Installing a new WRPT54G

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 27, 2006 Posts: 1

Posted so others can shave HOURS off the install/troubleshoot of a WRPT54G ... Choppy voice (me speaking to others) forced this after Vonage was able to do little to help so I replaced my Linksys PAP2v2 with a WRPT54G, allowing the phones to be first and take priority on the LAN. Thanks to all who provided tips and leads along the way via posts on this and other sites.

Confguration is:
Comcast --> Motorola SB5120 --> Linksys WRPT54G --> LAN (Phone cords run directly from WRPT54G to 5.8Ghz cordless 2-line phone | All other switches/routers/access points are BEHIND/DOWNSTREAM of the WRPT54G)

1) Unwrap and check contents of the WRPT54G.
2) Go to http://vonage.com/retail_subscribe and follow the directions.
3) Unplug power from your cable modem.
4) Power down PC or notebook that will be plugged directly into WRPT54G in step 9.
5) Plug cable modem ethernet cable into the WRPT54G's internet port.
6) Plug PC/notebook ethernet cable into one of the WRPT54G's ethernet ports.
7) Attach power to WRPT54G and let it completely boot up.
8) Put the power cord back into the modem and let it completely boot up. (Since Comcast no longer manually provisions MAC addresses, this allows your modem to sense the new router's MAC and automatically provision it)
9) Plug the ethernet cable from the WRPT54G's ethernet port into your PC/notebook.
10) Power up your PC/notebook.
11) Go to http://vonage.nmhoy.net/upgrade.html and closely follow the instructions to upgrade the WRPT54G's firmware. (Mine came from Best Buy with version 1.00.18) There also are instructions here for the RTP300.
12) Go to the WRPT54G's admin screen (http://192.168.15.1), login and re-enable wireless using these settings: Channel=11 | Beacon Interval = 50 | RTS Threshold = 2304 | Fragmentation Threshold = 2304 | Elevate router if possible. Settings are on the "Advanced Wireless Settings" link at the top.
13) Set your wireless security per your needs.
14) Go to Applications & Gaming and click the QoS link.
15) Specify ports 5060 and 5061 as high. Leave everything else at its default of low.
16) Shut down your PC/notebook.
17) Re-connect (if necessary) and switches/routers to the ethernet ports on the WRPT54G.
18) Hook up your PC/notebook to the LAN according to your particular hardware configuration.
19) Plug in your phone(s) and check for call quality
20) If there are issues, call customer service (preferably on your Vonage line so, if call quality is choppy, they experience the problem themselves). You will be forced to go through a number of tests. When none of that helps, ask (if they don't offer) that they do the following:
-- a) Tweak the codec
-- b) Adjust the packet size
-- c) Increase the bandwidth
21) All should (and I emphasize should) work OK now.
22) If audio still is choppy, lower the speed using Vonage's bandwidth saver on your account features page.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Sep 09, 2006 Posts: 3

Just for info on the WRT54G.
I purchased one in July 05. Yesterday, 2 Jan 06, the router just stopped working. Although the power lights stayed on, nothing worked, no phone, no computer internet access. No amount of resets helped. I was unable to access the router over the web page. In otherwords, the sucker just broke.

Fortunately, Best Buy replaced it with no problems. A quick call to Vonage to update the new MAC address and I was up and running again.

I am pleased with this router. I hope the new one lasts longer.