VT2142 Install Intructions With Existing Router

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 7

I just received my Motorola VT2142 in the mail today and the installation instructions with an existing router say to set it up like this: modem > router > VT2142

Why would Vonage tell users to hook it up this way?? If your router doesn't have QoS and/or you don't know how to configure it properly then your voice calls will obviously suffer.

When I hook everything up tonight I know to put the VT2142 between the modem and my non-QoS router (D-Link DI-524) to take advantage of the VT2142 QoS capabilities.

It just seems like Vonage is shooting itself in the foot a bit by telling users to put the VT2142 after the router. You know that some people will set it up as modem>router>VT2142 and then end up calling Vonage complaining that their calls aren't as good while uploading files at the same time.

Posts: 143 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: May 30, 2006 Posts: 143

im assuming its because most customers prefer the setup that way (those that arent too QoS conscious)

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 7

Yeah, but you shouldn't have to do anything different other than at what point in the chain you plug it in...right? So the setup should be just as easy.

I guess I'm just complaining for nothing though since I know what I'm doing (supposedly Wink

)

Posts: 143 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: May 30, 2006 Posts: 143

so long as it works fine - audio and dial tone
otherwise change it Very Happy

enjoy using Vonage and start saving money!

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:58 pm Post subject:

Several reasons come to mind.

First and foremost, I have yet to hear from anyone that any Vonage-supplied router (I include devices with "passthru" ports, since they are also technically one-port routers) has anything resembling working QoS. So, that being the case, if your existing router has QoS capabilites you are FAR better off using it, and if it does not you are likely no worse off. The routers themselves are pretty weak, too, so you may find networking and routing problems.

Second, many ISPs lock your modem to a particular MAC address. While some of them only require a reboot of the modem to change MAC, some make you go through a real mess to do it, and it's hard to compare that to a simple "plug it in and go". Vonage needs instructions that work easily on all connections.

And, finally, it completely isolates Vonage from having to support your network. Having you responsible for having working Internet going to the plug that you plug your Vonage device into, and not being responsible for having other things get through it to the Internet, means that Vonage has just reduced a LOT of support variables. Instead of having to deal with 10,000 modem models, and the hundred thousand things that can go wrong with routing, they can ask a simple question:

"Is a computer plugged in to the same port as your Vonage device able to surf the Internet?"

If the answer is "no", it isn't their problem. If "yes" then they can get to the Vonage adapter and work on it remotely.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 7

nice answer. I see your point.

when you say

NateHoy wrote:

I have yet to hear from anyone that any Vonage-supplied router (I include devices with "passthru" ports, since they are also technically one-port routers) has anything resembling working QoS.

are you implying that the QoS in the Motorola VT2142 and VT2442 are no good? even for just web browsing and calling at the same time?

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 17, 2006 Posts: 5

NateHoy wrote:

Several reasons come to mind.

"Is a computer plugged in to the same port as your Vonage device able to surf the Internet?"

If the answer is "no", it isn't their problem. If "yes" then they can get to the Vonage adapter and work on it remotely.

Actually none of those reasons apply to my installation and for that I'm grateful. What is vastly more important in my case is to make sure only ONE firewall is active (on the upstream adapter or router) if you plan to use wireless equipment like a print server.

In my case I have the Cable modem > VT-2142 with QoS > WRT54GL (i.e., an "outie" installation) and some other wireless devices. With only the FW on the VT enabled, wireless works fine with the phone and/or downloads. With both FW the my print server dies until the phone is on the hook.

Using the above but in an "innie" condition, the WRT54GL has to have it's FW on and the downstream VT-2142 FW must be off and dhcp server/relay must also be off.

Just my USD .02

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 7

I just got everything installed and made a few test calls...sounds just like my old phone line! Very nice.

The installation was as easy as unplugging everything and inserting the VT2142 between my modem and router. I left all firewalls on, although I haven't tested my WiFi yet. Vonage rocks so far! I love the SimilRing, Call Forwarding, and all the other nice features.

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RoadRunner Lite (768k down/128k up) > Toshiba DAZ8821F modem > VT2142 > D-Link DI-524

Posts: 143 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: May 30, 2006 Posts: 143

glad it works for you Very Happy

Posts: 142 · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject:

I have the same setup as yours, and with my TTY, it worked pretty well for me.