Call Waiting Caller ID

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 07, 2008 Posts: 21

Can you get caller ID with call waiting? It worked with my land line.

Posts: 293 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 293

It's a standard feature. Although it only works on half my phones

"At Vonage, Call Waiting isn't just a "beep" during your call. Combined with Caller ID with Name, you can decide if you should put your call on hold and answer it."

http://www.vonage.com/features.php?feature=call_waiting

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 07, 2008 Posts: 21

I get the beep, but no name or number information. One of my phones doesn't even give me caller ID anymore...........

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject:

1. What Vonage adapter are you using? If it's a WRTP54G or RTP300, what is the firmware version? (older firmwares on those units had a lot of trouble with CallerID and upgrading the firmware sometimes required a little attention - but if that's the case several of us here can help with that)

2. Are you using your home wiring? Sometimes noise on home wiring can interfere with the CallerID signal - try plugging a phone straight into the Vonage adapter and test CallerID that way. Also, plug a phone into your home wiring WITHOUT the Vonage adapter connected to it - if you hear anything at all then you still have Telco signal on that line and you're lucky the Vonage adapter didn't fry - see the home wiring threads before plugging it in again.

3. "One of my phones"... how many phones do you have connected to your Vonage adapter? What is the REN (Ringer Equivalent Number - a number stamped on each phone) of each? Vonage can handle a maximum of (if I recall correctly) about 5.0 REN (the sum of all of the RENs of all of your phones), more than that and the signal starts getting lost in the noise. Add in some home wiring, and you'll never get near 5.0.

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 07, 2008 Posts: 21

1. What Vonage adapter are you using? If it's a WRTP54G or RTP300, what is the firmware version? (older firmwares on those units had a lot of trouble with CallerID and upgrading the firmware sometimes required a little attention - but if that's the case several of us here can help with that)

I have a Vonage VDV21-VD. The firmware os 2.7.5_0.2.10

2. Are you using your home wiring? Sometimes noise on home wiring can interfere with the CallerID signal - try plugging a phone straight into the Vonage adapter and test CallerID that way. Also, plug a phone into your home wiring WITHOUT the Vonage adapter connected to it - if you hear anything at all then you still have Telco signal on that line and you're lucky the Vonage adapter didn't fry - see the home wiring threads before plugging it in again.

I am using my home wiring, but I had a tech out to install the phones to the jacks and to 'kill' the land line. The main phone is a P anasonic cordless phone/answering machine. The tech had a splitter out of the phone to the vonage device. I move it from the vonage device to the wall jack. I am not sure if that has made a difference, because I haven't been home much since that change, so I haven't been able to test it. It may have resloved the issue, because I know it resolved the answering machine remote access issue I was having.

3. "One of my phones"... how many phones do you have connected to your Vonage adapter? What is the REN (Ringer Equivalent Number - a number stamped on each phone) of each? Vonage can handle a maximum of (if I recall correctly) about 5.0 REN (the sum of all of the RENs of all of your phones), more than that and the signal starts getting lost in the noise. Add in some home wiring, and you'll never get near 5.0.

I have one phone 'attached' through the adapter, and two phones connected into the phone jacks in other rooma. I did transfer my original number to my Vonage line. I hope I have answered all your questions? Confused

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Posts: 2257 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject:

Sorry, that wasn't meant as an interrogation, just an attempt to narrow down some possible issues. There are so many things that can possibly go wrong with CallerID, it's tough to narrow it down.

CallerID is a high-pitched signal that is sent over the phone line between the first and second rings. Phones should pick up the signal and display the transmitted information. However, if there is any kind of interference or noise, the sound may be unintelligible to one or more phones.

It sounds like, if you were having an answering machine remote issue, you may possibly have some level of noise in your home wiring. Vonage devices don't send out the CallerID signal as loudly as your telephone company does, so CallerID on Vonage can, in some cases, be a little more sensitive to noise.

Just to isolate that, I'd plug only the Panasonic directly into the Vonage adapter and test CallerID, without the home wiring in the picture. If it works that way, then home wiring may be the problem, or one of your other phones may be introducing interference (again, the telco may have sent a strong enough signal to cut through the interference). Hook the home wiring back in and unplug each phone, one at a time, in turn and re-test the CallerID. If it suddenly works after unplugging a phone, you've got your culprit.

If not, then it may be the wiring itself. Vonage may be able to increase the signal strength on the CallerID - I don't know the specifics of your device but I know that many moons ago they resolved a lot of issues with WRTP54Gs on home wiring by making some power and signaling adjustments, which can be done remotely. I presume they can do the same with your unit but I don't know.

If you still have CallerID woes with just the Panasonic, and the Panasonic worked on your old landline, then a call to Vonage is in order. Panasonic makes good phones, so it's unlikely that it failed just as you went to Vonage, but if you have another CallerID capable phone I'd plug that directly into the Vonage adapter as an extra test.

I don't know the latest firmware on the VDV21 units, but someone else might. I've never heard of those having firmware upgrade problems, though.

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 07, 2008 Posts: 21

Thanks - you obviously were or are a tech?

I am pretty savvy with PC issues, but not so good on the phone side. I get the beep, and in the past, the one main Panasonic phone was the only one that had call waiting caller ID. The others would beep but not show the info.

It's amazing really 5-10 years ago, who would have thought it was possible to get caller ID with call waiting - now, living without it is causing me stress. Who wants to pick up the wrong call............

I appreciate your thouroughness and your help Nate Very Happy

I will let you know if it works with the wiring tweak, I am working long hours the next few days so I won't be home to test it out again until Sat.

Alison

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject:

Am not, never was a tech. I'd probably qualify for one if I could stand the pay cut, though it pays better than volunteering on this site. (grin)

I've just been helping a lot of people over a couple of years on this site, and learned a lot along the way from some good people. So I've been well compensated for my time here, at least in terms of self-improvement.

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 07, 2008 Posts: 21

Well, I amsure that your expertise is appreciated by many!

Posts: 21 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 07, 2008 Posts: 21

Ok - so here is the latest update.

This all seems to somehow relate to the splitter which the installation tech supplied. (It says it is a 2-Wire wall splitter)

If I have the splitter coming out of the Phone to the vonage device and the wall, the remote operation for the Answering machine doesn't work.

If I move the splitter to the wall Jack, then I have no call waitng and the person calling gets a busy signal. But I can remotely access the answering machine Smile

I tried to use an ATT DSL splitter that I had in the house, then the other two phone (extensions) didn't have dial tones.

Sorry if this is complicated, I am trying to give all the information and fix the bugs! Exclamation