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VSS no 3G through FTTC/PPPoE

mtcsltd
6: Helper
6: Helper

I need some help with my VSS. My line was upgraded to VDSL on Monday, and since then, although I get voice calls and text messages, I cannot get a 3G service through the VSS. It connects ok in that I have the right lights on the unit, and my Samsung Galaxy S2 shows the H symbol for the network, but no apps can get data from the internet.

 

Initially I was using the BT Openreach supplied CEI modem, going into the WAN2 port of my Draytek 2830 router. Now I'm using just a Draytek 2850Vn which supports VDSL directly, but I have the same problem.

 

I'm tried many different things:

1) port forwarding

2) hard resets of the VSS

3) I requested a a resync of the unit

4) adjusting the MTU size for the WAN port on the 2830 and 2850Vn (tried 1456, 1478, 1480, 1492,1500)

5) disabling IPSEC on the VPN remote access on the router to allow IPSEC capable devices behind the router to access the internet

6) UPnP is enabled

7) firmware is updated to latest version on the 2850Vn (3.6.3)

 

I've asked for help on the Draytek forum too, and will get in touch with Draytek support directly.

 

Vodafone, is there anything else I can try?

 

27 REPLIES 27


@Ben_H wrote:

Hi mtcsltd,

 

Thanks for the update. It's good to see Draytek have been thorough with their information too and I'd like to give a shout out to phillip42h for the assist too! 

 

I've performed a manual resynchronisation for your unit again so you'll just need to reset it your end any time after 16:00 today (Sunday) to complete the action. Bear in mind it can take up to an hour or so for it to set itself back up from a restart. Let me know if there's any joy with that and if they come back on the MTU.

 

Regarding the fact yours is a first version unit, the devices still work fine on the network. The later models don't really bear any difference performance wise other than output radius and being better atheistically. :Winking_smiley:

 

Cheers, Ben


Thank you Ben, I've just reset the VSS.

My question about the various VSS versions was more to do with the software. Is the software different in each device version, or are they all identical? If they are different then perhaps there is a chance that a VSS2 or 3 may behave differently than a VSS1.

Regards

Mike

Retired-Dave
Moderator (Retired)
Moderator (Retired)

Hi mtcsltd,

 

The software in the various Sure Signals is essentially the same. It's the hardwre configuration and capabilities - for example different shape, different lights, more concurrent calls - where the changes lie.

 

Dave

Thanks Dave.

FYI, I noticed my VSS re-sync'd yesterday evening, it was out of action for an hour or two.
Still no 3G.
I haven't heard back from Draytek despite a further request. If they've got anything useful to say, I'll add it to this thread.

I'm still searching for anything new on this problem. I frequently see some posters say it's working, but they appear to mean voice/text as opposed to data, so they could mean voice/text or voice/text/data.

I imagine some are not too worried since they can just use wi-fi. I making do with that. At least the important stuff is working!
Thanks for your help.
Regards
Mike

robforsyth
4: Newbie

Can anyone tell me if I can use VSS with FTTP using a technicolor TG582n-pro router?

 

Regards Robert

Hi robforsyth,

 

There are many factors in the setup of a Sure Signal.

 

The honest answer is I don't know.

 

Most of the time the VSS is a plug n play device so it's definitely worth a try.

 

Cheers,

 

LeeH

Thanks Lee. I am presently ADSL moving to FTTP soon. I had probs setting it up with my ADSL Draytek router but could set it up with my wifes Netgear. Vodafone eventually told me that it needed PPPoA not PPPoE protocol which my router has. Pity that Vodafone does not tell you this in sales or product instructions! It took me 2 weeks to find out! I have now been told that FTTP is PPPoE only so worried about that.

philip42h
16: Advanced member
16: Advanced member

@robforsyth wrote:
Thanks Lee. I am presently ADSL moving to FTTP soon. I had probs setting it up with my ADSL Draytek router but could set it up with my wifes Netgear. Vodafone eventually told me that it needed PPPoA not PPPoE protocol which my router has. Pity that Vodafone does not tell you this in sales or product instructions! It took me 2 weeks to find out! I have now been told that FTTP is PPPoE only so worried about that.

What you've understood from Vodafone isn't quite accurate. The SS neither knows nor cares whether your router is using PPPoA (over ADSL) or PPPoE (over Ethernet using fibreoptic cable) - it can work just fine with either.

If you have an ADSL connection your ISP will probably require a PPPoA connection; if you have cable, FTTC, FTTP you will probably need to use PPPoE and that's fine.

 

Where there have been issues is with packet sizes, the MTU setting, the behaviour of certain routers and the way that the SS is/was configured to work. Things may have changed over the past year or so ...

 

The SS constructs large data packets that are at or close to the maximum size supported under PPPoA and sets a 'bit' instructing the router not to break the packet apart. Most if not all the time that works just fine over an ADSL connection.

 

The maximum packet size supported under PPPoE is just a little bit smaller, so the packets created by the SS don't / didn't 'fit'. Many routers confronted with this situation ignore the "don't break the packet apart bit", break the packet into smaller chunks and send the data anyway - all is well (just not quite as efficient as VF intended).

 

The firmware on some routers - and this included at least some Draytek models - interpreted the "don't break the packet apart bit" strictly. They now had a packet that was too big to send and they couldn't break it apart - so they simply dropped the packet, and as a result the SS simply didn't function. This, I believe, gave rise to the 'urban myth' that the SS doesn't work with PPPoE.

 

So, FTTC/P + PPPoE + the right router/firmware will work just fine. :Smiling:

 

HTH

[I can't give any advise on suitable routers 'cos I'm on just plain old, fairly slow ADSL ...]

Philip

thats a brilliant reply which I nearly understand! I will pass on to my IT supporter to fully decode. Much appreciated

 

Rob