busy signal

Posts: 9 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 15, 2005 Posts: 9

I get a busy signal every time I call out.. I hang up and try again. On this second attempt I get thru. Any ideas? Many thanks.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

How about some details. What equipment are you using? How are your upload and download speeds? What results do you get on a test call to www.testyourvoip.com ?

Does this happen with every number you call, or only with some? How about if you check voice mail (*123)?

Posts: 48 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 22, 2005 Posts: 48

Another two: Is it a "fast" busy signal and what are you using for broadband?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 05, 2006 Posts: 1

I am too having this same exact problem. Vonage customer support has not been able to resolve the issue going on 2 weeks now. Any suggestions?

FYI... I am NOT experiencing choppy audio or bandwith problems.

Posts: 48 · Full Forum Member Joined: Sep 22, 2005 Posts: 48

I would be glad to help but could you answer the questions?

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 17, 2006 Posts: 3

I know I didn't start the thread, but I'll hijack it and answer your questions...

I'm about halfway through a Google Search of this problem, so if it's been answered elsewhere, I apologize, please direct me to the thread or tell me to re-use the search. Most of the fast busy signal searches I've found, though deal with Vonage network outages/problems and setup issues, neither of which are a problem for me.

Problem:

Whenever I try to dial out (especially after a period of inactivity on the line, like a day or two), I'll get a fast busy signal. I DO always get a ring tone. This problem has been getting worse and worse over the past few months. Originally, I'd get the fast busy signal, try again, and it would work. Now it's gotten to the point where if I get the fast busy signal, I have to reboot (unplug/plug-in) the Voip router in order for a call to go through.

I don't receive calls on this line very often, so I can't comment on what happens when someone tries to call in on this situation. I'll make a note to test this next time it arises.

My Setup

Cable Modem -> Linksys BEFW11S4 (Wireless B Router) -> Linksys RT31P2 (VoIP Router)

I feel pretty good about my setup as this is how it has been for the past year or so without issue. I've traveled with my Voip router in the past and not had issues with it.

I typically have any home network items hanging off the Wireless Router (therefore upstream from the Voip router). This morning whenever I had the issue, the only item on my network that was on was my laptop, so there's a good opportunity for a controlled test.

For the purposes of the tests you've asked for, I've disabled my wireless on the laptop and now have plugged directly into the RT31P2, so I'm "seeing" what Vonage was "seeing" this morning.

The Tests

I ran the Speakeasy (Java/Seattle) bandwidth test on DSLReports with the following results:

dslreports.com speed test result on 2006-02-17 12:50:57 EST:
1837 / 275
Your download speed : 1837 kbps or 229.6 KB/sec.
That is 47.7% worse than avg. other reports from rr.com

Your upload speed : 275 kbps or 34.4 KB/sec.
That is 30.7% worse than avg. other reports from rr.com

I ran the TestYourVoIP.com test with the following results:

Seattle - 3.5
Boston - 3.6

On both the above tests, I was listening to a 128k music stream (as I was this morning when I had the problem). I know it isn't perfect for testing bandwidth, but I'm just trying to recreate the bandwidth I had this morning as well as possible. Plus, I can always to expect to have something going on while I'm making a call.

It happens with every number I call, but I haven't yet tested it with *123 (I'll do that too next time I have the problem and report back).

Thanks for your help. I haven't tried calling CS b/c I have yet to have an experience with them that wasn't counter-productive and this is sort of a tough issue to track. I can understand CS that doesn't help with issues (non-productive), but when they're actually making it worse - man, that's something...

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 17, 2006 Posts: 3

Sorry, just saw the sticky (used to the UBB BBS's, I guess - getting used to navigating this one).

1) Austin, TX
2) TW Cable Modem
3) 1837 / 275
4) Toshiba PCX 1100 (I assume you meant Cable Modem, right?)
5) RT31P2
6) Cable Modem -> Linksys BEFW11S4 (Wireless B Router) -> Linksys RT31P2 (VoIP Router)
7) fast busy until reboot (explained in detail - previous post)
Cool

http://www.testyourvoip.com/details.html?id=7Y306G

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 31, 2006 Posts: 16

I have the same problem, about 50-60% outbound calls are busy signal the first time. I am using Linksys RT31P2 with Comcast service, Motorola Surfboard SBS120. I tried doing TestYourVoIP.com and here are my scores (with no other bandwidth being used):
Boston - 2.5
Helsinki - 1.5
London - 1.1
Montreal - 2.1
San Jose - 2.2
Sydney - 2.7
Vienna - 2.8

Average - 2.1

I did the same dslreports test as utwes did, getting this:

dslreports.com speed test result on 2006-03-22 14:23:20 EST:
668 / 342
Your download speed : 668 kbps or 83.5 KB/sec.
That is 85.1% worse than an average user on comcast.net

Your upload speed : 342 kbps or 42.8 KB/sec.
That is 12.5% worse than an average user on comcast.net

Also, literally 90% or more of my calls contain at least one time of being told that I am breaking up. I have tried 3 phones so I know it's the setup or Vonage itself.

Someone help!

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 17, 2006 Posts: 3

Definitely not an answer, but here's something else I've noticed - could you confirm?

If you remember, my setup was:

Cable Modem -> Linksys BEFW11S4 (Wireless B Router) -> Linksys RT31P2 (VoIP Router)

With nothing hanging off the RT31P2 but the phone line. Now, if I put a computer on one of the network ports of the RT31P2 that stays on and utilizes a constant network connection, then I seem to reduce the issues. It's acting like there is a "keep alive" issue within the RT31P2 router where if I have a period of inactivity, it gives me the fast busy signal instead of the ring.

Let me know if your setup is similar or if this helps with your issue. I'm not able to test enough to ensure this is a "solution" per se, but I'd love to hear what others come up with.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:43 pm Post subject:

Something to keep in mind, testmyvoip.com is NOT run/affilliated with Vonage nor this message board at all. So, if you're having low scores (<4.0) with them, the problem is NOT with Vonage -- it's with your internet provider or your own network setup.

To all with this problem: Are you the only one on your connection? Are you running any file sharing/FTP/streaming applications when this problem occurs?

utwes: 275kbps should be enough for Voip, BUT, chances are that your upstream is supposed to be 384kbps. Are your cable TV images clear or is there any hint of static on any of the channels? If so, call and complain about that and get your cable co to fix your signal problems. This won't necessarily fix everything, but it is the most variable part of the connection. Also, the Toshiba PCX1100 has MANY issues, one of them being that it doesn't handle streaming-type applications (VoIP being one of them) well. If TW owns the modem, take it back to the TW cust service location and tell them that it won't sync up at your place and they should hand you a new one.

scythetlep Those are some of the worst testmyvoip scores I've seen, worse than with a dial-up modem! What other hardware are you running out there? and are you (or anyone else on your network) running file-sharing/FTP/streaming applications on your network? If so, turn off those applications, wait about 10 minutes, then try running the test again.