Whirlpool

I purchased Linksys SPA-3012 ATA by joining Pennytel.

I followed all the instructions properly on Jason's guide from JMG Tech.

I cannot enter this NTP Server in because the Optional Network Configuration Heading is not there nor this NTP Server textbox exists.

Primary NTP Server: au.pool.ntp.org

Under Regional -> Miscellaneous...

Daylight Saving Time Rule:

start=3/-1/7/3;end=10/-1/7/2;save=­ -1

Set Local Date (mm/dd)
Set Local Time (HH/mm)

These 2 doesn't get saved...

It saved the Daylight savings and parameters BUT everytime when i power off the ATA by pulling the power plug and then plug it back siwtching it back on....it loses the Time and Date, then I have to reenter everytime.

I find this very annoying! I'm using 5.1.5(GWa) is the later Firmware fixing this?

Anyone know why this happens?

Neonlight writes...

I cannot enter this NTP Server in because the Optional Network Configuration Heading is not there nor this NTP Server textbox exists.

At the top right hand side click "advanced" then go back to the Wan Setup tab. The NTP settings should now be visible.

These 2 doesn't get saved...

Are you signed in as Admin or User?

I'm using 5.1.5(GWa) is the later Firmware fixing this?

I'm pretty sure the time settings were working when when I started with this version. I later updated to 5.1.7.

Neonlight writes...

Anyone know why this happens?

It's not just the SPA-3102.
I've found the Linksys SPA-942 phones and the SPA9000 PBX also have the same problem that the time doesn't get stored after a power cycle if you enter it manually and the time is never updated correctly regardless of which NTP server you enter.
I've tried both my own NTP server on my LAN (which other devices have no problems with) and various other external NTP servers and Linksys devices refuse to update the time from the default 1/1/2003 date.

I gave up a long time ago after trying to find a solution.....

EDIT: Oh, and to make matters worse, if you try to enter an address for an NTP server in the SPA-942 phones they won't start up properly! They will hang on the 'Initializing Network' screen indefinitely. The phone functions seem to work but you can't see anything but the Initializing Network screen, which to get rid of you need to plug the phone into an external power adapter and erase the NTP server settings!

davmel writes...

It's not just the SPA-3102.
I've found the Linksys SPA-942 phones and the SPA9000 PBX also have the same problem that the time doesn't get stored after a power cycle if you enter it manually and the time is never updated correctly regardless of which NTP server you enter.

The fact you've had the same problem with two different devices would suggest to me that the configuration of these devices or other network settings are blocking access to the NTP port.

My SPA3102 keep very good time from the Optus time server.

if you try to enter an address for an NTP server in the SPA-942 phones they won't start up properly! They will hang on the 'Initializing Network' screen indefinitely.

Possibly because it's trying to set the time and access to the NTP port is blocked.

At the top right hand side click "advanced" then go back to the Wan Setup tab. The NTP settings should now be visible.

Yes I found it thanks! Btw what is NTP Server and what is it used for?

Are you signed in as Admin or User?

Yes I'm signed on as Admin

192.168.1.10/admin/advanced

I'm pretty sure the time settings were working when when I started with this version. I later updated to 5.1.7.

Is it worth upgrading to 5.1.7. What difference does it make? I saw it on the US Site but not the Aus site I was wondering it might not be good to upgrade to something that is not approved by Linksys in Australia yet? or the Aus site is not up-to-date?

PS. I have just unplugged it and plug the power back and it works! This NTP entry must be important? So weird what does it do??

Zyxak writes...

My SPA3102 keep very good time from the Optus time server.

Possibly because it's trying to set the time and access to the NTP port is blocked.

Hi Zyxak sorry to bother you again...what's the address of Optus time server?

Also what port does NTP use? Because I have a firewall...

I don't even know what NTP is thou...

Neonlight writes...

So weird what does it do??

www.google.com.au/search?q=ntp

Neonlight writes...

what's the address of Optus time server?

Time works fine for me.

time01.mel.optusnet.com.au
time02.mel.optusnet.com.au

Zyxak writes...

The fact you've had the same problem with two different devices would suggest to me that the configuration of these devices or other network settings are blocking access to the NTP port.

Nope, all the Windows PC's and Cisco hardware has no problem updating their time via the local NTP server or external servers via the standard port 123. It's only the Linksys hardware that has issues.
The firewall on both the local NTP server and router have rules to allow NTP traffic through (otherwise the local NTP server couldn't update itself) and all blocked/dropped packets are logged, but no NTP request or receive packets are being dropped to the Linksys devices....

Possibly because it's trying to set the time and access to the NTP port is blocked.

Why is it limited to the Linksys hardware when everything else works ok????
EDIT: NTP works fine for my Linksys SRW2008P managed switch, just not for ANY of the Linksys VoIP hardware on the two networks I manage.

My SPA3102 keep very good time from the Optus time server.

Which only deepens the mystery for my hardware!

NTP is Network Time Protocol and is a standard for maintaining networked devices in sync with real time. Aside from many individual time servers, there is the NTP pool project that has over a thousand publicly-accessible time servers across the globe.

Whenever I need a primary (and secondary) time server, I use "au.pool.ntp.org" and "pool.ntp.org" for the secondary. As these are clusters of virtual servers, the chances of them all being down is 'somewhat remote'.

Works for me, even on my SPA-942. And on a number of SPA3102 and SPA2100 units.

Thanks guys for the input! So basically the Linksys ATA has to connect to a NTP Server to sync the time. Primary and Secondary Servers better to use the cluster ones.

What I don't understand is why it would loose time everytime i power off without NTP server entered....

Unless there's no internal memory / RTC battery or something along the lines...

Neonlight writes...

Unless there's no internal memory / RTC battery or something along the lines...

Obviously not. Linksys had to cut the cost somewhere ;-)

Neonlight writes...

Daylight Saving Time Rule:

start=3/-1/7/3;end=10/-1/7/2;save=­ -1

Make sure you set your Time Zone to: GMT+11:00

This rule covered the old start and end dates for Daylight Saving. Starting this year Daylight Saving ends on the first Sunday of April and starts again on the first sunday of October. The new rule using these new start/end dates is...

start=4/1/7/3;end=10/1/7/2;save=-1­

forum-replies.cfm?t=846449#r5­

Zyxak writes...

Make sure you set your Time Zone to: GMT+11:00

This rule covered the old start and end dates for Daylight Saving. Starting this year Daylight Saving ends on the first Sunday of April and starts again on the first sunday of October. The new rule using these new start/end dates is...

start=4/1/7/3;end=10/1/7/2;save=-1­


Thanks Zyxak that's great! By the way was there any noticeable difference after you upgrade from 5.15 to 5.17 Firmware on SPA 3102? Is it worth doing :)

Neonlight writes...

By the way was there any noticeable difference after you upgrade from 5.15 to 5.17 Firmware on SPA 3102?

It seemed to work just as well as previously.

Is it worth doing

IMO all updates are worth doing as they are usually fixing bugs or adding features.

From the release notes (rn-spa3102-5-1-7.txt):
==================================­ ======
New Features
==================================­ ======

### Since 5.1.7

- If REGISTER results in a 301 response with a Contact header
that has a maddr URI parameter, and if the <Outbound Proxy>
is an IP address, the SPA will change the outproxy proxy
address to the value of the maddr address. This value will
remain valid until the next 301 response, if any, or will
restore to the originally configured value upon reboot.

==================================­ ======
Bug Fixes
==================================­ ======

### Since 5.1.7

- SDP in INVITE response, includes annexb=yes/no if present in
INVITE message

- Fixed this problem: A,B,C,D digits are dropped when dialing

Zyxak writes...

IMO all updates are worth doing as they are usually fixing bugs or adding features.

Question is I'm scared that all my settings on the ATA will be wiped. Usually they say you have to do a factory reset after firmware upgrade....

On the Linksys SPA 3102, can you upgrade firmware while keeping all the settings?

Neonlight writes...

Question is I'm scared that all my settings on the ATA will be wiped. Usually they say you have to do a factory reset after firmware upgrade....

An easy way keep your settings is just save the web page in your browser. Once you've updated, you load this file (advanced.htm) and click the button to "Submit All Changes". This is also a handy way to keep a backup... just in case.

Neonlight writes...

they say you have to do a factory reset after firmware upgrade

That's a problem with Billions, not with Linksys devices. Linksys ATAs are primarily marketed to service providers and have facilities for automatic firmware updates from remote servers. The automatic upgrade procedure does not include a factory reset at any stage.

You sometimes notice that additional functions appear after a firmware update but all existing settings are preserved and the device will continue to function normally.

Zyxak writes...

An easy way keep your settings is just save the web page in your browser. Once you've updated, you load this file (advanced.htm) and click the button to "Submit All Changes". This is also a handy way to keep a backup... just in case.

Does that only save whatever is shown under the Tab screen you are looking? Or you mean you can save the entire thing with all pages and tabs with just one HTM file?

WireGuy writes...

That's a problem with Billions, not with Linksys devices. Linksys ATAs are primarily marketed to service providers and have facilities for automatic firmware updates from remote servers. The automatic upgrade procedure does not include a factory reset at any stage.

Ok I see yea because this Linksys ATA I've got it connected to a Billion. And I really hate Billion that you need to do all the settings manually again and you can't use the old backup file!

Anyway I guess there's no risk of losing settings...so should i get 5.1.7 from the US Site? Does it matter if I get from US or Aus website?

Neonlight writes...

Does that only save whatever is shown under the Tab screen you are looking? Or you mean you can save the entire thing with all pages and tabs with just one HTM file?

Saving the page saves all of the pages in the same group ie "Router" or "Voice". Your browser will want to save them both as "advanced.htm" so give one of them a different name.

so should i get 5.1.7 from the US Site?

It's up to you. I would, and did.

Does it matter if I get from US or Aus website?

It's only available from US Linksys site.

That's great. Thanks for the help. Now the next thing i need to read is the PSTN incoming call echoes on the SPA3102...

Really getting a decent VOIP setup isn't easy is it...:P

ok Now that Daylight savings rule...

Zyxak writes...

The new rule using these new start/end dates is...

start=4/1/7/3;end=10/1/7/2;save=-1­

I understand that
start=4/1/7/3;end=10/1/7/2 is the start and end date for daylight saving....but do you mind to elaborate on the formatting of this rule?

What about the parameter save=-1? Does that mean it will save that record or something? I don't think this is documented anywhere on the manual or on the Jason's guide.

Cheers

Neonlight writes...

What about the parameter save=-1? Does that mean it will save that record or something?

Please read forum-replies.cfm?t=846449#r5

I see. and that thread also explains the formatting of the rule itself?

start=4/1/7/3;end=10/1/7/2;save=-1­ ­ I don't quite get how to change this myself in the future....if you know what I mean as in the start and end dates and the time it takes effect.

As I read that /3 means 03:00 /2 is 02:00, not sure about the numbers before the last one for each

DST rule seems confusing to me...

Neonlight writes...

DST rule seems confusing to me...

start=4/1/7/3;end=10/1/7/2;save=-1­

OK, let's break it down...

start=4/1/7/3

This means DST starts at 03:00 (3) on Sunday (7) of the first week (1) of April (4).

end=10/1/7/2

This means DST ends at 02:00 (2) on Sunday (7) of the first week (1) of October (10).

save=-1

This means that during the (reverse) DST period defined above a corrention of -1 hour is applied.

Edit: To further clarify, here's an explanation for the old rule...

start=3/-1/7/3

This means DST starts at 03:00 (3) on Sunday (7) of the last week (-1) of March (3).

end=10/-1/7/2

This means DST ends at 02:00 (2) on Sunday (7) of the last week (-1) of October (10).

Thanks Zyxak, you're a Legend! Great explanation there :)