RT31P2 - No Dial Tone

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 26, 2005 Posts: 4

I installed a new RT31P2 router. Used the documented installation. In order to get Internet activity, it appear that I need to go to the MAC Address Clone page in the setup for the router and Clone the MAC Address of the PC (or cable modem?). I think this was because COMCAST required a MAC and I had them setup a single PC with just the modem. They must have assigned the modem (or PC) a MAC id.

My concern is that I do not get a dial tone. I setup my Vonage acct using the MAC id that was on the RT31P2. I am guessing that the reason I don't have a dial tone is that Vonage can't see my router since I cloned a different MAC id.

Does that make sense to anyone? How do I go about changing the MAC id at Vonage if that is the case. I talked to three different guys at Vonage a couple of days ago and they would each go through all of the prescribed steps and then hang up on me when they couldn't figure out my problem. I have also sent several emails (including one detailing my thoughts above) and had not received a single reply. I finally found this forum. Yippee - hopefully my problem can get solved here.

Cliff

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:08 am Post subject:

if you did need to mac clone, it would be the mac id of the network card in your computer. you can find it by going to a command prompt and typing ipconfig /all
this will bring up a bunch of stuff, including "Physical Address" (mac) which should be the mac of your network card. but it sounds like you did it correctly if you didn't have internet access before you did it, and did have internet access after you did it. this also won't affect your Vonage service.
what do you mean you set up your account using the mac on the rt31p2? did you buy it retail or did Vonage send it? if Vonage sent it and you went to the online activation site anyway, you may have messed things up where they will need to go in and fix it. if Vonage sends it, you shouldn't use vonage.com/activate

if you didn't use vonage.com/activate, and it still doesn't work, what are the phone lights on the front doing? how about the power light? if you go to http://192.168.15.1 (username can be anything or blank, password is admin) and click Status, what do you have for Line1 and Line2?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 26, 2005 Posts: 4

I purchased the router retail so yes I did use voange.com/activate. The status of the two phone ports are offline. Any ideas why I wouldn't have dial tone or why the lights wouldn't be on for the phone ports? The phone port lights flash on 3 times before the router settles down and they are out for good.

The internet light blinks on as well as the ethernet port being used. The power light is also on. Just no phone port light.

Cliff

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:43 am Post subject:

interesting. I'm not familiar with online activation, but I assume it says "congrats you're activated" or something to that effect. did you get that? I recall reading something about, the cashier is supposed to do...something when a person buys a Vonage device so that Vonage knows it was bought. but if you've talked to customer care they should have checked that out. if you can, go to that status page and keep refreshing real quick when the phone lights light up. it should give some inidication of what is going on. some people have had success using the cd to set it up (it shouldn't make a difference but who knows)
I would also try a good reset by powering down the cable modem and the rt31p2 for a few, then turning on the cable modem, then doing this with the rt31p2:
unplug power, unplug phone cords, push and hold reset button, plug power back in while holding reset button, keep holding reset button for 15 seconds after powering back on. keep an eye on the power light, and don't plug the phones back in (or power the box off) until it stops blinking.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 26, 2005 Posts: 4

Well I went through the reset process (AGAIN!) and it didn't make a difference with the phone ports. When I tried to look at the phone port status while the router was booting, it just said that Router was resetting (thus no status). If eventually came up and said Offline again.

But it is interesting that I didn't have to do the MAC Clone to get my IP. I appear to have the internet without doing that step. I see on the status screen that my router's MAC is listed rather than the cloned MAC that I was using. Sure wish that would have done the job. Anyone have ANY IDEAS??? Thanks in advance.

Cliff

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 26, 2005 Posts: 4

It was MY problem! Evidently I transposed two digits in my MAC address when I signed up for my phone service. Rep fixed it and I am now in Voip heaven. Thanks for the help!!

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 25, 2005 Posts: 19

thanks for the tip, reebok... i've started a new thread with my problem.

-brad

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:23 pm Post subject:

should probably start a new thread. these get bogged down sometimes with similar problems but different reasons and solutions.