Comcast vs. Vonage

Posts: 185 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Dec 18, 2005 Posts: 185

the theory is that the SB5100 series modems, for some reason don't jive well with the TI Chipset Linksys devices. The RT31P2 has a Sipura chipset. Again, this is just a theory, I only say comcast because I Know they love their SB cable modems

Posts: 58 · Full Forum Member Joined: Feb 04, 2006 Posts: 58

Comcast CT here and ported today! LNP started on January 28th. No voice or calling problems so far, fingers are crossed!!!!

Posts: 12 · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:28 pm Post subject:

I would have went to Comcast's VoIP but there phone modem they use does NOT support 8/768 speeds. I pay for 8/768 serives and I was going to be damned if I was only going to get 6 max...

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

Defiance wrote:

I would have went to Comcast's VoIP but there phone modem they use does NOT support 8/768 speeds. I pay for 8/768 serives and I was going to be damned if I was only going to get 6 max...

I don't blame you one bit, and it's kind of funny too. You figure most early adopters of new technology are of the geek persuasion, and pay for big Internet connections, but they can't support that with their VoIP? Somebody dropped the ball on that one.

Posts: 274 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 274

Datahazard wrote:

How many people here have a combination of comcast cable, a motorola Surfboard 5100 series cable modem, and one of the silver TI Linksys devices? (WRTP54G or RTP300, NOT RT31P2)

I have a theory...

Comcast at 8MB up, 800K down, an RTP300, a Motorola SB5100, and no problems so far. Of course, I don't use it much because my #'s haven't been transferred yet. Still waiting on that.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:55 pm Post subject:

It's been 2 weeks since I've been on a Comcast connection, but at last check, I didn't have trouble using the RTP300 with the:
Cisco UB690(?) cable modem,
Comcast-labelled SMC modem,
and 2 older RCA cable modems.

I do have access to a SB5100, but it's on RoadRunner... if you guys can confirm/deny the issue, I'm more than happy to try it

Posts: 185 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Dec 18, 2005 Posts: 185

Judging the response, I'm guessing the failure rate must be fairly low. Its not officially a "known issue." Just something that a few people have seen more than once, in which downstream bandwidth being cut down to about 1/10th when that combination of devices are placed on a network.

Posts: 26 · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject: vonage comcast michign problems

Okay, I have used vonage for over 6 months without a problem. Now, I am having the same problems that other michigan user report, I can call out, but my voice is choppy and can not be understood. I have read the posts about the vonage says it is comcast, and comcast says there is nothing wrong.

It appears that I have only problems surfin the web when I try to reach the vonage web site., and no other site.

My tracert speeds are fine, except when i try to trace to the vonage web site. my upload speed are in far excess of what is needed.

I have filed a complaint with the michigan attorney general (https://www.ag.state.mi.us/cp_division/w3cp_c01_new.asp), referring them to this forum. My position is that if comcast is truly blocking Vonage voip telephone calls, then they are causing Michigan citizens to loose my ability to call 911 in an emergency, putting the citizens of Michigan in danger.

Of course, if the problem is with Vonage, and vonage is not being straight with us....

In any case, one can only hope that a hammer falls where it is deserved.

Posts: 21 · Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject:

I have sent the following to Comcast and intend to follow through if there is not a marked improvement in the next couple of weeks. I implore those of you in the upper midwest who are Comcast/Vonage subscribers experiencing similar difficulties to send a similar note to Comcast. Thanks.

Quote:

I am a Comcast subscriber as well as a Vonage (VoIP) user and attorney in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.

My internet connection over the past several weeks has been shaky at best. I have not lost the connection altogether (to my knowledge), but VoIP calls and connection speeds have been poor to say the least. I have run a number of network diagnostics which confirm that this is not a "Vonage issue", but rather, is a direct result of a deteriorated broadband connection (i.e. unacceptably high packet losses, etc.).

I pay you $40+/month for a reliable high-speed broadband internet connection, and I am not being provided what you have advertised and what I have paid for. I am not interested in whatever ax you may have to grind with Vonage and/or Vonage users, and I am similarly disinterested in hearing excuses and being directed to Vonage for an issue we all know is yours.

I would recommend you direct this communication to your legal department immediately, as failure to adequately resolved the above-discussed issues in a timely manner (i.e. by March 1, 2006) will result in formal complaints being lodged with the Michigan Public Services Commission, the Michigan Attorney's General Office, and the FCC, as well as whatever other legal remedies may be available.

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 21, 2006 Posts: 13

I have tested this as thoroughly as I know how and can only conclude Comcast is at fault...

Physical device setup at home (near Mundelein, IL with Comcast as ISP)
1. Linksys BEFCMU10 v4, Cable Modem
2. Cisco PIX 501 (fixup sip left enabled, no port forwarding to the PAP2)
3. Linksys SR2024 Switch
4. Linksys PAP2 (fw v3.1.9C) and/or WinXP Computer

Physical device setup at the datacenter (near Oakbrook, IL with XO as ISP)
1. Cisco router
2. Cisco PIX 506E (fixup sip enabled, no port fwd)
3. Cisco Catalyst 2970
4. Linksys PAP2 (fw v3.1.9C) and/or Win2K3 Server

Vonage dashboard quality set to 30Kbps/normal for both adapters

From home...
- logging in and navigating secure.vonage.com webiste very slow/unusable
- calling my cell phone (in the same area code as my vonage number) audio quality is "digital" it breaks up mid-word (incomming caller audio is fine, just my outgoing audio was bad)
MOS score = 3.9 (yellow)

From datacenter...
- logging in and navigating secure.vonage.com works fine
- calling my cell phone audio quality is excellent
- MOS score = 4.4 (green)

...ping/tracert/bandwidth test did not show anything interesting when comparing results from the two sites to secure.vonage.com or the (vonage server) IP that the PAP2 was connected to at the time (sorry, I'm not posting to prevent lash-back or disclosing too many details)

...this would be a real shame if Comcast is intentionally packet shaping or otherwise to frustrate Vonage users into canceling and using thier version of VoIP service. Think thats bad? yeah it is, but that wouldn't stop them - and how would anybody know right? (Whatever port or protocal based method they could use to do this would not be apparent/obvious from comparing ping/tracert/bandwidth test data anyway)

...from what I have seen installed at other customers, the Comcast phone solution is a cable modem/ATA adapter in a single box. Meaning it connects right to the Coax and then gives you an RJ11 POTS line out. I do belive it is Ethernet/IP based on the chips inside the adapter, but cannot confirm it is true VoIP or the SIP method of audio over Ethernet. Regardless - don't be fooled into these tactics - call Comcast and complain as far up the food chain as you can - sure the random lady who answeres the phone at the call center doesn't give a crap, but the call center managers reports of "time call taken" and "number of calls answered" will go way down and then perhaps they will compain to upper management.

I don't mean to preach or act like I know how this whole thing works, but please don't just blame or cancel Vonage and by no means reward Comcast by signing up for thier phone service. Taking the time to call and complain, as childish as that is, is the only way for this issue to get the nessesary attention it deserves.

I first noticed voice quality problems at arround 2:15pm today, but as of 5:00pm it would seem this issue has been resolved and service at my home works satisfactory/as expected. This is not by any means the first time I have been frustrated by this. As usuall visiting other websites, speedtests, ping/tracerout times to other websites are all fine during this "glitch"

P.S. I don't work for vonage or comcast - I am an independant network integrator who happens to use both and a bunch of other providers - this is just one example/opinion out of the blue, take it for what it's worth.