Loss of VoIP in Qatar

Posts: 2 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 11, 2005 Posts: 2

I'm using Linksys RTP300 and I've got mine working. How about we stop with the fighting and just be glad that most of us have Vonage working again. I hope this lasts for good, but if not I have a solution if it stops working again.

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

I'll say this to everyone following this thread, that I apologize for causing an uproar. I know how you guys feel; I know the feeling of being abroad, with few communications choices. I hope you guys get everything working, hopefully before the holidays set in.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 11, 2005 Posts: 5

Hi all,

For all those who gotten their Vonage VOIP working, could you please post you adaptor model.

I know my adaptor RT31P2 is not working.

Any expert who know the difference between my hardware and others.

Posts: 8 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 10, 2005 Posts: 8

I think now, we need the technical support from Vonage.. all my calls using Vonage indicates that I can dial, be dialed hear but the other side will not hear a clear voice. Is there any help, patch, or upgrade? any new setup that fixes this problem?
Thanks

Posts: 39 · Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:52 pm Post subject: My Vonage is working

As for me, my Vonage (VoIP) system is working, for we placed many calls to family in the States, France and Lebanon, and the voice quality was good, however when I tried talking to some friends in Qatar that have Vonage service, the voice was horrible and we could not communicate with each other. Some colleagues reported voice problems when they talked to the States and some worked perfectly even though in most we all have the same equipment.

What is the problem I cannot tell? My suggestions are as follow:
1- Qtel is still using some VoIP filters, and opened few ports that include Vonage ports.
2- Qtel widened the internet bandwidth just enough to get the VoIP working but not fully functional. This will give you poor service and force you to use landlines for important calls, and in a way, they fulfilled the Emir request, but not fully.
3- Many of the people having problems are the ones that accessed their routers, phone adapters and or ADSL modems in an effort to find solution for Qtel block, and changed some settings in any one of them that now caused their system not to function properly.
4- Qtel have not lifted their block from all the internet hubs in Qatar, some areas are still blocked.
5- No one knows how messed up Qtel system especially after implementing a limited VoIP block that render their internet service unusable.

Sorry I got carried away; however if you changed any setting in any part of your system during Qtel block in an effort to get your system working, you need to reset all to original setting before the block. First, make sure that your ADSL modem/router is functioning properly. Then tackle your VoIP adapter to make sure it is set to your provider setting. In addition, reboot all your system one last time, which I hope this will get your system working properly.

Good Luck.

Posts: 22 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 11, 2005 Posts: 22

Oash wrote:

I think now, we need the technical support from Vonage.. all my calls using Vonage indicates that I can dial, be dialed hear but the other side will not hear a clear voice. Is there any help, patch, or upgrade? any new setup that fixes this problem?
Thanks

Dear Oash, I have the same exact problem. I contacted vonage and they could not resolve it.

It is time to survey which hardware combos are working, this will help us alot in addressing this problem. So, I ask those fortunate "Vonage" users who have their system back, to post a message indicating the following info:

1 - What brand and model of Vonage adaptor they have (if you are not sure, Here is the list with pictures

2 - What DSL router brand and model you are using

3 - What is your upload speed, indicate the "TrueSpeed" value from This Speed Test Site

Here is my info:

1. Linksys RT31P2
2. Linksys WAG54G
3. Upload TrueSpeed 117 K

Today, I will be visiting bmardini to swap harware and see what could be the culprit, and I will report back to you.

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 11, 2005 Posts: 16

hI Gyus

The truth is that QTEL is still blocking a lot of areas.
Hamad hospital owhere my office is VOIP works fine thought Xlite

Old Airport area where my house is nothing works, I get a time out error and ATAS cannot register. I called QTEL and complined that my line is slow and had my ports blocked.

Their answer was ofcourse its BLOCKED BECAUSE WE (QTEL) BLOCKED IT LAST WEEK.

when I complained that I was not informed. answer was that we will call you sometime in the future.

lets focus on the issue again

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Dec 09, 2005 Posts: 11

Like others, I too am still not able to use my Vonage box. Was it a fluke?

Using the Motorola Vt1005v

Tested my friends Linksys RTP300 with same result of no connection.

Has anyone who claims to be connected successfully made calls?

Posts: 103 · Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2005 7:17 am Post subject: Curiosity

A Wi-Fi phone like the FT1000 that Vonage now offers would seem to be the ideal device for an expatriate because it gives you portability to discover which internet conenctions have the bandwith to handle your calls, and, outside of the US there are many cyber cafes offering hot spots.

I do not know enough about the technical issues, but, would a Wi-Fi phone work in QTR? Does a Wi-Fi phone phone use the same ports? What does ports mean exactly in this context anyway? I mean, once analog voice data is sampled and turned into something digital, it is just data, so why is it treated any differently than a picture that is digitize or a web page? What I am asking is how can digital data that was originally a voice, be distinguished from music or a picture or an email so that it can be effectively blocked?

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

Jack,
The major difference in what data (ie pictures, text) and voice look like in the network is mostly seen down at the packet level. That's how QOS works, and unfortunately, that same technology can be told to seek out those voice packets and block/dump them. So if Vonage is being blocked, I don't think a WiFi phone would be any more useful than an RTP300 right now.