connect problem with vonage VOIP

[super80]

My showstopper work prefect to get the channel guide evertday with verizon, but few days ago, I switched my phone company to vonage (VOIP), my showstopper dailing every night but can't get the channel guide download and there is no error messsage left to me. I have tried to slow-down the modem to 14.4 or even 9.6 , install a dsl filter......but still no help!!
any who with the same problem or got a solution on this issue??
thanks

[Murphy]

Try a different phone number. Every phone number in the list is available since all Vonage calls cost the same. Every ReplayTV phone number in the country is available. There is no requirement that the phone number that you call be in your zip code. My Showstopper connects every night through Vonage and the modem is set to 33.6K. If your Vonage adapter is plugged into your router, have you opened the ports in your router that Vonage uses? See Appendix B in your Vonage "Installation & Troubleshooting Guide".

[kelly999]

Do you have vonage wired up to your existing home phone wiring so that you get the phone signal at all outlets, or do you just have it going from the adapter to a single phone?

[mattb5]

Make sure you have it set to dial a 1 in front of the number. All Vonage calls require a 1.

[super80]

Originally posted by kelly999
Do you have vonage wired up to your existing home phone wiring so that you get the phone signal at all outlets, or do you just have it going from the adapter to a single phone?

I used a splitter from the vonage adaptor; one connected to a wireless phone and the other connected to the replayTV showstoppper!! any help??

[super80]

Originally posted by mattb5
Make sure you have it set to dial a 1 in front of the number. All Vonage calls require a 1.

I don't think so!! vonage seems support 7 or 10 number or eleven number dailing!!
that means same area code just dail xxx-xxxx or xxx-xxx-xxxx or 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx; different area code you need to dail as xxx-xxx-xxxx or 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx, I tried them all from a voice call, confirmed that I am right!!
any more advise?? thanks anyway.....................:) :)

[jackshakes]

does your unit not have an internal nic so you could use your high speed internet connection instead?

[super80]

Originally posted by jackshakes
does your unit not have an internal nic so you could use your high speed internet connection instead?

my replay TV unit is the old style PV-HS2000, only got dail-up connection, no internet, any idea to add a boardband connection to it??:D :D

[s.bradford]

Most VoIP devices do not support analog modems and fax machines as the technology uses severe compression of the audio signal to reduce bandwidth.

Read your VoIP "Terms of Service" agreement. I think you will find these devices listed as unsupported.

Looks like it is time for a new Replay that you can connect to your network. (c;

[jackshakes]

now I haven't looked into modems, but vonage DOES support Faxes. You have to pay an extra $5 a month for a fax line tho.

But I agree, sounds like a good time to upgrade to a new unit :-) They're cheap now too.

[arcadefreaque]

Originally posted by super80
...any idea to add a boardband connection to it??:D :D

"boardband" sounds interesting. Using wooden boards to establish a network connection?

If you seriously cannot figure out how to get your modem to cooperate with your VOIP service, it might be time to dig out an old 486/pentium pc with a modem and a network card and setup FreeSCO on the pc - check out J.M.'s site for more information about the FreeSCO setup (http://s95184944.onlinehome.us/ReplayTV.html)

[johnmagee4]

Vonage supports the 7 or 10 digit dialing as of the mid summer. You can fax from your main line... and many people have gotten some hacks to work.

A few suggestions:

Go look at vonage-forum.com

I think you'll find the following two things to try...

Try a dsl filter hooked up in reverse between your replay and the TA. This seems to filter out some extra noise or something? I don't know...

Search around for some code like *70 (that's not it... but something like it), that instructs the TA that you are making a data call. I think it should do this automatically, but this would force it to use a certain compression that is good for data vs. a compression that is good for voice.

Can you turn the modem in the thing down to like 14.4k or even slower?

[s.bradford]

The dial string is *99, but I just took a look at the Vonage site and it seems tons of folks are having problems with FAX transmissions, so modems are indeed a problem.

I also checked their TOS and their decision to not mention this is certainly not in the best interest of their customers. Other VoIP providers clearly state this. My cousin and I both use ATT Callvantage and while he can fax sometimes, I chose to keep one landline to avoid the headaches.

Having to be able to send and receive analog faxes in this "digital" age is a real pain. Why can't they just scan it and email it!?

[super80]

I tested my vonage line, I can do "fax" without any problem, but except replayTV, dail-out every night using 2-10 minute, but still can't get the channel guide downloaded, I tried the #243+zone to force a net connection, I only got either "No answer" or "connection problem" message, never succeed on getting channel guide!!

[s.bradford]

I not saying faxes (or modem transmissions) are impossible. But there are many factors outside of your control as to how reliable the analog based data transmissions are going to be over IP.

The reason for this is that fax machines and modems create analog audio tones that go over the phone lines. These devices were carefully designed to take into consideration the frequency bandwith and dynamic range standardized on hardwired telephone networks.

Now we have a new form of network (and hardware) for voice communications with VoIP, and it has different advantages and disadvantages when compared to the time tested standard. The fact that it IS different is why these analog devices are not going to perform as reliably under VoIP as they would over the type of network they were designed for.

New hardware will undoubtedly be available as this network usage becomes more mainstream. Digital fax machines (not quite sure why you would need one if you have a computer anyway... but someone will build it). As for ReplayÉ they have had a better way to connect than the phone line for quite some time, which was one of many determining factors for my decision to go with Replay over Tivo.

I really don't think you are going to see this issue resolved to your satisfaction. For "reliable" connections you really only have two choices; get a landline for your Showstopper, or get a newer Replay with a LAN connection.

[super80]

Originally posted by Murphy
Try a different phone number. Every phone number in the list is available since all Vonage calls cost the same. Every ReplayTV phone number in the country is available. There is no requirement that the phone number that you call be in your zip code. My Showstopper connects every night through Vonage and the modem is set to 33.6K. If your Vonage adapter is plugged into your router, have you opened the ports in your router that Vonage uses? See Appendix B in your Vonage "Installation & Troubleshooting Guide".

Murphy:
then, when number does your replayTV used to connect??

[kelly999]

From vonage-forum.com

The Solution
based on a Panasonic ShowStopper 1000
1. Go to Setup on your Replay.
2. Go to Change Dialing & Input Settings
3. Got to Change Telephone
4. Leave your settings as is until you get to the "special characters"
screen

This is the screen where you can disable call waiting or whatever. Press
the Zones button on your remote and a hidden menu will appear. Change the
modem speed... in my case 33.6 worked (note: setting it all the way down to
9600 as guessed by Vonage support *did not* - no offense to them. They
actually tried to be more helpful than they had to be).

Finish the Setup screens and let it try to connect. This may still not
work... You may need to enter another hidden menu by typing 2,3,4, Zones on
your remote. In this menu click "Net Connect". I had to try this a couple
of times to get a successful connection.

[super80]

Originally posted by kelly999
From vonage-forum.com

The Solution
based on a Panasonic ShowStopper 1000
1. Go to Setup on your Replay.
2. Go to Change Dialing & Input Settings
3. Got to Change Telephone
4. Leave your settings as is until you get to the "special characters"
screen

This is the screen where you can disable call waiting or whatever. Press
the Zones button on your remote and a hidden menu will appear. Change the
modem speed... in my case 33.6 worked (note: setting it all the way down to
9600 as guessed by Vonage support *did not* - no offense to them. They
actually tried to be more helpful than they had to be).

Finish the Setup screens and let it try to connect. This may still not
work... You may need to enter another hidden menu by typing 2,3,4, Zones on
your remote. In this menu click "Net Connect". I had to try this a couple
of times to get a successful connection.

I did this alredy, but still no luck!!
thanks anyway..................

[Bigjohns]

Originally posted by super80
I tested my vonage line, I can do "fax" without any problem, but except replayTV, dail-out every night using 2-10 minute, but still can't get the channel guide downloaded, I tried the #243+zone to force a net connection, I only got either "No answer" or "connection problem" message, never succeed on getting channel guide!!
you'll need to do the modem adjust thing - and tune your modem down to 14.4 or 19.2.

John

[mattb5]

Originally posted by super80
vonage seems support 7 or 10 number or eleven number dailing!!


No kidding! Wow, I didn't even know that. Cool! Thanks!

[super80]

moden adjust not even work for me 14.4 or 19.2 or even 9.6, none of them work!! too bad..............

[grgeiger]

I haven't honestly tried to use my Replay on my Vonage phone. I have tried a couple of times to use my internet provider's dial up number using Vonage. I could not get my computer modem to handshake correctly to get a connection.

Vonage works OK for faxing. I think fax machines have better error correction in data transmission...

[ComboRonbo]

My Showstopper works fine with Vonage. I lowered the baud rate all the way down to 9600 and use a DSL filter on the line. It has been fine for the past 3 months.

Ron

[PhilippZ]

I have been having problems connecting through my VoIP (lingo) too. I have been able to connect sometimes but it is infrequent. I noticed that the modem gets stuck and one has to reset the unit to make the modem work again. I will now try lowering the baud rate, a DSL filter, better phone cable, different access numbers, etc...

[whirly]

I know this sounds silly but ... have you tried plugging the ReplayTV directly into the Vonage ATA?

It's always possible that you got the wrong splitter and it is a 2 line splitter.

[PhilippZ]

Yes I have tried that unsuccessfully.

But - I have managed to get it working again - for now. I went into the Lingo box's web-based configurator and reset it. After that, my Showstopper connected and never hanged up until it was finished (took about 1/2 hour at 9600 bps)!

[Jeff D]

I had just called vonage today asking about issues like this.

I was told for faxes you need to configure the fax for the smallest packet size. Odd setting I never heard of....

And I was also told a modem "may" work, not really sure they said. I mentioned DSS, tivo, replayTV, etc for modem use and the guy was confused as to why I'd be using a modem. Go figure...

[plyons10]

Jeff... I agree that they really don't know what appliances will work or not. But I do believe that most people don't have a problem with faxing. Myself for one. I never even had to tweak my fax settings or use that special * prefix (*xx-- (I can't remember the digits)).

For us Vonage has just been great.

[franc11s]

Whats a modem ?

[Scyber]

Originally posted by mattb5
No kidding! Wow, I didn't even know that. Cool! Thanks!

It is a relatively new feature (last year or so). I am just in the habit of dialing 10 digits all the time that it never really phased me.

[regalona]

I'm having the same problem. Did you ever get yours to work?