Is my network incompatible with BV?

t2fuller · #1 (**permalink**) July 15th, 2005, 02:07 AM

Hello all, I am a new BroadVoice subscriber, and I'v been trying to get my service set up correctly for the past few days. I'm using the SPA-2100 router/adapter connected to a LAN network, which BroadVoice support says may not be compatible with their service. I have contacted my ISP, a company called AirWave Networks, who provides service via bundled T1s or a T3 line to my apartment complex, which is then distributed to the LAN. Their tech support tells me I should have no problem connecting my phone...They provide a DHCP connection, speeds are 300 Kbps, and (I think) they allow SIP. I'm waiting for them to call me back about that one.

Their network, however, does occasionally require a name and password. I say occasionally because it only asks you to log on (via their web interface) at random times, perhaps about every 48 hours or so. Once you are logged on, the name/pass is not required until the network randomly cuts your connection and asks you to sign on again. So, I believe that once I'm signed on, I shouldn't need to provide the BV adapter with a name or password (though BV tech support had me try this via the DSL/PPPoE, and it made no difference).

So, any suggestions? Is my network really not compatible with BV, or is that just a bad excuse? I appreciate any help, and apologize for this being so long. Thanks!

~Tim

Rich-M · #2 (**permalink**) July 15th, 2005, 08:30 AM

Go under the advanced settings, "Line 1" tab, and make your NAT settings as follows:

NAT Mapping Enable: No
NAT Keep Alive Enable: Yes
NAT Keep Alive Msg: $NOTIFY
NAT Keep Alive Dest: $PROXY

in a large office network, my box used to get 'lost' and the provider
wasnt able to contact it (incoming wise), outgoing was fine. Also
the keepalive might keep your DHCP from expiring, and you will
never have to log in again.... (dont forget to write down your
password, heh)

-Rich

t2fuller · #3 (**permalink**) July 15th, 2005, 10:53 AM

Thanks for the assistance Rich. I just tried changing the NAT settings as you say, but that doesn't seem to help. I get the solid yellow light on the backof the adapter, and my internet connection now works for my PC, but the green light and dial tone never come on. Maybe my box is getting 'lost' on the network...though BV support said they could communicate with it fine. Thanks, I'll keep trying.

mberlant · #4 (**permalink**) July 22nd, 2005, 07:04 PM

The company providing service to your apartment building may not be delivering a public IP address to you. The easiest way to confirm or disprove this is to visit www.whatismyip.com and note the address they display. Then log in to your SPA-2100's configuration manager and check the WAN IP address there.

If these two addresses do not match, that is likely your problem.

If so, the next thing you need to do is to open a DOS window on your PC and do "tracert www.broadvoice.com". The first reply line will be your SPA-2100, showing its private IP address (probably 192.168.0.1). Each of the next lines is another router being traversed on your way to BV. Line 2 may show a private address or a public address; either is acceptable. However if line 3 shows a private address you have too many NAT traversals between you and BV to ever succeed. In this case you will need to ask your ISP what it takes to get a real IP address delivered to you.

t2fuller · #5 (**permalink**) July 30th, 2005, 04:18 AM

Thanks mberlant, I think that may be the problem. whatismyip.com says my IP is ##.166.207.223, but the SPA says the WAN IP is ##.166.207.105. In addition, when I run that DOS tracer on broadvoice.com, the first router shows up as follows:

1 * * * Request timed out.

The rest are (I assume) public "sprintlink.net" routers...however there are about 13-16 routers in total in the list. Is this fixable by me, or should I just wait 3 weeks until I move and get pure cable internet? I'd hate to pay for this month of BV without using it, though....*sigh*.

t2fuller · #6 (**permalink**) July 30th, 2005, 04:26 AM

Sorry, I forgot to mention in my last message that I connected my PC directly to the internet for the tracert test. I would try it with the Sipura connected, but right now I'm not even getting an internet connection when I hook it up. I think I may have reset the software on it by mistake. ( I says this because my "Line 1" in the configuration utility says "not registered"). Can this be easily reset to what Broadvoice originally put on it?

I think I'm making things worse!

mberlant · #7 (**permalink**) July 30th, 2005, 07:24 PM

"Not Registered" simply means that you don't have a successful connection with BroadVoice. It does not mean that you have corrupted your configuration.

As for the other parts, getting as far as Not Registered is a good sign. It indicates that your SPA-2100 is healthy.

Your problem seems to be related to how your ISP is behaving. Rather than behaving an ISP they seem to be behaving as a hotspot or hotel. You will probably need to figure out how to keep your "username/password" logged in from behind the SPA. If you can get that licked you will likely be able to get your BV service working.

t2fuller · #8 (**permalink**) August 1st, 2005, 03:27 AM

Well, I think you're right, my ISP is just bad. I got my name/password working behind the SPA, but when I run the trace, all routers in the path come up as "Request timed out," except for the 26th one at 147.135.9.5. I get internet access on my PC, but obviously there is still a communication problem wth broadvoice.

mberlant · #9 (**permalink**) August 1st, 2005, 04:35 PM

I wouldn't worry about tracert having holes in some lines, but continuing on. Some relay routers are configured not to comply with tracert requests, so that will cause the line to blank out.

I do now suspect your ISP of operating a proxy server without admitting so, and that this proxy server is not properly mapping the ports you are trying to use. For a test of this, please have a look at www.testmyvoip.com and let us know what you learn.