Huawei B618 Wireless modem support

Learn how you can set up and connect your modem. The Huawei B618 Wireless package contains:

• Huawei B618 modem
• Safety information
• Quick start guide
• Telephone cable (grey)
• LAN ethernet cable (white)
• Power supply (black)

How to install your modem

1. Open the micro-SIM card cover on your modem.
2. Insert the micro-SIM card gently into the card tray with the shiny side up until the card clicks into place.
3. Connect the power adapter to the modem and plug the other end to your power socket.

Your modem has now been fully installed. Please do not attempt to insert or remove the micro-SIM card when the modem is on.

Learn how to confirm that your Huawei B618 has been connected successfully by checking its LED lights .

Learn how you can set up and connect your telephone to the Huawei B618 Wireless modem.

Connect your landline

1. Plug one end of a telephone cable into your telephone handset.
2. Plug the other end of the telephone cable into the telephone port of your modem.
3. Wait up to 5 minutes for the connection to establish.
4. Pick up your telephone handset and check for a dial tone.

You can now make and receive calls on your telephone.

Learn how to set up WiFi on a Mac or Windows device using the Huawei B618 Wireless modem.

WiFi security key

To ensure the protection of your WiFi network, your modem comes with a preconfigured security key (10-digit number). This security key is your WiFi password. Only devices that have connected with this security key will have access to your WiFi network. The security key can be found on the bottom of your modem and also on the box it came in.

Note: You can change the preset security key. If your security key has been updated, and you don't know what it is, you can do a factory reset of your modem to restore the default security key.

Connect your Mac device to WiFi

Follow these steps to connect Mac your device to the WiFi network.

1. Click the WiFi symbol in the menu bar, then click Turn Wi-Fi On.
2. In the list of networks that appear, your wireless network name (SSID) will be in the format SPARK-XXXXXX. To connect to your network, double click this entry,
3. You will then be asked to enter your security key. This is located on a sticker on the bottom of your modem and on the box the modem came in. Enter the security key into the Password field and click Join.
4. You are now connected to your WiFi network. We recommend testing by accessing your favourite websites.

Connect your Windows device to WiFi

Follow these steps to set up WiFi on your Windows device.

1. Click the WiFi symbol on the bottom right hand corner of your screen.
2. In the list of networks that appear, your wireless network name (SSID) will be in the format SPARK-XXXXXX. Click this entry.
3. Click Connect. You will then be asked to enter your security key. This is located on a sticker on the bottom of your modem and on the box the modem came in. Enter the security key into the Password field and click OK.
4. You are now connected to your WiFi network. We recommend testing by accessing your favourite websites.

Learn how to access your modem interface.

1. Open any web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
2. In the address bar, type 192.168.1.254 and press enter.
3. Enter your modem login information. By default, the User name and Password will both be admin. This information is also located on the bottom of your modem.

The Huawei modem management page will now appear. You can make changes to the modem settings here including the WiFi name, password, modem password etc.

Learn how to restore your modem back to its factory default settings.

Factory reset using reset button

Follow these steps to factory reset your modem. Please note that by factory resetting your modem, any changes you've made to the modem settings will be restored back to default. This includes your WiFi name and password.

1. Power on your modem. Place a paper clip or pin into the hole on the back of the modem labeled Reset.
2. Hold the paper clip or pin down for 10 to 15 seconds and release.
3. The modem will reboot on its own. Once the WLAN light stops flashing, the reset process is complete.

Please note that factory resetting your modem does not reset the modem firmware to an earlier version. It will only change all settings back to factory default,

Factory reset using modem interface

1. Open any web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
2. In the address bar, type 192.168.1.254 and press enter.
3. Enter your modem login information. By default, the User name and Password will both be admin. This information is also located on the bottom of your modem.
4. Click Settings from the menu bar.
5. Click System from the left hand side and choose Restore Defaults from the options below.
6. Click Restore.
7. Click OK to confirm factory restart of your modem.

All data and settings saved on your modem will be reset to default and your modem will automatically reboot.

Learn how to enable the WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) functionality on your modem. WPS allows you to easily connect your wireless devices (computer, laptop, mobile phone etc.) to your modem without having to enter the WiFi password.

1. Open any web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
2. In the address bar, type 192.168.1.254 and press enter.
3. Enter your modem login information. By default, the User name and Password will both be admin. This information is also located on the bottom of your modem.
   
4. Click Settings from the menu bar.
5. Click WLAN from the left hand side and choose WPS Settings from the options below.
6. Check Enable for both WPS and Current Pin.



7. On your mobile device, go to your WiFi settings and choose WPS PIN Entry (it’s possible that it might be listed under a similar name). Your mobile phone will generate a PIN code to enter into your modem interface.
8. Enter your PIN number into the PIN field and click Connect.

Your mobile device is now successfully connected via WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) to your modem.

Learn how to change your WiFi network name and password on the Huawei B618 Wireless modem.

1. Open any web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
2. In the address bar, type 192.168.1.254 and press enter.
3. Enter your modem login information. By default, the User name and Password will both be admin. This information is also located on the bottom of your modem.
   
4. Click Settings from the menu bar.
5. Click WLAN from the left hand side and choose WLAN Basic Settings from the options below.
6. In the SSID field, enter your new WiFi network name and in WLAN key, enter your new WiFi network password.



7. Click Apply.

Your WiFi network name and password are now updated. Please note that you will need to connect using these new details, on all devices that have previously connected to your WiFi network.

Learn how to update your WiFi channel and why you may do this.

Locate the best WiFi channel for you

Changing channels can often reduce WiFi interference. This can be especially useful if you live in an apartment with a lot of WiFi networks nearby. To get an idea of which channels are already in use in your home or nearby, try the following mobile apps:

• InSSIDer
• WiFi Analyser free from FarProc

How to change your WiFi channel

1. Open any web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
2. In the address bar, type 192.168.1.254 and press enter.
3. Enter your modem login information. By default, the User name and Password will both be admin. This information is also located on the bottom of your modem.
   
4. Click Settings from the menu bar.
5. Click WLAN from the left hand side and choose WLAN Advanced Settings from the options below.
6. Update the WiFi channel in the Channel field by selecting a new channel from the dropdown menu.



7. Click Apply.

Your WiFi channel is now updated. We recommend testing for at least 2 hours before changing WiFi channels again.

Determine number of devices experiencing disconnections

1. Turn it off and then on again. Test connecting to your WiFi network and see if problem continues.
2. Check your device is not in Aeroplane mode.
3. Ensure that the WiFi is enabled on your device.

Troubleshooting single device

If you only have one device to connect to your internet connection. The problem could be with your internet connection or the device itself. To troubleshoot the device, try these steps.

1. Turn it off and then on again.
2. Check your device is not in Aeroplane mode.
3. Ensure that the WiFi is enabled on your device.

The troubleshooting steps differ depending on if you're testing with WiFi or the ethernet cable. If possible, test both the WiFi and ethernet. These steps will cover the troubleshooting process for testing over an ethernet cable. If possible, test both the WiFi and ethernet.

If you only have devices that are capable of connecting over WiFi, please follow the Troubleshooting your WiFi network.

Comparing speed tests

To identify where the problem could be we recommend testing your speed on a device that is connected via WiFi and one that is connected via an ethernet cable. Compare both results to pinpoint the connection that is causing issues.

A few tips before starting the speed test

• Close all apps
• Only have one computer, tablet or mobile connected to the internet
• Select your nearest location, eg, Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch
• Repeat the test a couple of times to get an average speed

Doing a speed test

Click the link below and press GO. The application will now test your internet speed.

• PING: measures the latency of your modem to your selected location. A lower number means quicker communication and faster browsing times.
• DOWNLOAD: the download speed in Mbps. A higher number means faster inbound traffic.
• UPLOAD: the upload speed in Mbps. A higher number means faster outbound traffic.
  

Run a speed test

Spark's diagnostic tool

To automatically test your connection and your home network, use the Check connection tools in the Spark app. Learn how to use Check connection

If you haven't registered for MySpark, you'll need to do this first. Register for MySpark

Check for a network outage

Before troubleshooting your internet connection, we recommend checking for any outages in your area. View Spark network outages

Check Spark plan

Check your Spark plan to make sure haven’t overused your monthly bandwidth, and are up to date with payments. Sign in to MySpark

Stop downloads or applications

Sometimes, when one device is downloading large files or running bandwidth heavy applications (eg, video streaming apps), internet can be slow on other devices.

Check if your internet speeds improve after closing downloads and applications.

Clear browser cache and cookies

Some browser settings can greatly impact your internet speed. In general, we recommend keeping your browser up to date and regularly clear the browser cache and cookies.

See our instructions on how to:

• Clear cache and cookies in Chrome
• Clear cache and cookies in Firefox
• Clear cache and cookies in Safari
• Clear cache and cookies in Internet Explorer

Check for viruses

Make sure you’re using up-to-date antivirus software. Viruses can slow your internet down. Learn more about staying safe online

Restart your modem

Sometimes a simple reboot of your modem can fix the problem.. To do this, press the Power button on the back of the modem, wait five seconds, then turn it on again. Wait for two minutes for the modem to start up and test.

Check the cables

It is important to check that the cables are plugged in properly. Ensure there are no loose connections.

Factory reset your modem

Factory resetting your modem will restore its settings back to default. This can resolve any internet related problems if they are due to a modem setting configuration. 

Hardware related issue

If you can use the internet OK over WiFi, but it’s slow when using an ethernet cable, then the problem may relate to the hardware. Contact our customer support team on how to fix this.

These steps will cover troubleshooting for no internet on devices that connect over WiFi. We recommend running through these steps if you do not have devices capable of ethernet connectivity.

Restart your modem

Sometimes a simple reboot of your modem can fix the problem. To do this, press the Power button on the back of the modem, wait five seconds, then turn it on again. Wait for two minutes for the modem to start up and test.

Check you're connected to the correct WiFi network

If the WiFi network is open for connection, it will show up under available WiFi networks on your device. If it’s not showing up, double check that you’re looking for the right name – the default name and password are on the sticker on the bottom of your modem. If you have changed the network name or password but forget what they are, a factory reset will restore the default name and password. 

Position of your modem

The position of your modem can influence the WiFi quality received by your devices. Follow these tips to ensure you're getting the most from your modem.

• Where possible, place your modem up high.
• Dense obstacles such as walls, floors, ceilings, hot water cylinders, aquariums etc. limit WiFi performance and range.
• Don’t place the modem near electronic devices such as microwave ovens, cordless phones or wireless transmitters like baby or room monitors – these can cause interference of your WiFi signal.
• Don’t place the modem in an enclosed space such as a cupboard, under or behind a desk or large item of furniture.
• If you want your WiFi coverage over a large area, try a WiFi extender or similar product.

Changing the WiFi channel

The WiFi channel the modem currently uses might be crowded with WiFi signals of other nearby modems. Switching to a different channel can improve your WiFi connectivity.

Factory reset your modem

Factory resetting your modem will restore its settings back to default. This can resolve any internet related problems if they are due to a modem setting configuration.