Whirlpool

Can any of the Internode staff advise if any of their customers have been getting the Phantom (or Prank) calls problem which seems to be a hot topic of discussion in the Voice Over IP forum. And more, importantly, has it been solved or its cause determined?

What is Internode's stance on replacing the VoIP adapter if this occurs? And what is Linksys saying about the problem?

I'm keen to sign up for NodePhone and get the SP-3000 directly from Internode (ie. preconfigured) but I'm also reticent in case I start getting these phantom calls in the middle of the night.

We believe its a hardware fault which occurs in a small percentage of units. We have seen a (very) small number of units doing that.

What is Internode's stance on replacing the VoIP adapter if this occurs?

If its faulty we'll replace it. No doubt that the behaviour you are describing is a fault.

And what is Linksys saying about the problem?

We've sent some units back to them for analysis of this issue already.

I'm keen to sign up for NodePhone and get the SP-3000 directly from Internode (ie. preconfigured) but I'm also reticent in case I start getting these phantom calls in the middle of the night.

See above. In the unlikely event that happens, we'll just replace it.

Simon

I can confirm that this is true.

I had one such unit and it was replaced quickly and easily. Internode even sent me a return satchel to send the old one back at their cost. My replacement unit has not prakned at all since installing it nearly two weeks ago.

It is also worth getting the pre-configured unit from Node rather than attempting to do it yourself. Truly just plug and play!

I started getting phantom calls after I put entries into the primary and secondary NTP server fields of the system page of my SPA3K. The values I used were a couple of fairly random server names that I picked up off the internet. I may have done something wrong because when I re-displayed the system page, there was garbage in those two fields. When I took the values out, my phantom calls stopped. Coincidence?

I since discovered that Internode has an NTP server (strangely called ntp.internode.on.net) and that works fine, with no phantom calls.

Just a note, I've begun to get these too. In the past 6 weeks there's been about 8 times that i know of where the phone rings for 2 - 4 rings and then just stops.

12:30 at night and between 6:15 and 6:30 are the most annoying - I've had 3 of those so far.

Anyway, I can live with that for now but I'll keep a close eye on this forum anyway.

FWIW, other people with other ISP's are having the same issue so it's not Node's fault.

If you don't want failback[and have another touchtone phone that can be plugged into your landline] an SPA 2000 can easily be configured for Nodephone,please remember that this device is not supported by Internode.

Romuleus writes...

Anyway, I can live with that for now but I'll keep a close eye on this forum anyway.

Why not just get your supplier to replace the unit?

Simon Hackett writes...

Why not just get your supplier to replace the unit?

I suppose it's like changing banks :) You know it's a good idea but it's just another THING to organise.

I'll speak to "the supplier" when it bugs me a bit more. At the moment it's a curiosity I can live with. Thanks all the same.

Ahah... a hardware fault hey? I have been telling my girlfirend it's just a glitch and it will go away. We're getting maybe one every day or two, sometimes two in a night.

That's with a Sipura 3000 from Internode, so I guess I should log a fault and take it back.

I have one from internode as well and received a few prank calls the first few days, but the last few days i haven't had one... wierd...

My mate gets the same thing on nodefone, ordered his spa3000 through node as well.

Edit: thinking about it some more, the first few days i didn't have a PSTN line plugged into the SPA3000, since i've plugged in a pstn line i haven't received a prank... who knows... ill give it some more time.

There doesn't seem to be any consistent prognosis for this prank call problem. There's a discussion of sorts going on over in VOIP forum as it's not just happening to Node customers , but anyone with an SPA3K.

IMO the most likley scenario from the discussions in the VOIP forum is that it's caused by some external power ripple and the Sipura tolerance can not handle it sometimes. Some units are ok and some are not.

I had a replacement unit from Node and have been "prank free" for almost two weeks.

Ok, I am going to go with Node phone and I am still unsure on going with the SP3000. After reading peoples post about the Billion equivalent, Billion is the bee's knees. So my query is, has Node sorted or the manufacturer sorted out this phatom call issue? Does Node supply the Billion VOIP Router ? Price wise SP3000 is $100 bucks cheaper and the wife likes that ;-)

Internode have said they are looking at offering the Billion gear. Not sure if they've started yet.

Gomisan writes...

Internode have said they are looking at offering the Billion gear. Not sure if they've started yet.

Yes. Billon 7402 VGP is on their list. :-)

AC-Jacko writes...

So my query is, has Node sorted or the manufacturer sorted out this phatom call issue?

I *THINK* the issue only surfaces if you use a Sipura SPA-3000. I don't think the Billion's have the same problem. Anyone care to confirm that?

CJS, it lists the conifg for the Billion but It doesn't say that you can order it with them etc only list the SP3000. Or have I still got my beer goggles on..

Ben Knee writes...

IMO the most likley scenario from the discussions in the VOIP forum is that it's caused by some external power ripple and the Sipura tolerance can not handle it sometimes.

If that's the case, that would explain why I am 100% fault free with my SP-3000 units - I own 10 of them without error.

The difference between mine, and most peoples around here is I purchased mine overseas and using a Jaycar adapter for the power.

AC-Jacko writes...

it lists the conifg for the Billion but It doesn't say that you can order it with them etc only list the SP3000. Or have I still got my beer goggles on..

Must be dem damn beer goggles :P

On the Internode ADSL page ...

Billon 7402 VGP (ADSL1 / 2 / 2+ / NodePhone support) $340
All-in-one ADSL router solution with ADSL modem, 3 port Ethernet switch, SPI firewall,
Wireless-G Access Point, 2 telephone ports and lifeline port for use with NodePhone™ 2 year guarantee

Additional product information (Billion Website)

Hehe, admittedly it's not on the NodePhone page, but it is listed down the bottom of the ADSL HOME section page here: adsl.internode.on.net/pricing/home.htm

Tek

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