stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL
 ·Mediacom
| Help with port forwarding
I have a very superficial knowledge of networking, but I have set-up a wireless home network with two routers in repeater bridge mode. The primary function of the network is to provide wifi phone coverage throughout my home.
All the phones will connect to either router with no problem. The issue is that the phones should seamlessly transition from one router to the other based on signal strength. However, this transition is mostly a one way operation - by that I mean all the phones (three) will preferentially try to connect to same router even when its signal is very weak compared to the closer router. The phones will transition seamlessly one way but not the other.
I have spent a lot of time on the phone with T-Mobile trying to solve the problem and their latest recommendation was to open ports 500 and 4500 UDP. I'm not sure if this is the answer or not, but I want to try it and I'm not sure I know how.
I've uploaded two screen shots of the linksys port forwarding pages showing how I have them configured. Since this is my first ever attempt at port forwarding I'm not at all sure I've done it right.
The other question I have is how do I know that the ports are open on both routers and the phones. As you can tell I'm pretty lost and would appreciate any help I can get.
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slomotion
Premium
join:2002-11-10
Chiloquin, OR
| Such a complex problem, yet so easy to solve.
Download the free program called... "Simple Port Forwarding"
install the app and have fun! Supports over 800 known routers.
»www.simpleportforwarding.com/
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Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again? |
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Full Power
join:2009-09-25
Houston, TX
| reply to stev32k
said by stev32k  :I have spent a lot of time on the phone with T-Mobile trying to solve the problem and their latest recommendation was to open ports 500 and 4500 UDP. Sounds like wrong / irrelevant advice. Port forwarding is a zero / one sort of thing. If it is right, it works. If it is wrong, it don't. Even so, assuming this is the problem, you can forward ports to only one device, so only one of your phones is going to be fixed. But anyway, they are wrong.
If you can run a network cable to the second router then you can put it in access point mode and program it's wireless MAC to be the same of the primary router. Then the phones would have no way at all to tell the signals apart. |
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stev32k
Premium
join:2000-04-27
Mobile, AL
·Mediacom
| reply to stev32k
Thanks for the responses. I found the problem it was a faulty router. The culprit was a Linksys WRT160 N. It would cut off then right back on about every 3 - 5 minutes. When it cut off the phones would try to connect to the secondary router, but it was not instantaneous and they would drop the call if you happened to be on the phone. It was driving me crazy. I thought it was the phones or the router set-up.
Once I replaced the 160N the network has been rock steady and works like a charm. I now have two WRT54G-TMs with DD-WRT firmware installed and set-up in repeater bridge mode. I added -9 dBi antennas to both and I can use UMA at least a block away from my house. |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
1 edit | reply to slomotion
said by slomotion :Such a complex problem, yet so easy to solve. Download the free program called... "Simple Port Forwarding" install the app and have fun! Supports over 800 known routers. » www.simpleportforwarding.com/ I've tested this out looks promising (average user might think is too overwhelming and still buggy though I couldn't add ports to one of routers that was listed on the list. Still doing it manually at least you know it works that way! |
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