2 X Suresignals - Working, now not so much.....

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macjones

106 posts

Master Geek

#173384 21-May-2015 10:31

Hi All,

We have a home and office separated by 300m in a no coverage area. (we have a point to point wireless link between the house and office).

In January this year we installed a sure signal in each location, it worked great until two days ago. Both our Vodafone mobiles iPhone and Note 4, would seamlessly pickup the home or office sure signal with 5 bars service.

Now, the home sure signal with all the right LED's on is giving no service. The office one is still fine. Internet and our own VPN's still work fine from both locations.

A call to VF customer service and they tell me that there can only be one sure signal per broadband connection. Which is odd because we've had two working great for the last 5 months.

Anyone know if there is actually a one sure signal limit and we just got lucky for a while?

Cheers
Mac

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8331 posts

Uber Geek

#1309220 21-May-2015 11:30

Have you tried turning one off to see if the other will work then, ( to confirm if you have been restricted to one device)
Also, what happens when you switch the locations of the units over?

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1309227 21-May-2015 11:43

You can have more than one Sure Signal unit per broadband connection but if xDSL SYNC is low then this could cause issues, Have you checked your modem to make sure xDSL SYNC stats still look ok?

theibm

33 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#1309748 22-May-2015 11:05

Late on Monday 18th May a Vodafone server failed which provides ports for Sure Signal connections. Apparently most existing connections will remain active however new connections or re-connects will not.

It took THREE days of frustrating work thinking it might have been a local network fault as one out of the three Sure Signals on the same LAN segment continued to work, I'm also in the middle of rolling out new BB connections and then we had power cuts to add to the misery so I wasn't sure if it was something I'd done in error or some other fault. These SS are really easy to work out if they are working. NOT!

Eventually I discover discover the fault is at VF and only after 90 minutes, two phone calls to business support. Nowhere has this information be published, even VF tech support didn't know about the outage.

The ETA for restoration is the 29th May.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr does not in any way describe exactly how angry I am at the moment.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1309762 22-May-2015 11:09

VF tech support does know about the issue for sure,

theibm

33 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#1309784 22-May-2015 11:32

johnr: VF tech support does know about the issue for sure,

Not the first guy I spoke to! he didn't have a clue.

Even our VF corporate account manager had to make THREE phone calls to find out what was going on. So don't try and tell me everyone in tech support knew about the outage.

It begs the question... why after what is FOUR days now has the outage not been published on the network status pages?

If VF want to be seen to be professional and a 'on to it' organisation they need to admit there are problems so skilled and technically savvy engineers like myself don't have to waste time chasing their tails. At least I can then tick the box and do something else with my day instead of doing VF's job for them.

SepticSceptic

2194 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1309855 22-May-2015 12:55

I believe it's been failing for at least the last month. Neighbours had purchased a SS on my recommendation earlier this month, and had no end of problems getting it to work. It took 4 days of repeated phone calls to VF to even acknowledge that there was a problem. Neighbour advised me that VF have acknowledged a SS issue, and all new connects and restarts will be affected, and for me not to turn off my SS, otherwise I'd be in the same signal-less situation.

So it's not been since the 18th, it's more like 2nd or 3rd May.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1309856 22-May-2015 12:59

Let me check the latest update!

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theibm

33 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#1309860 22-May-2015 13:09

SepticSceptic: I believe it's been failing for at least the last month. Neighbours had purchased a SS on my recommendation earlier this month, and had no end of problems getting it to work. It took 4 days of repeated phone calls to VF to even acknowledge that there was a problem. Neighbour advised me that VF have acknowledged a SS issue, and all new connects and restarts will be affected, and for me not to turn off my SS, otherwise I'd be in the same signal-less situation.

So it's not been since the 18th, it's more like 2nd or 3rd May.

That is correct, according to my sources VF have known the server was failing for weeks until it finally gave up the ghost on Monday.

As for getting SS to work. I did days of work a couple of years ago getting the things connected on a non VF network... Actually ended up writing the book for VF as to how these things work! That info is also on GZ somewhere. Then it was a requirement for the device to be able to see the sky for a GPS signal as they are geographically locked.

I also see VF in the UK are rolling a commercial version of SS for small communities. https://billwiggin.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/vodafone-open-sure-signal-application.pdf

Seems NZ VF is well behind the eight ball. I've been pressing for this sort of thing for 18 years in our area and this is a perfect low cost solution.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1309868 22-May-2015 13:23

theibm:
SepticSceptic: I believe it's been failing for at least the last month. Neighbours had purchased a SS on my recommendation earlier this month, and had no end of problems getting it to work. It took 4 days of repeated phone calls to VF to even acknowledge that there was a problem. Neighbour advised me that VF have acknowledged a SS issue, and all new connects and restarts will be affected, and for me not to turn off my SS, otherwise I'd be in the same signal-less situation.

So it's not been since the 18th, it's more like 2nd or 3rd May.

That is correct, according to my sources VF have known the server was failing for weeks until it finally gave up the ghost on Monday.

As for getting SS to work. I did days of work a couple of years ago getting the things connected on a non VF network... Actually ended up writing the book for VF as to how these things work! That info is also on GZ somewhere. Then it was a requirement for the device to be able to see the sky for a GPS signal as they are geographically locked.

I also see VF in the UK are rolling a commercial version of SS for small communities. https://billwiggin.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/vodafone-open-sure-signal-application.pdf

Seems NZ VF is well behind the eight ball. I've been pressing for this sort of thing for 18 years in our area and this is a perfect low cost solution.

The Sure Signal cluster is part way thru a major upgrade end to end, The old kit was EOL anyway

SepticSceptic

2194 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1309896 22-May-2015 13:42

johnr:

The Sure Signal cluster is part way thru a major upgrade end to end, The old kit was EOL anyway

Still no notification in VF's network Status ? Would it classed as mobile or landline/broadband ?

theibm

33 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#1309898 22-May-2015 13:44

Vodafone seem to be missing the point.

Its not that the server went U/S, that is par for the course. Its technology, it does that, neither that the SS servers are being upgraded, that is also accepted as a necessity.

The main reason why I am so pissed off is that VF kept and continue to keep this whole process quiet. That applies to the upgrade and the current fault. God knows how many hours have been wasted around the country as users scrabble for reasons why their SS has gone off line when a VERY SIMPLE message on the VF website would allow people to relax and make alternative arrangements whilst VF sort the problem.

VF rolled out the SS product without adequate staff technical training and support whilst they continuing to treat customers like mushrooms.... Kept in the dark and fed on sh1t!

SepticSceptic

2194 posts

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Trusted

#1309904 22-May-2015 13:48

theibm:

I also see VF in the UK are rolling a commercial version of SS for small communities. https://billwiggin.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/vodafone-open-sure-signal-application.pdf

Seems NZ VF is well behind the eight ball. I've been pressing for this sort of thing for 18 years in our area and this is a perfect low cost solution.

Yeah, would be ideal in our area as well, as there is a number of clusters that would be served by these, rather than every user having to invest in a personal SS. Local village and environs is very popular with tourists and day-trippers. Local village centre can get a reasonable signal, but move a few dozen meters away, very patchy coverage. Quite a hilly terrain.

ScuL

487 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1309905 22-May-2015 13:50

johnr:

The Sure Signal cluster is part way thru a major upgrade end to end, The old kit was EOL anyway

Is 4G Sure Signal coming? :)

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.

Behodar

10510 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1309914 22-May-2015 14:04

ScuL: Is 4G Sure Signal coming? :)

Or, even better, one that doesn't require Vodafone broadband?

theibm

33 posts

Geek

ID Verified

#1309928 22-May-2015 14:23

SS does not require Vodafone Broadband!

You need to apply to have a fixed IP registered with VF to pass their firewall. They don't advertise it, are reluctant to allow it and will not support it. Nevertheless they will connect you if there is no alternative as was in my case.

Been using my SS on a Snap connection for two years now. Generally rock solid. As for 4G, who knows?

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