Vonage problem suggestions are welcome

[Son of Clyde]

I think catzenmouse hit the nail on the head when he said I have a Router problem because I am connected via the cable modem the traditional way. I disconnected the Router and Vonage device. Another friend was thinking the modem was having a problem finding the correct IP address. I have a Linksys wireless G Router (WRT54G) Motorola Surfboard SB4200 cable modem and Vonage D-Link Model VTA-VD device. When connected, the cable modem flashes with activity, the router lights are up and running but the Vonage device Phone light today just flashes and it should be solid. I either need to replace all the hardware or maybe it is between the Vonage device and Wireless Router. For a month I have been resetting the hardware every 2 or 3 days but today nothing worked. Is Vonage all that great anyway? The Router seems to have to be reset periodically or I will lose internet and my stepson will lose internet . Even before Vonage I had the problem. Now I lose internet and phone. Have any of you had these problems with Vonage?

[Turboguy]

I have not had a bit of problem with mine but my light blinks rather than being steady.  I have a different router though.  Try calling Vonage customer service.

[catzenmouse]

It may be a couple of other things also.

1) Your cable connection may not be solid enough to keep the signal going through all the devices. When we lived in the outskirts of Richmond (with Adelphia who I will never, ever, ever have anything to do with again!) we would lose our internet and phone for between 2 to 8 hours EVERY day. They changed this, and replaced that, then one of the techies told me that they've been having a problem with one of the internet cards at the main office for months. Did they do anything to help my situation? Hell NO! They just kept billing me for full service while providing 1/3 service. I started sending them bills back for lost time and time I had to take off work for their 4 to 6 hour service calls. Anyway, it may be the cable company itself and not your equipment.

2) Have you tried plugging it into the other cable outlets in your place. The cable coming into your place may come in at an odd spot and be coupled many times before it gets to your PC. This can/will cause the signal to degrade.

Ken

P.S. In my book Vonage Rocks! Best money we ever spent on phone.

[ccarten]

I used to have Vonage myself (still have not cancelled it), but switced to IConnectHere.  Never really had any problems with Vonage except having to be on hold so long to talk to customer service.  IConnectHere is even cheaper than Vonage, they give you a free Linksys phone device.  Cost is $39.99 to sign up, with $40.00 instant credit then $6.99 per month, plus $.02 per minute local and the rates to Russia/Ukraine are less than Vonage.  They will also ship the Linksys device anywhere in the world for around $5.00.

We might send the Vonage router to the wife's parents in Ukraine (they have high speed Internet) and they can call us here in Colorado as a local call (free).

Two things though about IConnectHere, you have dial 1 + area code + phone number where you don't have to dial the 1 with Vonage and you can't get your voice mails as attachment via e-mail like Vonage.

Also can you use a softphone with IConnectHere unlike Vonage which wants you to buy a second line just to use the softphone.

Clay & Tanya

[Son of Clyde]

I am getting tired of the robotic voice saying, "Vonage device cannot connect to the network."

[Shadow]

Did you try to connect the Vonage after the router ? If it works then there is a problem with the router.
Check which ports Vonage uses and then check your router if the traffic on these ports is allowed.

Same for your wireless device if you need to connect.

[ccarten]

I have the WRT54G router also from Vonage. I was getting really slow connections, about 400k and I bypassed it for a while to check my connection.  It was definitely the router.  I then unplugged the router and held the reset button on the router for about 15 seconds, reconnected everything and it has been working fine ever since.  From what you are describing, it does sound like the router is the issue.

Clay

[wxman]

I have been using vonage for about a year. I have noticed that the quality of international calls has been a crapshoot. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Local calls are very good. I am using the LINKSYS RT31P2 router. I have noticed that SKYPE has become much better with International calls and now I use them exclusively for my calls to the Ukraine. Connection with SKYPE is almost immediate, while it may take several tries with Vonage. There have been many complaints with Vonage, and if you do a google on Vonage, Vonage complaints, Vonage forums you will find many complaints. Most of the complaints are with customer service or the lack of it. From what I have read, as long as you have no problems with Vonage then it's easy sailing. Once you have a problem or try to cancel, then you run into problems with Vonage.   

[wxman]

Also the quality of the connection may have something to do with the type of phone you have connected to vonage. Some cordless phones do not work well with Vonage. I remember that when I first connected to vonage and talked to their tech dept. With SKYPE I have a SKYPE phone wired into my PC through the USB 2.0 port. Better quality sound.

[Son of Clyde]

Vonage is back up and running after 5 days of being disconnected. Spent 2 hours reconfiguring the wiresless network between my son's pc and my pc. Set up the Vonage device. A few incorrect connections. Had to uninstall the wireless - g adapter from my son's room and install a new driver. It is a great feeling of accomplishment when the phone and internet are both working.

[dwfunk]

We no longer use Vonage.  We also no longer rely on ANY Broadband phone for our primary land based phone.  Until these folks implement proper E911 we won't use them.

For International calling we use phone cards over our cell phones.  My phone will call the card number, connect and then dial the international number.  I push one button for Moscow home, one for Moscow cell, one for Samara, one for Syzran, etc. 

We have also used Skype on a limited basis for international calling and will be using them more.

Currently since cable isn't available, I use the cheapest AT&T landline service to get working E911, and use DSL for "Broadband".  We never use the land phone, it's only for working E911 purposes.




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David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/Moscow , Russia
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