[WXC/VFX] vfx and TCL cable - tones and dropped calls - anyone else had this

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] vfx and TCL cable - tones and dropped calls - anyone else had this - suggestions?

wongtop

563 posts

Ultimate Geek

#17129 13-Nov-2007 20:05

I am one of those who jumped ship and got rid of our landline altogether. Most of the time it works great. However once every few days we get tones in our calls, and occaisonally a dropped call altogether. It dosen't happen that often, but often enough to be annoying.

Has anyone else had similar issues with the combination of VFX and TCL cable (Wellington)?

We run the WTRP54G for VFX.

We have contacted both WXC and TCL about this issue. WXC helpdesk say it is a broadband issue, while TCL's standard response (after long hold times) is suggesting to reboot the modem.

I have done speedtests on http://speedtest.xport.co.nz/. The up and down rates come out OK, but the QoS usually comes out low. Most recent was 1.07 Mbps down, 1.52 Mbps up, and 57% QoS. This is on a 10G 4/2 (down/up) plan. (Interestingly, while I was doing the test my wife was on the phone, and had no issues with it).

It is not a load issue on our side, as most of the time during the affected phone calls, the pc isn't even on (just the modem and router).

I would be interested if anyone else has had similar issues or has some suggestions as what to try next.

amigo

161 posts

Master Geek

#95081 13-Nov-2007 23:01

Hi

Try making sure that your router is located in a non-enclosed area away from other heat producing equipment. I had problems with my WTRP54G, where I would not recieve incoming voice, but the caller could hear me. A reset would fix the problem, but then it would come back. Turns out to be a overheating problem, and I've sat it by itself and it's been fine since.

Another problem I had with the WTRP54G, is a high pitched squeal, that comes and goes, often a gentle whack would shut it up for a couple of days, but it would start up again. The noise would go away if you were on a call. I recently found a solution from other's having the same problem, and that was to plug in an old phone in the second port and leave it off the hook. Or you can apparently plug in a cable with a twisted wire to tidy it up.

Before I bought the WTRP54G, I did sme research on Linksys and came to the conclusion that Linksys equipment is really flakey. But I had little choice when switching to VFX, so I figured that I would give them a go. I too have come to this conclusion and will not be buying their gear again if I have a choice.

Maverick recommended that I return the unit, but the because the problems are so random and the unit appears to do the job fine when tested, it would have been too much of an incovinence to be without my phone (like you I ditched the landline altogether) and wireless networking for the period of having it sent away, checked and replaced. So I've just put up with it. I've read of others who have gone through several replacements (in the US).

maverick

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WorldxChange

#95092 14-Nov-2007 05:26

Hi Philip,

For dropped calls we can generally see what happens this will most probably be due to the connection itself, let me know when you have one via PM and I will take a look and can confirm, also if you PM your Details phone number, I will take a look at the Tones issue you report,

The Linksys WRTP54g is getting near end of life as a product (new product wrp400 to be released shortly), the reason as discussed previously why we recommend the linksys gear is that it runs the Sipura SIP stack which from a SIP point of view probably the best SIP stack out there.

By the way I eat my own lunch as well, I have exactly the same Model WRTP54g as you do, I run this over a Wired Country wireless connection and I can hand on heart say I don't see this issue myself but we will take a look and see if we identify anything

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

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wongtop

563 posts

Ultimate Geek

#95108 14-Nov-2007 09:53

Thanks for the suggestions. I had read about the heat issue too. I have stood the wrtp54G several cm away from other items, have it stood vertically, and also switched off the wireless to minimise the heating. Not sure what else I can do on that regard.

Does anyone else on TCL cable get poor QoS results when trying the xnet speedtest?

grant_k

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#95111 14-Nov-2007 10:16

wongtop: Does anyone else on TCL cable get poor QoS results when trying the xnet speedtest?

I'm on Extend wireless via Xnet Xtencity also using a WRTP54G router.

QoS is great for me regardless of downloads, uploads or Speedtests.

However, I have seen my router reboot itself a couple of times just after a Speedtest.

The WRTP54G is certainly not the most stable router I have ever had, but its QoS outpaces all the ZyXEL routers I used to use.

sbiddle

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#95121 14-Nov-2007 10:59

grant_k:
wongtop: Does anyone else on TCL cable get poor QoS results when trying the xnet speedtest?

I'm on Extend wireless via Xnet Xtencity also using a WRTP54G router.

QoS is great for me regardless of downloads, uploads or Speedtests.

What results are people on connections other than TCL getting if they use the http://speedtest.xport.co.nz/ speedtest?

I get 64% QoS but it seems a rather meaningless statistic. The speeds also vary quite considerably compared to the other Xnet speed test http://www.xnet.co.nz/speedtest/

grant_k

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#95125 14-Nov-2007 11:44

sbiddle: What results are people on connections other than TCL getting if they use the http://speedtest.xport.co.nz/ speedtest?

I get 64% QoS but it seems a rather meaningless statistic. The speeds also vary quite considerably compared to the other Xnet speed test http://www.xnet.co.nz/speedtest/

Just now I got 92% QoS and Download/Upload speeds within a whisker of what Speedtest.net reports.

On previous occasions, the QoS result has been similar, always in the 90s as far as I remember.

sbiddle

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#95133 14-Nov-2007 12:38

I've certainly not had a single issue with voice quality in the 6 weeks or so that I've been testing VFX. I use a WRT54G running Sveasoft Talisman which has brilliant QoS.

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coffeebaron

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#95149 14-Nov-2007 15:37

sbiddle: I get 64% QoS but it seems a rather meaningless statistic. The speeds also vary quite considerably compared to the other Xnet speed test http://www.xnet.co.nz/speedtest/

The results from this speed test are a good overall indication of your expected overall VFX call quality. I've found generally anything over 80% gives excellent call quality using G711U. 50%-80% gives good quality with some variation e.g. the odd clicking in & out during a call. Below 50% and I begin to notice call quality dropping off a lot more.

The main factor is consistency, and the two variables here are "round trip to server" and "maximum download pause". Round trip to server can be compensated by "jitter" control, but can mean some voice garble if this is adjusting often. Download pause, this is the big VoIP killer. If you are seeing significant download pause on this speedtest, eg 300-400ms and upwards, then you will have issues with VFX. This was a major factor effecting my VFX service during WxC's recent "slow speeds" issue.

The best way to do the speedtest.xport.co.nz test is to run it 3 times in a row. If your results are consistent, and QoS is in the 60% upwards, then you should have good VFX. If there is a lot a variation, e.g. 40% QoS one minute, 80%QoS the next, then you will have VFX issues. Also, look at the blue & red graph. If it is pretty, then that is good, if it looks horrible and inconsistent, then that is not good.

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nigelramsay

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#95679 17-Nov-2007 14:46

I'm on TelstraClear cable. Did a speedtest last night, and it was very dodgy. But seems to have recovered again today:

Last night's result:
https://www.speedtest.net/result/202882361.png

Today:
https://www.speedtest.net/result/202967115.png

Cheers

nigel
http://www.sharesight.co.nz/

sbiddle

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#95695 17-Nov-2007 17:44

nigelramsay: I'm on TelstraClear cable. Did a speedtest last night, and it was very dodgy. But seems to have recovered again today:

Last night's result:
https://www.speedtest.net/result/202882361.png

Today:
https://www.speedtest.net/result/202967115.png

Cheers

nigel
http://www.sharesight.co.nz/

Both WxC speedtests and the QoS figure are very good this afternoon, certainly a lot better than they have been at any time over the past week when I've been testing them.

Having said that it's an absolutely beautiful day here in Wgtn and there probably aren't too many people sitting inside downloading pr0n today. We can only hope that TCL have resolved an issue somewhere.

hairy1

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#95706 17-Nov-2007 19:06

Mine had same issues as you but on a different ISP. Standing the WRTP54G up vertically has sorted all the problems. I suspect it was related to heat. It was quite frustrating there for a while. I haven't rebooted mine in a couple of months now. I have made a vertical stand using MDF which it slots into. Cheers. Matt.

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