Comcast vs. Vonage

Posts: 409 · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:36 pm Post subject:

well after reading through all this I'm assuming there is no valid test to run and get solid results as to see who is behind it all when and if this issue arises again. (that a non technical person can run and decipher)

All I understand is when this comcast/vonage (midwest) service announcement pops up on this fourm my packet loss and discards go haywire then my phone starts to disconnect constantly and stays that way after this issue clears up.

This has happened Since day 1 from getting my vonage Service. It was pinpointed to this comcast/vonage issue when I signed on to this fourm, if it were not for this fourm I would have thought it only to be a vonage issue and gave up long ago.

As stated before on this forum I'm on my LAST attempt to clear this all up once and for all, having been given a new router to work with when and if this issue arises again.

ARE there any tests that can be run by a non technical person. OR tests that can be run and then sent somewhere for someone to decipher. Some one needs to set up ONE place for this. When and if this issue arises again I would like to be prepared. Vonage Exec. Support will be monitoring my router but what can I do.

Posts: 21 · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:43 pm Post subject: Re: Go get 'em tiger.

BigDaveB wrote:

JBtech01 wrote:

That was the intention of my post - to provide some information to those who wish it, and add some opinions of my own, not to step on the toes of the high and mighty.

I think the issue (and I say so with some hestiation because this thread shouldn't be about you), is that it is not clear to what extent you have read and analyzed the information presented here. I can tell you with certainty that a daytime-only packet loss that is isolated to Vonage access is not a problem with the wiring in my premises.

While it is true that a large majority of problems can be traced to customer wiring, the relevance of that general statement to the problems described in this thread is not at all obvious.

I hope you can forgive the tendency to react poorly to your first post here adding less-than-helpful information.

Let's not forget that it appears to be centered in the upper Midwest and only seems to apply to Comcast cable customers. So, if I've got this right, it's your position that faulty home wiring is to blame for absurdly high (~50%) daytime-only packet loss that began about a month ago now (notably, there these are not longstanding complaints, but rather are "new" issues affecting previously-functional Vonage service), causing upstream-only interference, and which affects only Comcast/Vonage subscribers in the upper midwest (i.e. Comcast users in the Comcast Midwest Division)?

That's some pretty magical home wiring you've got there, but it seems to me, and bear in mind that I've got me one of dem fancy antennies fer my fone survise, that there's only one rational explanation -- the one you're summarily dismissing.

You may feel free to advertise for Comcast's to-be-rolled-out-in-the-near-future VoIP, but a forum with the domain "vonage-forum.com" hardly seems to be the appropriate place to do it.

Posts: 409 · Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject:

http://netsecurity.about.com/od/securitytoolprofiles/p/aaprethereal.htm
Here is another link to Ethereal Network Protocol Analyzer that Joscelin was discussing in a previous post.

It seems a bit complicated for me, but I might give it a try

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

maryjane, it's not too hard, and I think you can do it. Email me at navydavy2001@yahoo.com and I'll try to set it up with you. I use it frequently for uber-geeky stuff, but it is neat.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:07 am Post subject: Re: Comcast and Vonage facts

w0lver wrote:

Hmmm, there are some really good points here. Is a better quality product which some additional features such as a battery backup and alarm system support worth another $15 bucks a month?

Actually.... there is NO alarm support through Comcast's product. Call 'em up and tell them you want a written statement about it... The salesholes may say it's compatible, but when asked to put it in writing, they're VERY clear that it's not compatible. Even their web FAQ says it's not compatible with alarm systems.

As far as the battery backup goes... $15/month x 12 months = $180... you can EASILY get a decent battery backup that'll power your cable modem, Vonage box, additional routers, AND cordless phones for that price, if not half that price. Don't forget about taxes -- Comcast's service is subject to local & state taxation since they are a utility. Not sure what it'd work out to be, but I believe my cable bill here has ~15% tax on it. I'd imagine this would be higher if I had phone & internet through my cable co.

and last but not least -- your Comcast adapter's bolted to a wall. You can't take it with you when travelling. Not sure how many people do this besides me, but my Vonage adapter goes just about everywhere my laptop goes. If I'm on the road for more than 1 night, the adapter goes in my laptop bag. I also would be lost without Simulring, another feature Comcast has forgotten about.

Just for my own curiosity... Does anyone who have this Midwest Comcast problem use a PAP2 adapter?

Posts: 44 · Full Forum Member Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 44

VonageTPA wrote:

Just for my own curiosity... Does anyone who have this Midwest Comcast problem use a PAP2 adapter?

Yes

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:16 am Post subject: Re: Comcast and Vonage facts

BigDaveB wrote:

VonageTPA wrote:

Just for my own curiosity... Does anyone who have this Midwest Comcast problem use a PAP2 adapter?

Yes

Well, there goes that theory. I'm borrowing a PAP2 and wasn't getting the dropped packet issues with it that I was with the RTP300... must just be on a different Vonage gateway server... darn... so much for the simple answer. I'll have to try it for a few more hours and see if the problems creep back in.

Posts: 26 · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:46 am Post subject:

QUOTE

As for Comcast having a monopoly, I guess it depends on how far one wishes to stretch the definition of a monopoly. Clearly, they are the only provider in most areas they provide service. But I believe a monopoly means no one else is allowed to provide that same service in that same area, which certainly is not the case. It's called an over-build, and other providers are welcome to come in and lay their own lines, provide their competing services, etc. And that's where the problem is. Networks like Comcast, Time Warner, and others aren't required to share their bandwidth (and I don't believe they should be). So over-building is cost-prohibitive, and that's why you really don't see it. Is that a monopoly? I guess it's a matter of opinion. I would like to see competition bring down prices, but how can that happen?

UNQUOTE

Actually, in the early days when cable first got started, they were a monopoly in most markets. Companies bid on the monopoly rights along with the rights to string the cable along the right-a-ways that the utilities (phone and electric) used. As part of these rights, the cable companies agreed to a number of things, including abiding by the FCC guidelines.

The cable companies still need these right-a-ways, and part of what they must agree with in order to keep them is FCC guidelines. part of the FCC guidelines are;

"(1) consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of their choice;
(2) consumers are entitled to run applications and services of their choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement;
(3) consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network "

Now, as far as comcast "sharing" their bandwidth, I am not asking for that. I have PAID for bandwidth, and I wish to use it per the FCC guidelines above.

I do not know who's problem this is, but I know;

I had over 6 months of uninterrupted quality vonage service until the vonage service announcement about comcast service started.

I had over 6 months of uninterrupted quality vonage service until comcast rolled out their service (for twice the money)

I am connecting a legal device to the internet

I am accessing a legal service and running legal programs

Loss of phone service for over 1 week in large area's of the country is a public safety hazard, and completely defeats the E911 service REQUIRED by the FCC.

Lastly, I did check my house wiring before even looking into the vonage forums.

As for what I understand to be true, these problems occur only with comcast users, and no other cable companies at this time

When other cable companies have tried similar this to what is being alleged here ( port blocking), the have been forced to pay damages and sign concent decrees agreeing to never do it again.

As for my opinion, the vongage people putting up the service announcements are eventually going to be in big trouble if they do not have some level of proof or justification to back up their claims. It is easier to believe that some comcast marketing person came up with a blocking scheme than a vonage service person would make false claims in writing (and subject to all the legal ramifications_

Posts: 2146 · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

Comcast Puts "Vonage Blocking" Rumors to Rest

By: Alyssa Johnson

March 3, 2006

Representatives for both Vonage and Comcast have denied recent rumors that Comcast is engaging in blocking activities that are affecting connection quality for Vonage's VoIP service.

Read the full story: Comcast Puts "Vonage Blocking" Rumors to Rest

Posts: 292 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Oct 08, 2004 Posts: 292

So Vonage has more than just a few service announcements denouncing the Comcast network over the past month but publicly says they are not having a problem with Comcast?

Me thinks Vonage is afraid to publicly speak out against a power house like Comcast, with the pending IPO and all.