Sure Signal V3 bandwidth limit? - anyone run V3 on 2Mbps?

[PMOsb]

Hi,  I'm new to VF and new to SureSignal.   I have installed SureSignal on the express understanding it would need a minimum of 1Mbps broadband.  That is what it says in the spec sheets too.

http://devicehelp.vodafone.co.uk/filestore/devices/Vodafone/Sure%20Signal/Sure_Signal_Questions.pdf

But as I am setting it up I talked to Business Tech support (offshore) and he insists that 4Mbps is the minimum for SS v3 (and when pressed) he said V2 would work.  Basically he says SSv3 will not work on my 2Mbps broadband.

However I don't necessarily believe him, so before I send it back and abandon my 1 day old VF contracts -  

1      has anyone got a SSv3 running on a 2Mbps internet connection?

2      will a SS v2 be any better?

(I won't be using more than one 3G mobile at any one time)

Thanks in anticipation.

[Retired-Lee]

Hi there PMOsb,

Thanks for posting.

To run the version 1 & 2 Sure Signal, you need a minimum of 1Mbps download and 0.33 download speed.

The version 3 is slightly different as it's capable of running double the amount of concurrent calls.

To be honest, technically the agent was right, although if you're only using one line at a time, you should be able to.

Could you run a speedtest for me and post the results?

Also, would it be possible for your ISP to increase the speeds at all?

Cheers,

LeeH

[PMOsb]

Hi Lee,

The speed shouldn't be an issue.  The download is 2.1Mbs and upload 0.7Mbs.  This is not upgradable..if I could I would.

The router may the issue:  It is a BT Business Hub 2701.     The SS consistently gives me

Power: Red flashing.

Users: solid.

No other lights.  I have de-registered it and re-registered it.

At one point, prior to opening all the ports and stuff, it DID show a solid Internet light.

I have switched off the firewall for just the SS device.  I have also forwarded the ports as directed elsewhere.

Everyone says wait 24hours but that seems futile in that I already have, and it isn't an issue with the servers as it isn't being shown as connected by the router.  Data is flowing on the ethernet cable as both lights are flashing.

IP-sec is mentioned or VPN clamping.  But I can't see any way to do this in the 2701.  Anyone know about it?  Anyone got a Business Hub (2?) and SS?

[PMOsb]

BT Help weren't.

However I have reconfigured my port forwarding - the same 7 ports open but specified the application type to VPN - even though that isn't mentioned here:http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/BT/BT2700HGVv2/Vodafone_Sure_Signal.htm

I rebooted both router and SS.  My Firewall is still open for the SS.

On restart the lights changed from Power Flashing to the Internet light coming on momentarily and then the last two lights came on solid (plus flashing power).  I'll leave it and see what happens over night!

[PMOsb]

but 30 minutes later it has gone back to the power light flashing and the last light (users) solid.   My router also shows the device status as off.  Doh.

[PMOsb · Accepted solution]

Things develop.  After loads more tweaking router settings, I swapped out the Vodafone supplied ethernet cable. Bingo - the SS changes from flashing power to "Internet" icon and starts showing in my router.   This seems crazy considering the SS had already logged on to VF servers yesterday with that apparently defective cable.   Trouble shooting is so difficult this way.  NB  It would be so helpful for there to be a detailed manual for SS that explained what each light does and the startup sequences and what the SS is doing for the hour initialisation etc.   I know VF want to portray SS to be plug and go... but it often isn't.

[PMOsb]

So, for the benefit of others, SureSignal V3 will work with the BT Busness Hub 2701 on ADSL+ running at 2.1Mbs download.    I have currently no firewall for SS but also opened the 7 Ports generally mentioned elsewhere as a backup.  I will try closing these later...but not minded to whilst it works!

[bronzy_1]

Hi PMOsb,

I just had a really terrible call with SS tech support regarding this. I only need one call to work but they told me I need 4Mb down and 0.4 Up.

Can you let me know if you are still having success with your SSv3?

I have 3.5Mb down and 0.35Mb up.  it's not great but hey...  If I could just get it so that the SS does not get Call Failed on the phone each time I make or recieve one I would be laughing, but Vf say they will not support me and that I should go and get internet from Virgin?? - I wish, out here in the sticks my only choice in BT.  ;-(

Any support greatly appreciated.  Your post is giving me a sliver of hope!

[PMOsb]

Hi Bronzy,

Yes it works and has done since october.  I get 4 bars on my phones and sometimes have 3 logged on to it... but never more than 1 being used for calls at same time.

Tech support also told me it needed 4Mbps as a minimum. They are wrong and have incorrect information.  I didn't take his answer as truth and rang again and talked to a guy more senior.  he confirmed the widely known fact that it will work perfectly well with poor bandwidth. I get 1.8Mbps down as a maximum.  the confusion may come from tech support reading off the box that says the new SS will support upto 4 phones (older SS did not), which it will, but will require 4 Mbps if all 4 are being used at the same time.  Of course 99% of us only wish to use one phone at a time (although have many more "logged on the system").     The general rule of thumb is that one mobile will take 512kbs off your broadband bandwidth.. so that leaves enough for general internet use... as I, and many more people have demonstrated.

SS is not that predictable, and you will notice it logs off sometimes, and the flashing light will lose connection, but it is there most of the time.  making calls is variable in quality.. but no worse than my VOIP line (which I also run off the same internet connection!)

Stick that in your pipe Tech support.

PS the general rule with first line tech support is : don't believe what they tell you if the evidence says otherwise.  escalate and get it from someone who has knowledge, rather than someone who reads from a website.

[bronzy_1]

Hi All, 

Reading this page and a couple of others with interest.  I have spoken with Tech support.   They have made some changes to my box but are now telling me they cannot do anything else because my speed are too low.  But I've read other pages on this forum saying they are using way slower speeds than me.  I think this topic could be my last hope.

The strangest thing is, 3g Data and SMS work just fine, it's only calls that cause a problem.

I've made a reset of the SS but it made no difference.  I changed the registered post-code and then changed it back too.

Your Sure Signal serial number. - 40134725536
Your speed test results from here. - 3.53 Mb Down / 0.37 Mb Up. 30ms latency.
Your ping test results from here. - Grade: B*, Ping: 58ms, Jitter: 10ms
Your external IP address from here. - 87.113.71.34
The results of a traceroute. - see below

traceroute to 212.183.133.177 (212.183.133.177), 64 hops max, 52 byte packets

 1  dsldevice (192.168.1.254)  5.157 ms  1.425 ms  1.429 ms

 2  lo0-central10.pcl-ag08.plus.net (195.166.128.189)  23.485 ms  20.851 ms  20.989 ms

 3  link-b-central10.pcl-gw02.plus.net (212.159.2.190)  20.886 ms  20.678 ms  19.643 ms

 4  xe-9-1-0.pcl-cr02.plus.net (212.159.0.222)  19.686 ms  20.514 ms  21.685 ms

 5  ae2.pcl-cr01.plus.net (195.166.129.6)  21.654 ms  20.863 ms  20.921 ms

 6  ae2.ptw-cr01.plus.net (195.166.129.4)  20.019 ms  21.005 ms

    xe-11-1-0.edge3.london2.level3.net (212.187.201.209)  19.822 ms

 7  ae-3-3.ebr1.paris1.level3.net (4.69.141.86)  28.471 ms

    te-3-4.car5.london1.level3.net (217.163.45.181)  21.190 ms

    ae-3-3.ebr1.paris1.level3.net (4.69.141.86)  27.025 ms

 8  ae-52-52.csw2.london1.level3.net (4.69.139.120)  20.214 ms *  22.171 ms

 9  ae-228-3604.edge3.london1.level3.net (4.69.166.158)  19.905 ms

    ae-226-3602.edge3.london1.level3.net (4.69.166.150)  20.891 ms

    ae-225-3601.edge3.london1.level3.net (4.69.166.146)  20.211 ms

10  cable-wirel.edge3.london1.level3.net (195.50.124.138)  20.148 ms

    cable-wirel.edge5.paris1.level3.net (212.73.200.42)  36.882 ms

    cable-wirel.edge5.paris1.level3.net (212.73.200.78)  36.369 ms

11  ae10-xcr1.lns.cw.net (195.2.30.5)  57.666 ms  20.601 ms

    195.2.9.193 (195.2.9.193)  29.057 ms

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Hoping that you can help.

CT