QoS NOT Working on my RT31P2-VD

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 7

Greetings all:

I Just got Vonage a couple of weeks ago, and installed it at home replacing my old router, its a basic setup, DSL Router connected to the RT31P2-VD and both my home computer hooked up to the router. I installed the phone and it works fine, so no problems with the setup. My DSL connection its 385/128 Kbps

I usually download lots of files via bittorrent, my phone problem occurs when i'm downloading stuff, everytime i try to use the phone while i'm downloading files with bittorrent the phone conversation start to get choppy and its impossible to talk on the phone. I am aware this router comes with QoS that its supposed to see that the phone service gets the bandwidth it needs to work properly, this its not the case here.

I got into the router and checked the QoS Settings. i see the config in Voice QoS: only for "QoS Upstream Rate" and its set at 200 kbps. Where its QoS for downstream? my bittorrent usually downloads at full speed 39-38kb/sec, I suspect this its where the problem its since i have BT upload speed capped at 5 kb/seg via bittorrent.

I sent a long email like this one to Vonage tech support like 2 weeks ago, but only got an automated response and never got a reply from vonage tech support.

Anybody here able to help me out? it kinda annoying having to pause my bittorrent dowloads everytime someone wants to use the phone.

Thanks in Advance

Posts: 482 · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:28 am Post subject:

The QoS in the RT31P2 is really lame. There's been much debate of the algorithm at work in the RT31P2, but truthfully no one knows exactly how it works, including Vonage. And it doesn't seem to do much for people like you, anyway.

Go get a Linksys WRT54G, load the Sveasoft third-party firmware, and then go to town. The QoS setting options blow away anything else you can get for ~$50. I'm in the same boat as you, and it totally solved all my bandwidth issues during phone calls.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 02, 2005 Posts: 7

Grab a program like netlimiter that can limite all your traffic locally on your computer and just limit your downloads to 25kbps.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 7

So the QoS on the router that Vonage just shipped me doesnt really work as advertised?

I'd be very dispointed as a new customer if this issue can't be fixed at all on the router.

I am aware there are other ways to limit the download and upload on my pcs via software, but i was hoping stay away from that and work the issue on the router, i got multiple pcs so the software option doesnt really mean that the phone will always work properly. I mean, i can limit bittorrent on my pc, but if my sister starts downloading a file or video on her pc id still have phone problems.

The real point is that if Vonage advertises a router with QoS theres something very wrong if the hardware they send its unable to deliver that option at all. I'm a new customer also so i dont feel like investing more money replacing the equipment that Vonage just sent me and then invest more money in a commercial bios for it.

Anybody elso got similar problems with the RT31P2-VD? I'd also like to know whats Vonages official response (solution) for this issue, I suppose im not the only one experiencing it.

Hoping to solve this.

Posts: 68 · Full Forum Member Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 68

To be point-blank honest, the RT31P2 is a pile of rubbish.. It's probably the one consistent problem I've had with vonage -- along with tons of other people.

Why they're STILL sending it out to customers is beyond me. It has lousy QoS, a tendancy to drop connects and crash/restart often, for many causes "phaser" sounds and for others causes static noise.. not to mention the random phone rings or stuff like that..

It really is a janky box. While currently shopping around for a router to go in front of it I have NO IDEA why I'm even considering the wrt54g except for the sveasoft firmware.. the fact it's made by linksys really bugs me now. Oh well, I'll have to try anyway.

Posts: 183 · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject:

ToddlerTN wrote:

<snip>

Go get a Linksys WRT54G, load the Sveasoft third-party firmware, and then go to town. The QoS setting options blow away anything else you can get for ~$50. I'm in the same boat as you, and it totally solved all my bandwidth issues during phone calls.

I second the motion. Do what this man says. He knows. I followed his instructions and my service is much better now.

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 14, 2005 Posts: 14

I have yet to own a Linksys product other than a NIC that has worked as intended. I have not touched Linksys products in almost 5 years because of this up until now(rt31p2). Mine like the rest of them also has borked QOS. It seems to work fine on the upstream but it completely gimps downstream to about 12KBps/sec.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 7

Quote:

To be point-blank honest, the RT31P2 is a pile of rubbish.. It's probably the one consistent problem I've had with vonage -- along with tons of other people.

Why they're STILL sending it out to customers is beyond me. It has lousy QoS, a tendancy to drop connects and crash/restart often, for many causes "phaser" sounds and for others causes static noise.. not to mention the random phone rings or stuff like that..

It really is a janky box. While currently shopping around for a router to go in front of it I have NO IDEA why I'm even considering the wrt54g except for the sveasoft firmware.. the fact it's made by linksys really bugs me now. Oh well, I'll have to try anyway.

I'm kinda shocked to hear about this, any of you guys contact Vonage tech support about the issue? whats their response? I never got a reply to my email support request.

As a new costumer this its a very bad 1st impression.

This its what I read on the website about the linksys phone adapter before i signed up:
http://www.vonage.com/products_linksys.php

Quote:

This phone adapter also features Quality of Service (QOS) technology to ensure the best possible voice service. You can purchase the Linksys phone adapter with router when you sign up for Vonage service. Each one has been tested to work flawlessly with your Vonage service.

If what you guys are saying its true then the router doesn't work as advertised.

As a new vonage customer im hoping for a solution that doesn't involve me purchasing and setting up extra equipment and a commercial bios.

any other ideas to fix this on the router? maybe an updated linksys firmware, Im just wondering.

any of you guys contact Linksys about this?

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 7

bump

Posts: 492 · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject:

The default on the Qos Upstream Rate is 512kb/s. This figure adjusts your voice application bandwidth.

vonage-forum.com/sutra28237.html#28237" target="_blank">http://www.vonage-forum.com/sutra28237.html#28237

I found it out the hard way.