using rt31p2 as second router

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 6

I have the set up as follows:
Motorola SB5100--> D-Link DI-604 --> Linksys RT31P2
I was searching on the forums about how to have 2 routers set up and I read the advice from someone I think named 'paul'. The reason I have to do this is because the linksys as the main router cannot hold my internet connection without simply crapping out and losing every connection after about a minute. The way it is hooked up now seems to work but the "Phone1" LED is not illuminated. I was wondering if this would cause any problems with outgoing/incoming calls and if so what to do about it. I also disabled the DHCP and all the other things recommended to be disabled on the Linksys. I know this set up is somewhat bootleg but I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion to a better way I could set everything up. I would 'like' to have only the linksys hooked up (it has firmware 1.28.00 which from what I read is very faulty?) but I get too many problems ie: internet cutting out and dropping connections, and phone calls being dropped or being turned into 1way only. I called Vonage CS last night and asked them to update my firmware but it did'nt help any. I am a new customer (this is my .. 2nd day or so) and just want to fix all the problems with vonage before I start giving people my new homephone #. Thanks alot for your help if you can - Jonathan

EDIT -- the way i have it hooked up my phone doesnt work...
i have port 4 on my di604 hooked up to lan port #1 on the linksys and the phone now doesnt work yet when I had port4 hooked to wan port on linksys phone worked but from what i read it was better to use it the way i have it now, ahh please help

Posts: 646 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:16 pm Post subject:

When you put the RT31P2 as the second router, then it's not able to do QoS, which keeps your computer uploads from clobbering your voice uploads. Also, some people have been talking a lot recently about their calls getting dropped after 16 minutes with Vonage sitting behind another router.

So, it would be in your best interest to try to get the RT31P2 connected first after the cable modem. Have you tried a hard-reset yet?:

- unplug RT31P2
- hold down the reset button
- plug it in
- wait 20 seconds
- release reset button

Edit: to respond to your edit:
Whatever you do, you have to connect through the RT31P2's WAN port. The phone service doesn't function through the LAN ports.

Posts: 646 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject:

I should clarify that the ideal way to hook everything up is like this:

The network port on the SB5100 connects to the RT31P2's WAN port.
Any computers connect to the RT31P2's LAN ports.

The DI-604 shouldn't need to be connected at all.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 6

Well the problem is if I have the RT31P2 connected alone then it drops my internet connection about every 30 seconds to one minute thus rendering it completly worhtless. From what it sounded like I needed new firmware so I called vonage and had them update it and I still have the same problem.

So I really don't know what to do, I guess I could try:
SB5100-->D-Link (port#4)-->RT31P2(WAN) but when I do this the phone light doesn't come so I thought it was having problems.

Posts: 646 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

Have you tried the hard reset yet? If it's working intermittently after a hard reset, with its WAN port connected directly to the cable modem, then you might have a faulty router. Vonage will usually ship a replacement if they're convinced that it's broken.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 6

Alright I just tried that I'll get back to you and tell you how it goes.

EDIT-

Well it worked for the first 5 minutes; I managed to stay on AOL Instant Messenger for 5 minutes before I got the connection error problem and it resigned me back in. I also get that little box in the corner of my desktop that says something on the lines of "network cable is unplugged blah blah" whenever this happens. (ah and as im typing this there goes another disconnect)

What do you recommend I do ? Confused

Posts: 646 · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject:

Well, there's a whole thread here related to this problem:
vonage-forum.com/ftopic2067.html" target="_blank">http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic2067.html

But it looks like it's just one of those weird mystery problems... I didn't see any solid solution in there.

You might want to try sticking a fan right next to the RT31P2 to see if it could be heat related... it the problem keeps up, you should call customer service and see if they'll replace it.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 6

Yeah, well thanks alot for trying to help, I read that entire thread (all 11 pages) last night looking for a solution. Do you think Vonage CS could give me an older firmware version for the RT31P2? It's either that or I have to call and try to get a brand new one. It really **** to get a brand new router in the mail that doesn't even work, second or third day of vonage and i'm already thinking about calling my old phone company up Sad

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 6

Alright well I think the solution was to open all those ports mentioned in that other post, thanks for all the help everyone.

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Jul 23, 2005 Posts: 6

Alright well I think the solution was to open all those ports mentioned in that other post, thanks for all the help everyone.