Echo and voicemail problems driving me nuts

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 31, 2008 Posts: 13

When I first had Vonage I never had any problems but it seems they've gotten progressively worse. I guess the lawsuits have made a dent in their pocket and they can't maintain their infrastructure as wel. Maybe thats why they're hitting us up for pre-paid service.

Seems everytime I talk or at least 50% I can hear myself speak, like I'm talking into a canyon. I hear my words repeated. Very annoying. I love how their advice is to change just about everything on my end. Bull! My equipment is fine.

Not only that, seems 50% of my incoming calls ring once then go straight to my Vonage voicemail. I have a phone with digital voicemail but I want the ability to pick up messages from anywhere as I use my phone for business.

I use Comcast cable internet and get a steady 3-5 mbs service so thats good. Using a Linksys RT31P2 router. Any suggestions?

Posts: 99 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Dec 25, 2007 Posts: 99

Post the information as for in the sticky listed at the top of the forum.

here is the link to the test....post your results.

http://www.vonage-forum.com/voip-speed-test.html

PSJ aka Marc

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Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 31, 2008 Posts: 13

Posts: 99 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Dec 25, 2007 Posts: 99

post the info from the advanced tab.

run test....then....

click on " advanced "....wait for it to show....then click on the " view text " in the lower right hand corner.

also post your set up, with model numbers.

cable modem...adapter....router....phone system

cable modem....router....adapter....phone system

PSJ aka Marc

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Posts: 830 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Jun 08, 2007 Posts: 830

A couple of recomendations.

Set you bandwidth saver to the lowest, and make sure your phone is not set too loud (the echo can be, not necessarily related to that)

Posts: 185 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Dec 18, 2005 Posts: 185

The most common cause of analog echo, is the mic on the other end, ie "am I on speakerphone, I'm getting an echo." You'll know this because it is much softer than your own voice. If it is a Digital echo, it will be as loud or louder than your voice in the earpiece, which is then a problem on your end.

FYI: you can access your voicemail from anywhere using a local access number http://www.vonage.com/features.php?feature=v_access or dial your own number and wait for vm to pick up, and hit # or * I forget which, and it will then ask for your pin.

Posts: 1179 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1179

sgl1 wrote:

I use Comcast cable internet and get a steady 3-5 mbs service so thats good. Using a Linksys RT31P2 router. Any suggestions?

I presume that you also use the internet quite a bit while on the phone or even when the phone is not on. i sure hope that your original post stating that you use the rt31p2 does not mean that it is your primary router as well. many here have found Vonage adapters to be poor quality routers. if you are using rt31p2 as your primary router, it might be time to get a new higher quality router and use that instead. this could help with your call quality.

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 31, 2008 Posts: 13

Yes, the RT31P2 is my only router as well.

Posts: 1179 · Member of the Week Joined: Feb 28, 2005 Posts: 1179

I am in a similar boat as you although I already have a wrt54g which is supposedly a more robust router. i just don't use Vonage enough to justify switching it with the rt31p2 but the day will come soon i'm sure.

i'd encourage you to do the same though i cannot guarantee that it will remove your echo issue or voicemail issue. it seems like some of it has to be related to bandwidth issues. if you are maxing out your upload bandwidth, then your Vonage adapter cannot get to the server to pick up the signal etc.

just note that I say upload. the speeds of 3-5 mbits you mention is for download which is typical of most cable internet services. but what is important is the upload since that is usually limited to either 256 or thereabouts.

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 31, 2008 Posts: 13

I don't think it's the router. It's Vonage's crappy service. Earlier I tried to call and receive calls and they couldn't even hear me. I've about had it and if I have to pay more for another service it'll be worth it just to have a damn phone service that works.