Vonage not active in Dubai, U.A.E. Probable ISP block.

Posts: 86 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 86

hey guys.. another update..

i can never leave well enough alone Wink

i called and complained, i figure the more complaints they register in the system the better.. and i asked the guy what the problem was with voip.. he said the problem was etisalat.. thanks to moh's post.. i asked him why we were reliant on etisalat since we're supposed to be completely independent of them..

he sort of skimmed over that question, but he did say that etisalat has not done this intentionally.. and that the techs are still working on it.. but the problem is on etisalats end.. the techs have informed the lower techs that the issue is being worked on right now, and there has been progress but no time-table has been set for when the access is back up.

he said it could literally start up any moment now.. so two somewhat conflicting reports from the techs.. anyway, at least there is a glimmer of hope.

all the best guys, will keep the updates.. i plan to call again first thing in the morning Smile

Posts: 29 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 29

jumanji wrote:

hey guys.. another update..

i can never leave well enough alone Wink

i called and complained, i figure the more complaints they register in the system the better.. and i asked the guy what the problem was with voip.. he said the problem was etisalat.. thanks to moh's post.. i asked him why we were reliant on etisalat since we're supposed to be completely independent of them..

he sort of skimmed over that question, but he did say that etisalat has not done this intentionally.. and that the techs are still working on it.. but the problem is on etisalats end.. the techs have informed the lower techs that the issue is being worked on right now, and there has been progress but no time-table has been set for when the access is back up.

he said it could literally start up any moment now.. so two somewhat conflicting reports from the techs.. anyway, at least there is a glimmer of hope.

all the best guys, will keep the updates.. i plan to call again first thing in the morning Smile

This is what I was afraid of but, from a technical point of view, I would have expected our access to be blocked when Etisalat blocked Vonage months ago but it wasnt. This leads me to suspect that the DIC system is entirely seperate.

I think the only option is to keep complaining - I am going to ask to speak to a supervisor tomorrow morning. Very Happy

There is definite UDP port blocking going on - I have been doing some research and Vonage over a VPN looks an unreliable setup so I will keep looking.

I think there shoudl be a prize for the first person to post it is working..... Very Happy

Posts: 17 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 17

My prize will be there when i hear my wifes voice at the other end Wink

Posts: 59 · Full Forum Member Joined: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 59

I am so glad that other people are having the same problem I am.. (sounds bad Sad

I moved here about 4 weeks ago from the states (florida), fully equipped to keep in touch with back home! anyways, I googled, "tecom Vonage" and luckily found you guys having the same problem.

Basically to cut the story short, I think if we all call in and complain everyday, that should do it... The Vonage was working beautifully until the 14th night...

I have a few solutions to this if you want to call me at 050 253 5670 tomorrow. 1. obviously vpn solution (which I am not too familiar how to do),

2. get another device which works, as I have confirmed it here. I dont want to announce which device works, because I am sure big brother reads this and finds out. but call me and I will let you know what device you can buy and it will work.

but its annoying because I have bought 2 lines with Vonage, the motoroal device (handset) doesntw ork, but my other line works.

I thought moving to new dubai (jumeirah) would be good, however it wil turn out to be a nightmare if we have to spend 2+ dhs a min to keep in touch w/ home.

So frustrating I cannot even tell you....

anyone wants to chat about this let me know tomorrow, as I would like to try the vpn solution.

Any updates, please please PLEASE post here, as I dont know any americans here yet!

Posts: 59 · Full Forum Member Joined: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 59

I had spoken to a guy the other day from voange, he was very helpful, I was trying to install Vonage for my ucnle who has an etisalat connection, and he basically on his end, changed the ports that the Vonage device sends/receives... (it worked fine)

I thnk if you speak to level2-3 tech support at Vonage, and ask them to change your sip ports, as well as your udp ports that it requires, it should be good, like ask them to route your device to use higher or lower udp ports not in the 10,000-20,000 range, what do you think...

I will try this tomorrow, i would like otehrs to try this too!

Posts: 86 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 86

hey ragga.. i'm also from the u.s. and lived in florida for quite a number of years also Wink

i still find it odd that Vonage doesn't allow you to log in and modify the upd + port settings manually.. i think my situation is a bit tougher since i have the v-tech 8100 and not the router solution. when i was purchasing it, i told myself tha ti would probably regret it.. hopefully i wont Wink

my Vonage was working great as well.. i'd get the occasional hang up.. but that was ok.. all in all it was wonderful.

odd thing, i had a dream that i woke up last night. saw the "green light" on my v-tech.. and was so excited to wake up in the morning and be the first to post about Vonage working.

too bad it was just a dream.. horrible.

here's to a new day! Very Happy

Posts: 29 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 29

jumanji wrote:

hey ragga.. i'm also from the u.s. and lived in florida for quite a number of years also Wink

i still find it odd that Vonage doesn't allow you to log in and modify the upd + port settings manually.. i think my situation is a bit tougher since i have the v-tech 8100 and not the router solution. when i was purchasing it, i told myself tha ti would probably regret it.. hopefully i wont Wink

my Vonage was working great as well.. i'd get the occasional hang up.. but that was ok.. all in all it was wonderful.

odd thing, i had a dream that i woke up last night. saw the "green light" on my v-tech.. and was so excited to wake up in the morning and be the first to post about Vonage working.

too bad it was just a dream.. horrible.

here's to a new day! Very Happy

I called them at 7:30 this morning and was told that it is blocked and "they can't make any promises" when it will be back. I asked to speak to a manager but was told they wont be in till after 8. So I will call back then.

I just have a feeling that, with all the properties now being serviced by DIC (Springs, Meadows, Greens, Marina etc) that Etisalat must be losing a bunch of money and someone has had a word with DIC.

I think changing the UDP ports of the device is a good idea, but they will soon realise what is happening and block that too. I will prefer to stick with what I have and keep pressurising them.

Will update later.

Posts: 86 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 86

thanks sr.. i called first thing when i stepped into the office.. the guy greeted me with "good afternoon!" hah.. sounded very tired..

anyhow, he didn't give me any new information.. just said there is no update.

Posts: 29 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 29

jumanji wrote:

thanks sr.. i called first thing when i stepped into the office.. the guy greeted me with "good afternoon!" hah.. sounded very tired..

anyhow, he didn't give me any new information.. just said there is no update.

Light at the end of the tunnel? Let's see.....

http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Technology/10060697.html

Posts: 59 · Full Forum Member Joined: Aug 16, 2006 Posts: 59

I dont see how they can blame "ignorance"... its not coincidence that of all the things that can be accidentally blocked, it had to be Voip, however you never know...

I always take any small hope and get excited with it... so lets see... again if u guys want to call me later today for the other solutions, thats not a problem.

-Ragga