Three 5g Router issue

[IanD]

14 minutes ago, junior said:

 

So basically I'm stumped then in a chicken/egg situation.

 

The router doesn't have internet because the firmware is out of date, but it can only download the new firmware when connected to the internet?

 

I'm not convinced that statement it true; it's possible but unlikely since exactly the same firmware worked until a couple of weeks ago, a SIM (or other router hardware) problem is much more likely.

 

Unless it *did* a firmware update automatically and that's what broke it... 😞 

 

14 minutes ago, alias said:

I'm not familiar with the router, does it have a WAN port?  If so (and you are close to home) you could take it indoors and connect it to your home router with an ethernet cable to give the internet connection to check for updates.

It has two Ethernet ports, both are normally configured as LAN (Local Area Network) but one can be changed to WAN (Wide Are Network) in the app -- then this idea might work, plug it into home router via an Ethernet cable.

 

But this assumes that the firmware check/update works via an Internet connection rather than requiring a cellular connection to the Three network, which might not be the case -- I have an NR5103E on EE and I can't update it over the EE network (which has internet access)...

 

10 minutes ago, Liam said:

Can you download the firmware update file to.your computer using the house internet, and then connect your computer to the router to do a manual firmware update by uploading the file to it rather than downloading it?

 

AFAIK the only way to do firmware updates is when you're on the Three network (see above), so no, there's no accessible file to download... 😞 

Edited March 13 by IanD

[junior]

21 minutes ago, alias said:

I'm not familiar with the router, does it have a WAN port?  If so (and you are close to home) you could take it indoors and connect it to your home router with an ethernet cable to give the internet connection to check for updates.

 

So I've done this, but unfortunately it hasn't made any difference. The Three router (white one) still has no internet, even when connected by cable to my home Sky (black) router. 

[IanD]

2 minutes ago, junior said:

 

So I've done this, but unfortunately it hasn't made any difference. The Three router (white one) still has no internet, even when connected by cable to my home Sky (black) router. 

You need to reconfigure that port from LAN to WAN in the app, as said above... 😉 

[junior]

8 minutes ago, IanD said:

You need to reconfigure that port from LAN to WAN in the app, as said above... 😉 

Yeah saw that. 

 

Did that....

 

Hey presto, I now have a green LED in the internet light. So as I understand it, my Three router is now getting it's internet from my sky home router, via a cable, not from the SIM card/Smarty mobile network.

 

Bad news is I've gone into the diagnostic tool app and tried to manually update the firmware....and it's told me my router currently has the most up to date firmware.

 

So I've now ruled out firmware as the problem.

 

I've also ruled out the SIM card/smarty network being at fault as it works in my mobile phone.

 

Any other suggestions?

 

I'm starting to think it's a hardware issue now, and might need to replace the router 🤬

[Liam]

Can you try your phone SIM in the router?

[junior]

10 minutes ago, Liam said:

Can you try your phone SIM in the router?

Yeah tried that this morning. Exactly the same as when the Smarty SIM is in there. Doesn't work. 

[Liam]

Ack. Sounds like the routers borked.

[IanD]

15 minutes ago, junior said:

Yeah saw that. 

 

Did that....

 

Hey presto, I now have a green LED in the internet light. So as I understand it, my Three router is now getting it's internet from my sky home router, via a cable, not from the SIM card/Smarty mobile network.

 

Bad news is I've gone into the diagnostic tool app and tried to manually update the firmware....and it's told me my router currently has the most up to date firmware.

 

So I've now ruled out firmware as the problem.

 

I've also ruled out the SIM card/smarty network being at fault as it works in my mobile phone.

 

Any other suggestions?

 

I'm starting to think it's a hardware issue now, and might need to replace the router 🤬

 

Are you absolutely 100% sure you're inserting the SIM the right way round? The labelling on the socket is very poor, and it's easy to get it the wrong way round.

 

If it's the right way round, then after inserting it you could try pushing it towards the side with the contacts using your fingernail -- or slip something thin down behind it on the opposite side to the contacts to push it towards them.

 

You could also try switching the antenna switch to EXT and back to INT a few times, in case this is the problem (and EXT is selected).

 

If none of this works there's nothing else you can do, it doesn't matter whether the problem is the SIM socket or something else in the router, it needs replacing. How long have you had it -- is it under any guarantee from the seller?

 

If you do have to replace it (not under guarantee) I'd suggest the V1 not the V2, people seem to have more problems with the V2...

[junior]

Okay so looking like I might need some new hardware. Very frustrating having forked out over £150 for this router, and a similar amount for the Poynting external antenna.

I'd gone down this route following extensive research on this forum as to what would be the best set up for my needs. 

 

So I'm now looking for a new router. I'm very reluctant to get another like-for-like unit, if it can seemingly just spontaneously stop working due to absolutely no reason as I've not been on the boat. 

 

I'm also reluctant to spend a similar amount of money this time round. 

 

Previously I was adamant that I'd need to have 5G, to allow Mrs Junior to do Teams video calls, and for us to Stream TV, as we get out TV via the internet. What I've noticed is that the router was rarely actually running on 5G, and most of the time just showed it was getting a 4G signal. 

I also only once had to connect the external antenna to get a signal, most of the time the built in antenna would get a good enough signal to stream Netflix. 

 

So Im wondering if I went for a 4G only router, if it would give me more, and cheaper options?

 

It would ideally need to be something unlocked, as I have the Smarty unlimited data SIM contract. 

 

My antenna is a 2x2 MIMO, and ideally I'd like the device to have the option of connecting the external antenna just in case we end up mooring in a poor signal area. 

 

I wonder if just as a temporary option to get me back online on the boat, I could get one of those cheap 'cigarette packet' size routers (are they called mifi?), stick my Smarty SIM in it and stick it in the porthole. Would this work?

 

Then I could do some further research into a long term replacement with external antenna option.

 

I've seen this on Facebook Marketplace...any good???

42 minutes ago, IanD said:

 

Are you absolutely 100% sure you're inserting the SIM the right way round? The labelling on the socket is very poor, and it's easy to get it the wrong way round.

 

If it's the right way round, then after inserting it you could try pushing it towards the side with the contacts using your fingernail -- or slip something thin down behind it on the opposite side to the contacts to push it towards them.

 

You could also try switching the antenna switch to EXT and back to INT a few times, in case this is the problem (and EXT is selected).

 

If none of this works there's nothing else you can do, it doesn't matter whether the problem is the SIM socket or something else in the router, it needs replacing. How long have you had it -- is it under any guarantee from the seller?

 

If you do have to replace it (not under guarantee) I'd suggest the V1 not the V2, people seem to have more problems with the V2...

Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm sure it is in the correct way. It will only 'click' down one way. Any other way and it mildly propells itself back out. Plus, I've never took the SIM card out, and it used to work fine. 

 

I've slid a bit of card down the side, and actually took the unit apart and pushed the card again the contacts with my finger. It still doesn't work, but strangely, one of the other lights that hasn't been lighting up at all, started flashing blue when I did this.

 

I'm confident that with the help of the forum today, I've exhausted all the fault finding I can do myself, not to mention a whole day of stressing. I shall be packing it away in a box and when it's replacement arrives I'll bin it.

 

No unfortunately I bought it second hand, unlocked off eBay. No warranty. I'll just have to find another solution to get internet on the boat.

[IanD]

1 hour ago, junior said:

Okay so looking like I might need some new hardware. Very frustrating having forked out over £150 for this router, and a similar amount for the Poynting external antenna.

I'd gone down this route following extensive research on this forum as to what would be the best set up for my needs. 

 

So I'm now looking for a new router. I'm very reluctant to get another like-for-like unit, if it can seemingly just spontaneously stop working due to absolutely no reason as I've not been on the boat. 

 

I'm also reluctant to spend a similar amount of money this time round. 

 

Previously I was adamant that I'd need to have 5G, to allow Mrs Junior to do Teams video calls, and for us to Stream TV, as we get out TV via the internet. What I've noticed is that the router was rarely actually running on 5G, and most of the time just showed it was getting a 4G signal. 

I also only once had to connect the external antenna to get a signal, most of the time the built in antenna would get a good enough signal to stream Netflix. 

 

So Im wondering if I went for a 4G only router, if it would give me more, and cheaper options?

 

It would ideally need to be something unlocked, as I have the Smarty unlimited data SIM contract. 

 

My antenna is a 2x2 MIMO, and ideally I'd like the device to have the option of connecting the external antenna just in case we end up mooring in a poor signal area. 

 

I wonder if just as a temporary option to get me back online on the boat, I could get one of those cheap 'cigarette packet' size routers (are they called mifi?), stick my Smarty SIM in it and stick it in the porthole. Would this work?

 

Then I could do some further research into a long term replacement with external antenna option.

 

I've seen this on Facebook Marketplace...any good???

Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm sure it is in the correct way. It will only 'click' down one way. Any other way and it mildly propells itself back out. Plus, I've never took the SIM card out, and it used to work fine. 

 

I've slid a bit of card down the side, and actually took the unit apart and pushed the card again the contacts with my finger. It still doesn't work, but strangely, one of the other lights that hasn't been lighting up at all, started flashing blue when I did this.

 

I'm confident that with the help of the forum today, I've exhausted all the fault finding I can do myself, not to mention a whole day of stressing. I shall be packing it away in a box and when it's replacement arrives I'll bin it.

 

No unfortunately I bought it second hand, unlocked off eBay. No warranty. I'll just have to find another solution to get internet on the boat.

 

I think you've done everything you can, all that remains is to give it a decent burial... 😞 

 

I've tried a cheap MiFi like that and it was awful, speeds were far lower than a proper router with external antenna, even in good signal areas. But it's dirt cheap so you won't lose much by giving it a try.

 

A secondhand Huawei B535 is less than £40 on CeX and is likely to give far better results.

[GUMPY]

Huawei B818-263

You won't find anything better for 4g

Loads on eBay

Only caveat is don't buy a Vodafone branded one as they are locked to Vodafone.

[junior]

What do you think to this? Worth the money? Will it do what I want? It's local to me.

[IanD]

18 minutes ago, junior said:

What do you think to this? Worth the money? Will it do what I want? It's local to me.

 

Why waste £245 on that when you've already got a (better?) external antenna (Poynting) and could add a much better router (e.g. Huawei) for a fraction of the cost?

Edited March 13 by IanD

[junior]

1 minute ago, IanD said:

 

Why spend £245 on that when you've already got an external antenna and could add a much better router for a fraction of the cost?

Because I know nothing about this sort of stuff and someone might have said "yes that's the dogs bollocks and am amazing deal, snap their hand off!". 

Plus I quite like the look of that antenna. Would certainly be more discreet on the top of my 'trad' boat that the Poynting I have stuck up a pole 😄.

 

But I'll take your point. I'll look into the Hauwai kit you and Gumpy have recommended above.

[IanD]

2 minutes ago, junior said:

Because I know nothing about this sort of stuff and someone might have said "yes that's the dogs bollocks and am amazing deal, snap their hand off!". 

Plus I quite like the look of that antenna. Would certainly be more discreet on the top of my 'trad' boat that the Poynting I have stuck up a pole 😄.

 

But I'll take your point. I'll look into the Hauwai kit you and Gumpy have recommended above.

 

It's overpriced cheap rubbish -- especially the Wi-fi side of it, one stick antenna isn't going to give good coverage inside a narrowboat -- aimed at vanlifers who know nothing about this sort of stuff... 😉 

[junior]

3 hours ago, IanD said:

 

I think you've done everything you can, all that remains is to give it a decent burial... 😞 

 

I've tried a cheap MiFi like that and it was awful, speeds were far lower than a proper router with external antenna, even in good signal areas. But it's dirt cheap so you won't lose much by giving it a try.

 

A secondhand Huawei B535 is less than £40 on CeX and is likely to give far better results.

 

No messing around here. 

 

Shortly after you recommendation I did a click and collect for the Huawei B535 at CeX and collected it from Widnes.

It's all set up and working perfectly on the 4G with the Smarty SIM card.

 

Thanks for everybody's help and advice!