Strange call forwarding/call waiting problem

[asammar]

Hello everybody,

I have a strange problem that hopefully someone will be able to help me with.

I have an FPL line with the unlock code running on an SPA2102. The line is forwarded permanently from the freephoneline.ca web interface to another regular POTS line (Follow Me: Enable/Sequential/Always Call Forward). Incoming and outgoing calls work fine as long as call waiting is not involved. Here is the problem scenario:

Someone calls the FPL line which rings the POTS line. The call is answered on the POTS line and works fine. If another call comes on the FPL line while the first call is still in progress, the caller hears the following message "The user you are trying to reach is not available" and the call immediately drops _without_ going to voice mail.

Any idea what's going on?

Thank you.

[Jake]

I think this will be because you are only assigned 2 channels for your account. When you forward a call I think you are going to use both channels up, one for the call coming in, and one for the call going out to your POTS number (hopefully someone should be able to correct me if this is not the case). This doesn't leave any spare channels for the channel that will be needed for the other call coming in, or when it gets redirected to voicemail.

As I said, I could be wrong, but I suspect it has something to do with the channels we are assigned.

[asammar]

Some additional information that might help:

When I disable call forwarding and repeat the same test on the phone attached directly to the SPA2102, everything works fine and the second call comes in as a call waiting tone. So, it seems that the problem is there only when call forwarding is enabled.

Thank you.

[asammar]

I think this will be because you are only assigned 2 channels for your account. When you forward a call I think you are going to use both channels up, one for the call coming in, and one for the call going out to your POTS number (hopefully someone should be able to correct me if this is not the case). This doesn't leave any spare channels for the channel that will be needed for the other call coming in, or when it gets redirected to voicemail.

As I said, I could be wrong, but I suspect it has something to do with the channels we are assigned.

Thanks a lot for the reply, Jake. I had posted my follow-up before reading your message.
This would mean that, practically, call forwarding and call waiting cannot be used together, no?

Thank you.

[Jake]

Some additional information that might help:

When I disable call forwarding and repeat the same test on the phone attached directly to the SPA2102, everything works fine and the second call comes in as a call waiting tone. So, it seems that the problem is there only when call forwarding is enabled.

Thank you.

In that scenario you will only be using 2 channels, 2 for the incoming calls. I suspect if a 3rd call came in then you would get the same message as in your first post because this would require a 3rd channel.

[Jake]

This would mean that, practically, call forwarding and call waiting cannot be used together, no?

Thank you.

I think you are right. I have never tested it though.

[Jake]

As a follow up I just did a test for 3 incoming calls. The first 2 came in properly but the 3rd got the same message you did in your first post - so I think I am right about my posts above.

[asammar]

As a follow up I just did a test for 3 incoming calls. The first 2 came in properly but the 3rd got the same message you did in your first post - so I think I am right about my posts above.

Interesting find. Is the number of channels configurable?
It would seem to me that for CFWD & CW to work together properly you need 3 channels. Is it possible to allow 3 channels per account only when CFWD is enabled?

Thank you.

[Jake]

I can't see that happening. It is all set up on their side and although it would make sense for calls to go to voicemail when you are out of channels, it doesn't look like that is happening.

Who knows though, we have seen some big changes over the years, so maybe they will implement something like this, but I would have thought it would be too complicated to try and integrate with reliability if it is at all possible. I think the best you could hope for is for them to up our accounts to 3 channels - but again, I can't see them doing that. We already get so much for a one time flat fee it's difficult seeing them expanding too much.

The only thing I would suggest is to send them in a suggestion, you never know.

[asammar]

Thanks Jake.
What is the proper channel to send this kind of suggestion? Who would I send it to?

[Jake]

Well they only seem to have one form of contact now, which is this form http://support.fongo.com/anonymous_requests/new

[asammar]

Jake, would you know if the paid service (Fongo Home Phone) suffers from the same limitation?

Thank you.

[Jake]

I don't know, sorry. I just have FPL accounts and the Fongo App.

PM Fongo Support and ask them how many channels the Home Phone has, but I suspect it will be two also.