Vonage and MSN messenger

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 21, 2004 Posts: 2

Hi,

This may have already been answered. But I'm unable to find a solution. I have had vonage for about 2 weeks now. The service by itself is good and works without any problems. I use my cable internet connection to sometimes to support some of my clients using MSN messenger( services like RDP, File Transfers etc). Whenever I connect to MSN messenger and use the phone at the same time. After a few minutes my call drops. I'm able to hear the person on the other end buyt they don't hear me. My setup

Cabler Modem -> Netgear WGR614V4 -> PCs and Motorola ATA.

ATA IP 10.20.30.150
PC IP 10.20.30.20

ATA has a static IP and on my router I ahve the ports forwarded according to vonage's Customer support.(5060, 123, 69, 10000-20000)

I also Have ports forwarded for MSN messenger (5190, 6891, 1863, 6901, 2001-2120).

My feeling is that it has to do something with the higher ports that MSN probably uses along with Vonage. Any help to get this working will be greatly appreciated.

Also has anyone used a phone on the FAX line that vonage provides. Would like to know if there is any difference in the voice quality.

Thank you
MPS

Posts: 46 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 06, 2004 Posts: 46

One minor correction. Vonage should also have port 5061. All vonage ports are UDP only.

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Oct 21, 2004 Posts: 2

Using the ports that netgear support has on their support web site, I'm able to get MSN and Vonage working together without a glitch for the last two days. If there are porblems I will get back on here and scream for help again.

The ports that Netgear has was

MSN 6901, 6801-6900.
Vonage 5060-5070, 123, 69, 10000-20000, So as Las_vegas has mentioned it probably is the port 5061, but why take chances. I cannot have a customer call disconencted in the middle.

Also, on the Netgear router WGR614, there is only port forwarding no way of including UDP/TCP so I assume that both protocols are forwarded by default.

Meanwhile, I haven;t heard about the fax line. Any one any clues.

Thank you
MPS

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 2

My brother is having a similar problem, but not quite the same. We tend to have conversations over MSN Messenger, but since he got Vonage it seems to block the connection. It just sits there trying to connect, but never does. I had him forward his ports, as you've suggested, but it still doesn't seem to work. He tried turning the NAT off, but then he couldn't connect to MSN Messenger at all. He's not have a problem getting the vonage phone to work at all. Any suggestions?

~Meltedwing

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 2

bump

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Sep 14, 2005 Posts: 3

Long time/First time. Been on Vonage for two weeks and this forum was very helpful during that period. My setup is working perfectly now, so I wanted to post for others searching on the same problems I encountered.

My setup was:
Comcast RCA Cable Modem --> Linksys 8-port BEFSR81 router
-From the router I have three PCs and Vonage RTP300 -- no PCs running through the Vonage adapter.

From the beginning, my Vonage service worked perfectly. I forwarded the recommended ports in the router to the Vonage adapter IP and I was amazed by the call quality. But from the first moment my Internet connection suffered whether the phone was in use or not.

I kept losing connections to:
MSN Messenger
Emule
Bloomberg Professional
MS Remote Desktop/Terminal Server
PokerStars
PartyPoker
Gaming apps
PODS Messenger

Never once did I lose a Vonage call or see a distruption in service.

After 48 hours I contacted Comcast. They looked at my "profile" and confirmed that my connection dropped HUNDREDS of times during that period. They recommended separating my Modem, Router, and Vonage adapter by three feet each to avoid RF interference (I had them stacked). This helped but didn't solve the problem. I also inquired about a new modem since I read posts here that the RCA modem did not work well with Vonage (mine was 6-7 years old) ---they said no problem and would even send out a tech to replace it free if necessary. Of course you must be leasing modem for $3/month.

So after a couple more days of perfect Vonage & imperfect Internet, I picked up a no-name but brand new router from my local Seattle comcast office (94th & Aurora Ave N). After 24 hours I have not dropped once and my connection speed went from 3.7m down/230k up to 5.4 down/380 up. And the Vonage call quality is even better!

Ditch the old RCA modem

Posts: 132 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Aug 16, 2005 Posts: 132

I use MSN Messenger with video conferencing and file transfer quite often, successfully (knock on wood).

My Setup: Cable Modem -> RTP300 (no PCs, juts 1 phone line) -> Wireless router wired PCs and wireless laptops.

I did not change any configs on RTP300 (just pswd). I am not forwarding any ports, no static IPs, etc. Yes, I do have double NATs, firewalls, DHCPs, etc., but hey it works and I don't notice any significant degredation.

Web OK, Vonage OK, services like MSN Messenger ok. Tested with all on at same time.

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject:

Sames here...never touched a thing with MSN or Yahoo..there is a new version just in case.
And please Vonager, shut off the webcam...No one needs to see you in your fuzzy bunny slippers and pajamas. Pray

Posts: 132 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Aug 16, 2005 Posts: 132

Trowski, how did you guesss? That's my Texas Hold'em oufit!

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 4:43 pm Post subject:

The secret is out! Twisted Evil