jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
3 edits | [Split] Fax, Modem or Alarm System, LPV Problems
Split from this topic ---> »Getting Earthlink Line Powered Voice on 2/3
tquan - I would be curious what your experience is. I just got the service and while the basic DSL and phone functionality works, I'm having a bunch of serious issues. I've been unable to get my fax, modem or alarm system (which all use POTS) to work. The fax, for example, calls and tries to connect, but just hangs.
I'm filtering the same way I was with my regular DSL service (using a splitter at the NID, rather than in-line microfilters). The basic phone service works fine (caller ID, call waiting, voicemail), although I no longer get visual voicemail notification on the phones and there is no "stutter tone". Earthlink has said they don't support the stutter tone, although perhaps it's just a "bug" right now.
I've been working this issue with Earthlink for the past 3 days to no avail. If I can't get the fax and alarm system to work (which everyone is saying should), I'm going to cancel and go back to POTS and regular ADSL.
FYI - They also turned off my old DSL and phone service the day before they got me the equipment, which was pretty annoying. Not the end of the world, though.
Anyone else have any thoughts/suggestions for me? |
|
Automate
join:2001-06-26
Atlanta, GA
| Re: Getting Earthlink Line Powered Voice on 2/3
said by jcricket  :I no longer get visual voicemail notification on the phones and there is no "stutter tone". Earthlink has said they don't support the stutter tone, although perhaps it's just a "bug" right now. There are two different ways the phone company can send a message waiting signal, stutter tone or FSK. Some phones work with either type of signals other phones only work with one or the other. You may want to try a phone that supports FSK message waiting indication. FSK is really a better method because with stutter tone the phone has periodically "pick up the phone line" to check for the stutter tone. |
|
jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| Is there any way to tell which phones support FSK notification? I've got a VTech cordless phone system (the 5831), which worked fine with my phone company voicemail.
This isn't the most critical issue. The fax and alarm system are more disturbing to me. |
|
tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA
2 edits | reply to jcricket
Re: [Split] Fax, Modem or Alarm System, LPV Proble
I'm still working on my full review of the service but can confirm at least that the modem issue is real. Under LPV, my DirecTiVo (TiVo for DirecTV satellite service) cannot use its analog modem to call in. It's well known though that a DirecTiVo doesn't really need to call in except in the case of a software update (and since DirecTV is ending their relationship with TiVo, not much chance of that). So this doesn't worry me too much. I haven't had a chance to do an alarm system test yet to find out if that's affected (the alarm and TiVo are the only analog phone devices I have other than voice phones, which of course work)
Update: Did an alarm test with my alarm monitoring company (ADT) and the alarm did call in properly. So at least recent ADT alarm systems work fine with LPV. I have an ADT touchscreen system that was installed in late 2004. |
|
jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to try again with ADT when I have time this week. Did you do anything special to test? Also, what's your filtering setup?
I still can't get the analog modem or fax machine to work. The fax is far more critical. |
|
Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
1 edit | Is it a Fax communications breakdown or a 10 digit dialing issue?
Have you tried lower the fax rate to 14.4k or 9600 if it is a communications error?
Have you tried placing a DSL filter on the FAX device but placing it on backwards so the filter is at the machine and the line cord goes into it from the wall??
Regards,
Doctor Olds
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
|
jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
1 edit | It's definitely a fax communications breakdown, as it dials the number, gets to "connecting" and then just hangs. You can even hear the first bit of the fax tone.
I've tried turning off error correction and V.34, which are the only fax settings I have access too (this is a HP Laser multi-function machine).
FYI - I have a DSL/Voice splitter at the NID, so none of the phones, fax machine or alarm system inside the house should require additional filters (or at least they didn't when I had regular ADSL service). At any rate, I tried adding a filter in both directions at the fax machine, it didn't change anything. |
|
tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA
| reply to jcricket
said by jcricket :Thanks for the feedback. I'll have to try again with ADT when I have time this week. Did you do anything special to test? Also, what's your filtering setup? I still can't get the analog modem or fax machine to work. The fax is far more critical. Unfortunately it turns out I have the alarm problem as well (the alarm managed to work once, but not consistently--eventually the ADT touchscreen complained about phone line problems). I don't intend to return to a standard analog voice line if I can help it, so I'm looking at options for dealing with the alarm. According to ADT, they offer an option for most of their alarm systems which allows the system to communicate via cell phone. Hardware cost is $199 (before $75 rebate), plus an extra $5/month for monitoring. In the long haul, I can make up that cost by staying with VoIP, and this will probably be a problem no matter which VoIP solution I go with ultimately. jcricket, if you can get the fax to work (or perhaps use one of the online fax options like eFax) this might be a way to handle the alarm problem. |
|
Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs: | Try a backwards DSL filter please. It sometimes works with other VoIP type services and there is a chance it may work with LPV. |
|
tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA
| said by Doctor Olds :Try a backwards DSL filter please. It sometimes works with other VoIP type services and there is a chance it may work with LPV. Unfortunately, this didn't work (tried with an analog modem and the TiVo) |
|
Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| There has to be something that is altering the conversion from Analog to Digital back to Analog that will work (otherwise voice wouldn't work). Maybe ask in the Covad / covad.net Forum for assistance? It may be an obscure setting on their end? 
Regards,
Doctor Olds
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
|
tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA | doc olds & jcricket--I'll try asking a Covad tech directly in the Covad Direct Forum and see what I can find out. |
|
jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| Thanks tquan - Please do find out. Earthlink tech support's only suggestion was dial "*99" before using the fax. I tried that, and the result is nothing (literally). The fax dials the number and then no ringing, no connecting on the other side.
I'm definitely interested to hear what people at Covad have to say. |
|
e_dub
franknbeans
Premium,VIP
join:2001-08-12
kickin ass
 ·Covad Communications
2 edits | I've replied to tquan's question in the Covad Forum, and I guess I'll reply here.
Many of us in the Covad Forum do not have access the LPV testing app. Only a small group within Covad have access and that's because LPV is still in it's testing phase. Sorry 
I've installed at least 10 LPV circuits in Atlanta (for the ELNK execs) and they have all gone smooth. I can only remember one circuit that was installed in the ELNK's Corp building being used test alarm dial out circuits. Not sure how that went. |
|
jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
1 edit | So did you test fax functionality on those circuits? The basic functionality (voice + dsl) work fine for me.
Or, better yet, any way for us to get in touch with people inside of Covad (through Earthlink) who do have access to the right knowledge/tools?
Edited to add: My issues are all on the voice side right now, in order of importance:
1) Analog fax machines cannot make outgoing fax calls successfully.
2) ADT Alarm systems do not connect. My alarm company reports receiving "no signals" when I perform a test.
3) Analog modems cannot successfully dial out and connect to remote modems.
4) Voicemail indicator appears not to work. It's possible that my phone relies on the "stutter tone" and not "FSK" for VM indicators. Supposedly LPV offers VM notification via FSK. I have not verified this yet.
5) Caller ID timestamp is off (no matter what you set as your timezone in Earthlink's web portal). The timestamp is correct on the voicemail messages
The DSL and regular phone service work, including caller ID and voicemail functionality. |
|
tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA | jcricket--notice that you posted on the Covad Direct forum as well. Post here if you find out anything. |
|
zeusxx
@earthlink.net | reply to jcricket
Re: [Split] Fax, Modem or Alarm System, LPV Problems
for the *99 thingy, are you dialing it and hanging up, or adding it to the beginning of your fax phone number? |
|
Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| Just like most all star type (*) service codes you have to add it to the same call dialing sequence. Hanging up would undo the temporary change of *99. It's similar to adding *70, to stop call waiting from interrupting a call. Comma's (,) are added to give a few seconds of pause (2 seconds per comma or 2.55 seconds each if you want exact. ) so the temporary service change request can register before the dialing of the actual number.
Comma Magic
Regards,
Doctor Olds
--
What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
|
tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA
| Re: [Split] Fax, Modem or Alarm System, LPV Proble
dialing *99, pausing a few seconds, then dialing the fax number in the same call dialing sequence definitely doesn't work. As jcricket reports, if you try this on LPV, all you get is dead silence/the sound of crickets on the line (ok, was kidding about the crickets!) |
|
jcricket
join:2002-08-30
Seattle, WA
| My update is that I gave up. Faxing and Alarm system monitoring do not work - at all. Don't let anyone at Earthlink tell you differently. To resolve this I'd have to:
•Pay ADT another $100 up-front and $5/month to get cellular alarm monitoring
•Sign up with eFax and buy a scanner
•Buy new phones for the VoiceMail indicators to work
•Hack my DirecTivo so that it makes "calls" over the Internet
All of these issues totally dwards and DSL speed advantages or "bundled savings" from this package.
So I called Earthlink and cancelled (you only have 30 days to do this before you're signed up for a 1-year committment). Unfortunately this also meant I had to call up and port my number back to Qwest (5-10 biz. days) and my DSL back to Speakeasy (6-9 biz. days). Hopefully I won't incur much downtime during the switchover.
Working with Earthlink was a totally miserable experience. Hour-long waits and no one in support knows what they're talking about when it comes to this service. All the advice they give you is for home-ATA-based VOIP (like Earthlink's TrueVoice or Vonage) or just plain bullshit. Worse, many of the CS reps barely speak English and keep reading different answers off the scripts they have, often answering a question that sounds like (but isn't) what you asked.
My conclusion is that Earthlink and Covad's claim that LPV is "just like POTS" is a lie. It appears to have the same advantages and disadvantages of most VOIP system. Sure, your phones will work in a power outage and you don't have a TA in your house. Woot! What's worse is that since you don't have a TA there don't appear to be solutions for the fax and alarm system issues that other people have figured out for Vonage, et al.
If all you need is really fast DSL and basic home phone service, are willing to put up with little to no support and don't need any other "POTS functionality" (fax, modem, alarm system, correct caller-ID timestamps), go ahead and sign up. Otherwise, wait until they either work out the kinks or admit that this system really doesn't offer POTS-like functionality. |
|
