Degradation in service / DSL / Chicago area

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 8

I've been a Vonage customer since January. I am generally satisfied - call quality has been acceptable. The last couple of weeks I noticed problems. When calls come in they will ring only once or not at all and bounce to voicemail. When dialing calls are not completed. And the usual complaint of calls going bad in the middle of a call.

I have AT&T/SBC/Yahoo DSL (Downstream 1.5M Upstream 384k). I have made no changes to hardware or software that I am aware of. Checked for malware and errant processes that could suck up bandwidth. I have a VTech broadband phone (great phones). I have 2 computers hooked up but use only one or none when making calls. I use Simulring and have the highest setting on Broadband saver.

Ping plotter reading is about 60 with occasional readings in the 100-200 range, while the Vonage broadband test varies, it seems that the roundtrip is good but the max pause is high sometimes 1000ms.

Just wanted to see if I am a isolated case or there is something else going on. I ordered the booster people have suggested on this forum and will see if that helps.

Thanks in advance.

Posts: 208 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 11:11 am Post subject:

I would suggest first temporarily removing the phone adapter to connect directly to your DSL modem.

This way, if that max pause is still like that without the Vonage in the network, then, you know it's related to your ISP and not Vonage.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: May 04, 2007 Posts: 8

Well, the UPS man came with my Hawking Booster. $39.95 at newegg.com with $10.00 mail-in rebate and free shipping. I promptly installed it and MY PROBLEMS ARE GONE. Vonage should promote and sell or bundle this product with their service. Amazing difference in quality .

Thanks to noct for the post. I still will do some further tests on my DSL speed.