3067445 23-Apr-2023 22:08

Now with two Deco X20 units off the SM3 (one with wired backhaul to the SM3, the second meshed to the first via wifi), everything works as expected. Single SSID across all 3 devices, and functioning guest network (same SSID) across the same 3 devices. Setup of the Decos was very painless.

Kim587

128 posts

Master Geek

#3069332 29-Apr-2023 18:54

ashtonaut: Now with two Deco X20 units off the SM3 (one with wired backhaul to the SM3, the second meshed to the first via wifi), everything works as expected. Single SSID across all 3 devices, and functioning guest network (same SSID) across the same 3 devices. Setup of the Decos was very painless.

Can the Deco units actually mesh with the SM3 or have you just made the SSID the same?

ashtonaut

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3069338 29-Apr-2023 19:54

I’ve just made the SSID the same. I’m sure that means some sort of network functionality isn’t there but I’ve had no complaints from the users yet…

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