WRTP54G intermittent connection

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 23, 2005 Posts: 8

Just to follow up...

I picked up the PAP2 anyway because as stated above I wanted the Vonage equipment totally split from my network router, giving me the most flexability.

Let me tell you... this is how I expected the service to work the first time around. Took the unit out of box, set my WRT54G (also HyperWRT tofu10) port forwarding according to the directions, turned QoS on, used my local telephone to set a static IP on the PAP2, plugged it all in. Gave Vonage a phone call on my cell and the nice person there took the WRTP54G off my account, put the PAP2 on it and literally within 15 minutes from opening the package I was up and running.

In fact, and I really belive this to be due to the QoS of the HyperWRT firmware, when I called my girlfriend to test it out she thought I was on my cell phone... and the whole conversation I was playing World of Warcraft with no problems.

I agree that the WRTP54G seems like a great unit for the average home user. And I expect that after a few more firmware updates some of the little glitches will be worked out. But for me, my new setup is working great and if it stays as such through the rest of the week I can finally turn off my lan line for good Smile

Posts: 10 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:01 am Post subject:

NateHoy wrote:

Katsumi wrote:

When I got the Vonage service I got the linksys wireless router. Is this router really that bad? I haven't had any problems so far. What does have me worried are future possiblilities of problems with the router. Hopefully I won't experience any.

There are several models of the Linksys wireless router. Mine is the WRTP54G. When I first got it, I fell in love. The router was top notch, and handled everything I do, including BitTorrent use (I'm into open source, and use BT for most of my software downloads to save the authors money).

Then came firmware version 1.00.52 and it's slightly-less-dumb younger sibling, 1.00.55. I have no idea what Vonage/Linksys changed, but whatever it was, it was ugly. I had to reboot the router multiple times a day in 1.00.52, and at least once every other day in 1.00.55.

So I got a WRT54G for $50 just so I can use my Internet connection again. In my case, the WRTP54G was killing me, and I'd gladly trade it in for a simple Vonage adapter if that was a choice. Though, it is handy having a spare router around. Wink

Having said all that, if you do not do BitTorrent or use your connection very heavily, the WRTP54G (and probably all of its cousins) are PERFECTLY FINE routers. They may need a restart every now and again, but it's rare in a non-BitTorrent environment with "normal" surfing, downloading, email, and Vonage use.

Now, of course, the DISadvantage of the Vonage routers is that they control the firmware on your router, and can upgrade it at any time. Separating the router and Vonage functions into separate boxes with separate firmware makes a good bit of sense from a maintenance standpoint. But, in your case, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Thanks NateHoy for the information. I don't download hardly at all. Mainly use my internet for email and surfing the net. So for now my router is working great. Very Happy

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:31 am Post subject:

TheWalt wrote:

Just to follow up...

I picked up the PAP2 anyway because as stated above I wanted the Vonage equipment totally split from my network router, giving me the most flexability.

Let me tell you... this is how I expected the service to work the first time around. Took the unit out of box, set my WRT54G (also HyperWRT tofu10) port forwarding according to the directions, turned QoS on, used my local telephone to set a static IP on the PAP2, plugged it all in. Gave Vonage a phone call on my cell and the nice person there took the WRTP54G off my account, put the PAP2 on it and literally within 15 minutes from opening the package I was up and running.

In fact, and I really belive this to be due to the QoS of the HyperWRT firmware, when I called my girlfriend to test it out she thought I was on my cell phone... and the whole conversation I was playing World of Warcraft with no problems.

I agree that the WRTP54G seems like a great unit for the average home user. And I expect that after a few more firmware updates some of the little glitches will be worked out. But for me, my new setup is working great and if it stays as such through the rest of the week I can finally turn off my lan line for good Smile

I'm sitting here on a conference call with work. I have to admit that I am STUNNED. The voice quality is as good as any landline I've ever talked on, I'm getting no hissing or artifacts, no beeps inserted into my line, and my Caller ID actually worked on a second inbound call since reboot for the first time since the 1.00.52 firmware upgrade.

And all I changed was putting the Vonage router BEHIND a HyperWRT/Tofu-Enabled "real" WRT54G. You'd think that would add delays, but MAN, what an improvement.

Of course, I now have working QoS and the Vonage router gets absolute priority, so the Vonage line now is getting virtually dedicated bandwidth. So it makes sense that it would But even on an idle connection the Vonage line sounds better.

Daaaaaaang. Best $50 I ever spent.

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:35 am Post subject:

Katsumi wrote:

Thanks NateHoy for the information. I don't download hardly at all. Mainly use my internet for email and surfing the net. So for now my router is working great. Very Happy

That falls under the old rule, "it it ain't broke, don't fix it". The router is doing what it does best, operating fine under light load. You don't need heavy load, so there's no point in blowing the money on it in your case. Wink

Posts: 277 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:27 am Post subject:

NateHoy wrote:

I'm sitting here on a conference call with work. I have to admit that I am STUNNED. The voice quality is as good as any landline I've ever talked on, I'm getting no hissing or artifacts, no beeps inserted into my line, and my Caller ID actually worked on a second inbound call since reboot for the first time since the 1.00.52 firmware upgrade.

And all I changed was putting the Vonage router BEHIND a HyperWRT/Tofu-Enabled "real" WRT54G. You'd think that would add delays, but MAN, what an improvement.

Of course, I now have working QoS and the Vonage router gets absolute priority, so the Vonage line now is getting virtually dedicated bandwidth. So it makes sense that it would But even on an idle connection the Vonage line sounds better.

Daaaaaaang. Best $50 I ever spent.

Congrats, Nate. I saw your post over on linksysinfo.org. Glad your new WRT54G is working out so well with HyperWRT/tofu10, that's what I'm running here, and virtually the same setup as you, except my Vonage box is the older RT31P2. I've turned off NAT, DHCP, UPnP & everything else I could find in the RT, and its being JUST a Vonage adapter, which it seems to be great at. As I read here, I'm becoming more and more convinced that the Vonage router/ATA combos just don't have the horsepower to perform well as both, at least under significant load, at least with the mandated Vonage firmware. Yours is the latest datapoint on that - take ALL the router load off the box, and your WRTP54G can devote itself to being a (better) Voip adapter. Make it handle any significant routing load, and it appears it doesn't have the cycles to do Voip well.

-Gary-

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject:

DallasFlier wrote:

[
Congrats, Nate. I saw your post over on linksysinfo.org. Glad your new WRT54G is working out so well with HyperWRT/tofu10, that's what I'm running here, and virtually the same setup as you, except my Vonage box is the older RT31P2. I've turned off NAT, DHCP, UPnP & everything else I could find in the RT, and its being JUST a Vonage adapter, which it seems to be great at. As I read here, I'm becoming more and more convinced that the Vonage router/ATA combos just don't have the horsepower to perform well as both, at least under significant load, at least with the mandated Vonage firmware. Yours is the latest datapoint on that - take ALL the router load off the box, and your WRTP54G can devote itself to being a (better) Voip adapter. Make it handle any significant routing load, and it appears it doesn't have the cycles to do Voip well.

-Gary-

I tend to agree, but of course I should have kind of expected this. My WRT54G, running the third party firmware, has less than 1MB of the 16MB free. I cannot imagine trying to cram the instruction sets in for Voip into that router, AND have it do routing with all the bells and whistles.

The WRTP54G is actually a good thing to have, in case I want to take my Vonage line on the road i the future. Having a router means I can use it in my hotel room, and use my laptop at the same time. Of course, I don't know if I want to schlep the router, a telephone, and my laptop. (grin)

Posts: 277 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject:

NateHoy wrote:

I should have kind of expected this. My WRT54G, running the third party firmware, has less than 1MB of the 16MB free. I cannot imagine trying to cram the instruction sets in for Voip into that router, AND have it do routing with all the bells and whistles.

Well, you shouldn't have to expect it though. If you're designing and building a dual purpose ATA/router, common sense might suggest you throw a little more memory in there, duh! Lets see, to go from 16M to 32M at today's volume OEM pricing might have cost them a buck or two, give or take. I think Linksys cut every corner they could to meet a price point and get Vonage's business. Problem is, the result is arguably costing Vonage more in support costs and bad word-of-mouth reputation than it saved.

NateHoy wrote:

The WRTP54G is actually a good thing to have, in case I want to take my Vonage line on the road i the future. Having a router means I can use it in my hotel room, and use my laptop at the same time. Of course, I don't know if I want to schlep the router, a telephone, and my laptop. (grin)

That's what they make cell phones, simulring and emailing of voicemail notifications to my cell phone for. Smile

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:28 pm Post subject:

DallasFlier wrote:

That's what they make cell phones, simulring and emailing of voicemail notifications to my cell phone for. Smile

Almost scary that you and I have about the same config, and do the same things for portability. Only problem is, I'm stuck with my cell phone for about 8 more months, then sayonara, baby! After that, I may be looking into taking Vonage on the road when I travel, though maybe by then they'll have those sexy little WiFi phones working better...

I used a cell as my primary home phone for several years when the local Bell wanted $75 to activate a wire that was already in the house and had a dial tone, AND they wanted my social security number on file AND a $100 escrow in case I didn't pay my bill (I've never been late on a single payment. ever.)

The woman got really rude when I said that they could not have my SSN, and said "if you don't give me your SSN, you don't get a phone line, what are you going to do, find a competitor? It's not like you have a choice, you know." I told 'em where they could put their copper, and it wasn't a nice place for copper, hung up, and went cell that afternoon - with no escrow and no SSN required. Wink

But Vonage is cheaper and better. So I'm waiting for my cell contract to lapse. In the meantime, I think I use maybe 50 of my 500 minutes a month, and the cell battery is frequently dead for several days before I notice it.

Posts: 277 · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:13 pm Post subject:

NateHoy wrote:

Only problem is, I'm stuck with my cell phone for about 8 more months, then sayonara, baby!

Oh no, for me Vonage vs cell isn't an either/or. I'd be totally lost without my cell phone. I'm in technology sales, travel a lot, and there's no way that Vonage is going to do the trick at the airport departure gate, in the plane waiting for them to push back, in a rental car (or my own!), in a taxi, in a client's lobby, etc etc. My cell is indispensable, although I did give the boot to SBC on the POTS line for Vonage some time back.