VSS no 3G through FTTC/PPPoE

[mtcsltd]

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?

[Retired-PaulE]

Hi mtcsltd, 

Are you able to try your Sure Signal on another broadband connection? This will help us to rule out if it's the unit or your internet connection.

Paul 

[mtcsltd]

Hi Paul,
I have a backup Sky ADSL service. I have run it on that before but's not reliable.
I'm sure the unit is not faulty. It would be a heck of a coincidence that this VSS went faulty immediately after my Zen ADSL line was converted to VDSL. Yes, that means it's running over PPPoE, hence all the problems. I've tried everything I can to get this unit to work. Currently it's in the routers DMZ and connects in very quickly, but no 3G data getting through. At least I can make calls, but there must be a solution.

Do these VSS units update their firmware automatically? Are there updates my unit could benefit from?

MIke

[Ben_H]

Hi mtcsltd,

Thanks for the extra info. The only thing we can do this end is the synchronisation that James attempted back on the 1st to push updates through. 

Was the Draytek 2850Vn supplied by your ISP at all? Also have Draytek come back to offer any further support? While we can troubleshoot to an extent and support on the modems supplied by your ISP, this unit appears to be working correctly; I'm more inclined to think it's something to do with the set up of your router to the Sure Signal. 

Cheers, Ben

[mtcsltd]

Hi Ben, the Draytek 2850Vn is my own device. When the line was upgraded to VDSL, I initially used the supplied ECI modem linked to a WAN port on a Draytek 2830 router. I had the problem with that as I do with the 2850Vn.
I'm using the 2850Vn because it integrates VDSL support, so less device clutter, plus I can get diagnostics which are not available through the ECI modem, and I want to tinker with VOIP.

I agree, I think it's a Draytek issue too. I've been given advice on the Draytek user forum, but not from Draytek themselves, only from other users like me who've had experience with this problem.
I'll see if I can get an answer from Draytek directly.

Thanks
Mike

[Retired-PaulE]

Hi Mike, 

Keep us posted with what Draytek advise you of.

Paul 

[philip42h]

I think we've seen this before and suggest that you search this forum for more ...

IIRC it's a pack fragmentation issue. The VSS expects default packet sizes as supported under PPPoA and sets the 'do not fragment' bit. The max packet size supported under PPPoE is slightly smaller which causes more packets to fragment. And the Draytek firmware takes a strict interprettation of 'do not fragment' and drops the packet! ... Bother!

HTH ... and if it doesn't, sorry for butting in!

[mtcsltd]

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@PaulE wrote:

Hi Mike, 

Keep us posted with what Draytek advise you of.

Paul 

---

Hi Paul,

Draytek got back to me. I gave them remote access to my router so they could have a good look at the settings. They gave the following advise:

'For Vodafone's Sure Signal to work it is not necessary to put it in DMZ mode. Opening the required ports as suggested by Vodafone and disabling the VPN services on the router usually allows the VSS to connect. In most cases with problems the issue is with the PPPoE protocol and the fragmentation of the MTU.'

'Assign a static IP to the VSS using the Bind IP to MAC option.'

'Open the following ports for the local IP address of the VSS (you have specified before) under NAT>>Open Ports : UDP 123, TCP 50, UDP 4500, UDP 500.'

The current settings in my 2850Vn follow those guidelines above. I also have the following settings:

WAN >> General Setup > WAN1 > DSL Mode > VDSL only

WAN >> General Setup > WAN1 >VLAN Tag insertion (VDSL)>Tag value>101

WAN >> Internet Access>VPI>0

WAN >> Internet Access>VCI>38

WAN >> Internet Access>Encapsulating Type>VC Mux

WAN >> Internet Access>Protocol>PPPoA

VPN and Remote Access >> Remote Access Control Setup>Disable IPSec VPN Service

I've hard reset the VSS. I'm still unable to get 3G data on my phones or tablet. These devices work fine away from my property on the other side of town where I can get a 3G signal, so there is no issue with APN settings on those devices.

Please could you reset the VSS? Maybe that will help this time.

Another question. My VSS is a V1 model. Is the software in the V2 and V3 different from the V1?

Could the software in my V1 not be up to date? I know you did some updates back in September 2012.

Would it be worthwhile getting hold of a V2 or a V3?

Incidentally, I also tried adjusting the MTU. The maximum I can set is 1492 on this model, however if I use this value my router won't authenticate and get online, so it is back on 1442. I've asked Draytek about this and am waiting to hear.

Thanks

Mike

[philip42h]

This thread, post 57 was the one I was remembering ... don't know whether it might help you / applies to your model Draytek

[mtcsltd]

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@philip42h wrote:

This thread, post 57 was the one I was remembering ... don't know whether it might help you / applies to your model Draytek

---

Many thanks Philip. That was a very interesting thread. I learnt quite a bit from it.

To sum it up basically my settings all match those specified in the thread. The DFcheck flag was already set to disable. I'm going to try connecting another router to my router as described in the thread. That'll take me a while to sort out.

Cheers

Mike

[Ben_H]

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.

Cheers, Ben