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Solution

Sure Signal not transmitting a 3G signal

Retired-George
Moderator (Retired)
Moderator (Retired)

This issue presents the following symptoms:

 

For version 1 Sure Signal (the one with four lights on the front):

  • Lights one and two are solid which indicates the Sure Signal is connected, but isn't giving a 3G signal.
  • Light four doesn’t light up or lights occasionally and then goes out at certain times of day.

 

For version 2 Sure Signal (the one with 3 lights on the front): 

  • The power and system lights are both solid, indicating that the Sure Signal is giving a 3G signal.
  • Your registered phones don’t pick up a 3G signal.

 

For version 3 Sure Signal (the plug in version):

  • Power, internet and service lights are solid and the ‘in use’ light is either solid or flashing
  • Your registered phones don’t pick up a 3G signal

 

Troubleshooting steps:

Check that your broadband connection meets our minimum requirements.
Please run the broadband speed checker.


If your connection fails any part of the test, this indicates an issue with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and you’ll need to contact them to discuss this.

 

Your connection speed will vary throughout the day, so we recommend running it at various times to get an accurate reading.

 

To ensure the Sure Signal broadcasts at the correct frequency, it sends and receives small amounts of data to a Network Time Protocol Server hosted by ourselves. If these packets of data take longer than 240ms to make a round-trip, the accuracy can no longer be ensured and so the Sure Signal will automatically stop broadcasting and light four will go out.

 

Check for planned maintenance.

Planned maintenance can cause periods of downtime, so check the forum for any planned maintenance. If there is, this will be announced at the top of the Sure Signal forum.

 

Reset your Sure Signal:

 

  1. Hold in the reset button until all lights go solid
  2. Pull the power lead out with the reset button still pushed in
  3. Continue to hold down the reset button and reconnect the power lead
  4. Wait for all lights to come on and then release the reset button

 

The Sure Signal will be back online in around 1 hour.

 

Configure your Router Firewall.
The IP address and ports used for NTP (Network Time Protocol) synchronisation are listed below. You may need these to configure the correct firewall settings on your router.

 

This step isn’t usually necessary, but it may help if you’re using a complex network (such as a corporate or office LAN), or a complex router.

 

We recommend contacting your ISP or router manufacturer directly for detailed instructions on exactly how to change your router settings. Alternatively, select your router make and model over at http://portforward.com and follow the default guide there.

Destination IP addresses:

  • 212.183.133.181
  • 212.183.133.182
  • 212.183.131.128/26

 

  • Protocol = UDP
  • Port = 123


Please note that in the list of IP addresses above, the notation "212.183.131.128/26"means the entire range of IP addresses between 212.183.131.128 and 212.183.131.191

 

Perform a PathPing to our server.

In order to check if the Sure Signal's able to communicate with our NTP server, a PathPing can be performed as a test. In order to do this, you'll need to open the command prompt in Windows as follows:

  • For XP just click Start > Run and type cmd then hit enter
  • For Vista/Windows 7, press Start and type 'cmd' into the search bar
  • Right click the result and click ‘Run As Administrator’


Once you're in the command prompt, type in PathPing 212.183.133.181. This will perform a trace route to the NTP server and will show you the route it took to get there. One of the columns will display packet loss, if this occurs before hitting our server, you'll need to contact your ISP for further assistance.

 

If you've completed all the troubleshooting steps above and not identified the cause of the issue, your Sure Signal may be faulty. Please post in this thread and we can look into it further.

 

Thanks,

 

Jenny

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Hello

 

serial number 21224717989 version 1

 

the sure signal stopped working a few days ago after a lont internet outage (2 hours), presented with only light 1 flashing.

 

I have done a little troubleshooting and have now manged to get to light 1 and 2 solid.

 

how is it looking from your end?

 

 

Internet speed >5 Mbps ping normally <55ms.

 

pathping 

C:\WINDOWS\system32>pathping 212.183.133.181

Tracing route to 212.183.133.181 over a maximum of 30 hops

0 XPS-M133064BIT.int.hillblock.com [192.168.1.104]
1 WRT54GL [192.168.1.251]
2 192.168.1.250
3 losubs.subs.dsl5.wh-man.zen.net.uk [62.3.83.10]
4 no-dns-yet-62-3-86-29.zen.co.uk [62.3.86.29]
5 ge-2-0-0-0.cr1.wh-man.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.49]
6 ge-3-0-0-0.cr2.th-lon.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.45]
7 ldngw1.arcor-ip.net [195.66.224.209]
8 85.205.116.14
9 * * *
Computing statistics for 200 seconds...
Source to Here This Node/Link
Hop RTT Lost/Sent = Pct Lost/Sent = Pct Address
0 XPS-M133064BIT.int.hillblock.com [192.168.1.104]
0/ 100 = 0% |
1 1ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% WRT54GL [192.168.1.251]
0/ 100 = 0% |
2 1ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 192.168.1.250
1/ 100 = 1% |
3 44ms 2/ 100 = 2% 1/ 100 = 1% losubs.subs.dsl5.wh-man.zen.net.uk [62.3.83.10]
0/ 100 = 0% |
4 45ms 1/ 100 = 1% 0/ 100 = 0% no-dns-yet-62-3-86-29.zen.co.uk [62.3.86.29]
0/ 100 = 0% |
5 46ms 1/ 100 = 1% 0/ 100 = 0% ge-2-0-0-0.cr1.wh-man.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.49]
1/ 100 = 1% |
6 54ms 2/ 100 = 2% 0/ 100 = 0% ge-3-0-0-0.cr2.th-lon.zen.net.uk [62.3.80.45]
0/ 100 = 0% |
7 54ms 2/ 100 = 2% 0/ 100 = 0% ldngw1.arcor-ip.net [195.66.224.209]
98/ 100 = 98% |
8 --- 100/ 100 =100% 0/ 100 = 0% 85.205.116.14

Trace complete.

 

Can you see the sure signal from your end?

 

Thanks in advance

IAn

 

 

FIXED

 

Came back about an hour later and it is working OK

 

Don't you just hate it when that happens

 

Ian

View solution in original position

501 REPLIES 501

grannyrita
3: Seeker
3: Seeker
I have tried everything and done everything I was asked to do by Vodafone & BT but my VSS (v1) still won't work even though my Home Hub shows that my VSS is 'connected' - I'm really fed up as I've had to pay BT £30 - to get port forwarding all set up! Vodafone blames BT Home Hub5 & BT blame VSS - which leaves ME. The CONSUMER totally alone!
What's the point? Should I try another mobile signal provider? or are they all the same?

Amanda
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hello @grannyrita

 

Thanks for getting back to us. We'd love to help. 

 

Please follow the steps that @Jenny has posted above, so that we can look into it further. 

 

Thanks, 

 

Amanda

grannyrita
3: Seeker
3: Seeker
Thanks for all your advice but I've given up on my VSS1 it obviously isn't up to working with my BTHome Hub5 anymore - so I've got to try a more up to date version & see if that works. If it doesn't I'll have to try another network I guess 😕 anyway I'll let you know what happens - just got to save up £100 first!!!

Jenny
Moderator (Retired)
Moderator (Retired)

Hi @grannyrita

 

I’m sorry to hear that.

 

If you change your mind, please get back to us with the info requested above.

 

Thanks,

 

Jenny

cineriv
16: Advanced member
16: Advanced member

Hi grannyrita, 

Before you give up, try replacing the power supply,

 

They are available from Amazon or Ebay and cost around £10.

It's worth a try and could save you £100.

 

Regards. 

 

Don't bother it's useless no resolution from Vodafone or BT fibre optic BB - if signal keeps dropping out I'll have to find another supplier. New power & Ethernet cables tried plus port forwarding! NOT going to spend £100 buying another SS box without a guarantee it'll even work! (It WAS working with FOBB)!
Good luck everyone I've given up!

Mark
Community Manager
Community Manager

@ theskiingbear

 

We are aware that there have been compatibility issues the Vodafone Sure Signals and BT Home Hub 3 routers.  This has been resolved but we still do see new cases of this arising from time to time.

 

So we can rule out a fault with your Sure Signal, please try connecting from a different location. If you’re able to connect the issue will be due to the router and you’ll need to speak to BT about replacing the one you are currently using.

theskiingbear
3: Seeker
3: Seeker
Wasted 4 hour's of my life on this issue since last night with Vodafone and BT ( home hub 3). Lights 1 and 2 are solid light 4 blinking. Then the unit cycle's, going back to light 2 flashing etc. Serial number 21222181089. Mac 0000E59193CE9.

theskiingbear
3: Seeker
3: Seeker

Please help! Going mad with this

 

Pathping as follows, serial number is 21222181089, version 1. BT Home Hub 3

 

 

PathPing 212.183.133.181

Tracing route to 212.183.133.181 over a maximum of 30 hops

0 PRO015.p4.local [192.168.1.70]
1 BThomehub.home [192.168.1.254]
2 217.32.141.149
3 217.32.141.206
4 212.140.235.82
5 31.55.164.195
6 31.55.164.109
7 acc2-10GigE-0-3-0-1.bm.21cn-ipp.bt.net [109.159.248.240]
8 109.159.248.132
9 peer1-xe10-0-0.telehouse.ukcore.bt.net [109.159.254.122]
10 lndgw2.arcor-ip.net [195.66.224.124]
11 85.205.0.86
12 * * *
Computing statistics for 275 seconds...
Source to Here This Node/Link
Hop RTT Lost/Sent = Pct Lost/Sent = Pct Address
0 PRO015.p4.local [192.168.1.70]
0/ 100 = 0% |
1 6ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% BThomehub.home [192.168.1.254]
0/ 100 = 0% |
2 19ms 1/ 100 = 1% 1/ 100 = 1% 217.32.141.149
0/ 100 = 0% |
3 21ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 217.32.141.206
0/ 100 = 0% |
4 15ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 212.140.235.82
0/ 100 = 0% |
5 19ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 31.55.164.195
0/ 100 = 0% |
6 20ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 31.55.164.109
0/ 100 = 0% |
7 17ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% acc2-10GigE-0-3-0-1.bm.21cn-ipp.bt
.net [109.159.248.240]
0/ 100 = 0% |
8 24ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 109.159.248.132
0/ 100 = 0% |
9 20ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% peer1-xe10-0-0.telehouse.ukcore.bt
.net [109.159.254.122]
0/ 100 = 0% |
10 28ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% lndgw2.arcor-ip.net [195.66.224.12
4]
100/ 100 =100% |
11 --- 100/ 100 =100% 0/ 100 = 0% 85.205.0.86

Trace complete.

 

Hi theskiingbear,

 

Like many other people recently, I'm fairly sure that your power supply is failing.

Replacement units can be obtained from Amazon or Ebay and cost around £10 including delivery.