Vonage won't work

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 8

I can't make a phone call or receive one. Upon a fresh hard boot, I can make or receive one call. After that I get busy dial tone if I try to call from the service.

I've been on Linksys website trying to check the router. But unable to enter utility page. Talked with 3 reps and no one can help me. Tried calling Vonage but hold time too long.

I think I've followed all of the instructions in manual for troublshooting.

I've disabled firewalls (xp and zone alarm), set ie to low security, manually set ip.

I have a rt31p2 router and a westell dsl modem. Connecting through Verizon. Internet is fine. Can make phone calls through land line. When trying to make Vonage work, I disconnect my land line.

Somebody tell me where I can go for help!!!

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 8:33 am Post subject:

when you plug in the rt31p2, do you notice the power light flashing? if so, leave it alone until it stops. if it basically never stops. try unplugging it and unplugging any phone lines connected to it, and plug it in again. if it continues to flash the power light, your device may be fried.
if this doesn't seem to be your problem, what happens to your phone light? does it come on and then turn back off after that one call? what do you have for a firmware version (upper right) and for Line1 and 2 under Status at http://192.168.15.1 (password admin)

Posts: 215 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Nov 24, 2004 Posts: 215

You MUST put your westell modem in BRIDGE mode and set up PPPoE via the LINKSYS router and it will work!

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 8

jdr,
I don't know how to put the modem into bridge mode. The modem doesn't show up in Device Manager nor in Network Connections. Is that normal???

Most importantly, I cannot connect to the router's utility page. When typing in the address I get a blank page. I can go anywhere on the net. I can ping the utility page. I can't get to the set up page.

I am unaware of having to do pppoe. Nothing in Verizon docs suggest this. The install of the modem was uneventful via the cd sent by them. Does it matter that I'm in Southern California?[/quote]

Posts: 196 · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:22 am Post subject:

ilink4gray wrote:

I am unaware of having to do pppoe. Nothing in Verizon docs suggest this. The install of the modem was uneventful via the cd sent by them. Does it matter that I'm in Southern California?

Here is an excellent FAQ on setting up a Westell Modem for bridging and a Linksys router to work with it. Hope this helps:

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/9687

The majority of Bell DSL providers use PPPoE to set up a virtual connection over their network. For the standard user, this is done by the Westell modem. The Westell is actually a router of sorts itself. When you set the modem to be "Bridged," it passes the data stream over to your router and the router must use PPPoE to log you in.

The attached FAQ link helps you do that.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 8

Kenn10,
Thanks but Verizon is not Bell South. My Westell modem is not covered by the faq on the link. My model number is A90-210015-04 and the faq covers A90-210030-04.

I contacted Verizon. The tech was clueless. He had no idea what Bridged Ethernet was. He said the modem didn't have any settings that could be changed. If you go to the westell website and then to my model, it says that all support is through the isp.

Help, please.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 8

According to the following post, there is no interface for my modem. And, it is already in bridge mode. The poster calls my version a "crippled" modem for Verizon.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9593727

I don't mind if the modem is crippled or not. All I want to do is get Vonage to work. Can anyone help? Does anyone out there have my set up?

Verizon ISP
Westell DSL modem A90-210015-04
RT31PS Linksys router

If you do does it work?????

Posts: 2252 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:45 am Post subject:

[ADMIN BUMP]

Posts: 196 · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:05 am Post subject:

ilink4gray wrote:

According to the following post, there is no interface for my modem. And, it is already in bridge mode. The poster calls my version a "crippled" modem for Verizon.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,9593727

I don't mind if the modem is crippled or not. All I want to do is get Vonage to work. Can anyone help? Does anyone out there have my set up?

Verizon ISP
Westell DSL modem A90-210015-04
RT31PS Linksys router

If you do does it work?????

According to that DSL Reports posting, that tells us that you need to set up the Vonage device for PPPoE and have it log you into your Verizon account. Currently, you must have WinPoet or some similar software provided by Verizon which runs on your PC and logs you in. The Vonage RT31P2 can do that function so that you can remove it from the PC.

Instructions for doing this come with your Vonage router. But you must deinstall the Verizon client running on your PC.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 08, 2005 Posts: 8

kenn10,

I've just confirmed with Verizon that on the WEST COAST the connection is DHCP. So, doing the pppoe thing will not work.

I've tried again to get through to tech support. After 45+ minutes on hold I get disconnected. I am running out of patience. I'm paying for a service that isn't working, hasn't worked and I can't get help from them.

DSL Reports is predominately east coast people. Their advice doesn't apply. Who can help????[/list]