Since installing VoIP router, download speeds are half!!!

Posts: 18

I have been a Shaw cable customer for about 5 mos now. Originally I signed up for their regular high speed service, "up to" 5 Mbps. I constantly test my speeds using the same site all the time, testmy.net, and have been getting results of 3.8 to 4.4Mbps. When I decided to get Vonage I thought it would be a good idea to bump up to their Extreme tier which is advertised as an "up to" 7Mbps service. I immediately started testing my speeds and was getting up to 6.6Mbps. Man was I happy, over 700kB/s. Then my Vonage router arrived and I installed it and my speeds have plummeted to below 3Mbps. What the hell is going on? I know I haven't installed any new programs that would slow it down nor have I done anything else. I know that Shaw couldn't have sold that many new subscriptions in my area that would fill the node that much. And the fact that I used to be an in field tech for Rogers, I know that my drop is good and my risers in my house are new and configured properly. Now here is the funny thing. To bump up to Extreme it costs an additional $10 but now Shaw has come up with a new service for Voip customers called QoS (Quality of Service) Enhancement and guess what that costs? Yep $10. So I wonder if they are going to try to sell me that on top of my Extreme? My god I'm so sick of being ripped off and taken advantage of! Heres the other kicker. Im not even connected yet with Vonage. After 7 days of troubleshooting with over 10 technicians it was finally determined that they will need to swap out my device because it is defective. That was on Tuesday evening. I was told it would be shipped overnight so given that it wouldn't be shipped till Wednesday, Thursday should have been the arrival date. As of Friday it still hadn't been shipped!!! Why? Because, my RTP300 was defective and the tech placed the new order for a RT31P2 which is an older device that they are short of.

I forgot to mention that those decreased speeds remain even after I removed the router.

MR. Mad

Posts: 1179 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1179

mrbreeeeze wrote:

I forgot to mention that those decreased speeds remain even after I removed the router.

Judging by this last statement, it's obviously not the Vonage router that has "suddenly" caused a drop in your bandwidth. If the news out there is any indication, we can all determine exactly what is going on and it has absolutely nothing to do with Vonage.

Posts: 18 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject:

You're absolutely right, the router has nothing to do with my drop in speed and that is not Vonages fault. But, by the way my other issues have been handled, re; getting my Vonage service up an running, Vonage is plagued with fault there. As of this morning my replacement device has still not been shipped out and I don't plan to see that till Wednesday or Thursday and by then it will be 16 or 17 days since I placed my initial order and 13 days since I first contacted tech support to resolve the issue. So, until I get my phone up and running I cannot even call my ISP to complain about my loss of service. I am very curious to hear what exuse they will give me for the loss of bandwidth. But if they hope to play on ignorance like they probably do with the average customer then bring it on. I will have service tech after service tech dispatched to my home until they resolve the issue. I will demand to see my MIBS, including TX and RX levels as well as signal to noise ratios. Also I will request that my drop be ohmed out to rule out any damage to the drop. Dammit, I want what I'm paying for. The fact of the matter is that if Shaw would hurry up and provide Voip in my area then I would go with them but they don't so Vonage was my only option because landline is not.

I'm sorry if I am ranting and raving but I am extremely angry and I feel I have no other way to go. It just occurs to me that we as consumers constantly have to fight to get what we're paying for.

Posts: 18 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:14 pm Post subject:

hey Mundy, how do the cable companies know that there is a Voip device attached to our internet lines, particularily my case where I am not even on service yet? How do they know I'm not streaming large video files or something. I haven't even been able to have a conversation on my new Vonage line yet, which by the way I am being billed for.

Posts: 193 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 193

mrbreeeeze wrote:

So, until I get my phone up and running I cannot even call my ISP to complain about my loss of service. I am very curious to hear what exuse they will give me for the loss of bandwidth.

It seems to me now, before V is hooked up is when you should discuss with Shaw, the loss of band. They cannot then play the Shell game of blame the other guy. Which has been a big sore point on these boards. They decrease the band thinking you already had it hooked up just to sell you QOS. But since it's not hooked up, why do 'they' say the band decreased? The can't blame V. I can see this in trial court. You should be getting at least what you were before the supposed upgrade(subsequent downgrade). The only thing I can come up with is maybe just hooking up the rtp300 (by sensing the Voip packets) even once to the shaw system put your IP in a low priority IP pool for slowdown so they can sell you on the QOS.

mrbreeeeze wrote:

I'm sorry if I am ranting and raving but I am extremely angry and I feel I have no other way to go. It just occurs to me that we as consumers constantly have to fight to get what we're paying for.

I feel your pain, as do alot of others I'm sure.

Posts: 9 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:38 pm Post subject:

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a cable modem problem. See this thread here

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic11797.html

Posts: 18 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject:

Chris,

Is that Terrayon they sent you a turquois colored one that odd shaped?

I'm not sure its exactly the same problem but I won't rule out the modem. I have the same speeds with or without the router in line but my problem is that it's a drastic decrease from what it was prior to installing the Vonage router.

Posts: 193 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 193

chrismcr wrote:

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a cable modem problem. See this thread here

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic11797.html

Interesting.

mrbreeeeze,
Maybe the rtp300 had problems with your cablemodem. Now maybe your modem is bad. You could probably try a new modem before the new V device arrives, without rehooking the rtp300 to see if you get the bandwidth back.

Posts: 18 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject:

I have just sent Shaw tech support and email with a detailed description of my problem, minus the Vonage service. I thought I would like to deal with it in writing hoping to get a response in writing.

Even on the phone these days, when I'm dealing with service providers and such, I inform who I'm speaking that, "To assure quality customer service this call may be recorded." LOL

Anyway, I'm in dire need of phone service. My cell phone is costing a fortune. Especially the time on the phone with Vonage. If my new Voip device arrives first I will have to install it.

I will just have to use what knowledge I have of the cable system, which is whatever they taught me in those long, drawn out classes, as my weapon. I know that call center techs rely on consumer ignorance to avoid allot of issues.

Being demanding and persistent, within reason, is good for the fight too. Don't just shoot your mouth off about what your going to do, do it! We all have PC's here that make it much easier than the letter writing days so follow through. Me, I won't stop. Even the CRTC (Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commision) will get an email from me.

C'mon people, dont get mad, get fighting. We all work hard for our simple pleasures, make sure they're simple and pleasurable, eventually.

Posts: 18 · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject:

Hey May,

How do you do that quote thing. I see the icon for it where you work with the message body but I can't figure it out. I'm sure its simple.

MR.