I purchased a refurbished B818-263 from Amazon. Its web UI is Optus branded.
The short story is that, no matter what I try, it seems that certain services or protocols (identified perhaps by specific IP ranges or ports) just cannot be made to work through my particular unit. Regular HTTP/HTTPS web browsing works, as does text-based messaging in applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and so on. However, applications that will not work are as follows (these are all being run on desktop or laptop PCs connected via WiFi to the B818):
- WhatsApp voice or video calls: Ingoing or outgoing calls just hang on 'connecting'.
- Skype (same problem as above; perpetually 'connecting')
- Facebook messenger voice and video
- My work laptop's VPN software, ZScaler (refuses to connect).
- Tor browser (will not connect to relay server)
- My wife's laptop's VMWare
Additionally:
- Amazon Echo Dot won't connect
All of the above applications/services
do operate absolutely fine when the host laptop/desktop is instead tethered to my Huawei P20 Pro with Hotspot enabled.
I am using EE SIMs (I have three EE SIMs in total). I have contacted EE by phone (and also checked in the EE portal myself) to confirm that all SIMs have content restrictions lifted. I've swapped SIMs between the B818-263 and my P20 Pro phone. The problem persistently remains with the B818-263 no matter which SIM is used.
I've tried the following configuration changes in the B818 (not methodical problem-solving as such, but rather just trying everything out of desperation):
- Disabled all firewall settings
- Manually specified primary and secondary DNS (with the fields made visible initially using the JQuery console 'hack')
- Tried both NAT types
- Checked the B818 is using the EE "everywhere" APN (seems to be the one and only correct APN to use for EE)
- Disabled SIP ALG and UPnP
I've used LTE H-Monitor to confirm that the B818 is using the same cell and band (band 3) as my P20-Pro (though my knowledge here is limited). My P20 Pro indicates LTE+.
Some selected (hopefully pertinent) device information for my B818-263:
Serial number: VNNDW20409000xxx
Hardware version: WL3B818M
Software version: 10.0.2.2(H190SP5C74)
Web UI version: WEBUI 10.0.2.2(W2SP6C74)
Configuration file version: B818-263-CUST 8.0.1.4(C74)
WAN IP Address: Unknown
WAN IPv6 Address: 2a01:4c8:43:1323:5a02:3ff:fe04:506
PCI: 349
CELL_ID: 4268800
RSRQ: -7.0dB
RSRP: -106dBm
RSSI: -77dBm
SINR: 4dB
Upload bandwidth: 20MHz
Download bandwidth: 20MHz
band: 3
CA Mode: deactivated
Wireless transmit power:
PPusch:22dBm PPucch:9dBm PSrs:23dBm PPrach:23dBm
Uplink mod/demod of MCS
mcsUpCarrier1:29
Downlink mod/demod of MCS
mcsDownCarrier1Code0:2 mcsDownCarrier1Code1:15
PLMN
23430
I've given up hope. At a total loss. I can only assume here that there is something funny going on here with Optus-branded firmware, though I find it strange that I cannot find reports of other people with the same problems. Going to attempt to return it to Amazon. Any other avenues of investigation I can try before I do so would be appreciated.
Trev