MicroCell and Westell 7500 Issues

[tjebarr]

I bought a second hand microcell and have been trying to get it set up for almost a week.  My ISP is Frontier, and the modem/router is a Westell 7500.  I have not been able to get the MicroCell configured; I have worked with several AT&T techs.  They did confirm that the microcell serial number was not registered with another number, so that is not the problem.  The top three lights are lit; the 3g light is blinking.  I reset my modem/router back to factory settings.  I have tried to contact frontier but they will not provide support for this item. 

Does anyone have any advice for what to try?  One of the AT&T techs sent me the configuration settings, but I can't find all the settings on the westell modem. 

Thanks!

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

No ISP will help you configure the MicroCell because it is not their product so you're on your own with that. If Frontier supplied you with the Westell modem then they should help you with the config settings if you can't find them. Otherwise, you'll have to go to Westell for help with their modem. The basic settings for any modem/router is: IPSec Pass-through enabled, Block Fragmented Packets disabled, and DHCP enabled. You also need to make sure that only one of the devices, modem or router is performing the NAT duties. Check with Frontier to see if they are blocking any ports that the MicroCell needs. It's unlikely but you never know. Click on the link in my sig for the MicroCell Troubleshooting Guide for more basic information. You could try priority setup as a troubleshooting step. Disconnect everything and then just connect the MicroCell directly to the modem via the ethernet port. Don't connect the router. Then reboot and see what happens. That removes the router completely out of the chain and eliminates any config settings in the router that my be impeding the connection. If the MicroCell reboots normally: Power light, interent light, GPS light, and 3G light are all solid green, then you should be registered and ready to go. The problem then is somewhere in your router configs. Some folks prefer to use the priority connection which is fine. I prefer to have my MicroCell behind my router so I can do port forwarding to a statically assigned MicroCell IP address.

[tjebarr]

Thanks for the response! I'm not sure how to do the priority connection, I have a combination modem/router; the router is not a separate device. Thanks!

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Well ok then that makes it a bit easier because you only have one device to connect to. In that case, the minimum requirements for the MicroCell to work correctly are as I stated above: IPSec Pass-through enabled, Block Fragmented Packets disabled, and DHCP is enabled. If any of those conditions are not met, then you need to have Frontier help you to enable/disable those settings. If those conditions are met, and you still can't connect (continuous 3G light blinking green) then we can work on other things.

[tjebarr]

Thank you so much for your response! 

"IPSec Pass Through" is checked (this was under Advanced Settings - VPN)

When you say "DHCP is enabled" - is this for the Private LAN or the Public LAN?

"Private LAN DHCP Server Enable" is checked (this is under Advanced Settings - Private LAN). 

There is also an "Enable DHCP Server" (this is under the Public LAN) which is unchecked.  If I check this, it also wants the "Public LAN Enable" box checked, and I also need to provide the "Modem's Public IP Address" and "Subnet Mask".  

For Block Fragmented Packets Disabled:  the only fragmentation setting I could find was "IP Fragmentation Enabled" (this is under the Advanced Settings - QoS) which is unchecked; and there is also a Fragmentation Size (8 options ranging from 244-580).  

I added a port forwarding service for the TCP/UDP Ports (123/UDP, 443/TCP, 4500/UDP, 500/UDP, 4500 UDP).

Thanks!  I really appreciate the help!

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

You want DHCP enabled for your (private) LAN. That way, the router assigns IP addresses to all of your devices that are behind your router. As far as Block Fragmented Packets go, it sounds like if the box is unchecked, it's disabled. For port forwarding, I would assign a static (a permanent address) IP address to the MicroCell based on the MicroCell's MAC address. The MAC address can be found on the bottom of the MicroCell. If you ever have a power failure or have to reboot your LAN, the router will assign a new IP address (DHCP) to the MicroCell once it's detected. The address could be the same or a different one that is within the range of addresses you've told the router to use. That shouldn't cause any issues but it may. So when you use the MAC address of the MicroCell along with port forwarding, as soon as the router see that MAC address it assigns the same IP address that you told it to use. Don't confuse the MAC address with the IP address. Every networkable device has it's own MAC address and that's how it's found on the network. Think of the MAC address as your house and the IP address the street address of your house.

[tjebarr]

Thanks! I will try assigning a fixed ip tonight and attempt re-activation of the microcell. It seems like all the other configuration settings are ok.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Ok. Post back what happens.

[tjebarr]

trying to remember how to set up a static ip.  In the meantime, do you know if the UPNP should be enabled or disabled?

[tjebarr]

I got the static ip set up; de-activated and then re-activated device but still just have a blinking 3G light.  All other lights are lit.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

UPNP has issues (security one of them) so I never use it. Try a hard reset of the MicroCell (hold in the reset button for about 30 seconds) and see what happens. If that doesn't work, then post back EXACTLY how you have it setup.

[tjebarr]

OK - i did the hard reset.  No change.

My router settings are as follows:

VPN:  IPSec Pass Through is CHECKED

QoS: IP Fragmentation Enabled is UNCHECKED

Private LAN: Private LAN EHCP Server Enable is CHECKED

Private LAN: Private LAN Enable is CHECKED

Public LAN: Enable DHCP Server is UNCHECKED

Universal Plug and Play:  UPNP Enable is UNCHECKED

Port Forwarding:  Service set up for MicroCell Device - Protocol/Global Port/Local Port - UDP/123/123 - TCP/443/443 - UDP/4500/4500 - UDP/500/500 - UDP/4500/4500

I had the Microcell set up as a static IP, but when I refreshed my network settings it is now showing at DHCP (this was after the hard reset); but the IP Address is still the same (192.168.1.38).

I'm thinking that maybe I got a lemon from an ebay seller?  On principal I tend to buy products 2nd hand (more of a philosophy to reuse but also less expensive); guess I'll have to go to the AT&T store and buy a new one to see if it makes a difference.  Or maybe switch to Verizon when my contract is up. 

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

Purchasing a MicroCell off of eBay is hit and miss. Out of curiosity, does it rattle at all if you GENTLY shake it?

[tjebarr]

Nope - no rattles, nothing to indicate that something would be amiss.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

The reason I asked about the rattling is that the MicroCell has tamper-proof clips on the inside to prevent someone from opening up the unit and attempting to make unauthroized modifications. If the clips come loose (hence the rattling noise) then the MicroCell becomes inoperable. If the unit gets knocked over that can also loosen the clips. I'm not sure about how you have your router setup because I'm not familiar with it (global/local is the same as public/private LAN?) The troubleshooing link in my sig lists a Westell modem and how to set it up. The model listed is not the same as yours but the setup may be familiar. See it that helps.

[tjebarr]

I got a new unit from the AT&T store yesterday and had it up and running in 30 minutes, thanks for all your help trying to troubleshoot what appears to be a bad unit. Sorry I wasted your time.

[Otto Pylot ACE - Professor]

It wasn't a waste of time so don't worry about that. Look at it as a learning experience for you in getting a better handle on how the MicroCell works (should you have problems in the future) and setting up networks. I'm glad it worked out for you.