WRT54GP2 frequent dropped calls and internet outages

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

1. Guilderland, NY 12303
2. Time Warner Cable RR
3. Upload speed: 0.96 Mb/s, download speed: 15.25Mb/s
4. Modem: Toshiba PCX2600
5. Vonage adapter: WRT54GP2, firmware 1.30.01
6. Setup of Network: Modem---->Vonage Adapter-->PC
7. Issues experienced: frequently dropped calls, loss of internet connectivity (both wired and wireless)
8. The Vonage Voip test would not work, so I went to http://myspeed.visualware.com/voip/ and here were the results:
26.8ms average jitter, 7.6% packet loss, I did a 2nd test a minute after the first and it came back with 5.5ms average jitter, 0.5% packet loss

I have been a Vonage customer since January 2005.

Due to the frequent dropped calls, I recently took these steps (to no avail):
1. disconnected all hardwired phone jacks from the terminal, except for the one I use for Vonage.
2. Got rid of the 2.4Ghz wireless phones and purchased DECT 6.0 wireless phones (to avoid interfering with wireless internet signal)

Neither solved the problems.

I've had the WRT54GP2 router ever since I started with Vonage.

My wife curses at Vonage every time a phone call is dropped, which is happening nearly every call.

I'm looking for help /recommendations troubleshooting my issues. Thanks.

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

Your packet loss is very high on that first test. Try repeating the test a few times and see if you get intermittent high losses. If you do, remove the Vonage device and do the same thing with your computer plugged directly into your modem. If you get the same results, the issue is with your internet service. If you only have the problem when the Vonage device is in service, then the problem is with your Vonage device.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

Three more Voip tests w/vonage adapter still connected:

1. 4.1ms average jitter, 0.0% packet loss
2. 4.7ms average jitter, 0.4% packet loss
3. 4.4ms average jitter, 0.8% packet loss

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

Have you had any dropped calls during that time?

These intermittent problems are always the hardest to run down. My suspicion is an internet service problem, but you have to catch it when the issues are occurring.

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

So, when I experience a call drop, run the Voip test and post the results?

I can't get the Vonage Voip test to run correctly. The Java screen starts and then says "error" in the upper left of the screen. Do you hava a link for the Vonage Voip test that works?

Posts: 34 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 14, 2005 Posts: 34

After reading up on the WRT54GP2 on other forums, it appears the phone adapter electronics picks up digital noise from the router being that they are all on the same circuit board. This may be what is causing my issues...phone and internet randonly drop connections.

I am considering moving to a seperate Vonage adapter & wireless router. This will enable me to upgrade the wireless to "N", too. How do I go about obtaining a new Vonage adapter?

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

Vonage can sell you another adapter. They can also be bought at retail. Just make sure that the box is specifically marked as being for Vonage. Also, don't buy one used. There's no guarantee that Vonage will activate it.

Do your internet outages occur only when you're on the phone, or do they occur at other times as well? If they get bad for awhile, you'll want to remove the Vonage adapter while the internet is bad and see if that fixes the problem.