Is one adapter better than another?

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

I have 2 Linksys PAP2's, both of which are the first versions of this model. I base this assumption on the fact that both say PAP2 without a version 1 or 1.1 after the model number, and that both make me use the Interactive Voice Menu to access the configuration instead of allowing me to use the Browser based configuration menu.

I'm having ringing problems on the adapter on which I am using 2 lines. The phone on line 2 (and this is the 2nd phone I've had on that line) has a weak-intermittent ring. I've read up on REN (all my phones say they have a REN of 0.1b) and looked at suggestions of a ring booster, but I wonder if getting a newer or better adapter might help.

My setup...
Charter 10 meg internet
Motorola Surboard 5100
Linksys OGV200 Network Optimizer
Linksys WRT300N wireless router
Trendnet 16 port switch (Overkill, I know)
4 wired pc's
1 wireless pc

I have both PAP2's and the switch running into the wireless router. Everything else is plugged into the switch.

Call quality is ok, but the ringing problem is bugging me, plus I'm the type that seems to always be tinkering, wondering if "Maybe I can make this work a little better, or faster.....!).

I actually have a Linksys RTP something in the closet that I used for a while as my 2 phone adapter, but the RTP is a router also, and even when I disabled DHCP trying to just use it as a dumb adapter, I kept getting network issues that I decided were related to the DHCP server in that adapter causing problems even after I disabled it.

So my question is this. I think I have a middle of the road setup in terms of complexity-pretty loaded down home network, 3 Voip lines, etc. Would I benefit from getting rid of my PAP2's and going with another adapter?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated! I have to say, I'm finding these forums VERY useful. I'm moving into a new house in a week. It's a new house with CAT5 phone wiring, and I can't wait to try the home wiring and installation guide posted on here. Right now, I've got both my adapters sitting right by my router and am looking forward to getting all my jacks active!

Darrell

Posts: 323 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jan 29, 2006 Posts: 323

Darrell,

Personally, I think the PAP2 is a decent device.

I have a PAP2 v2 and a RT31P2 (only as phone device) in my setup today and they both work well.

For what its worth the newer PAP2 should say on the box PAP2 v2.0

You mention that you have tried 2 phones on the one line that has been causing a problem. Have you swapped it with a phone that is ringing fine in the other phone port, or just an empty phone?

If you have tried it with a working (meaning ringing properly) phone, then maybe that port on the adapter is going south. I haven't heard of this happening where it only impacts the ring, but I suppose it is possible.

If you are only using 3 lines you could consider moving the line that is an issue to the open port on the other PAP2 to see if that fixes the issue. This would help to eliminate the port being the problem.

If you want to get another Voip device I would stick with a PAP2 if you can get one. Seems to be harder to get anything these days other than the V-Portal.

Hope this helps.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Darrell, for what it's worth, the complexity or simplicity of your network should have no effect on the ringing problem that you're having. That should be determined completely by the adapter, the phones you're using, and whether or not you're using home wiring.

There are adjustments that only Vonage tech support can make to the ring voltage in the adapter. (At least they can with some, and that probably includes the PAP2.) If tech support can't help, and if the phones and any home wiring are OK, then changing the adapter should help.

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

I tried Butterman's suggestions and here's what I've found. The ringing problem occurs in the Phone 2 slot. If I unplug the other phone out of the Phone 1 slot and leave the problem phone in Phone 2 the problem persists (thereby eliminating it as an REN problem). If I put the problem phone from the Phone 2 slot into the Phone 1 slot, it rings and operates correctly. If I put the good phone in the Phone 2 slot, IT then rings imtermittently. So obviously, it is a problem with the Phone 2 slot in the adapter. Now I've just got to figure out how to proceed. I purchased this particular PAP2 from Sam
's club, so I'll try to see if Linksys will help me out. Thanks for the suggestions.

Darrell

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

Steve48,

Do you think it's worth a try to call Vonage about it?

D

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

Absolutely. When I first started with Vonage, my RTP300 wouldn't ring the phone at all. A call to tech support got it fixed right away. It turned out that the RTP300s all had problems in this area that were eventually fixed by a firmware upgrade.

Since your PAP2 is old, it may, as Butterman said, be going south. But a call to tech support should be worth the effort.

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

I bit the bullet and called and explained the problem to Vonage. Although I got a female tech in the Phillipines, she immediately fixed my problem. I'm not sure exactly what she did, but I have now a good ring and good Caller ID on all lines. Thanks for everyone's suggestions!

Darrell

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

That's great. Tech support isn't always the total loss that people think it is.