VOIP SunRocket Internet Phone Service $199 for 15months = $13.27/month

[Robor]

Originally posted by: RideFree

Originally posted by: Robor
FYI - Since putting in these Uniden phones they are playing havoc with my 802.11 b and g network.

Guess you'll just have to go with cat-5.
Seriously, these two should be compatible. It'd probably be a lot easier moving the WiFi to a different channel. Doesn't .11g have 11 channels here in US & CN?

Cat5 isn't an option. I mean, I do have 3 system and my ReplayTV running on CAT5 but I've also got 2 lappys being used and mine is used nightly for work. I don't want to have to worry about cables for the lappys.

It's not really a problem though. If this service is good enough to keep I'll put my 5.8 phones on the SunRocket device and sell the Unidens.

My Linksys is on Channel 6 BTW. Don't know how to tell what channel the Unidens are using.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: jono8
I was poking around on dslreports' forums, and found a post to this site for speed testing (you have to restigster, which is painless). I tried it, and got normal results with the gizmo in front of the router. Went back to dslreports.com's speed tests, and got bad results. I think the two tests use different methods/file sizes to test the connection, and for some reason the gizmo is causing the dslreports test to not perform as well as the other test.


Edit: Just ran 2 tests with the gizmo in front:

With myspeed.visualware.com, I got 4.93Mbps down and 366 kbps up

With dslreports.com speed test, I got 222 kbps down and 353 kbps up

I just ran a test from that site with my Gizmo behind the router. Test was run with the Gizmo on but I wasn't on the phone at the time. I got...

2.52 Mbps down
624 kbps up

The download speed is consistent with Broadband Reports but the upload is much higher than I ususally get. I'm normally about 300-450 kbps upload on Broadband Reports.

 

[Ctown]

Originally posted by: jono8

Originally posted by: Ctown

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: jono8
Has anyone else experienced a dramatic drop in bandwidth when putting the gizmo in front of your router? i'd really like to take advantage of the gizmo's automatic bandwith managment features when I'm on the phone, but don't want to give up the speed when I'm not using the phone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I've been doing quite a bit of reading up on this deal -- and the chat over at dslreports.com indicate that this is common. Some people have played around with the settings under the web-management tool with some success.
Most people are opting to put the gizmo behind the router -- where they say it works fine.

Yes, I have definitely noticed this problem with the gizmo before the router. I would consistently get around 3000/256 before setting the gizmo up. With it now before the router, I get around 1000/150 when not using the phone. Even less when using the phone.

When I put the gizmo after the router, I'm back up to around 3000/256 most of the time.

Are others having this problem? I'd like to take advantage of the automatic bandwidth management too...

Thanks,
K

I was poking around on dslreports' forums, and found a post to this site for speed testing (you have to restigster, which is painless). I tried it, and got normal results with the gizmo in front of the router. Went back to dslreports.com's speed tests, and got bad results. I think the two tests use different methods/file sizes to test the connection, and for some reason the gizmo is causing the dslreports test to not perform as well as the other test.


Edit: Just ran 2 tests with the gizmo in front:

With myspeed.visualware.com, I got 4.93Mbps down and 366 kbps up

With dslreports.com speed test, I got 222 kbps down and 353 kbps up

Yes, that's the site (visualware) I was using for the test reults I posted above...so I guess I'm still not sure what's going on. I talked to tech support yesterday and they couldn't figure it out either. They said they'd refer on to next level and get back to me.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Robor
FYI - Since putting in these Uniden phones they are playing havoc with my 802.11 b and g network.

I kind of expected it would... I've always seen problems w/ 2.4ghz phones and wifi. I just wanted the free phones as a plus

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: ImSeeker
re one POTS and one sunrocket: I'd say NO.

It's all about the voltage that the phone company sends into the system (which is why you don't need electricity with manual phones). If you have a POTS at all, you'll have the "fry the gizmo" potential.

Gizmo will be fine as long as line one (center conductors) are completely dead and you use a single line (only center conductors) phone cord. That guarantees that line 2 will not be connected into the gizmo.

Originally posted by: Robor
FYI - Since putting in these Uniden phones they are playing havoc with my 802.11 b and g network.

Me nor the SR techs have figured out why SR went with the 2.4GHz Unidens... I haven't checked on if they interfer with my router. I'd recommend a few things:
1. Keep the phone base away from your wireless router.
2. Keep the gizmo away from everything. It is has basically no internal shielding so if may interfer with any devices you have it near. And they may interfer with it as well.

Originally posted by: Robor
You can always test it for voltage by sticking the line in your mouth. I (stupidly) did that when I was younger. Had to crawl on my hands and knees under a desk and put the end of the phone line in my mouth so my hands were free. In case you're wondering it gives your tongue quite a shock! :Q

I really don't recommend sticking 51 volts into your mouth. Just pick up a cheap multimeter. I'm sure you could always find a use for one.

This one is on sale for $14.99 until Feb 9: Link

 

[ImSeeker]

Day 4:

Appropriately corrected by MrNutz on POTS vs Gizmo.

Still waiting for Gizmo to arrive, but didn't expect it yet anyway.

 

[gibster]

Well, a tech called after 1+ days about my problems with putting the gizmo on the modem, and getting echoes. Echoes seemed to have disappeared "by themselves", so this may not be a problem with the gizmo after all. He said some modems do not give up a DHCP address to the gizmo easily, especially after a router was hooked up to it... He suggested MAC spoofing, which I have yet to try. He said in his own private configuration, he has the gizmo on his LAN, because the gizmo's handling of port forwarding, etc. is rather dismal. So there you have it. For the people who suggested the 45 minute waiting time, you presume the gizmo ALREADY HAD a DHCP address - I've never seen it get one before in my setup. What you probably need to do is disconnect the MODEM, and let it leak out the charge - by doing that to the gizmo, you were solving the wrong problem, and probably got lucky that the gizmo got re-DHCPd.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Anyone else forced to use 10 digit dialing? Just got hooked up a few hours ago and can't make a call by dialing local 7 digit #. Yes, the # I signed up for is in my local area code. FWIW, I still can't receive incoming calls on my assigned #. Does it just need a little longer to get settled down?

 

[Ctown]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Anyone else forced to use 10 digit dialing? Just got hooked up a few hours ago and can't make a call by dialing local 7 digit #. Yes, the # I signed up for is in my local area code. FWIW, I still can't receive incoming calls on my assigned #. Does it just need a little longer to get settled down?

Yes, everyone is required to us 10 digit dialing. As far as I know, 7 digit is not available for anyone.

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: gibster
Well, a tech called after 1+ days about my problems with putting the gizmo on the modem, and getting echoes. Echoes seemed to have disappeared "by themselves", so this may not be a problem with the gizmo after all. He said some modems do not give up a DHCP address to the gizmo easily, especially after a router was hooked up to it... He suggested MAC spoofing, which I have yet to try. He said in his own private configuration, he has the gizmo on his LAN, because the gizmo's handling of port forwarding, etc. is rather dismal. So there you have it. For the people who suggested the 45 minute waiting time, you presume the gizmo ALREADY HAD a DHCP address - I've never seen it get one before in my setup. What you probably need to do is disconnect the MODEM, and let it leak out the charge - by doing that to the gizmo, you were solving the wrong problem, and probably got lucky that the gizmo got re-DHCPd.

lol... gibster, you're very intent on proving someone wrong aren't you..?

I am really tired of explaining how this works so I'll let you believe whatever you think is right. I guess I presumed that you would have tried reseting your modem after letting the gizmo discharge and reconnecting it. My fault then, I was wrong, there you go.

You said you made phone calls using your VoIP service, so obviously your gizmo had obtained an IP from your router's DHCP tables. When your gizmo obtained this IP, it "married" itself to it until the given DHCP lease time was up. Same as your computer, wireless access point, etc that are hooked up to your router. The only difference is that the gizmo doesn't have a software or hardware reset to release/renew the DHCP lease it obtains. So, yes, you do need to power cycle/discharge it for it to make a new DHCP request. As for your cable modem, some don't care if you switch devices on them.. some do. For the ones that do, they are just specifying that they will only communicate with a specific MAC device. In your case, it sounds like your router. So when you pwr cycle the cable modem, it "should" be open to communicate with a different MAC device (now the gizmo). I would really feel sorry for you if you need to clone the MAC address of your router to hook up your gizmo.

If you want some more info on this, read here.

 

[gibster]

Originally posted by: MrNutz

Originally posted by: gibster
Well, a tech called after 1+ days about my problems with putting the gizmo on the modem, and getting echoes. Echoes seemed to have disappeared "by themselves", so this may not be a problem with the gizmo after all. He said some modems do not give up a DHCP address to the gizmo easily, especially after a router was hooked up to it... He suggested MAC spoofing, which I have yet to try. He said in his own private configuration, he has the gizmo on his LAN, because the gizmo's handling of port forwarding, etc. is rather dismal. So there you have it. For the people who suggested the 45 minute waiting time, you presume the gizmo ALREADY HAD a DHCP address - I've never seen it get one before in my setup. What you probably need to do is disconnect the MODEM, and let it leak out the charge - by doing that to the gizmo, you were solving the wrong problem, and probably got lucky that the gizmo got re-DHCPd.

lol... gibster, you're very intent on proving someone wrong aren't you..?

I am really tired of explaining how this works so I'll let you believe whatever you think is right. I guess I presumed that you would have tried reseting your modem after letting the gizmo discharge and reconnecting it. My fault then, I was wrong, there you go.

You said you made phone calls using your VoIP service, so obviously your gizmo had obtained an IP from your router's DHCP tables. When your gizmo obtained this IP, it "married" itself to it until the given DHCP lease time was up. Same as your computer, wireless access point, etc that are hooked up to your router. The only difference is that the gizmo doesn't have a software or hardware reset to release/renew the DHCP lease it obtains. So, yes, you do need to power cycle/discharge it for it to make a new DHCP request. As for your cable modem, some don't care if you switch devices on them.. some do. For the ones that do, they are just specifying that they will only communicate with a specific MAC device. In your case, it sounds like your router. So when you pwr cycle the cable modem, it "should" be open to communicate with a different MAC device (now the gizmo). I would really feel sorry for you if you need to clone the MAC address of your router to hook up your gizmo.

If you want some more info on this, read here.

Whatever, dude, you've gotten tiresome with your preaching. You are not listening to what I am saying, because you are filtering it with your faulty little model. How do you explain that the gizmo WORKS on 2 different routers, with different LAN DHCP ranges? The gizmo switched from one to another without any 45 minute rigmarole. I just disconnected it normally and connected to the other router within a couple of minutes. So obviously it DOES manage to send a DHCP request somehow.

Your "solution" does not work for me, so don't try to cram it down my throat. Live and let live. Thanks for the help, but your solution solves a different kind of problem. Like someone once said - if your only tool is a hammer, every problem in the world is a nail.

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Anyone else forced to use 10 digit dialing? Just got hooked up a few hours ago and can't make a call by dialing local 7 digit #. Yes, the # I signed up for is in my local area code. FWIW, I still can't receive incoming calls on my assigned #. Does it just need a little longer to get settled down?

The deal is like this...
You no longer need to use a "1" when dialing LD, however, this translates into using 10 digit all the time.
So, the good news is
And, the bad news is

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Ctown

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Anyone else forced to use 10 digit dialing? Just got hooked up a few hours ago and can't make a call by dialing local 7 digit #. Yes, the # I signed up for is in my local area code. FWIW, I still can't receive incoming calls on my assigned #. Does it just need a little longer to get settled down?

Yes, everyone is required to us 10 digit dialing. As far as I know, 7 digit is not available for anyone.

Crap, I really wish that was explained up front. Is that the way it is w all VOIP? Probably wouldn't have signed up if I knew that but now that I have it I'll try to work w it. Pushing those 3 extra buttons doesn't really take that much longer but somewhere along the line there's a principle involved that we shouldn't have to use 10 digits to call around the corner.

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: gibster
Whatever, dude, you've gotten tiresome with your preaching. You are not listening to what I am saying, because you are filtering it with your faulty little model. How do you explain that the gizmo WORKS on 2 different routers, with different LAN DHCP ranges? The gizmo switched from one to another without any 45 minute rigmarole. I just disconnected it normally and connected to the other router within a couple of minutes. So obviously it DOES manage to send a DHCP request somehow.

Your "solution" does not work for me, so don't try to cram it down my throat. Live and let live. Thanks for the help, but your solution solves a different kind of problem. Like someone once said - if your only tool is a hammer, every problem in the world is a nail.

Calm down man. Do both of the routers use the same subnet gateway and IP prefix? B/c the gizmo doesn't need to make a DHCP request in that case. It can be considered a static IP device and will work fine on the other router regardless of the router's DHCP range.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: RideFree

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Anyone else forced to use 10 digit dialing? Just got hooked up a few hours ago and can't make a call by dialing local 7 digit #. Yes, the # I signed up for is in my local area code. FWIW, I still can't receive incoming calls on my assigned #. Does it just need a little longer to get settled down?

The deal is like this...
You no longer need to use a "1" when dialing LD, however, this translates into using 10 digit all the time.
So, the good news is
And, the bad news is

heh, doesn't matter for me... we've had 10 digit dialing here for years now

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Ctown

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
...I really wish that was explained up front. Is that the way it is w all VOIP? Probably wouldn't have signed up if I knew that but now that I have it I'll try to work w it. Pushing those 3 extra buttons doesn't really take that much longer but somewhere along the line there's a principle involved that we shouldn't have to use 10 digits to call around the corner.

The good news is that you can program the phones to do it for you.
The bad news is that this will require reading the manual.

 

[ImSeeker]

Day 5:

Received email from Sunrocket saying they were transferring my phone number from POTS to VoIP.

Still no gizmo. Hopefully tomorrow.

(I sure hope I get the gizmo before they move the number - but they did say "up to 20 days".)

 

[Robor]

Has anyone been on their SunRocket phone and done a bandwidth test? Here's a link to a few... http://www.broadbandreports.com/stest

I've tried several times and several sites and when the upload portion starts the person on the other end says they can hear that I'm on the line but they can't understand anything because it's so choppy. I don't normally upload that much but if I was playing an online game and wanted to be on the phone at the same time this wouldn't be a good solution.

 

[doan]

Anybody have 911 working with sunrocket? When I call 911, I get the non-emergency line at the police station - no address info.

 

[jono8]

uhh, what were you planning on doing if the real 911 picked up? wrong number? (or was there a real emergency?)

 

[doan]

Calling to test the service....cleared with local police station first.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: doan
Calling to test the service....cleared with local police station first.

interesting, you can do that? wonder why I never thought of asking... I should call them and ask

 

[BigLar]

A note on dialing ten digits. Those of us in the Boston area have to do it for every call with local service providers anyway, so its no biggie here.

For the rest of you I guess the answer is, "Welcome to the new world order".

 

[stockjock]

As usual...my current number is not available. You would think that living 8 miles outside of Orlando, Fl would not be a problem

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BigLar
A note on dialing ten digits. Those of us in the Boston area have to do it for every call with local service providers anyway, so its no biggie here.

For the rest of you I guess the answer is, "Welcome to the new world order".

Yeah you get used to it eventually.