Voicemail via Web broken & Voice Quality issues

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2004 Posts: 9

Hi All,

For at least the last week, the 'messages waiting' indicator has been blinking on our phone. As is the beeping 'messages waiting' indicator audio tone.

However, no messages exist, as I've deleted them all. But, on attempting to login to the web account to see what it says, its demonstrating its infamous 'Dashboard Error'.

Also, the voice quality has been terrible the last week in the Coquitlam, BC area. Has anybody else been experiencing this?

Here's the news from the Register, where apparently Vonage did (but apparently fixed, their dashboard error)!!!

Quote:

Vonage fixes voicemail snag
By Tim Richardson
Published Friday 15th July 2005 13:56 GMT

Vonage has fixed a problem that left its Voip users unable to access their voicemail via the operator's web site.

The internet telephony outfit - which has some 750,000 punters - blamed a systems upgrade for the problem which kicked off on Wednesday.

Kerry Ritz, Vonage UK MD, told El Reg: "Vonage customers were unable to access their voicemails online and we apologise for any inconvenience this caused.

"The problem was caused by current systems upgrades and we worked as quickly as possible to correct the issue.

"Vonage customers were still able to access their voicemails via their telephones as normal." ®

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/15/vonage_voicemail/

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 20, 2005 Posts: 19

I am in West Van which is not very far from Coquitlam and as you can see from my earlier messages, my voice quality has also been lousy lately. It went from being barely acceptable to being intermittent with frequently gaps.
I am frustrated with the unacceptable level of voice quality and if Shaw cable cannot fix it tomorrow, I will be ditching both Shaw and Vonage. Don't know what I'll do next but bad voice quality makes a telephone unreliable if not useless.

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2004 Posts: 9

I finally got desperate enough to switch my configuration from

[cable modem] -- [router/firewall] -- [vonage ata]
to
[cable modem] -- [vonage ata] -- [router/firewall]

and the message indicator & double beep disappeared. The voice quality has also noticeably improved.

I will admit to being at a loss as to why this would make any difference, when it worked fine for over a year, but at this point, I'm just happy it worked.

Posts: 91 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Nov 26, 2004 Posts: 91

The ATA has QoS... so perhaps your internet connection has degrade slightly over the past year, and QoS helps maintain a decent Vonage connection with your remaining bandwidth?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 13, 2005 Posts: 1

Hi,

I just got Vonage 3 days ago and so far it has been touch and go Sad

. All calls are going to voicemail after 2 rings, no matter what I do on the website, and yes Call Forwarding is disabled. Also people on the other end of my calls comment on the quality of voice as being underwater... My ISp is Shaw ( Hi Spd Extreme 1)

Posts: 19 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Apr 20, 2005 Posts: 19

Your PAP 2 TA should connect directly with the Cable modem through a port switch. This avoids the firewall of the router and improves voice quality.
Vonage advised me to run a ping test for several hours ( minimum 4 hours ) to gather data on the ping results. You can google 'ping test ' and get a link. I had 100% packet loss on the second hop and latency problems. Vonage recommended a switch from the Shaw Motorola modem running on docsis 1.1 to docsis 2.9 but Shaw only provide the 1.1 modem!
My service has now improved but is still not great and the packet loss issue has not been solved yet.
Let us know if you slove your problems.

Posts: 5

I have my PAP2 connected to a wired port on my router. I used to have an old port switch, but I can't seem to find the AC adapter. Would it be the same as using a switch if I placed the PAP2 in the DMZ. That would remove the firewall and increase the voice quality, no? If so, is it the same as using a switch?

Would I just give the PAP2 a static IP from within its configuration menu, then through the router config screen, place the PAP2 IP in the DMZ?

Otherwise, I guess I can spend a few bucks and get a new switch. They are cheap I suppose!

Thanks everyone.

Brian

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 18, 2005 Posts: 6

[quote="flxstr"]I finally got desperate enough to switch my configuration from

[cable modem] -- [router/firewall] -- [vonage ata]
to
[cable modem] -- [vonage ata] -- [router/firewall]

and the message indicator & double beep disappeared. The voice quality has also noticeably improved.

First, forgive me as I'm somewhat technically challenged. I just moved to Coquitlam and have been considering Vonage for some time. From what I can tell on the forums so far, it looks like the best results are obtained when the Vonage "box" is connected direct to the Cable modem. In my case, it looks like I'd connect the Vonage box to the cable modem and then connect the Router to the Vonage box. Currently, my son's computer is directly connected to the cable modem and my computer is using a wireless signal from the Router. Would there be anything different I should do? I'm asking so that I can be prepared when I finally do get signed up. Thanks in advance for any and all replies.

Cheers,
VC

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2004 Posts: 9

>>First, forgive me as I'm somewhat technically challenged.
Aren't we all? Smile

>>I just moved to Coquitlam
Welcome to my neighborhood!

>> and have been considering Vonage for some time.
Been a customer since they came to Canada

>>From what I can tell on the forums so far, it looks like the best results are obtained when the Vonage "box" is connected direct to the Cable modem.
Correct

>>In my case, it looks like I'd connect the Vonage box to the cable modem and then connect the Router to the Vonage box.
Also Correct!

>>Currently, my son's computer is directly connected to the cable modem and my computer is using a wireless signal from the Router.
Isn't your sons computer connected to the route?

>> Would there be anything different I should do? I'm asking so that I can be prepared when I finally do get signed up.
Don't cancel your Telus (c)rap service until you're up and running (especially if you port your phone number)

>>Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
You're welcome!

Posts: 6 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 18, 2005 Posts: 6

Okay, so I've lurked and read and thought enough about it. I just headed for the nearest Staples and went for it. At first I had difficulty with connecting everything because I followed the directions in the manual that came with the PAP2. Oddly, enough at the end of the manufacturers instructions it says "Follow Vonage Instructions". Grrrrr.....I went to the Vongage web site and found the instructions for connecting my new PAP2 to the main computer and wireless network. I'm a lamo when it comes to this. I mean I can follow directions but all the techie lingo gets to me. I managed to connect it right any way! Smile

It's all good. Thanks to all who have contributed to the forums and have answered my questions. Most of the help and resource info. I needed came from you! Happy Vonage-ing!