The problem with Vox (.co.za)

Thanks Yotch

currently I am trying to install some original firmware rather than the sticky-taped vox version.

starting with the alcatel/thompsons firmware that they released due to gpl licensing requirements

will see how it goes

thanks for the links

Roger
 
Has anyone managed to get another SIP account to work on this router?

Is it possible?

I see under telephony it has the ability to add SIP accounts but it doesn't ask for a SIP proxy or anything.
 
YAY! running original firmware now, so affectively have an unbranded thomson TG790 running v 7.4.1.7

couldn't get it to update telnetting in - kept on getting "download unsuccessful" errors

probably me just being stupid

anyway, took the bt upgrade app for the home hub, took a TG790 bli firmware image and copied it over the bt firmware file in the BThubSW directory. ran the app - and all worked

result:
Thomson TG790
7.4.1.7
Copyright (c) 1999-2007, THOMSON
------------------------------------------------------------------------
and a fully functional web interface

@blunt

I'll be setting up sip tonight, the web interface on the tompson firmware enables you to add multiple sip accounts, just need to test it

If any of you guys want my hacked together btupgrade app to unbrand vox phones in one easy step, I'll post it somewhere

EDIT: Not sure if the root hack is required before upgrading in this manner - I used the root account I had created, but might just work out the bag with user:Adminstrator
 
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does this entitle you to any penalties from vox because you unbranded their phone that you are renting from them?
 
Only doing this because I think the GPL is on my side - the firmware is licenced under the GPL

I am guessing VOX wouldn't see it that way, but hey everyone has to play by the rules

Roger
 
@RH: Good work on the firmware upgrade!

I was under the impression that the hub phone on the BT Home Hub no longer operates correctly after the Thomson firmware upgrade. The lights on the front panel supposedly also swap roles. Is this also the case with the Vox hub or is it different from the BT one? You should have a pretty reasonable Broadcom based router if it works correctly after the upgrade.

@blunt: Take a look at the third HH hack - IPUsingSipgate. In post #1040 on page 70 in the link above there are details about how to use one of the Betamax providers - Voipdiscount. As far as I know you don't need to upgrade the firmware.
 
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@Yotch

I managed to get the dect phone to register to the base station, using the default password (1010 or 0000, can't remember which)

I still haven't gotten the voip working, but think it is because I a behind a NAT, will investigate further
 
@RH: Thanks for the feedback - let us know if the voip features are still working. Apparently you can also plug a USB flash drive or a FAT32 formatted external hard drive into the BT HH and use it as an NAS device - only at USB 1.1 speeds though. Do you know if the Vox router also supports this feature?
 
@Yotch

one of the first things I did was plug in my 500GB fat32 formatted external drives in - Has been working 100% since Tuesday. NAS ftw. also works as a printer server.

Just going to see if it supports multiple drives/printers with a USB hub, it is USB after all

More importantly - I have gotten voip working using another provider, the original non-branded thompsons firmware and the built in DECT phone. This is all routed through my existing 3G router
 
@RH: That reflashed router is starting to sound really useful. There aren't very many routers that can be used as an NAS.

If you are interested in a cheap 3G/HSDPA USB router or wondering about the feasibility of connecting a 3G/HSDPA USB device to your Vox router you could look here.
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/880784.html
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/HowTo/AddUsb3gModem
http://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=9014

The HH can apparently also run the SpeedTouch version of the DMT tool software which can be used to test the reliability of an ADSL telephone line and help to identify faults etc.
http://dmt.mhilfe.de/
 
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@Yotch

Thanks for suggesting a USB 3G Modem - don't think I will go that route though

Already have it working through my wrt54g3g router with a 3g data card - with the vox phone and router on the same wireless lan

so my setup is as follows:

wrt54g3g router beaming the goodness of the internet everywhere in the house over wifi

vox hub connected to the above wifi network

So I have:

a wifi hotspot

a wireless dect phone

using pbxes.com to get multiple sip accounts through the vox dect phone

Todo:

going to connect my ps2 and xbox 360 to the vox hub over a wired connection - then bridge that with the wireless lan

Upgrade my 3g data card to one that supports HSDPA - need the lower latency that provides - for voip and hopefully some casual gaming

voice is currently crystal clear - but with about a 1 second delay

Now all i need is a cheap second hand HSDPA data card ;)
 
Keep looking on Bidorbuy for cheap datacards. There are some E220s going quite cheaply at the moment ~R1000 but the older U740 at R800 seems a bit overpriced.
 
@Yotch

thanks for the tips. Have been keeping my eyes open on bid or buy and the myadsl classifieds

Regarding NAS - for some reason the NAS device does not show up currently - It shows up when a wired connection is made (how I was originally testing it). I probably just need to play with the bridging a bit

Will post feedback regarding this
 
It might also be an idea to consider secondhand USB ExpressCard /34 datacards like the Novatel XU870. They usually come with adapters to facilitate use in a PCMCIA router like the WRT54G3G as well as in a laptop or via a USB converter on any external USB port. You would first need to make sure that the card is compatible with the router.

http://www.novatelwireless.com/pdf/Merlin_XU870_DataSheet.pdf
Some of the adapters that are available.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Express-Express...ryZ41993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-to-ExpressC...ryZ41993QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
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@Yotch

Yes, I have been investigating those, specifically this

EDIT: removed URL, incorrect device

too bad this one has been sold

EDIT: UPDATE RE NAS

Somehow broke the NAS trying to set up upnpAV (on the off chance I can get the 360 to stream off it - going to be a big hack)
 
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You can purchase PCMCIA to PCI adapter cards for ~R190 at Frontier Electronics for example - Mecer also supply them. There is a discussion about them at the moment on the Vodacom forum ...
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=118702&highlight=Ricoh
The PCMCIA format has largely been replaced by the more recent ExpressCard /34 format but you may struggle to find a secondhand card at a good price. You may need to keep checking on Bidorbuy for several weeks if you want a very good price. That seller motard sometimes has very reasonable offers. You could also try eBay in the UK.
 
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