SureSignal V2 & BT Homehub5

[lexham]

Just set up a new BT Homehub5 and of course, the Suresignal isn't working.  Just have the single red power light and neither of the white status lights are illuminated.

With my previous router ASUS N66-RTU and BT Openreach Modem, the Suresignal was working fine earlier today.

I didn't have to set up port forwarding or any other tweaking with this setup - it just worked within a few minutes of getting a connection.

Actions taken so far:

• Reset the Suresignal (serial number 40114258128)
• Enabled port clamping on the Homehub5 (Advanced Settings --> Broadband --> VPN)

Update: Sunday am.

Removed HomeHub5 and replaced with Asus+Openreach modem.

Suresignal back and working within 30 mins.

The thread here seems to indicate that HH5 is compatible with VSS:

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/Sure-Signal-and-BT-Home-Hub/td-p/1519302

But I'm beginning to suspect otherwise. For something that's supposed to be simple (to the end user) as a plug and play solution, it's really not delivering.

If someone from Vodafone can comment and provide the settings that need to be enabled on HH5, that would be very helpful (and perhaps make a sticky).

I love the idea of the SureSignal, but it's a very flakey implementation as it makes the user jump through so many hoops.

Is the SS3 any better or simply a different footprint?

[sidelongmjp]

Hi,

I have found the Port Clamping option, and applied it for a time. You get to it via: Advanced > Broadband > VPN. The description is as follows:

VPN

Your BT Home Hub has been designed to work with most virtual private network (VPN) software. If you’re having problems connecting, please try enabling port clamping by clicking the ‘Yes’ button to see if this fixes your problem.
Port clamping enable:	YesNo
Port clamping sets the Internet key exchange to UDP port 500, rather than allowing a floating port. This is sometimes required by older virtual private network (VPN) Clients I did try setting this option at some stage of the proceedings, but it made no difference.

[Gemma]

Hi sidelongmjp,

If you’re not comfortable posting this information, please get in touch here.

Thanks,

Gemma

[sidelongmjp]

Gemma - I tried following the link you suggested and posting a message that contained all the required information. However I have received no response so I am wondering whether you received my message. 

In any case I have read and reread all the threads I can find in this forum, followed all the instructions to the letter, and tried talking to my ISP (PlusNet), all to no avail. My SureSignal (SureSignal v2: Serial no 40111022931, status active) resolutely refuses to function.

In addition I have started receiving regular text messages saying that the SureSignal has been moved and that I should confirm the new postcode. Well I did this the first few times, inspite of the fact that it has not moved, but I eventually realised that nothing was happening so I gave up.

I find this very disappointing. What should be a useful product is being let down by poor support.

[Gemma]

Hi sidelongmjp,

I’ve searched for your email via the address you registered on the eForum with and there's nothing showing.

If the routing code WRT165 wasn’t entered in the subject field, it wouldn’t have routed through to us.

You’ll need to assign a static IP address to your Sure Signal's MAC Address by using your router's configuration panel.

Please contact your ISP or router manufacturer for instructions on how to do this.

The MAC address can be found on the sticker at the back of the Sure Signal.  

Once you’ve done this, please update the postcode to a different one and then change it back to yours.

Thanks,

Gemma

[sidelongmjp]

Gemma,

Thanks for responding. I thought I had used the WRT165 routing code, but if you did not receive the email something must have gone wrong.

Anyway re assigning a static IP address to a device MAC address, I have not been able to find any way to do this with the BT HomeHub5. Indeed it is my opinion that this is not a supported option. I will do further research on this but I am not hopeful. If anyone has achieved this I would very much appreciate knowing how it is done.

Please note however that I have a static IP address from my ISP, PlusNet.

I spoke to a Vodafone technical support person yesterday, and as a result I currently think that the SureSignal v2 that I have is not compatible with my particular HomeHub5, in spite of opinions to the contrary that I have read on this forum. The last date my SureSignal signed on to the Vodafone server was 2nd April this year, which is too close to the time I commenced using the HomeHub5 to be a coincidence.

[sidelongmjp]

OK, I found out how to set the SureSignal to a fixed IP address, although to all intents and purposes it was already fixed, and changed the postcode to a different one and back again. I also power cycled both the SureSignal and the HomeHub5. Now, 12 hours later, still no joy.

What next?

[Retired-Ian_]

Hi sidelongmjp,

Thanks for that extra information.

Is it possible for you to try the Sure Signal at a different location and with a different ISP?

Thanks.

Ian

[sidelongmjp]

Problem solved by ditching the HomeHub5 in favour of a Fritz!Box 7490. As soon as I got this logged in to my broadband connection the SureSignal went through its login procedure correctly and is now working. Clearly the HomeHub5 rev A is not compatible with the SureSignal, in spite of claims to the contrary.

[sidelongmjp]

Hi Ben,

Thanks for responding. I have all the information you mention. Is it possible to PM it to you rather than publishing it on this forum?