Issues with Vodafone Sure Signal

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froob

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Topic # 100177 4-Apr-2012 20:35

I've recently moved to a new house that has terrible mobile reception, so signed up with Vodafone ADSL and bought one of their Sure Signals (v2). It's generally a great solution to the lack of signal, but I've had a couple of problems with it.

Sometimes when I'm at home, my iPhone connects to the Sure Signal and shows full reception, but it won't receive phone calls. People calling me go straight through to voicemail, and I will get a txt later telling me that I've missed calls. Turning the phone off and on seems to fix the problem. My flatmates are also having issues (and are also on iPhones, but different models).

The second issue is that the system light on the Sure Signal will occasionally start flashing and it will drop all cellphone connections for a few minutes. It doesn't seem to be an issue with our internet connection, which has been rock solid for the last couple of weeks

Not sure if the two problems are related.

I'm not using a Vodafone supplied ADSL modem; my setup is a Draytek Vigor 120 controlled by a pfSense box (ALIX 2D13). The firewall is setup to allow the Sure Signal to make any external connection, and it generally doesn't seem to have had any problem connecting and configuring itself.

Any suggestions appreciated!

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Reply # 605298 4-Apr-2012 20:47

Did you ask this question on the VFNZ forum as well?

froob

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Reply # 605299 4-Apr-2012 20:48

Nope, just here.

johnr

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Reply # 605309 4-Apr-2012 21:05

Have you noted down times and dates when this issue happens?

froob

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Reply # 605316 4-Apr-2012 21:11

I have the dates and times from my last couple of whoCalled txts telling me when I've missed calls. Unfortunately haven't recorded when the Sure Signal has disconnected with flashing system light.

johnr

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Reply # 605318 4-Apr-2012 21:14

How many examples have you got?

froob

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Reply # 605323 4-Apr-2012 21:19

Two on my phone where I can confirm I was at home and connected to the Sure Signal. Probably another one or two on my flatmates phone. Unfortunately it's one of those things where you can't really tell if it's not working- I don't tend to get a lot of calls in the evenings when at home.

Just4achuckle

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Reply # 613452 23-Apr-2012 08:10

I've had very similar issues with my Sure Signal too. Occasionally I would be sitting there expecting a call/txt, looking at full bars of reception on my (VF,on-account) Iphone 3GS - and not until I made an outbound call or in some way engaged the network myself - would I then get alerted to the problem with a dump of txts from the missed calls and voice mail notifications.
I'm certainly don't mean make it sound like a grizzle, Vodafone + Sure Signal have been great - just thought it might be relevant as Johnr was asking about specific times etc. In November 2011 got my (VF-on account) Samsung GS2, now it happens a lot less frequently but still pops up far to often to be a random occurrence.
... I've got a screenshot from 2 days ago of a txt message sent from a (VF-on account) Iphone 3GS to me with the sent time 12:15pm and the received time is 4:55pm.
... A few months ago got my flatmate standing next to me to turn off her 3G on her VF-Iphone 3GS wait 30sec then call me - standing 1 meter away from me her call connected to the 2G network - then went straight to my voice mail... Btw if it's relevant I live about 700m South of Eden Park.?

Like I said, not meant to be a moan, I'd be lost without the Sure Signal and I WOULD recommend it. So if it helps the network engineers etc to make it work better I'd be happy to give more details to the relevant parties.

*VF naked broadband, HG556a (V100R001C12B032SP01), Alcatel-Lucent 9361 V2-V*
Samsung Galaxy S2 (previously iphone 3GS)
Mode:ADSL2 Line Coding:Trellis On Status:Connected Link Power State:L0 DownstreamUpstreamSNR Margin (dB):6.2 6.7 Attenuation (dB):40.0 21.2 Power (dBm):19.1 12.3 Attainable Rate (Kbps):8696 1261 Rate (Kbps):7138 1261

froob

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Reply # 614028 23-Apr-2012 22:38

I've spoken to the support line about the issue, and the first suggestion was to reset the Sure Signal. Unfortunately that hasn't helped, so I've swapped in my Vodafone supplied modem/router. I'm thinking the problem in my case is probably an incompatibility with my pfSense router and/or Draytek modem. Will post back here if I can figure out what the issue is.

CADMAX

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Reply # 614121 24-Apr-2012 08:37

I have also had issues with this, Vodafone modem and we have a land line. Samsung G2 + my wife’s nokia (something cheap).
I had a new sure signal sent out to us some time ago. We still have times when we have to turn off the cell phones and turn them back on or make a call out before it will pick up that it has missed calls.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Just4achuckle

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Reply # 614319 24-Apr-2012 13:54

Modem/Routers I have tested with the Sure Signal V2 that intermittently display this fault:
1 x Linksys WAG320
1 x Dlink DIR615 + (1 x DDWRT firmware)
1 x Belkin N (Fd5-model number escapes me)
3 x Vodafone Echolife HG556a (yes that's right 3x)
1 x Dlink DSL-502T
1 x Dlink DSL-G604T
I think there was a couple more but I can't remember them at the moment.

Demeter

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Reply # 615365 26-Apr-2012 12:14

Hi Froob,

Have you tried using a Vodafone Broadband Complete modem? Does this improve your SureSignal service or not at all? I have found this list of devices which are known to perform well with SureSignal.

The following things may affect your service stability on your SureSignal device:

Internet Connection – Minimum Bandwidth
Vodafone sure signal requires a minimum 1 Megabit downstream and 300 Kilobit upstream data rate to operate successfully.

Internet Connection –Stability
Each time Sure Signal loses internet connectivity it will take between 5 – 10 minutes for the device to re-establish a connection with the Vodafone Network. During this time no calls / data sessions can be made using the Sure Signal device.

Network Configuration – Router/Firewall
Vodafone Sure Signal requires an IPSec compatible router with ports 8, 50, 500 and 4500 open for incoming and outgoing traffic.

Network Configuration – DNS
If using internal DNS and/or Proxy servers ensure that
initial-ipsecrouter.vag.vodafone.co.nz is added to the DNS records and/or allowed access via the Proxy Server.

Network Configuration – DHCP enabled
Vodafone Sure Signal cannot be configured with a Static IP address and requires DHCP enabled.

Network Configuration - Changes
- If using a non Vodafone Internet connection, has the Internet connection IP (WAN IP) changed?
- Have any of the Vodafone Sure Signal devices been moved to a different location?
- Have you added / removed a Vodafone Sure Signal device

Hope this helps a bit,
Lon

http://community.vodafone.co.nz
onlinecare@vodafone.co.nz

CADMAX

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Reply # 615366 26-Apr-2012 12:16

My sure signal has echo today ??? restarted every thing at my end, inc the phone.

In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Demeter

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Reply # 615498 26-Apr-2012 15:58

CADMAX: My sure signal has echo today ??? restarted every thing at my end, inc the phone.

Can you PM me your customer number or Broadband login user-id so I can check your line? Sounds like you may have a dodgy connection...

http://community.vodafone.co.nz
onlinecare@vodafone.co.nz

dolsen

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Reply # 615510 26-Apr-2012 16:08

Demeter:
CADMAX: My sure signal has echo today ??? restarted every thing at my end, inc the phone.
Can you PM me your customer number or Broadband login user-id so I can check your line? Sounds like you may have a dodgy connection...

I know that the information requested is not highly sensitive, but, Demeter does not have a company tag associated with their user.

Demeter

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Reply # 615543 26-Apr-2012 16:53

dolsen:
Demeter:
CADMAX: My sure signal has echo today ??? restarted every thing at my end, inc the phone.
Can you PM me your customer number or Broadband login user-id so I can check your line? Sounds like you may have a dodgy connection...

I know that the information requested is not highly sensitive, but, Demeter does not have a company tag associated with their user.

Fair call - All you have to go on are my good intentions :)

http://community.vodafone.co.nz
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