Considering buying Spectra. Need some advice

So I came across a nice feature today on the DIR-825AC router (just thought I'd post it, cause I didn't see it mentioned anywhere) for WAN failover. You can connect a 4G/LTE modem and configure the router to failover the internet to this backup connection incase the primary WAN link fails.

What I have done is, connected a JioFi JMR1040 hotspot device to the USB port, and using that as the backup connection. You can configure the health probe interval and if the primary link (ie Spectra in this case) fails, all requests would get automatically routed through your backup connection. Once the primary link is back online, backup link is deactivated and internet gets routed through the primary link.

LUZPJdm.png


Btw if anyone else is planning on using the JioFi, you would need to run the below command (over telnet or SSH, I am yet to find a way to automate this) to get the JioFi to work.

Code: 
/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -v 1c9e -p f030 -V 1c9e -P f101 -M "55534243123456780000000000000606f50402527000000000000000000000"

The above basically switches the mode of the device to enable the USB-Ethernet interface.
 
Found a way to trigger usb_modeswitch automatically. I have a linux based mini pc which is powered on 24/7 same as the router, so I added a script which runs when the mini pc starts which will SSH into the D-Link router and runs the command.

Code: 
#!/bin/bash
# Triggers usb_modswitch to switch JioFi to the correct mode

log_file="/var/log/remote-usb_modeswitch.log"

date | tee -a ${log_file}
sleep 60
sshpass -p "<password>" ssh -o StrictHostKeyChecking=no [email protected] '/usr/sbin/usb_modeswitch -v 1c9e -p f030 -V 1c9e -P f101 -M "55534243123456780000000000000606f50402527000000000000000000000"' | tee -a ${log_file}

So in case of any power failure, the correct mode gets set on reboot and failover setup works. I understand it isn't that efficient, but since the router filesystem is read-only, can't really modify the configuration or scripts within the device.
 
@varkey - I am moving to Kasturi Nagar in the next 2 weeks. I currently live in Kalyan Nagar. So, Spectra is worth going for, no? Because the only other option for me there is Hathway because ACT isnt available at that place for some reason.
Tried to DM you, but didn't find an option to do that anywhere.
 
I wouldn't recommend Hathway definitely, I had used it in Kasturi Nagar a year or so back and was super frustrated. (I am referring to the Cable internet service, not sure if they have started the FTTH service in the area or whether its any good.)

ACT is pretty much available in most of Kasturi Nagar, you sure its not available?

Coming to Spectra, it's pretty alright for me. The last week of July, there was a lot of issues with connectivity, they said there were major fibre cuts due to some construction or something and there were 2-3 major outages where internet was down or slow for most of the day. Now its pretty stable.

There is also the security deposit waiver promo going on the area, so you could use that as well.
 
I've used Hathway before and I don't like it either. They apparently offer FTTH, but not available at my current location.

ACT isn't available. I spoke to them, provided them my new address and got an SMS confirming there is no feasibility. Spectra is my only option (considering it really is available in that location). I do see their flex banners very close to my building, so just hoping it happens and I dont end up with Hathway.

Though I don't torrent, I use a lot of Kodi and IPTV addons, so I'm not sure how good or bad Spectra is going to be.
 
So my connection has been down since Saturday afternoon, hasn't come back online yet :/
 
It went down for me too on Saturday and came back at 1:22 AM on Sunday, plus today again it went down in the morning and afternoon.

August 11th - 3:22 PM to 1:22 AM (Aug 12) - 12 hours on a weekend
August 13th - 8:39 AM to 10:11 AM, 1:52 PM to 3:49 PM - 3.5 hours
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However this time I got an SMS from Spectra saying you may be experiencing connectivity issues and estimated time of resolution is this, which I felt is a nice touch. However they blew past the ETR by a great margin.

Hi! You might be experiencing some service disruption. Our team is working on resolution .ETR is 19:30 hours. Team Spectra.
Click to expand...

^ This was on Saturday, I got the SMS at 3:37 PM, however service was down since 3:22 PM. Service was restored only at 1:22 AM.

Hi! You might be experiencing some service disruption. Our team is working on resolution .ETR is 14:00 hours. Team Spectra.
Click to expand...

^ This was today, I got the SMS at 8:57 AM, service was down from 8:39 AM. It came back up at 10:11 AM but then went down again at 1:52 PM only to be restored by 3:49 PM.

I am planning to ask for an account credit for extended service disruption. End of July also there were many outages. (Yes I do monitor the uptime of the service as long as there is power :D)

@Absinthe : What are they saying as the reason for downtime? Is your fibre link down ie does the alarm LED light up on the ONT? For me I don't think I ever had a local fibre issue recently (at-least that's my understanding cause even when its down, internet LED is green and the alarm LED is off. The only issue is there is no IP connectivity). I think for me its always, some larger issue or fiber cut in the larger scope ie not from my house to their termination point.
 
Ok, it went down again at 6:42 PM and just now got an SMS saying service would be restored only by 11 PM. I am not sure what is going on with Spectra. Very disappointed right now.

Edit : Back online at 7:20 PM, have to see how long.

Edit 2 : Got a message at 7:46 PM saying issue is resolved

Hi! Service issue has been resolved In case, you are still experiencing Service disruption, please write to us at care spectra.co. Team Spectra.
Click to expand...
 
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Got those very same messages. So the downtime started on Saturday afternoon, the OTN lights were green, I think it was resolved on Sunday morning (couldn't check as I wasn't around at the time) but at 1 PM when I took a look, the two OTN lights (PON and ALM) were red, stayed this was until ~7:30 PM yesterday, finally the connection was back online, but lasted only for like 10 Minutes xD this time OTN lights were green though. Everything was resolved at around 8:00 PM. Previous major downtime was on June 23rd-24th (Saturday noon until Sunday night) @varkey same here, end of July the connection went down frequently for me as well.

Just as constructive criticism, back when I was on ACT (Banaswadi/OMBR Layout), their downtime lasted only for a couple hours, prior to this I was on Airtel, downtime was an extremely rare occurrence. So, for someone who wants a stable connection, might want to avoid Spectra :/ but if downloading heavy files/unlimited Internet is a priority for you then Spectra all the way!

RE : Customer support said the downtime had something to do with BBMP ceasing their lines.
 
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