Vodafone Sure Signal

[jasonrybka]

Evening all,

As the subject states whenever I connect my SureSignal box to my router and the SureSignal box makes its connection to Vodafone and broadcasts a 3G signal it knocks out my WiFi and stops access to the Internet.

By "knocks out my WiFi" I mean, I can see my SSID but not connect to it. What happens varies from an 'unable to connect' message to the device timing out, and any devices connected via Ethernet loses Internet access.

This specifically only happens when the SureSignal is broadcasting a 3G signal.

All lights are stable and fine on the SureSignal and router.

The router is a Sky Broadband D-link wireless router supplied to me in September. This is the first time I've used my SureSignal box with this router.

Previously I have used my SureSignal box with a Sky Broadband Netgear router and it all worked fine - surprisingly. (This would suggest the issue is with the new D-link router but ...what?) I cannot understand why it happens once it has connected to Vodafone and broadcasting a 3G signal.

I am technically knowledgable so I have looked through the settings but I cannot see anything out of the ordinary or otherwise different to the Netgear setup.

I have moved address in August, but I've updated this in the SureSignal dashboard. I've tried the reset button on the back of the SureSignal box (held it in till the lights when off while plugged into router).

Any help would be most appreciated.

[Dave]

Hi Jasonrybka, welcome to the eForum!

That's strange - as you say, it does point to the router at first glance. Have you tried the old router again to confirm that option still works?

Can you confirm the following few checks for me:

 - Is the new router is G or N class, and what bandwidth you have available?

 - Do you have the latest firmware on the router? The reset of the Sure Signal will have checked this was up to date.

 - Does the same happen whether the PC is cabled or wirelessly connected to the router?

Let us know and we'll be happy to see where this leads!

DaveN

eForum team

[SynthFG]

The simple solution is to have the SS as far away from the router as the ethernet cable alows

[jasonrybka]

Hi DaveN,

Unfortunately trying the old router isn't an option due to my parents not bringing it here from the old house.

It's G. I have 16Mbps down and 0.95Mbps up, which is more than what I had back in Chesterfield.

Router is fully up-to-date.

When wired I lose an Internet connection. When wireless: if I'm already connected then it drops and thus loses any wireless connection, if I'm not already connect I simply cannot connect to the wireless. I can only see the SSID.

[Trev]

Hi jasonrybka

Have you tried a longer ethernet cable and located the Sure Signal further from your router?

This may well fully resolve the issue, and is certainly what I would suggest you try firstly.

Let me know if this fails to help.

Regards

Trev

eForum Team

[shmulibass]

Hi

I just bought the Sure Signal- followed all the steps and yay it does give a good signal for my phone. The problem is it seems to have knocked out my wireless internet connections. My computer connects no prob as this is wired direct to the modem, however all my other devices- laptop and Wii do not connect.

Can anyone help- my router is the O2 wireless box II- it says Thomson on it

[umairjaffer]

hello

im using the N netgare router and having the same problem my net get dead can any one have any thing to fix this problem 

[BenJ]

Hi Guys,

Welcome to the eForum!

It's strange that the Sure Signal is doing this, I'm unsure as to why  this is happening as such as WIFI and 3G are different signals as such, however WIFI does transmit  around the 2.4 GHz frequency so it's feasible that your router may need to change channel to stop this channel pollution from happening.

Have you tried changing the channel that that your router broadcasts on? You should be able to find this in your router's manual.

Please let me know if this resolves your problem.

Thanks
BenJ
eForum Team

[jasonrybka]

I have tried changing the channel.

I am currently testing out using a Linksys wireless router to attach my SureSignal to, this wireless router (not transmitting) is then connected to my Sky router. It's a long shot but I am unable to locate the original Sky router I spoke.

I can't use the Linksys directly because it's designed for Cable Internet, I cannot plug it directly into ADSL.

I'll come back with results.

[jasonrybka · Accepted solution]

Update: turns out this works. So I'll just leave the Linksys router in the loop.

To others: I suggest changing channel, failing that, new router. Expensive solution but a solution nonetheless.

[phastie]

Hi,

I have had exactly the same problem. My old and trusty router decided that it had had enough (3com 11Mbs B) so i have purchased a Cicsco Linksys WAG 120N. The router was easy to set up and I plugged my Sure Signal in expecting all to be well.

After about half an hour the wifi signal became unusable - I could see the SSID but couldn't log onto the network.

I unplugged the Sure Signal and the wifi came back - but my phone signal went!

After a bit of playing around I found that if I changed the new router away from its "N" setting back to mixed "B and G" all was fine.

I hope that this helps, if i have any other updates I'll post them.

It is a shame to have to downgrade the router so that it works with the Sure Signal but it's easier than the 50 mile trip to change the router. 

[alan_stewart_1]

I had the same problem when I initially set it up.

Factory reset both homehub and suresignal today, re-entered the port settings on home hub which you can find here

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/Sure-Signal-amp-BT-Homehub/td-p/644749

Job done.  Everything working perfect.....for now anyway

[solvetech]

I too am having problems this time with a SureSignal box zapping a Netgear WNT2000v2. My problems started after I started using wireless - wired was fine but wired is no longer an option for me.

It is obvious to me (and many others on this forum) that the SureSignal conflicts with the channel being used. The symptoms are that the wireless network will stop working if the SureSignal box is turned on and is within 20 feet of the wireless router. The wireless works again after the SureSignal is turned off.

I have tried every channel on the Netgear and none of the 10 channels work well with the SureSignal. If the SureSignal box is turned on my wireless network goes down. I have tried replacing the wireless router with the same results. I tried moving the SureSignal to the top of the house but then find I cannot get a mobile signal from the SureSignal because it is too far away.

This has taken me quite a lot of my time to identify the cause of my wireless problems. It is obvious that SureSignal is broadcasting on a frequency likely to disrupt wireless networks. I am an IT consultant with 25 years relevant experience so I should know how to resolve but...

I have two points to make.

1. Wireless networks are extremely common amongst the user base and many people are reporting these problems and getting fobbed off IMHO.

2. SureSignal should broadcast on a frequency that is not likely to intefere. Is there a way of adjusting the SureSignal broadcast channel similar to my Netgear which allows 10 channels?

I am not impressed with the SureSignal solution if it has such problems with wireless networks. Is there any way of getting it to work wirelessly?

[AMcK]

I have the same symptoms with  Belkin Pre-N and Billion 11N routers. Does the SureSignal really use the unregulated 2.4 GHz ISM band in conflict with WiFi. Moving the SureSignal well away from the router does seem to make the problem go away. I naively had the SureSignal next to the Belkin and spent the best part of two days swapping equipment to figure out why its WiFi had died. Now the Belkin is on the 1st floor working normally but the Billion is about 1 metre away from the SureSignal on the ground floor and almost useless. Vodafone need to advise on this.

Andrew

[BenJ]

Hi Guys

I am currently speaking to our Sure Signal specialists about this to see if anything can be done about this.  As soon as I have some information I will share it with you.

Thanks 
BenJ
eForum Team 

[dig59]

Is there an answer to this problem, other than moving the ss as far away from the router as possible.

I am new to this forum but having trawled through this forum not many Technical solutions are forthcoming.

My company has just changed our phones from o2 to Vodafone.(o2 No problems with signal)

It appears I live in a Vodafone dead zone, signal wise.

My company suggest getting a SS to boost signal, this I duly do.(5 days ago)

My Mobile is not 3g compatible(blackberry 8900) so they are sending me a new 3g phone.

In the mean time my wireless network has slowed down from 3mbps to 0.1mbps. (O.K on ethernet wired)

Disconnected SS rebooted router now back up to 3mbps.

SS is the full length of the cable away from the router. The router is 1 month old a TP LINK TD-W8960N ADSL2+.

Yet to receive new mobile phone to test signal.

My office is only 8ft x 8 ft , I' m not running cables around my house to overcome a design fault.

Please can you provide a better technical solution.

[Lee]

Hi there dig59,

Many thanks for letting us know about this.

I'll have a word with one of my colleagues and will return to the thread when I've had a response.

Cheers,

Lee

[Lee]

Hi again dig59,

Just to let you know, I've not forgotten you and I've just chased this up.

Thanks,

Lee

[Lee]

Hey dig59,

Thanks for your patience on this one; it's very much appreciated. I have a few suggestions for you:

You said you will unplug the VSS and reboot the router. This shouldn't be needed as the router should recover without the need for a reboot. Can you try to disconnect the VSS without a reboot to see if the broadband speeds are still low? If the router fails to recover to a more acceptable speed without a reboot then this could indicate a router problem.

Can you try different router to see if the problem persists?

If not try the VSS on a different connection to see if the speeds are maintained.

Let me know how you get on.

Cheers,

Lee

[digbyp2]

Have a new Sure Signal supplied on 17th September 2012

Broadband Connection = O2

Router = Draytek 2830
Connection Type = MPoA(RFC1483/2684)

I have registerred Sure Signal on Vodafone web site

I have ensured that my mobile number is correct and authorised to connect to VSS

I have port forwarded 5 ports on router to internal IP address of VSS

So basically, devices switches on, Red light stays on and first light next to it comes on. Connect to 3G on iPhone 4 and the second light comes on to indicate all is good. So, start using and within a short while (minute or two), my broadband internet connection freezes and I have to turn off router and back on again. Happnes each and everytime I start up 3G on iPhone.

I have read that PPOA is required. Could my connection type be the problem, even though device does seem to connect through to Vodafone according to lights on front panel of VSS?