RTP300 Static

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 13, 2005 Posts: 3

VonageTPA wrote:

I'm not about to try this firmware myself, but could someone describe the static they get? Is it like a hissy-sound in the background (but louder than usual for common line noise?) .

A lot like the static you get when you walk too far away from the house with a cordless phone.

I heard back from level 2 support this morning and they rolled back the firmware in the RTP300. And voila - static problem solved!

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:14 am Post subject:

Hmm... that sounds different than the noise I used to get from the RTP300. At any rate, I'll gladly stay on the firmware I'm on and keep ignoring the updates.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 04, 2006 Posts: 5

I am also experiencing static lately (over the past month). I shouldn't have to worry about firmware upgrades, etc. It's a phone, dammit!

/* End of Rant */

Anyways, is there a solution to this? Been on the phone with our friends in Bangalore tech support several times. I have:

1. Tried another phone
2. Bypassed my wireless router and connected the RTP300 directly to cable modem
3. Plugged the RTP300 into a surge protector
4. Moved all components >6' away from each other
5. Had Cable Co. come out and check everything. Up/Down BW both wonderful
6. Plugged RTP300 into another outlet on a different circuit
7. Had Vonage activate other phone connection on RTP300 and tried that

None of the above improved the situation!

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Sep 14, 2006 Posts: 34

well ur rtp300 should be in front of ur wireless router anyway. Have CS try rollingback the firmware. Seems like this is a known issue w/ the rtp300's.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:45 am Post subject: Re: k

canibus23 wrote:

well ur rtp300 should be in front of ur wireless router anyway. Have CS try rollingback the firmware. Seems like this is a known issue w/ the rtp300's.

I agree that the firmware is to blame (have them roll it back to the older version of 1.00.62), BUT, I'd never put an RTP300 in front of any computer -- their router can't handle much traffic before it craps itself and stops passing traffic reliably. For troubleshooting purposes, it's not a bad idea to temporarily connect it as close to the originating connection as possible, BUT, I'd only do that on a temporary basis. A GOOD router (which there are relatively few consumer-level routers which I'd say are good) will be transparent in Voip calls.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 04, 2006 Posts: 5

Thank-you for the responses, Canibus and VonageTPA. I am at "second-level" tech support now, so I can probably float the firmware rollback idea with them without getting a blank (virtual) stare. (Or an offer to add a second line for that matter!)

Pardon me if this is ignorant, but "in front of" has no meaning to me in my setup. I access the internet via my laptop in a wireless manner, with "wired" connections shown below, as recommended by Vonage.

"Internet" -->Cable Modem-->Wireless Router-->RTP300-->Telephone

This worked fine until a month ago. If there is something amiss with this setup, please let me know.

Thanks Again

Posts: 114 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:05 am Post subject: Re: k

VonageTPA wrote:

...BUT, I'd never put an RTP300 in front of any computer -- their router can't handle much traffic before it craps itself and stops passing traffic reliably. For troubleshooting purposes, it's not a bad idea to temporarily connect it as close to the originating connection as possible, BUT, I'd only do that on a temporary basis. A GOOD router (which there are relatively few consumer-level routers which I'd say are good) will be transparent in Voip calls.

I have my VTA-VR behind a WRT54G (v4) running Thibor firmware. This is definitely "one of those GOOD routers". It never gives me a problem.

-Craig

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:

PaulKo wrote:

"Internet" -->Cable Modem-->Wireless Router-->RTP300-->Telephone

This worked fine until a month ago. If there is something amiss with this setup, please let me know.

Thanks Again

That's exactly how it should be connected. I'm suspecting the firmware updates are what caused your misery.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 04, 2006 Posts: 5

Well, a firmware "update" got pushed down the wire to me from Vonage. I am not sure if this was the roll-back or some enhancement, however the static is still there.

Vonage customer support confirmed via email that they now believe the Vonage router is the cause of my issue, and they will gladly replace it for a mere $40.

Not the best customer service IMFAO. New customers get a free router, but existing ones need to purchase a replacement for a defective one? I've given them one more chance to give me a free replacement router before I go Skype full time. We shall see what the response will be.

Thanks for listening!

Posts: 54 · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:17 pm Post subject:

I'm glad I found this thread. As a customer of Vonage since 2003, I've seen it all. But I noticed the static suddenly started after the 1.01.07 update. The static that I get kind of reminds me of an old AM radio - a drifting whistling static. It seems like it's worse on some phone calls than on others. I also was 'upgraded' to a clicking sound on some phone calls.

I'm going to try to change to the 50k codec on the bandwidth saver page in my account as a temporary fix. I'll gladly report here if that does help with my situation...

Good luck to us all.