[RESOLVED] Are you experiencing random dropped calls?

[FONGO_kris]

I've merged this with our ongoing topic here - please take note of the comment from Steve earlier that he does not need any more reports for the time being.

Thanks for the plethora of reports everyone.
I'm going to hold off on asking for anymore while we sift through what we have received and try to find any clues as to what might be causing this for some of you.

If I need any more information, I will update this thread! Similarly, if we make any changes or have any suggestions, I will also update here.

[TSellers]

A new pattern that I have started to see, calls dropped instantly, E.G, within 5 seconds. Usually as soon as I reconnect the call, it then proceeds normally. Seems to happen once overy day or two. Just wondering if anyone else is also seeing this pattern, of if it's just me?

PS: Kris, please don't lock this topic unless it becomes cluttered with meaningless sillyness. Otherwise it may be hard to see if others are experiencing similar patterns.

[FONGO_kris]

Don't worry, this topic will not be locked as Steve needs it to keep track of any progress regarding this issue.

[terry]

Hi,
This is as much to test the posting mechanism using a
text-only browser, as to report another fpl user with the
dropped connection problem.
Since the problem is already known, I won't add my details
here, other than to say that recently when the connection
drops, I am unable to re-dial the callee immediately.
It appears that the fpl server is blocking the connection
for 30-60 seconds.

Thanks for all your hard work in investigating this
on-going problem.
--terry

[FONGO_kris]

Duely noted terry, thank you.

[TSellers]

FWIW, I've noticed the same thing as Terry in that regard.

[MikeD]

I am using Linksys SPA 3102. I had about 10 calls drops over a month. My phone links goes silent. There is no pattern. However, I have noticed that calls ranging from 5-20minuts while drops.
On the other hand, I had used this router with Internetcalls.com before. Never had a call drop…
Thanks
Baskar

I have the pretty much the same problems as Baskar. Never a problem with my other current VOIP provider on the same equipment so must be a problem at FPL's end. Needless to say, I will keep my other provider until I am confident these problems are resolved.

[kornando]

Same problem here, started mid may.. getting random call drop, and once call drop unable to redial for 30 to 60 sec

[TSellers]

I'm not familiar with other options as far as VOIP providers go as I'm new to this, so that's one reason why I'm hanging in there with FPL.

I also understand that there can be many causes of any given problem, and that is why I have been willing to replace every piece of hardware I've got to test it. Unfortunately I cannot replace the lines that carry the DSL into my house though, or the carrier that owns them.

I really appreciate that FPL staff are responsive and helpful, and that makes me hang in there as well. I also appreaciate the fact they are looking at this problem and are trying to address it.

I suppose at some point you cannot carry on forever with the dropped calls problem and sadly I may have to look at changing providers, but I hope it does not come to that.

Having said as much, it would be nice to get just a bit more feedback as to what FPL may 'suspect' the problem may be, what avenues of investigation are being pursued, and what a reasonable time frame would be to hope for a resolution.

Of course at the moment it has been stated by FPL that it may not even be a problem caused by their network, so one of the first steps still seems to remain finding where the problem lay. TO that extent it is helpful to hear from others who have used the same equipment on other networks with success. Thanks for the feedback.

[MikeD]

It's always a good idea to have a backup solution in place whenever possible. I think even if FPL resolved their issues with dropped calls & CID block not being functional, I would still retain my other VOIP provider. Don't get me wrong - I'm not slagging FPL or Fibernetics - they just need to get these problems resolved. I still recommend their services for residential/business phone/Internet/long distance to people all the time just with the caveat of the honest problems I've had. Heck, I'm even setting up my Mother on their 295.ca dial-up Internet service.

Back to the subject at hand. There is no denying that the dropped call issue is at FPL's end. Some people with improper or poor setups may have the same issues with other VOIP providers, but for those of us using the same setup with no such problems with various other different VOIP providers, that clearly points out that the problem is in FPL's side of things. So don't jump to conclusions and start changing out all of your hardware when you have a great forum like this to get feedback from users with many different types of hardware, many different types of setup, and many different alternate VOIP providers.

[jackd]

Same here, I use FPL for pleasure calls, it works well. I use another paid VOIP provider for important, business conf calls.

It's always a good idea to have a backup solution in place whenever possible. I think even if FPL resolved their issues with dropped calls & CID block not being functional, I would still retain my other VOIP provider.

[zhouzhilong]

hi there,

when I make calls these two days, line dropped all the time, my fpl:6475475080, normally last 1-3 mins then no sound.

Any help will be appreciated.

[FONGO_kris]

Please read around the forums for a similar topic before creating a new thread

I've edited out your number as well... Pesky phishers.

[atlas2001]

Hi,
This is as much to test the posting mechanism using a
text-only browser, as to report another fpl user with the
dropped connection problem.
Since the problem is already known, I won't add my details
here, other than to say that recently when the connection
drops, I am unable to re-dial the callee immediately.
It appears that the fpl server is blocking the connection
for 30-60 seconds.

Thanks for all your hard work in investigating this
on-going problem.
--terry

I have the exact same issue...
Router:WRT 54GS whit DDwrt
PAP2T

[MikeD]

Here's unfortunately where FPL, Fibernetics in particular, may not be looking at the "big picture".

As most people may or may not know by now, FPL's parent company Fibernetics offers business solutions for Internet and phone, most likely a much more profitable business model than FPL, WorldLine, 295.ca, etc.... The problems we experience here on FPL's side of things directly reflects on Fibernetics as a whole. Maybe they could say they have a better system in place for their business customers, but I for one would not even consider switching my business services over to them if they can't resolve issues in a timely manner on their residential side. I don't have any of their other services, but generally when one service has problems, chances are so do the others. For that matter, I could not in good conscience give out a good reference for them. Now I'm not saying I'm going to slander them in any way, but I would opt to refer to another provider. Even my residential internet is staying where it is for now.

Word of mouth is always the best advertisement, so hopefully these issues will get resolved and we can pay them back for our "free phone line" with referrals for their many services.

[FONGO_steve]

Here's unfortunately where FPL, Fibernetics in particular, may not be looking at the "big picture".

As most people may or may not know by now, FPL's parent company Fibernetics offers business solutions for Internet and phone, most likely a much more profitable business model than FPL, WorldLine, 295.ca, etc.... The problems we experience here on FPL's side of things directly reflects on Fibernetics as a whole. Maybe they could say they have a better system in place for their business customers, but I for one would not even consider switching my business services over to them if they can't resolve issues in a timely manner on their residential side. I don't have any of their other services, but generally when one service has problems, chances are so do the others. For that matter, I could not in good conscience give out a good reference for them. Now I'm not saying I'm going to slander them in any way, but I would opt to refer to another provider. Even my residential internet is staying where it is for now.

Word of mouth is always the best advertisement, so hopefully these issues will get resolved and we can pay them back for our "free phone line" with referrals for their many services.

Fibernetics VOIP is absolutely nothing like freephoneline VOIP - the two companies should not be compared and are independent of each other. Dropped calls don't exist on the Fibernetics end unless it's related to the company's internal network.
If you're looking for more information on the Fibernetics setup, it's best to PM me, I don't want to get into those details on the board and hijack my own thread.

[OverDrive]

Just had another one right now - 940PM (my forum email is my contact email for my FPL account, or pm me for my #)

DD-WRT on a WRT54GL
SPA3102
Cogeco Standard (14 Mbps down, at least 1 Mbps Up)

It wasn't my internet either - i'm still connected and working to my work VPN, and my modem reports no errors today.

[olhotak]

I also had one drop just now, also at 9:40pm (coincidence?) after about 6 minutes on the phone with no problem. I redialed successfully a few seconds later.

[FONGO_steve]

I also had one drop just now, also at 9:40pm (coincidence?) after about 6 minutes on the phone with no problem. I redialed successfully a few seconds later.

Can you PM me your number?

Just had another one right now - 940PM (my forum email is my contact email for my FPL account, or pm me for my #)

DD-WRT on a WRT54GL
SPA3102
Cogeco Standard (14 Mbps down, at least 1 Mbps Up)

It wasn't my internet either - i'm still connected and working to my work VPN, and my modem reports no errors today.

Can you PM me your number?

[ibm]

I am a new user and am experiencing a combination of deteriorating voice quality (at other end of connection) and dropped calls. Deterioration of voice quality as reported by other party happens usually within the first two minutes on most calls. Dropped calls are less frequent and when they do happen within 3-5 minutes. I see this thread ended May 31. Have there been more developments. I have QOS set on my router (PAP2T is highest priority) and I have been playing with echo cancelation settings. Turning off Echo Canc Adap Enable and Echo Supp Enable seems to be making a difference.

[ibm]

My mistake in not advancing to the next page and noticing the thread is still "very" active. I will continue to monitor.

[TSellers]

My latest dropped call time, posted here just in case anyone else had a call drop at the same time? This is the time of disconnect, and is taken from the log so I believe the time is EST:

2010-06-13 11:02:14.0

I suspect that if we start to look at the times the calls are dropping and more than one person gets disconnected at the same time in different parts of the country, it may help isolate the cause.

[OverDrive]

pm'd my number to steve earlier today.

[ibm]

My dropped call and quality problems seemed to have been resolved once I implemented the port forward recommendations from this forum ... 5060, 5061, 10,000, 20,000, 6060, 6061. I also separated the phone base station (5.8 Ghz Panasonic) from my WRT54G wireless router however I don't think this was a factor. I turned off QOS due to forum threads stating this sometimes limits bandwidth rather than improve it.

[TSellers]

Most of us experiencing the problem had the ports forwarded from the outset.

However the DECT may be something to explore. For example I noticed this post:

Re: Dect 6.0 cordless phone interferes with wireless... what phones don't ?
Posted: Jan 8, 2008 4:17 PM in response to: lisajoy


ok, this is interesting. My slowness issue turned out to be a bad wireless card in the modem itself, not interference. BUT... in the course of things, my ISP tech came over with an interference sniffer (WiSpy, really cool lil thing!) and it showed that the GE Dect 6.0 phone did indeed interfere significantly. A cheap 5.8ghz Vtech phone we tried didn't even show up in the scan, zero interference. The tech was mystified too, said the Dect (which is supposed to be at 1.9ghz) shouldn't have been a problem... but it was.
So there ya go... Dect 6.0 phones might not be all they're cracked up to be.

PS, that GE Dect 6.0 had crappy sound and volume, too... avoid them.

ALthough it apppears DECT can interfere with wireless signal, trying to figure out if it can also affect the LAN side of the wireless router too.