New Customer...NO DIAL TONE..no service

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 10

Bear with me guys...i'm a newbie Vonage customer...just got my LInksys RT31P2 today, Feb. 16th, 2005.

I'm a little teed off...i've been at this for 6 hours straight...and I can't get my Linksys thing to work. I'm going to describe my problem in detail.

Here's my setup...I have ONE computer, using Cox Cable Cable Modem. I hooked up the Cable Modem to the "Internet" port of the Linksys. I hooked up my GE 900mhz cordless phone through a regular phone line to PHONE 1 on the Linksys. Finally, I connected my computer's Realtek Ethernet Card (which was working fine before) to Ethernet port 1.

I dual boot this computer (Windows 2000 / Mandrake Linux 10.1 official). To make things easier, I decided to run the software (booted into WIndows 2000). First step, it wanted to detect my DIRECT INTERNET CONNECTION (Linksys not connected yet). It found my connection, and then showed a diagram on how to plug the devices to the Linksys, finally, I connected the POWER of the Linksys last...

Here's where things got hairy. The Windows CD-ROM setup claimed it could not find my Router, and asked me to reset it for 10 seconds (I did the reset on the back of the Linksys, as asked). After doing so, I tried the setup again....same problem, no detected Router.

Weird enough...when I ran Mozilla Firefox (on Windows 2000), the Internet was working fine. I visited 3 or 4 different pages, and the Internet Connection was working fine, through the Ethernet cord connected to the Router. So it SEEMS like the Internet part of the Linksys is working...i'm now getting an Internet feed from the Router, and NOT directly from the Cable modem. So...the Internet sharing part of the Router's functions SEEM to be working.

To test the capabilities outside Windows, I restarted the computer, booted Mandrake Linux, and tested Internet. The Internet was recognized by Mandrake...and I'm now typing this email from within Mozilla Firefox on Mandrake Linux (so the router is properly feeding an Internet connection to both Windows 2000 and Mandrake Linux).

The phone has no dial tone...I've tried TWO different phone cords, and both produce no dial tone. On the Linksys router, the phone lights are OFF...no recognition of my GE 900mhz cordless phone. I suspect that the Router is having problems recognizing the phone...I don't know if my GE 900 Cordless phone is set to "tone dialing" or pulse dialing...and sadly, the GE site's "owner's manual" Adobe PDF file for my device is offline...I have no idea if the problem is that my phone is set to pulse dialing or tone dialing. I think it's tone...because the device is modern.

I've about given up on this issue, as I have been working for 6 hours on this phone..nonstop. Now I ask...

What did I do wrong...why am I not getting a dial tone...did I make an error in the Windows setup (when it said it couldn't find the Router...but the Intenet was working anyway)?

If I could have a Vonage Representative post on this forum to help me, I will PM all of my account info, username/password, and MAC address on the bank of the Linksys. Is the problem outdated firmware?

Thank you for your help in advance...and please...I would appreciate the fastest help possible...I'm desperately in need of phone service (I've been relying on email and Instant Messanging for the last 2 weeks). Thank you!

agueybana

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:00 pm Post subject:

well, it has nothing to do with your phone (yet). you don't need a cd or whatever or windows to detect anything besides your network card. this stuff is really plug-n-play.
now, there does seem to be a problem connecting to Vonage as evidenced by non-lit phone lights. at the least, 1 should be solidly lit. do this command:
tftp tftp.vonage.net get test
make sure that works. also, if you log into the router at http://192.168.15.1 check what you have under Status.
if you ever see the power light blinking, it's doing a firmware update so don't mess with it. someone had a similar problem earlier just this afternoon (ah, search)
http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic3394.html

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 10

More information based on what you said,

I'm still in Mandrake Linux...the Linksys POWER light IS flashing...so I assume it is doing a firmware update. I will not "mess' with it, as you stated. How long should the firmware update go on...and can I use the Internet while the firmware "flashing" is undergoing?

Two, were should I input the "tftp" command? I assumed it was in a command promp (i went to Gnome Terminal to access the Linux command prompt.)

If you could give me more of those details, I would appreciate it...and thank you for helping me so fast! Lol

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 10

the POWER light has been flashing since 6 hours ago...based on what I read on the other thread...it's possible that I interrupted a prior firmware update because I've unplugged the router several times...and pressed the reset buttons several times before...but...how was i supposed to know that? None of the manuals mentioned anything about automatic Vonage firmware updates...or anything of that sort.

Anyway...I'm not touching the Router, as requested.

Right now...the POWER light is flashing...my Ethernet and Internet lights are flashing EXACTLY the same at the same time...

That's my status as i see it...oh...and I can't connect to http://192.168.15.1

It just seems to hang there...and doesn't go through, nor ask me for admin password or anything like that....

Posts: 482 · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject:

After six hours, there's no way it will come back on its own. If you've read other threads here, you know other people have had trouble getting firmware updates with their PCs plugged into the router.

Unplug the router and disconnect the LAN ports. Unplug your cable modem and wait 30 seconds. Plug the cable modem back in and wait for the dust to settle. Once it's connected, plug in the Vonage router and give it a few minutes to synchronize services. Come back and check the status lights and if everything looks normal, plug your PCs back in and release/renew.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 10

ok...will attempt to follow your instructions...will disconnect everything off the Router except the Ethernet cord from the Cable Modem to the "Internet" slot of the router...and we'll see what happens...be back in 5 minutes

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 10

I'm back...I'm accessing the Internet through the Cable Modem DIRECTLY connected to my Ethernet card.

After trying the above tactic (unplugging all connections from the PC and Telephone from the Router...and leaving the Cable Modem connected to the "internet" port of the Router), I unplugged the Router, and unplugged the Cable modem. Waited 30 seconds, plugged Cable Modem, waited a minute, plugged Router in...waited over 15 minutes...the Power light keeps flashing...no stopping on that.

after 15 minutes, I replugged in all the cables to the adapter...but was getting no Internet feed now from my Router. I turned off Cable Modem and Computer again...directly connected the Cable Modem to my Ethernet card, and now I'm (it seems) a step behind where I was before. Now the Router is not sending Internet through it...and the POWER LIGHT never stopped flashing.

I don't know what the hell is wrong with my router. I'm wondering if I should request an alternative router from Vonage, rather than Linksys...

Any of the Vonage pros care to check out my Router online? I have the MAC address, account number, and all other details. Also...I cannot access http://192.168.15.1...is that evidence of anything? Sounds to me like the router is defective...if it can't reach itself at that address.

Posts: 482 · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:30 pm Post subject:

You're not a step behind, unless you were content with just surfing the net and not having a phone. Your router was hung and the next time you reset it, it was either going to work or not.

The only other idea I have is holding in the reset button for like 20 seconds. On most Linksys devices, that does a factory reset and it might get it working again. But if the firmware is hosed, it won't help.

Assuming you bought it from Vonage, you will probably need Vonage to send you another box. You probably did power it off during a firmware upgrade and it's hosed. I don't really think that's your fault for not knowing about it. Once you get through to them, I actually think Vonage's customer service is pretty good. I asked them to send my replacement overnight instead of the standard 7-10 days and they instantly said yes. If you bought it somewhere else, just go exchange it.

Sorry man...good luck. Maybe someone else has another idea.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 10

I'm guessing that you may be right...it certainly would fit with what occured here today (during my turning off and on of the router during the day).

If one of the pros (Vonage Representatives) could address this question, I would appreciate it. If they recommend I request another box, I'll call Vonage and ask for another Router, and that they send it overnight, instead of 7-10 days.

By the way...is there alternative Routers to the Linksys RT31P2? Any ones that are better or have had better responses? I'd rather not have to try another Linksys, if I can...

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2005 8:56 pm Post subject:

Vonage sends the RT31P2, there are no other choices.