Version 3 VSS Lights (Power - flashing, Internet - off, In Service - orange, In Use - orange)

[Retired-Lee]

This thread has been created to discuss and troubleshoot the version 3 Sure Signal when the light sequence is as follows:

• Power: Flashing
• Internet: Off
• In Service: Solid Orange
• In Use: Solid Orange

Cause

This light sequence indicates the Sure Signal's not active and it has been unable to authenticate on the Vodafone network

Troubleshooting

Please restart your Sure Signal. If the symptoms continue please add the following details to this thread:

• Your speed test results from here
  
• Your ping test results from here
  
• Your external IP address from here
  
• Your Sure Signal serial number
• The results of a traceroute

Traceroute command:

On a PC:

1. Click on Start and select Run
2. Type CMD into the Run box and press enter/click ok
3. A black box will appear
4. In this box type tracert 212.183.133.177 press Enter
5. Paste the output of this command into your reply

On a Mac:

1. Open Terminal (Applications, Utilities)
2. Type 'traceroute 212.183.133.177'
3. Press Enter

This will help us get the quickest possible resolution for you.

Thanks

LeeH

[mdineley]

Hi Laura/vodafone tech team, I have done you as you requested and de-registered the SSv3 and re-registered it, but same result. Flashing red light and two solid orange light, showing there is a connection block. I have checked with my ISP and all the port forwarding is correct. I took the office box home and connected it to my minimal speed (0.5mbs) plusnet/BT landline ISP broadband router which I need for my home sure signal box, as I used to have satellite broadband, and surprise surprise, it works! Not sure what the answer is now, as the box works when connected to slow copper wire adsl line but when it comes to high speed fibre optic broadband, and top of the line routers it does not. Maybe Vodafone needs to look at another supplier other than the shoddy French telecom company Alcatel Lucent...even if it has merged with an equally troubled telecoms company Nokia?!? Like others, I need my mobile for work and working from home is not a possibility.

[jhopkins]

Two more satisfied  customers I see !! I still have  no mobile  signal at home.....now  half  way through the  fourth month. What a  shambles !!

[HalH]

Does anyone have a working VSS with fibre, or know anyone that knows anyone, (ad inf) with it working?

[mdineley]

Mine worked for 6 months no problem through wireless internet, which is basically fibre to the mast, which is then received by a line of sight receiving dish at my office. It just stopped working last week.

I have fibre now running to my home, delivering upto 100mbs with an Asus router, and not suprisingly my home VSS does not work when connected to that, but does when connected to the slow adsl BT landline broadband router I have running along side it.

Vodafone could get on and improve alot of businesses/people lives by investing and improving the network coverage in rural black spots in the country we could be done with the hassle of Sure Signal boxes for good! 

[arukDave]

@HalH

Yes it can work with BT's infinity, and work well.   But not with the supplied BT hardware!.

We had to replace the lame business hub (less functional than a home hub) with a router that in the end also had its own VDSL modem.   A Draytek Vigor series device, bypassing the Outreach modem and BT's router.   It also gave us "guest wifi" segregated from the office lan too, and other fringe benefits, a good if expensive bit of kit it has to be said.

Once that had "Allow fragmented packets" selected in it's firewall configuration dialog, and the MTU value pushed as high as it would go, it all worked.

Go back in time in this forum, and see other postings from myself and others.   It can work, and work well with BT.

The main problem seems to be that the VSS's *NEED* a packet MTU size of 1500 bytes, but most domestic routers can't do that, so break or fragment the packets.   If those fragments get through, and the link is fast enough, it will work.   If they can't get through, or the resulting link speed is too slow, then the VSS's fail to sort things out with Vodafones servers.

I suspect there are often other routers in the way that fragment the packet streem too, irrespective of ones own hardware settings.

Some ISP's also, have erroniously blocked some protocol usage, that stop the VSS dead in its tracks.

Also, check your public IP address on the RIPE database, is "known" as being within the UK.   BT's not been a problem, but other ISP's often give their users IP addresses "bought in" from other places, shall we say.

Vodafone's servers will refuse to use such IP's as they see them.

Regards.

Dave B

(Not part of Vodafone, no affiliation with Draytek either.)

[HalH]

Thanks, arukDave.

At last, some knowledge and good information. Can I ask which Draytek Vigor model router you have? I had looked at them but, as you say, they are expensive, and I'll have to see if the budget, and my patience, stretches to a fourth one. In my many discussions someone did mention that one of the Draytek Vigors will convert the protocol to PPPoA on a device required basis, which seems like a smart thing to be able to do.

The two routers I bought to try to solve this do have their own built in digital modems, but not the 'allow fragmentation' settings, unless I've missed that. I'll check again just in case.

Good info.

HalH. 

[SRM]

Tech Team - whenever you're ready to follow up your message #2189 - http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Vodafone-Sure-Signal/Version-3-VSS-Lights-Power-flashing-Internet-off... - with the missing information on how to return a SS for repair, I'll be very pleased to get packing and posting.

[jhopkins]

Can I join the queue for that informatin too? The Tech Team's  link for repairs  was  of ourse  for mobile phones not SS...so yet another  blind alley. Still, mine has  only  needed  repair  since  Jan. 1st.,,,so guess I'm  being a  bit  hasty.....  Is hasty a  swear word on this  forum?....it often feels  like it.....

[jhopkins]

SRM

Any luck with the  repair  information yet?...I've  heard  nothing...which doesn't  surprise  me at all !!

[SRM]

jhopkins - KAY at voda send me a PM with a link to page to add some account details to. That was on Friday (24th) - I've not given up all hope yet!

Cheers, SRM