The Huawei B593 LTE discussion thread

[Fireball]

Hey all,

So I have the B593-601 which I have been using with Telkom LTE for the past year or so. I've been looking to get the Cell C 100GB/R999 deal to tide me over for the next two months or so until the fibre in my neighborhood goes live.

Now, I know the 601 model doesn't support Cell C's 900MHz frequency, but I was wondering:

Would it be possible to maybe get a 900MHz LTE USB dongle and plug it into the router? My searches have turned up zilch.

 

[jcheek]

Hey all,

So I have the B593-601 which I have been using with Telkom LTE for the past year or so. I've been looking to get the Cell C 100GB/R999 deal to tide me over for the next two months or so until the fibre in my neighborhood goes live.

Now, I know the 601 model doesn't support Cell C's 900MHz frequency, but I was wondering:

If you're talking 4G/LTE, Cell C's deployments actually use FDD at 2100MHz, which the B593-s601 doesn't do; and - in some areas - also at 1800MHz, which the -s601 does do. So depending on area (and your antenna system), you may well pick up Cell C LTE with the -s601.
See here and here for examples.

Would it be possible to maybe get a 900MHz LTE USB dongle and plug it into the router? My searches have turned up zilch.

I don't believe this is possible, no. AFAIK the USB port only supports connection of peripheral devices like flash sticks, external hard disks and the like.

If you want the widest possible coverage of all LTE frequency bands currently in use in SA, you should probably be looking at getting the Huawei B315 - this is the one you would get from Cell C if you bought some kind of bundled deal that includes a device.
If you're set on using Cell C, you might also find one of the other B593 sub-models that does FDD in both the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands - see the OP for model details.

 

[Fireball]

If you're talking 4G/LTE, Cell C's deployments actually use FDD at 2100MHz, which the B593-s601 doesn't do; and - in some areas - also at 1800MHz, which the -s601 does do. So depending on area, you may well pick up Cell C LTE with the -s601.
See here and here for examples.



I don't believe this is possible, no. AFAIK the USB port only supports connection of peripheral devices like flash sticks, external hard disks and the like.

If you want the widest possible coverage of all LTE frequency bands currently in use in SA, you should probably be looking at getting the Huawei B315 - this is the one you would get from Cell C if you bought some kind of bundled deal that includes a device.
If you're set on using Cell C, you might also find one of the other B593 sub-models that does FDD in both the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands - see the OP for model details.

Brilliant reply! Thank you, jcheeck.
I dug into the thread a little more using what I learned from the examples you posted, and think it may just be my lucky day! I see on the Cell C website that I'm in their LTE-A coverage, so maybe...just maybe...
I have a Cell C test sim that I will try again at home after changing the router settings to manual connection.
Will update later on the results.

If you're talking 4G/LTE, Cell C's deployments actually use FDD at 2100MHz, which the B593-s601 doesn't do; and - in some areas - also at 1800MHz, which the -s601 does do. So depending on area (and your antenna system), you may well pick up Cell C LTE with the -s601.
See here and here for examples.



I don't believe this is possible, no. AFAIK the USB port only supports connection of peripheral devices like flash sticks, external hard disks and the like.

If you want the widest possible coverage of all LTE frequency bands currently in use in SA, you should probably be looking at getting the Huawei B315 - this is the one you would get from Cell C if you bought some kind of bundled deal that includes a device.
If you're set on using Cell C, you might also find one of the other B593 sub-models that does FDD in both the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands - see the OP for model details.

 

[Fireball]

Sheesh, Tapatalk! Why don't you just quote the whole forum?

 

[kianm]

I'm selling my B593.
R1K

Let's talk biz . PM incoming

 

[Fireball]

If you're talking 4G/LTE, Cell C's deployments actually use FDD at 2100MHz, which the B593-s601 doesn't do; and - in some areas - also at 1800MHz, which the -s601 does do. So depending on area (and your antenna system), you may well pick up Cell C LTE with the -s601.
See here and here for examples.



I don't believe this is possible, no. AFAIK the USB port only supports connection of peripheral devices like flash sticks, external hard disks and the like.

If you want the widest possible coverage of all LTE frequency bands currently in use in SA, you should probably be looking at getting the Huawei B315 - this is the one you would get from Cell C if you bought some kind of bundled deal that includes a device.
If you're set on using Cell C, you might also find one of the other B593 sub-models that does FDD in both the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands - see the OP for model details.

It worked! I'm getting 20Mbps down, 10Mbs up. Telkom Mobile is about 10Mbps down, 10Mbps up.

100GB / R999, here I come!

 

[jcheek]

It worked! I'm getting 20Mbps down, 10Mbs up. Telkom Mobile is about 10Mbps down, 10Mbps up.
100GB / R999, here I come!

Great!
I do something similar : I use my B593 with a Cell C "Giga package" (bulk prepaid, data valid for 1 year) to serve as a failover backup for my FTTH connection. I used to use one of Telkom's bulk prepaid LTE deals for the same purpose, but since Telkom took away the midnight data and hiked the prices on those deals, their 100GB/1yr/R3199 product looks mighty silly in comparison to the Cell C "Giga 100" 100GB/1yr/R999 deal.
Just like in your case, my trusty B593 is connecting to Cell C 4G/LTE on 1800MHz FDD.

Your relative speeds between Telkom and Cell C are interesting : I'm on the other side of Atterbury Road from you and I get the reverse situation (with similar signal parameters on the two networks) : I get about 8Mbps down and 2Mbps up, which is about a quarter to a third of the speed I see on Telkom LTE. I haven't thrown any particular effort at optimising the signal arrangements, but since it's only a backup arrangement, it's fine.

 

[Speedster]

Can the B593 do CS voice calls? i.e. make calls from the airtime on the sim in the router using an attached "normal" phone?

 

[jcheek]

Can the B593 do CS voice calls? i.e. make calls from the airtime on the sim in the router using an attached "normal" phone?

Yep.

 

[Speedster]

Thanks!

 

[Naasief]

@tehtroopa

Hi

Looking for some help, I was trying to setup this router for a friend and I don't seem to be able to resolve the issue. Basically it always gives the error "Call in progress; cannot configure the router. Please try again after the call". I have reset the thing, tried with sim in, sim out, nothing seems to work and all the people discussing this error seem to be in foreign languages.

Any option on the admin panel just results in that error (including trying to upload firmware). With a sim in it does not find new firmware to install over HTTP.

Any ideas of what I can try?

Did you find a solution to this perhaps? I have a B593s-601 and its doing the exact same thing.

Anyone able to help with this ... the telephone icon is permanently on so I'm assuming its related to VoIP. The B593 works with lan and wifi but u I'm unable to save any new settings on the router

Would appreciate anybody's suggestion - i likewise have tried various things for the last 2 hours without luck.

 

[iEverything]

Possible DNS issue

Hi,

Have my B593 perfectly setup to provide internet access to my Apple Wifi network (Airport). Have used manual Google DNS settings on the Airport side to provide DNS to the devices. Always had an issue where images would not download in whatsapp whilst using the Wifi. Now with trying a trial of ShowMax also doesn't want to run on the WiFi yet fine over LTE devices so I really suspect it's because I am using my own DNS.

I switch between Vodacom and CellC sims on the router and trying to find their DNS they use has proven extremely hard.

I do get a Double NAT error on the Airport but had it since I installed years ago and just ignore it on the router and other than that it runs flawlessly.

Tried using OPENDNS but same issues.

Is this DNS or am I missing something?

 

[sajunky]

I switch between Vodacom and CellC sims on the router and trying to find their DNS they use has proven extremely hard.

The real ISP DNS servers will only show when using older USB sticks with RAS access (not a simulated network i/f).

Your problems are probably not related to DNS. If you want to use ISP DNS, you should enable DHCP server on B593 and remove manual DNS on Airport, it should pickup DNS server with DHCP configuration parameters. DNS requests will be relayed by B593 (Ithink). It is assuming using cable connection B593 to Airport's WAN port, which I am sure you do.

Did you do proper port forwarding on B593? There are two ways: by using IP reservation option on the B593 with DHCP enabled or by setting up static IP and default gateway options on the Airport. Then all ports (all in and out) must be forwarded on the B593 firewall for this IP number.

 

[iEverything]

Did you do proper port forwarding on B593? There are two ways: by using IP reservation option on the B593 with DHCP enabled or by setting up static IP and default gateway options on the Airport. Then all ports (all in and out) must be forwarded on the B593 firewall for this IP number.

Thanks for the reply.....you are correct that it is wired and I want to keep my Apple environment and the B593 as the 'dumb' internet access point.

I will look @ the port forwarding, thanks for that pointer

One last question in terms of the double NAT error on the Airport....run a 10. range internally with the B593 being 192.

In terms of the setup on the Airport all is good when I point to 192. as being the access point except the double NAT error. Tried changing the B593 internal LAN to also be on the 10. range but it won't allow it because Cell C issues a 10. as well.

Long story short do you think the double NAT error could be the issue or rather port forwarding because never done anything in regards to that setup.

Other than the Showmax and whatsapp image issue it is a rock solid with DL speeds of 30mbs.

Thankfully getting fibre in the area in 2 months.

 

[jcheek]

Hi,
Have my B593 perfectly setup to provide internet access to my Apple Wifi network (Airport).

1. Tell us more about the nature of the connection between the B593 and the downstream (Airport) router ? Is the "output" from the B593 fed into the WAN port of the Airport, and if so, how is the Airport configured for that traffic ?
2. Are you using manual IP addressing or DHCP ? If DHCP, which device is the DHCP server for client devices - the B593 or the Airport ?

Have used manual Google DNS settings on the Airport side to provide DNS to the devices. Always had an issue where images would not download in whatsapp whilst using the Wifi. Now with trying a trial of ShowMax also doesn't want to run on the WiFi yet fine over LTE devices so I really suspect it's because I am using my own DNS.

If I understand correctly, you've set up the Airport to use Google DNS, and the client device(s) to get DNS services from the Airport - correct ?
You could check quickly on one of the client devices whether they show the correct gateway and DNS server address as issued by the DHCP server you've designated. If it shows correctly, test DNS services on one of the client devices, eg by issuing an NSLOOKUP from the command prompt on a Windows box (ie a non-iEverything box ).
If that works, it's likely not a DNS issue.

I switch between Vodacom and CellC sims on the router and trying to find their DNS they use has proven extremely hard.

Depending on which sub-model of B593 and which firmware version, most B593's will show you this info when you have a valid/active connection to the cellular network. For instance, on the B593-s601 with firmware V200R001B270D00SP00C00, you can see the active ISP-issued DNS server addresses on the Home/Overview page:

I do get a Double NAT error on the Airport but had it since I installed years ago and just ignore it on the router and other than that it runs flawlessly.
Tried using OPENDNS but same issues.
Is this DNS or am I missing something?

See question about B593 <--> Airport setup above. Could well be NAT-related rather than DNS related.


Your issue(s) could be caused by DNS, 2-loop NAT, or maybe the B593 firewall. Three suggestions:

1. Compare your setup with the "2-loop" setup shown here and highlight any differences ?
2. Try minimising the firewall functionality on the B593.
3. Try fixing the Airport's IP address, enabling DMZ on the B593, and placing the Airport in the DMZ as described in the same post as above.

DMZ as described above is effectively an instruction to "forward all traffic on any incoming port to the Airport". If none of the other fixes solves your issue and this one works, then it's probably some form of port-forwarding that's needed to make your specific setup work.

 

[sajunky]

Thanks for the reply.....you are correct that it is wired and I want to keep my Apple environment and the B593 as the 'dumb' internet access point.

I will look @ the port forwarding, thanks for that pointer

One last question in terms of the double NAT error on the Airport....run a 10. range internally with the B593 being 192.

In terms of the setup on the Airport all is good when I point to 192. as being the access point except the double NAT error. Tried changing the B593 internal LAN to also be on the 10. range but it won't allow it because Cell C issues a 10. as well.

Long story short do you think the double NAT error could be the issue or rather port forwarding because never done anything in regards to that setup.

Other than the Showmax and whatsapp image issue it is a rock solid with DL speeds of 30mbs.

^^^This. Now I am sure that double NAT error is in result of blocking incoming traffic on the B593. As the Airport does all routing, it should receive all incoming traffic.

As jcheek pointed out, DMZ is a simplified way to open all ports and network protocols to the Airport, I forgotten that B593 has such option.

It should work now, but due to the Cell C connection I would avoid 10.x.x.x range on Airport. Any out of order or late packets discarged by B593 will travel across all Cell C 10.x.x.x network. Set the Airport LAN interface on the subnet 192.168.x (where x is 2 to 254), network mask 255.255.255.0 for your sake. Default B593 LAN IP is 192.168.1.1, so the above will work perfectly.

 

[iEverything]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the replies...

This is how far I have managed to proceed...

Gotten rid of the double NAT issue by changing the Airport to only handle DHCP and not DHCP & NAT, I am now running on a 192., range internally so the Airport does not give that error any more.

My B593 does not have a Port forwarding option for me to configure.....

Went looking for new FW and upgraded from V100R001C00SP050 to V100R001C00SP053....now I am getting an error (does not impact usability) that my router FW does not match my modem FW and it tells me there is an upgrade available but it won't do an auto upgrade.....got the FW from this site from one of the guys on this forum who sourced it @ http://www43.zippyshare.com/v/73613131/file.html

Not sure how / where to obtain the Modem FW from, there is only one .trx file in the DL which I am sure is just the router FW

Placed my Apple Airport static IP of 192.168.1.2 in a DMZ on the B593 as well but that does not seem to have helped.

Guess biggest thing I would like to achieve now is to get onto the latest B593 FW so if anyone can point me in that direction would really appreciate it.

Thanks...

 

[jcheek]

Went looking for new FW and upgraded from V100R001C00SP050 to V100R001C00SP053....now I am getting an error (does not impact usability) that my router FW does not match my modem FW and it tells me there is an upgrade available but it won't do an auto upgrade.....got the FW from this site from one of the guys on this forum who sourced it @ http://www43.zippyshare.com/v/73613131/file.html

Finding firmware for Huawei's fixed-wireless routers always seems to be a mission, and I've personally never seen the built-in firmware update thing work on my B593-s601, in 2.5 years of ownership!

We still don't know for sure which sub-model B593 you've got , but from your comments it sounds like it might be the Telkom-only B593-u91 model (TDD 2300/2600MHz) ?
If so, Conrads probably did the most firmware-related sleuthing work with that sub-model, and you seem to have ended up with the same version (SP053) - see here.

Not sure how / where to obtain the Modem FW from, there is only one .trx file in the DL which I am sure is just the router FW.
<snip>
Guess biggest thing I would like to achieve now is to get onto the latest B593 FW so if anyone can point me in that direction would really appreciate it.

Perhaps Conrads will jump in here, or maybe PM him and compare notes ?
But to be honest, I'm not convinced that your issue is firmware-related (yet).
Did your DNS tests check out OK ?

This is how far I have managed to proceed...
Gotten rid of the double NAT issue by changing the Airport to only handle DHCP and not DHCP & NAT, I am now running on a 192., range internally so the Airport does not give that error any more.

You mention (later, indirectly) that your Airport's WAN loop is now on the 192.168.1.x subnet. What subnet did you choose for your LAN client devices, ie the LAN side of your Airport ?

NAT handles the address translation for packets that are solicited from the LAN side. Port-forwarding is there to take care of incoming packets that originate from the WAN side but which are unsolicited by anything on the LAN side.

My B593 does not have a Port forwarding option for me to configure.....
<snip>
Placed my Apple Airport static IP of 192.168.1.2 in a DMZ on the B593 as well but that does not seem to have helped.

If you've placed the WAN port of your Airport in the B593's DMZ, then all ports are being forwarded from the B593 to the WAN port of the Airport, so port-forwarding on the B593 isn't an issue any more.
However you may still need to set up specific port-forwarding on the Airport to enable certain apps on LAN clients to receive unsolicited inbound packets.

When my (Android) cellular handset is set to receive data services over Wi-Fi (only), it's talking through a 2-loop internet/WAN/LAN scheme just like that being discussed here, and I don't experience any issues with WhatsApp pics. I can't comment on Showmax.
But it might be that the Apple implementation of WhatsApp requires a specific port to be opened ?
(come in, come in, Azimuth ? )

 

[iEverything]

Thanks for all the guidance and time guys.

I had a ZTE MF283+ in a drawer and swapped out the routers this morning. No special config for setup on the ZTE and it is working perfectly. Thankfully even the PSU was the same as the B593 so didn't have to get behind the cabinet either.

Guess that B593 has a fault or a 'quirk' but very strange.

Nice to find forums / threads who are so willing to help...thank you.

 

[airborne]

Oops, already started a thread about this but I wised up a minute after I started it and found this thread.

Does anyone know what the latest/last firmware release for the B593s-601 is and where I can download it?