One Way Audio - A Suggestion

Posts: 492 · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject: One Way Audio - A Suggestion

Members and Visitors,

When I first began having trouble with my phone not being able to sustain a voice output to the person that I had called I naturally looked in the FAQ's. I got a standard suggestion that this problem was the result of connectivity and latency issues, call your ISP! I did. They ran a test, made a sign in the air, and declared themselves free of any problems. Being stuck and alone with this problem I decided to test, save the results, and produce the results to whomever was responsible. I signed up for an account with BroadBandReports.com so that I could have unlimited access to the line speed tests that I prefered as well as extra forum support if needed, which I didn't. I have difficulty with the Forums Speed Test. It consistently gives me erroneous results, who knows why.

I began testing. Since I am usually home most of the day I was able to run regular line speed tests unhindered. The results were always within 90% of Comcast's advertised data rates. Interspersed with the speed tests I ran the TestYourVoip.com tests to Boston. The results, likewise, were consistent at 4.4/5.0 MOS or 4.3/5.0 MOS. These results also were saved in a special folder (Beware! TestYourVoip will spam the e-mail address that you give them). So I ran the PingPlotter. Don't be intimidated by this program, it is a programmable tracert. You can adjust the size of the packet, the number of packets sent, and the frequency that the packets are sent. The IP addresses and DNS names of the servers on the route to your destination are displayed along with charts and graphs of the Internet condition. A fantastic tool. It produced a weeks worth of data showing an average round trip latency of about 53ms. There were occasional spikes as high as 150ms which is still an acceptable figure. No packet loss was detected. I was running out of ideas and did not yet find a solution to this problem.

I measured 30 Vrms on the phone adapters P1 RJ-11 jack with and without loading. My meter can't measure current, but I know the impedance of the line is 600 ohms. Therefore, the current must be 50ma. Hardly enough to power a telephone. As more phones are plugged into the circuit the greater the current drain. So I swap out the .49 REN phone with a 1.08 REN and it works? This makes no sense to me, however, it shows one important thing. The problem most certainly resides in the phone adapter. To make things even more confusing, I bought a new cordless with a REN of 0.08 and that works perfectly. So while I tried to figure things out, I would ask others with this problem to swap phones. I was merely experimenting, for some folks their problem dissipated, like me, with the phone swap and for others nothing changed at all. I was looking for some correlation. Some did not approve as they thought that I was extending a fix, understandable as such mysterious problems can cause a great deal of stress.

On the Post that I put up:
http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic5275.html
A Vonage Representative appeared. He asked a few logical questions which I answered. The following morning he left a post saying that he believed that he could help me out. Several options were discussed. I offered my MAC address and he made an unknown change to my RT31P2.

I now have a total of 4 phones hooked up for a REN total of 2.72, I would load it to the max, but I've run out of phones. Everthing is working perfectly, even the phone that began this nightmare with a 2 week long run down. I have noticed one item that may or may not be related. Several people have e-mailed me, PMed me, and phoned me. I asked a question, "Did you receive a firmware and/or voice upgrade within the last month or so?" The answer was a unanimous "Yes". Is there an analogue here? Only Vonage knows. However, it is a coincidence.

If you want your phone up and running again, it can only be done by Vonage. I lucked out and caught the attention of a knowledgeable and helpful Rep. to which I thank profusely and may I suggest you do the same. Vonage must be aware of this error in our phone adapters. The Rep. has been spending a lot of time, lately, on this forum. I would suggest you attract his attention or call technical support, they must know by now about this problem and its fix. Good luck.

Mike

Posts: 492 · Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:25 pm Post subject:

For those who have been following this and the other threads, I now have it on good authority that Jeff Citron has been made personally aware of this situation. He will see to a fix for all in the very near future.

Thanks for hangin' in there. Unfortunately, a number of people canceled their subscriptions to the service out of frustration. It took me just about two weeks to bring this to an end, at least it was a good one.

Mike

Posts: 18 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 11, 2005 Posts: 18

One of the best posts I have read in a while.
I started asking the question as to why, if the issue is known,
isnt anything being done.
Glad to see there is a solution up and coming.
Hope it doesnt take to long since this isnt the kind of service I signed up for.

But I will be patient.

Thanks again and Im glad I didnt cancell

Later