Vodafone Sure Signal

[algev1]

I was about to report some success but like you ernie29 a reboot is now required. For completeness: 3G for 3/4 days up to and including 10th April, then check at 02:33hrs 11th April back to gprs. About to call Vodafone on 11th to request replacement box just to see if there's any change in behaviour. Who knows, it might be down to a particular batch of boxes etc etc - clutching at straws again but patience running pretty thin.

[richardd444]

I have almost exactly the same issue except it is around 26 hours between failures.  I use a Netgear N600 router with BT Broadband.  Per other posts I have tried resetting the router but this has no effect although resetting the Suresignal fixes it within minutes.  I had a suspicion it might be the router firewall losing the state of the connection and closing the ports but there seem to be other users of other router also being impacted and I would have expected many more complaints from Netgear users.

[notsosure]

I have a netgear N600 on BT broadband and my VSS does not work at all. You can read more on everyones problems here:

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/New-Sure-Signal-Steady-Power-Light-Only/m-p/1071...

[ernie29]

Not so sure we have the same problem, but it sounds like you have not had much luck at all. The summary of my story is that all I have changed is allocating a fixed IP address to my VSS from my Netgear N900. It does work (when it does, 3G is really good....), but it randomly drops out. A power cycle sorts it (for a day or two). Your problem sounds more fundamental than mine.......

[James]

Hi Guys,

We are currently investigating this with the manufacturer directly to see if they can identify what is causing the Sure Signal to drop out.

If you are unable to connect at all then you will need to post in your own threads where one of the team will be able to assist you further.

James

[kilimax]

That's exactly what I did. A new VSS was sent but it was exactly the same as my original. 3G signal for about 24-36 hours then it would drop out.

I've been suffering from this issue since before Christmas and resolution from Vodafone has to say the least been painfly slow to the point where I've just about given up with any hope of a decent 3G signal indoors with VF and will be looking to move all of my phones to another provide that covers this area indoors with 3G (currently, that's O2) as soon as contracts allow.

It's a shame as their VSS product promises much and if working would be a really great product. Sadly, for me anyway, I had less than 4 weeks of 3G indoors before my VSS went South and it has never worked properly since.

As a last resort, I've reset my router to factory settings then added everything back in that I need for my Internet and Wireless access requirements. This time, I didn't touch port forwarding and let the VSS self configure. So far, it is working although it lost sync last night for about 30 minutes then came back again. I don't expect it to last long though as I've been here so many times and VF are not really much help despite efforts of the guys in the forum.

Anyway, best of luck and I hope you get your sorted because when they work, its a really good product.

When it works!!

Regards

[kilimax]

Hello,

after resetting my router to factory settings and letting the VSS self configure, I had an almost trouble free 4 days 3G service until last night when I noticed just after 10pm, the solid red light was on and nothing else.

Apart from a loss of sync on the 13th for about 30 minutes, the VSS has been stable. Thisis exactly the same path it follows. A few days at maximum then nothing.

Regards

[James]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your posts here.

If you are still experiencing this please can you let me know the serial numbers that you are using so our support teams are able to keep track of this for you and pass it onto the manufacturers.

James

[algev1]

Hi giuys

Saw your last request and whilst you've already had this info I'll post it again. Alcatel-Lucent 9361 Home Cell V2-V Rev:00 Serial No: 40111636318. However, leaving this info is a bit academic since these details refer to the box that I returned to Vodafone today but I include it for completeness. I got sufficiently frustrated with the problem with the old box that I'd actually stopped bothering to reboot it and was working round the deadspots that it was purchased to remove. When this happens you've got to question the logic of having a box in the first place. I didn't want to give up on the SS completely since when it works it works like a dream and does everything I want it to and everything it's supposed to do, well, except for drop out and need a reboot. Anyway, I asked Vodafone to try out a replacement box just to see what is the outcome since I was about  to give up on the first box. What a super response. So, my new box has been installed for a couple of hours and so far problem-free registration and operation. I'll obviously be keeping a close eye on continuity of operation and I'll keep you posted with the outcome.

[ernie29]

Thanks for the information. I will be more encouraged if it is still working in a weeks time :-).

[Lee]

Hi algev1,

Thanks for coming back to us.

Can you confirm the VSS serial number you provided in your last post is the one you are currently using?

Cheers,

Lee

[algev1]

Hi Lee

Info you need is:

Old unit Serial No: 40111636318; Replacement unit Serial No: 40114639293

The reason for wanting to try out a new box was a bit of straw clutching. I wondered first of all if this was a toxic combination of Netgear (or similarly operating) router, VSS and Vodafone system - but that seems unkikely; then I got to variance at component, board or design level putting these specific boxes on some kind of threshold; then I got to the unit maybe having been value engineered a little too aggressively and on, and on, and on......

I hope we get to know what is root cause when someone actually discovers it - just for interest sake.

My replacement unit is still outputting 3G a couple of days in but nonetheless right now looking good. The first test I guess is Saturday a.m. by when I would have expected the old unit to have dropped out. I'll keep the forum posted.

Cheers.

[algev1]

VSS: Serial No: 40114639293, Rev 00

For the record, my replacement unit (as above) was registered and connected: 18/04/2012, 15:19:05. Since then I have had an uninterrupted 3G connection. My Netgear N600 router/settings are unchanged; my ISP (BT Business, and as far as I know) its protocols are unchanged. So unless Vodafone have made coincidental system changes the only major change has been to replace the VSS. OK, five days of normal operation is hardly something to shout about, but it is a significant change/improvement on where I was six days ago. I'll keep the forum posted.

[ernie29]

Support Guys, A couple of weeks have passed since this was escalated to ISPs and manufactures. Any updates? Also, it is encouraging that algev1 has had a replacement unit which is working well...... maybe we should consider that my VSS is faulty. If this was a big problem with Virgin Media, I would have expected a quick response.....

[Robster2007]

I have just been on teh telephone to Vodafone for exactly the same problem as described in this thread, randomly after 1-3 days the Suresignal woudl become an UnSure signal with just the red light on, rebooting it always cured the problem temporarily.

I have been told that there was a batch of Sure Signals with a known problem for doing this and they are being recalled/replaced!

The bad news is mine is not in that serial number group but is being replaced 'just in case'.

Fingers crossed!

[algev1]

Hi ernie29

Bad batch reported by Robster2007 seems to just about round this up. My replacement unit (a much later serial number) has been working perfectly for over a week now and my confidence that this will be the new status quo is growing. I suspect that your earlier suggestion that your box may need replacing is quite correct; a replacement appears to have solved my problem. Since I received the replacement nothing has changed at my end - router, conditioned power supply, and phone usage patterns are exactly as they were when the problem existed. I am not aware that my ISP (BT Business) or Vodafone have made any system changes, so the big finger does seem to point to the units. I am not going to keep posting any longer that I have a unit still working as it should - this would only waste folks' time reading something that does not move this issue on. The only instance for me posting again in this thread is either by request for info/info comments on cause, or should the new unit fail. I have to say that Vodafone responded magnificently when I requested a replacement - it was with me the next day. I just wish I'd done this a little earlier but I guess, although the wait is extremely frustrating, the tech guys have to have an opportunity to sort it out. I hope you get a working replacement soon and get back to a VSS problem-free situation. Thank you for your help, inputs and for starting this thread. Best regards, algev1.

[notsosure]

Having the same problem as the rest. Originally had a problem with single red light and no connection - that seems to have been fixed by Vodafone on their side.

Now, I am left with full service which stops after 24-48hrs and requires a switch on/off and starts working again. Maybe I have a faulty box too... serial number 40120156357.

[notsosure]

Any way of finding out if my box is part of a faulty batch? This problem is still ongoing...

[Robster2007]

Well new Sure Signal arrived n Friday.

Worked for one day and then rather surpising went off line, just like my original one!

This is really becoming a joke!

I moved to Vodafone mainly because of the SureSignal beacause I live in a mraginal area for O2, Vodafone and Three and no signal on Orange and T-Mobile!

I have high hopes the SureSignal would get me a consistent good signal but this seems to have been over optomistic of me!  

Robin

[James]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the updates here.

It doesn’t look like a faulty batch as there are a lot of customers with the same batch who don’t have this issue which leads us to believe that it is related to something else.

I have passed on the following serial number;

notsosure; 40120156357

However, none of the other posts have confirmed the serial number you are using, if you can do this as requested above I will be able to add them to the feedback list and confirm them with our support teams.

James