Using two VSS

[gtw]

Hi,

  I had a VSS but the signal was too weak to reach my bedroom, so yesterday I bought a seond one.  I tried to register it online but the link was broken.  I eventually managed to register it by phone.  I connected it and waited until all lights were lit and constant but I got no signal from it.  I disconnected the original VSS from the network.  The new one started working but since then the original has a flashing power led and an orange user LED.  I contacted tech. support and they told me I have to contact BT and get a static IP address for one of the VSS.  Is that possible?  Is there a way of using port forwarding to use two VSS or is it simply not possible to use two on the same network?

TIA,

Gerald.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi,

From past posts on the forum it is possible to use two Sure Signals in your home. 

Edit : A thread I was referring to. 

https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/Can-I-use-two-sure-signals-on-the-same-broadban...

[gtw]

Ok.  Thanks for that.  I remember now that when I first considered buying a second VSS I googled the possibility and found that thread.  I stopped reading when I saw that it was possible.  So, how did disonnecting my first VSS from the network lead to this flashing red / constant orange situation?  Nothing I do changes it.  Pressing the reset button for 5 seconds does nothing.  Pressing it forever does not switch it off.  I swapped the ethernet cable just in case but no change.

[BandOfBrothers]

This is a Troubleshooting thread from Vodafone. 

Have you seen it and if not choose your ss model for assistance.

 http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/Troubleshooting-Please-read-before-posting/td-p/...

and

https://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/Vodafone-Sure-Signal-troubleshooting/td-p/23917...

[grolschuk]

It is all down to the router (and the pain for most SS users who can't connect out of the box)

Some routers, both home and business, can only support one set of encrypted VPN traffic through it before getting confused... some allow multiple streams.

If your router can only handle one... and as the description you have given suggests, then there is little you can do without changing your broadband hardware.

I am guessing that with SS#2 active and working, plugging in SS#1 then does not work, and #2 continues to work fine?

[gtw]

Hi,

  your guess is correct.  My router is a Draytek Vigor 2830 and is definitely business class.  I'll try removing SS#2 and resetting everything.

Thanks again.

[gtw]

Thanks again.  I had seen both of those.  The thing is, most of the suggestions do not apply as a) The VSS was working normally until I installed the second, and b) the second is working fine.  The link and activity lights on the original are as expected.  Unfortunately one cannot view the MAC address nor serial number of the VSS without unplugging it.  I cannot do this at the moment as the router is powered via the pass through of the VSS and is in use by other members of the family.  (Note: Step one of the quick start should be "Write down the MAC address and serial number").  Tomorrow I shall bind the MAC address to an IP address, see if I can ping it and take it from there.  I'll also try swapping the locatioins of the two and see which one works.

[muirwoods]

Hi Gerald

I had two VSSs working (until one blew up!) The assignment of static IPs should be done on the internal network in your router, so that they aren't getting an automatically assigned IP from DHCP. Consult your router's documentation to see how to do this. You'll need a reasonable internet speed for them both to work at the same time - I seem to remember around 4 Mb/s, but can't be absolutely sure. One down side of this set up is that the VSSs can't talk to each other, so there's no hand-off between devices. When you start a call on one device you'll have to stay within its area of service. There's no way around this. They can be quite tricky to get going, but what you want to do can work.

Good luck!

[gtw]

miurwoods,

  yes, I know how to give it a static IP address.  That's why I was somewhat alarmed when tech support told me to contact BT for a static address for my SS.  We live right out in the sticks (hence the need for the SS in the first place) but we do get 6MBit on a good day so it's not the broadband speed.  Maybe I'll just let Vodafone put up a 4G mast in my garden<g>.

[grolschuk]

As you have a 2830, you could also try creating a new VLAN for the ethernet port that SS#2 is connected to.

No need for assignment of static addresses, as the SS#1 works fine on dynamic...