dorosz
join:2003-06-28
Cumming, GA | reply to tinkererguy
Re: [Vonage] Linksys WRT54GP2 problems so far said by tinkererguy:Interesting notes a) when first checking out the web interface on a WRT54GP2, it said a Sep firmware (I think 1.20), but once activated it quickly had "1.24.01, Nov 2 2004" firmware, with no action on my part. FYI I'm currently on 2.0.10(LIc) firmware |
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| FYI, both my GP2s (the noisy one and the quiet one) are on:
Firmware Version: 1.24.01, Nov 2 2004
Voice Version: 2.0.11(LIc) |
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dorosz
join:2003-06-28
Cumming, GA | said by tinkererguy:FYI, both my GP2s (the noisy one and the quiet one) are on: Firmware Version: 1.24.01, Nov 2 2004 Voice Version: 2.0.11(LIc) Hmm...1.20.01 Sep 3 2004
and still 2.0.10 and no problems  |
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| reply to tinkererguy
OK, here's my promised list of serial #s I've tried, in hopes of somebody at Linksys/Vonage/broadbandreports spotting a trend of some sort. I'm honestly not into Linksys/Vonage loosing $ with all these returns. I did all these swaps at the advice of both companies tech support, and am hoping to help out by sharing this info.
I should add that I tried different models of corded phones plugged directly into WRT54GP2 Line 1 or Line 2. Also note that this isn't a subtle hiss, it's either there or it's not, obvious to anybody. I'd say that the noisy WRT54GP2s are 5x noisier than the quiet ones, about 10 seconds after powering up (before even activated by Vonage).
Linksys WRT54GP2
Serial# Store (Hartford area of CT, bought between Nov 19-21st '04)
BACKGROUND HISS:
CGZ00D905754 Best Buy, tested with Vonage, returned
CGZ00D905755 Best Buy, tested with Vonage, returned
CGZ00DA00044 Best Buy, tested with Vonage
CGZ00DA13211 CompUSA, tested with just phone, returned
CGZ00DA12830 CompUSA, working (with hiss, brother's house)
NO BACKGROUND HISS:
CGZ00DA01630 Best Buy, working (my house) |
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| I'm delighted to say that both Linksys and Vonage are actively investigating this issue, and are aware of these posts I'm making. I do believe strongly in this product, and will likely be signing up more friends-and-family for Vonage. I'm confident we'll get through this early-adopter phase very soon!
PS: You may notice at the retailers shelves that the serial #s are listed right on the bottom of the Linksys boxes, and usually on your receipts as well. Also, the cheapest way to get started with Vonage (if you don't already have a wireless router) appears to be by buying one of these WRT54GP2 routers and getting a $50 rebate by mail. You won't be needing the Linksys RT31P2 Vonage normally sends to new customers that need hardware at this time. |
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1 edit | reply to tinkererguy
I was at Best Buy, picked up this serial#
CGZ00DA04589 Best Buy, tested with Vonage
this is close to the serial# that I had working, but it has the background hiss problem and will have to be returned. I didn't notice the hiss much until activated, so no good in-store test, activation with Vonage seems to be the best true test.
So, now back to using my known-good hiss-free WRT54GP2 (although not quite as quiet as the RT31P2). I tried a different configuration, works nicely, even with heavy ftp upload through the WRT54GP2, allowing me to travel with the RT31P2, a big blessing:
Motorola Cablemodem ===> WRT54GP2 ===> Line 1 (removed)
\===> RT31P2 ===> Line 2 (removed)
Will keep informed! |
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| That didn't space correctly, to clarify, the cablemodem is hooked to the WAN port of the WRT54GP2, and the WRT54GP2 LAN is connected to the WAN port of the RT31P2. |
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Reviews:
 ·ViaTalk
1 edit | reply to tinkererguy
said by tinkererguy: Line 1 (removed) \===> RT31P2 ===> Line 2 (removed) Will keep informed! Those are fake phone numbers, right? You wouldn't post your real phone numbers on the internet, would you? |
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 bewaleKillemallPremium
join:2000-08-08
Royal Oak, MI | Guys, any update on the status of the Linksys WRT54GP2 device? My father is looking to go wireless and subscribe to Vonage... and this seems to be the perfect fit... assuming these issues have been worked out. If not, I'll be picking up the PAP2 for $9 and separate Wireless B/G router.
Thanks.
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"In a world of compromise, some don't." |
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| Im one of the chief cheerleaders and not a good one on this router. The "air noise" issue still there but minimal and you tend to forget its there after continued use. QOS is perfect. No more phantom reboots with the current firmware 1.25.0, 1.24.01 was junk....so really I can tell ya go ahead and get it. Make sure its running 1.25.0 firmware and he will be fine! |
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| Success - possible solution / workaround!!! I've been following this thread for over a month; ever since I upgraded my Cisco ATA to a Vonage WRT54GP2 which has the "air noise" problem. Living with the problem is better than going back to the Cisco/old router, and since I purchased the Linksys online it would be a hassle to exchange it in hopes of getting a better one. I've been hoping a solution would be discovered by one of you.
As a result of this last post I decided to call Vonage Tech Support and ask for a 1.24.01 to 1.25.00 firmware upgrade, and to report the problem. They switched my service from port 1 to 2, in hopes that the port was bad ... no change. They swapped it back, and sent the 1.25.00 firmware ... no change. However in the process of discussing the port swap I discovered what appears to be a solution!!!!
I had attached an old AT&T trimline phone to my second port, as a backup phone for when the power fails. I have a UPS on my cable modem and the WRT54GP2, so if the power fails I swap the phone cords between port 1 and 2, because my wireless phone's base doesn't have backup power.
While I was talking to Vonage Tech Support on my wireless phone (on port 1), I happened to take the trimline phone (on port 2) off the hook, and low and behold, no "air noise". It totally disappeared. I only have port 1 active with Vonage (port 2 doesn't get a dial tone), however something about leaving a phone connected to it and off the hook fixes the problem. The trimline phone has a lighted keypad which illuminates when it is off the hook, so maybe this power draw plays into it. I mentioned this to the Tech who seemed unimpressed, but I was thrilled by this discovery. For now I plan to leave the port 2 phone off the hook all of the time. Hopefully Linksys and/or Vonage develop a better solution, or this helps someone narrow down what the defect is.
I hope this solution works for the rest of you. Please report back with your findings. Happy Holidays! ...Mark |
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| ummmmm sounds like a lot of hassle and I am just as unimpressed. I am still working on this with Linksys and not Vonage. 1.25.0 firmware is not perfect and has issues too...Im about sick of this thing period. The Air noise is the least of my issues with this. Most seem to blow this out of proportion and is not that bad. I just want something that works...sad because this is a nice thing if it worked properly. QOS is solid and the rest of it sucks....lol. |
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| taycounty -
What fixes/issues does the firmware 1.25.00 have? I was having zero problems with 1.24.01, but found the air noise very distracting; to the point I would use my cell phone to make calls over using the house phone. If the "second phone fix" proves to be a solution for others, maybe Linksys can provide a port dongle to simulate this and solve the problem in a cleaner way. If you are talking to Linksys maybe you can inquire as to why this corrects the noise problem? I agree that having a true fix from Linksys would be better. For now I'm just curious if this fix works for others. ...Mark |
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 GeekJediRF is Good For YouPremium
join:2001-06-21
Mukwonago, WI
 ·CenturyLink
·VOIPo
| reply to WRT54GP2
said by WRT54GP2:While I was talking to Vonage Tech Support on my wireless phone (on port 1), I happened to take the trimline phone (on port 2) off the hook, and low and behold, no "air noise". It totally disappeared. I only have port 1 active with Vonage (port 2 doesn't get a dial tone), however something about leaving a phone connected to it and off the hook fixes the problem. The trimline phone has a lighted keypad which illuminates when it is off the hook, so maybe this power draw plays into it. I mentioned this to the Tech who seemed unimpressed, but I was thrilled by this discovery. For now I plan to leave the port 2 phone off the hook all of the time. Hopefully Linksys and/or Vonage develop a better solution, or this helps someone narrow down what the defect is. I hope this solution works for the rest of you. Please report back with your findings. Happy Holidays! ...Mark Believe it or not, it worked for me! I had an old desk phone (not lit) that I plugged in. I took it off the hook and sure enough, the background noise became "normal".
I know that even if port 2 is not active, there is voltage present to power the phone. I wonder if the drop in current/voltage by having the second phone off the hook has anything to do with the reduction in "noise"...
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The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!! |
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| Hi All,
I have been following this thread for a while now and I have one question. What setting are you using for the voice QoS on your router? There really isn't any documentation for this setting and I am not sure what to set it at.
Also, just for the record, I too am having the "air noise" problem, but I do not have any other issues with the router. Unfortunately, I have two phone lines from vonage so I already use both ports.
Anyway, any insight to the QoS setting would be appreciated. |
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| I leave it at its default 256.
dsl here 500 up 1500 down
works great...
some type of flooding issue though going on now and then as well as reboot. Becoming seldom more than frequent. Im not too trusting of this really and when Netgear releases theirs if EVER I will chuck this to the garbage can. |
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| Uhm...suggestion...for those that are using this phone trick...an easier solution that'd be less bulky is to just take a snippet of phone cord with a resistor inline and plug that into the second line...just figure out the resistance of the phone you're using. |
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| WRT54GP2 with other services Can the WRT54GP2 be used with services other than Vonage if I put a another companies adapter behind it?
I am a novice at all this and was so proud of myself when I successfully installed the modem and the WRT54GP2. Then I got on line to sign on with Vonage and found out my area code is not available. I may try out the service just for fun and either wait for Vonage to add my area code or switch to another service.
I am tempted to take the WRT54GP2 back, but I'm scared I will get into trouble installing a new router and adapter over the existing setup. Any Advice would be appreciated. |
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midson
join:2000-10-23
Portland, OR | reply to WRT54GP2
Re: Success - possible solution / workaround!!! This work-a-round works great. It's the best solution so far for this problem that's nagged at many of us. Thanks WRT54GP2! |
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kurtpo
join:2005-01-06
Hartland, MI | reply to WRT54GP2
Message below sent to Vonage.
My third adapter is on its way because of my complaint of background noise. Dial Up Modem type digital noise. I read on the Internet forums about someone simply attaching a second wired phone to the unused second phone jack on the adapter and taking it "off the hook" and the noise disapeared on the active first line. I made up a "dongle" with a RJ11 connector with a 100k ohm resistor on the "tip" and "ring" wires (center pins on the 6 pin RJ11) with the same no background noise results on my active line. I sincerely hope this helps Linksys and Vonage solve the real problem with the background noise. |
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