TP-Link Archer C2 and Spark Blunder...What To Do Next?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › TP-Link Archer C2 and Spark Blunder...What To Do Next?

DukeEdwardI

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#214041 25-Apr-2017 12:08

New user here, so excuse any ignorance if this has been gone over in detail before.

The Spark supplied router (Huawei HG659b) has been complete and total crap for the past 2-3 months. The WiFi dies 10-15 times a day and requires a restart. The WiFi networks (2.4ghz & 5ghz) are both visible but the phones/computers refuse to connect. The moment we reconnect and try to do any video streaming or even any kind of semi-large download, the WiFi would immediately die. I did everything I could think of, constant hard resets, changing the channel, firmware upgrades, factory resets, nothing worked. There's only about 5-6 devices connected to at the same time. I eventually gave up and just went out bought a new router.

Now this part is my fault, I didn't do the proper research. I just assumed that most ISPs do the simple dynamic IP address thing, I didn't realize Spark was PPPoE and needs a router with VLAN tagging (10 specifically) until AFTER I'd already gone to PB Tech and bough a TP-Link Archer C2, opened it up and tried to get it working. I found this link (Broadband settings for non-Spark modems), googled a bit and my heart sank as a user on some random forum blatantly said, "The Archer C2 does not support VLAN tagging." Luckily, I discovered I could use the HG659b as a bridge. Finally got it working, huzzah! Oh but wait, now my max download speed has been cut by more than half. Before I would get 100mbps, now I'm lucky to get 35mbps.

This is the situation I'm in now. Do I try my luck and try to return an non-faulty, open box item to PB Tech (who is notorious for bad customer service) and spend way more to get a router that supports VLAN tagging? Or is there some workaround to get my download speeds back up to normal when using a bridge? Or was buying a whole new router unnecessary and my HG659b issues can be sorted out somehow?

(I know there's custom firmware like DD-WRT and others, but I'd rather not mess with that stuff as I'll probably do something stupid to totally brick the router.)

1 | 2 | 3

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Biddle Corp

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#1770164 25-Apr-2017 12:36

PPPoE or DHCP don't define whether you need VLAN tagging. The vast majority of ISP's use PPPoE for authentication - the number requiring VLAN tagging vs untagged is probably around 50/50

Did you ask Spark about getting a replacement device? The HG659b is a very good device.

Your options are to buy additional hardware such as managed switch or Mikrotik router to sit between the Archer C2 to handle the VLAN tagging if you want to use it.

bagheera

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1770165 25-Apr-2017 12:38

have you done the speed test over the wifi or cable - 35mbps sound like a normal single channel 802.11n speed to me, if pc is connecting over 2.4ghz then it likely be using N not AC

RunningMan

8961 posts

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#1770167 25-Apr-2017 12:47

I'd contact Spark in the first instance, run through the troubleshooting, but on the face of it, your router has died. There's been the odd similar thread about these routers (hardly surprising given the numbers of them out there) eg. here http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=201316&showanswer=yes Spark may well just replace it for you.

PBTech do have a returns policy https://www.pbtech.co.nz/returns#b7107 and you may be able to return the new one if it is unsuitable.

richms

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#1770169 25-Apr-2017 12:50

Did you ask the sales person if it would work for you? If so, then they are obliged to return it or make it work under the consumer guatentes act, you can even argue that it should be a return under the CGA if you didnt talk to them since its not suitable for purpose and its a pretty obvious purpose that you would use a router on an internet connection.

Richard rich.ms

DukeEdwardI

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1770171 25-Apr-2017 12:54

sbiddle:

PPPoE or DHCP don't define whether you need VLAN tagging. The vast majority of ISP's use PPPoE for authentication - the number requiring VLAN tagging vs untagged is probably around 50/50

Did you ask Spark about getting a replacement device? The HG659b is a very good device.

Your options are to buy additional hardware such as managed switch or Mikrotik router to sit between the Archer C2 to handle the VLAN tagging if you want to use it. I suspect you've got double NAT and some very wierd network setup at present causing your slow speeds.

Well, Spark DEFINITELY requires VLAN tagging as setting up the router with all the information except the VLAN tagging info provided at this site: https://www.spark.co.nz/help/internet-data/getstarted/broadband-settings-for-third-party-modems/#Fibre still resulted in no Internet access.

I'm not authorized to call Spark and speak about the account. I'm not the account holder. They live overseas 90% of the year. Plus the wait times are atrocious.

I'm not sure what double NAT is, I'll do some googling. I didn't change any settings on the HG959b except those specifically shown here: https://www.spark.co.nz/help/internet-data/equipment/huawei/hg659-gateway/setup-bridge-mode-huawei-hg659-hg659b/

bagheera:

have you done the speed test over the wifi or cable - 35mbps sound like a normal single channel 802.11n speed to me, if pc is connecting over 2.4ghz then it likely be using N not AC

I'm on the 5ghz connection. Just tested again and I'm getting upwards of 43-44mbps now. Which is better, but nowhere close to the max 100mpbs I could hit on the HG659b, even on WiFi (only when downloading from gaming services like Origin/Uplay and testing through SpeedTest.net).

bagheera

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1770173 25-Apr-2017 12:58

still sounding like 802.11n connection - normal real life speed i see with that is 35 - 50 mbps on a single channel - try a cable and see what speed you get.

DukeEdwardI

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1770174 25-Apr-2017 13:02

RunningMan:

I'd contact Spark in the first instance, run through the troubleshooting, but on the face of it, your router has died. There's been the odd similar thread about these routers (hardly surprising given the numbers of them out there) eg. here http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=201316&showanswer=yes Spark may well just replace it for you.

PBTech do have a returns policy https://www.pbtech.co.nz/returns#b7107 and you may be able to return the new one if it is unsuitable.

I mentioned above that I'm not the account holder and am not authorized to access/make changes to the account. Will try to get a replacement if I can't sort things out with the new router.

richms:

Did you ask the sales person if it would work for you? If so, then they are obliged to return it or make it work under the consumer guatentes act, you can even argue that it should be a return under the CGA if you didnt talk to them since its not suitable for purpose and its a pretty obvious purpose that you would use a router on an internet connection.

Unfortunately, I didn't talk to a salesperson. In my arrogance, I picked the router out online, went into the store and bought it without talking to anybody about it.

Sharesies

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

richms

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#1770176 25-Apr-2017 13:19

I would try taking it back and arguing that its useless without vlan tagging, point to it saying fiber on the box (I assume it does since they all seem to) and that if they are going to sell things that are useless to people on the most popular ISP they should put a warning on it - assuming they try to sting you a restock fee.

Their terms of sale are in addition to your rights under the CGA, dont let their sales staff bully you into a restock fee or only accepting credit, but credit is fine if you are going to get something else from the store.

the network performance of the huawei is fine, if you are just having wifi hassles then look at a better accesspoint to plug into the router. That way you have an ISP supported router still, but better wifi.

Richard rich.ms

Crowdie

228 posts

Master Geek

#1770182 25-Apr-2017 13:41

bagheera:

have you done the speed test over the wifi or cable - 35mbps sound like a normal single channel 802.11n speed to me, if pc is connecting over 2.4ghz then it likely be using N not AC

802.11ac is 5 GHz only so if you are connecting on 2.4 GHz it will be utilising 802.11 or 802.11n.

Talkiet

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#1770183 25-Apr-2017 13:42

Your best option is still to somehow have someone call Spark about the 659. It's a great device. On wired I get real world throughput of 108MB/sec (850Mbps+) downloading from a local server and 940ish on speedtest.

Just randomly trying a speedtest on myphone I got 203/220...

Don't believe the rubbish you read with people panning the 659. It is the among the fastest routers we've tested with our Fibre Max service.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Crowdie

228 posts

Master Geek

#1770185 25-Apr-2017 13:46

richms:

I would try taking it back and arguing that its useless without vlan tagging, point to it saying fiber on the box (I assume it does since they all seem to) and that if they are going to sell things that are useless to people on the most popular ISP they should put a warning on it - assuming they try to sting you a restock fee.

It is worth a try but the seller is not required to take it back. The seller did not misrepresent the product as they were not given the chance to. It the purchaser had asked for "a router supporting fibre with the xxxx ISP" and it didn't then the story would be different.

DukeEdwardI

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1770188 25-Apr-2017 13:50

I guess I'll try to get in touch with Spark then. To be fair, the router did work well for those first few months we had it. It might just be that the one we got was a lemon.

I'm looking into other options like buying a switch or trying to find some rumored, ancient firmware for the Archer C2 that allowed VLAN tagging that you need to contact TP-Link support to get. Or even seeing if DD-WRT/Tomato support the Archer C2 (I've come around to the idea of these).

Do all network switches support VLAN tagging out of the box? Would I need managed or unmanaged? Is putting a switch between the modem and router even a good idea, because I sure as hell don't know. Networking problems suck.

Talkiet

4793 posts

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#1770189 25-Apr-2017 13:53

DukeEdwardI:

I guess I'll try to get in touch with Spark then. To be fair, the router did work well for those first few months we had it. It might just be that the one we got was a lemon.

I'm looking into other options like buying a switch or trying to find some rumored, ancient firmware for the Archer C2 that allowed VLAN tagging that you need to contact TP-Link support to get. Or even seeing if DD-WRT/Tomato support the Archer C2 (I've come around to the idea of these).

Do all network switches support VLAN tagging out of the box? Would I need managed or unmanaged? Is putting a switch between the modem and router even a good idea, because I sure as hell don't know. Networking problems suck.

By the sound of it, with your questions and acknowledged level of networking expertise, your best option, by FAR, is to get a single router with wifi and use that... Multiple box solutions are almost never needed for most users.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.