No Dial Tone 2+ days now, just about ready to punt

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

I have been a Vonage customer since October of 04. No problems everything is fine.. Until 2 days ago. All of a sudden I have no dial tone.

I have the PAP2 connected to Linksys WRT54gs since 10/04. When I first noticed the issue, the phone 1 light was on, so i tried the reboot sequence, over and over for about 60 minutes.... Nothing...still no dial tone.

So, I called Vonage support...after rebooting , unplugging and the other stuff for 2 hours, now I have no phone lights on the PAP2 somehow they have also switched the PAP2 to work on the Phone2 line and not the phone1 line, no config changes are being sent to the PAP2 from the Vonage accoutn, etc.. then my cell phone battery runs out 2+ hours into the call and I loose them.

They did not call back or followup or anything. and I am still without dial tone. So I called back tonight, and once again after 2 hours of the same crap, it still does not work, the last advanced tech tells me that the only thing could be that the PAP2 device is not working and I need to go purchase a new one.. As he can not do anything to configure it, and it will not reset to the factory settings. Then once again about 2+ hours into the call I lose him as my cell connection is not good in the house.

After loosing him, I go to my browser and sign onto the web interface of the PAP2, and can see all the info with no problem. Then when I click the admin user it asks for a user id and password which I have no idea what it is. But I am ble to change some things in the web interface.

So to sum it up...

48 hours with no service and counting...
4+ hours with Support and tired of unplugging knowing it wont work

And I have to buy a new PAP2 to see if that is the problem..

(As far as I can tell the PAP2 was working as they switched it from Phone1 to Phone2 port, and I am able to obtain information from the web interface from the PAP2)

This config worked for 8 months, ... what the %$^%$^ is up with that.

I can tell that the Vonage servers can not access my PAP2 because all the calls are forwarding to my cell phone by default when the connection is not available.

If I can not get this resolved and get service again by tomorrow, I am on my way back to Veri$on$. I was a happy camper untl this nightmare. and I can not deal with it again...

ANyone with any ideas please let me know.

Thanks
Tim

Posts: 216 · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:43 am Post subject:

What ISP do you use? I wonder if this could be a case of another ISP blocking Voip.

Also, what make and model modem do you have?

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

I have Cox.

The modem is the Cox Modem.. A Scientific Atlanta. Not sure of the exact model, I am not at home right now.

Thanks
Tim

Posts: 497 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Apr 29, 2005 Posts: 497

Quote:

It‘s Cox Communications that is blocking Vonage Ports in the Midewest. They say Voip Adapters are a violation of the Residential TOS and they reserve the right to block ports as they see fit

See the blog at:
http://gigabytemarch.blog.com/137998/
I can verify that this is true, but it seems true enough!

Here's an article

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

If this is true and Cox is blocking.. what can one do ??? Are we forced to drop Vonage and switch back to land-line ?

Do we call Cox and have them deny it ???

Would Vonage CS or anyone there even know what to do or who to talk to ???

This is what I was fearing most,.. If this is true, as soon as I have an alternative to cable internet I will drop Cox as well...

Posts: 497 · Vonage Forum Evangelist Joined: Apr 29, 2005 Posts: 497

If it was true I would switch ISPs

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

Unfortunately I have no other choice. DSL is not available. And cable is the only way to get High Speed right now.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

After some discussion on other boards as well... I have narrowed it down to these issues:

1. Firmware/Patch upgrade that went arry...
2. the 1 second power hit
..
99. Blocking by ISP.

on #1... The same morning of the loss of dial tone, Vonage had made a change to my service and asked me to reboot, I was having a time problem where all calls where not adjusted ahead 1 hour for DST. So they said they made a change and to reboot. I did that that AM.

From reading other posts on various boards, they were also apparently or possibly trying to upgrade the firmware on the PAP, I do know I dont have the most recent version reported here.

on 2... that same day, late AM, around noon, we had a storm go thru with a 1sec power hit, wife says phone still worked after that though. and PAP, router, and modem are all on a mondo-big belkin surge protector.

I am leaning toward #1, assuming this is the case.

1. Can I get a copy of the firmware online and TFTP it back to the device, or
2, do I just need a new PAP2.

3.. Why isnt Vomage offering to send me one??? They told me it was my problem and I need to go buy one myself. I was planning on hitting the Best Buy on the way home to get one, and I guess if it still does not work then I can take it back...

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

If jrd or anyone from Vonage is here, please let me know what you think ???

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jul 07, 2005 Posts: 10

Once I go and BUY a new PAP2 today, is there a way to get around the 2 hour CS script and get to someone who can actually help you ? Besides getting the new MAC assigned, they will have to make various line changes as they screwed that up yesterday as well.

Can I get right to an advnced or SR tech support person ???

Thanks
Tim