TalkBroadband™ Technical Issues FAQs
- Does TalkBroadband work in a power outage?
- Can I plug two telephones into the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway using telephone line splitter?
- I do not currently have local telephone service, but I do have telephone wiring and jacks in my house. Can I plug the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway into one of my wall jacks and power all of my telephones in the house?
- I currently have local telephone service. Can I plug the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway into a wall jack in my house and use it at the same time as my local telephone service?
- Does the recently (January 13, 2004) published VoIP security advisory (http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20040113-h323.shtml) affect TalkBroadband?
- Can I plug my home alarm system into my TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway?
- I have an Apartment intercom system connected to my phone. I only have one phone in the apartment. What happens when I plug my phone into the TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway? Will my intercom system continue to work?
- I have an Apartment intercom system connected to my phone. Can I plug my TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway directly into a wall jack and use all of my telephones on TalkBroadband without affecting the intercom?
- I currently have a second phone number with the Bell Smart Ring service. Can Primus turn that number into my new TalkBroadband number?
- I am using a firewall, and the TalkBroadband service will not connect. How do I resolve this?
- I have a PIX firewall, and need to configure it to allow TalkBroadband to work. What should I do?
- How long will the voicemail system keep my saved messages?
- What is the maximum capacity of my voicemail box?
- I have requested that my old telephone number be moved onto TalkBroadband. How long will it take before this happens?
- I am a Rogers Cable Broadband customer. Ever since I plugged in the TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway, I am no longer able to send email. How do I fix this?
- How secure are my TalkBroadband telephone calls?
- I am running a static IP network at home. What level of Technical Support can I expect?
- I see that the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway has many home router functions. What level of support can I expect from Primus Technical Support for these functions?
- I have my own VoIP equipment. If I tell you what the make and model is, can you help me set it up to work with TalkBroadband?
- Do you have any type of wireless card which will turn my laptop or PDA into a telephone?
- I am finding that the voice quality is not as good as I hope. What can I do to improve this?
- What is the default password on my TalkBroadband Voicemail?
- Can I plug my satellite TV provider’s set-top box into TalkBroadband for ordering Pay-per-view and similar services?
- Can I make a modem connection over the TalkBroadband service?
- What happens to my phone calls when my broadband connection drops?
- How much bandwidth is used when I am on a telephone call?
- I am a Shaw Cable or Rogers Cable modem customer. When I plug in the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway into my cable modem, no matter what I do the light on the Gateway continues to flash red. In addition, any computer plugged into the LAN port of the Gateway is unable to connect to the Internet. What should I do?
- What is the correct procedure when power cycling the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway?
- Will TalkBroadband work over my satellite broadband connection?
- Is the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway compatible with the different voltages and frequencies of household electricity in Europe or Asia?
- Does TalkBroadband have any web-based interface so that I can check my voicemail from the web?
- Will TalkBroadband work with my two-line telephone?
- I have broadband from Telus. What do I need to know to make TalkBroadband work with Telus?
- Will my TalkBroadband work in a hotel room with a broadband connection?
- I have a DSL Lite or a Cable Lite broadband plan. Can I send faxes over TalkBroadband?
- How many voicemail messages will my voice mailbox save?
- Can I receive collect calls on my TalkBroadband service?
Answers:
- Does TalkBroadband work in a power outage?
- In its standard configuration, TalkBroadband does NOT work in a power outage. If you require TalkBroadband to work during a power outage, we suggest you investigate the possibility of putting your broadband modem, any home routers and the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway on a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) battery backup. Be aware that UPS battery backups do not last forever in a power outage. Your UPS vendor can help you determine the size of UPS you require.
- Can I plug two telephones into the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway using telephone line splitter?
- Yes. You can plug a telephone line splitter into the Phone 1 jack on the back of the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway, and then plug two telephones into the splitter. Both telephones will function on that single line.
- I do not currently have local telephone service, but I do have telephone wiring and jacks in my house. Can I plug the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway into one of my wall jacks and power all of my telephones in the house?
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This configuration MIGHT work, depending upon:
- The telephones you use. Older telephones put more load on the line. We suggest you use new telephones for best results.
- The number of telephones you plug in. Each telephone added increases the load on the telephone line.
- The quality and length of the telephone wiring inside your house.
- I currently have local telephone service. Can I plug the Dlink DVG 1120 VoIP Gateway into a wall jack in my house and use it at the same time as my local telephone service?
- No. You risk damaging the VoIP Gateway if you attempt this.
- Does the recently (January 13, 2004) published VoIP security advisory (http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/707/cisco-sa-20040113-h323.shtml) affect TalkBroadband?
- No. Primus TalkBroadband does not employ the protocols affected.
- Can I plug my home alarm system into my TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway?
- Primus is concerned about your home safety and therefore does not support this configuration. Some home alarm systems need a real telephone line to be able to report emergencies to your alarm company. Other systems might work with TalkBroadband; however remember that if you connect your home alarm system to TalkBroadband, you are relying upon your broadband (DSL or cable modem) connection to be functioning correctly in the case of an emergency. Also remember that your broadband connection (and therefore TalkBroadband) will not work in the case of a power outage. Primus encourages you to make wise choices when it comes to your home safety.
- I have an Apartment intercom system connected to my phone. I only have one phone in the apartment. What happens when I plug my phone into the TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway? Will my intercom system continue to work?
- No, the intercom system will not continue to work. In this situation, Primus suggests having separate telephones for your TalkBroadband and your intercom system.
- I have an Apartment intercom system connected to my phone. Can I plug my TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway directly into a wall jack and use all of my telephones on TalkBroadband without affecting the intercom?
- Primus has not tested this configuration, nor do we suggest it as interference between your TalkBroadband and intercom calls will almost certainly result. You also risk damaging the VoIP Gateway if you attempt this.
- I currently have a second phone number with the Bell Smart Ring service. Can Primus turn that number into my new TalkBroadband number?
- At the current time, Primus cannot guarantee that a Bell Smart Ring number can be ported to the TalkBroadband service.
- I am using a firewall, and the TalkBroadband service will not connect. How do I resolve this?
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Many firewalls come pre-configured to allow TalkBroadband to work. Others may require enabling “RTP”. If you cannot find reference to RTP for your firewall, you will need to open:
- Port 2427 (both TCP and UDP)
- Ports 16384 – 32767 (UDP only)
- I have a PIX firewall, and need to configure it to allow TalkBroadband to work. What should I do?
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From the Cisco PIX command reference: fixup protocol mgcp If a user wishes to use MGCP, they will usually need to configure at least two fixup protocol commands: one for the port on which the gateway receives commands, and one for the port on which the Call Agent receives commands.
Normally, a Call Agent sends commands to the default MGCP port for gateways, 2427, and a gateway sends commands to the default MGCP port for Call Agents, 2727.
The following example adds fixup support for Call Agents and gateways that use the default ports: fixup protocol mgcp 2427 fixup protocol mgcp 2727
The no fixup protocol mgcp command removes the MGCP fixup configuration. The show fixup protocol mgcp command displays the configured MGCP fixups. Please refer to the mgcp command for information on the show mgcp command.
- How long will the voicemail system keep my saved messages?
- The voicemail system will hold your messages indefinitely.
- What is the maximum capacity of my voicemail box?
- Your mailbox can hold a maximum of 50 messages of 5 minutes on each message.
- I have requested that my old telephone number be moved onto TalkBroadband. How long will it take before this happens?
- Upon receiving your order, Primus will initiate the Local Number Portability (LNP) process to request that your current telephone company transfer your number to the TalkBroadband service. This process takes approximately 15 days to complete. This means that you will receive your TalkBroadband package, and be able to place outbound calls on it, but your old telephone number will continue to ring on your old phone until this process completes.
- I am a Rogers Cable Broadband customer. Ever since I plugged in the TalkBroadband VOIP Gateway, I am no longer able to send email. How do I fix this?
- This may be caused by the way that Rogers sets up their email. Rogers has provided a fix for this, customers need to download and run this tool. If you require further assistance with this tool, please contact Rogers Technical Support.
- How secure are my TalkBroadband telephone calls?
- TalkBroadband telephone calls are as secure as any landline telephone or cellular calls.
- I am running a static IP network at home. What level of Technical Support can I expect?
- Primus TalkBroadband is designed to be easy to set up on a network with DHCP (dynamic) addressing. Technical Support will provide a Best Effort level of support for customers with a static IP network.
- I see that the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway has many home router functions. What level of support can I expect from Primus Technical Support for these functions?
- Primus Technical Support will only provide support for the settings which are essential for the correct functioning of the TalkBroadband service. Any additional configuration is the customer’s responsibility. We suggest customers consult the VoIP Gateway manufacturer for additional help.
- I have my own VoIP equipment. If I tell you what the make and model is, can you help me set it up to work with TalkBroadband?
- No, sorry. The Primus TalkBroadband service only works with the VoIP Gateway we ship. We will not support any attempt to make other equipment work.
- Do you have any type of wireless card which will turn my laptop or PDA into a telephone?
- No, sorry. Primus TalkBroadband only works in the standard configuration with the equipment provided and your regular household telephone set.
- I am finding that the voice quality is not as good as I hope. What can I do to improve this?
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There are a number of factors which can affect voice quality. Here are some suggestions:
- Make sure that the telephone you are using with the service is not causing any problems by plugging it into a regular telephone service.
- You may consider modifying the configuration of your home network. Our TalkBroadband installation instructions have been written to get you up and running with the service with speed and ease. These instructions suggest that you install the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway behind your existing broadband router [broadband modem à existing home broadband router à TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway]. Our testing has suggested that most customers find this the easiest way to set up the service. However, a more advanced configuration is to put the Primus TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway between your broadband modem and your broadband router [broadband modem à TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway à existing home broadband router]. Note that this set up will require a modification of your network configuration.
- Are you calling a cell phone from the TalkBroadband service? Remember that the voice quality of some cell phones and networks is not as clear as a regular landline phone.
- Have you plugged in a wireless telephone to the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway? You may want to try charging the wireless phone’s battery, changing channels, or move closer to your wireless phone base station.
- What is the default password on my TalkBroadband Voicemail?
- The default password is the last 4 digits of your TalkBroadband phone number.
- Can I plug my satellite TV provider’s set-top box into TalkBroadband for ordering Pay-per-view and similar services?
- This type of configuration has not been tested by Primus. However, if your set-top box uses a modem, it is not likely to work.
- Can I make a modem connection over the TalkBroadband service?
- No.
- What happens to my phone calls when my broadband connection drops?
- Any incoming call will be automatically routed to your voicemail if your home network (and therefore the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway) has lost its connection to the Internet. Please note that you must subscribe to the Voicemail service either as an individual service or in a feature bundle for this to work.
- How much bandwidth is used when I am on a telephone call?
- You should still be able to browse the Internet without any problem when you are on a TalkBroadband call. Note however that web pages may appear to download less quickly.
- I am a Shaw Cable or Rogers Cable modem customer. When I plug in the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway into my cable modem, no matter what I do the light on the Gateway continues to flash red. In addition, any computer plugged into the LAN port of the Gateway is unable to connect to the Internet. What should I do?
- Please ask Shaw Cable’s Technical Support whether you have a DOCSIS compliant cable modem, and if their network is DOCSIS compliant. If they are not, Primus recommends purchasing a broadband router such as the DLink DI-604, and connecting it to your existing home network. N.B: Primus Canada cannot guarantee this solution will work in every case.
- What is the correct procedure when power cycling the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway?
- When you power cycle the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway, you should leave it off for 5 minutes before reapplying power.
- Will TalkBroadband work over my satellite broadband connection?
- Primus has not tested the compatibility of TalkBroadband with the higher-latency of satellite broadband connections. If you decide to try anyway, please let us know what your experience is at support@primus.ca!
- Is the TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway compatible with the different voltages and frequencies of household electricity in Europe or Asia?
- The TalkBroadband VoIP Gateway ships with a power supply for North America (Input: 120V AC 60Hz @ 22W; output 12V DC 1A; tip is positive, sleeve is negative). We do not have other power supplies available, however using a power converter for your location should work.
- Does TalkBroadband have any web-based interface so that I can check my voicemail from the web?
- No.
- Will TalkBroadband work with my two-line telephone?
- Yes - for one line. You will lose the functionality of the second line on that telephone.
- I have broadband from Telus. What do I need to know to make TalkBroadband work with Telus?
- You will need to contact Telus Technical Support and have them register the MAC address of the TalkBroadband gateway in their service tool. The MAC address of the TalkBroadband gateway can be found on a sticker beneath the unit on a label marked: ‘WAN MAC ID’.
- Will my TalkBroadband work in a hotel room with a broadband connection?
- It might, but it depends upon the configuration of the hotel’s broadband network. Unfortunately, Primus cannot test nor guarantee the TalkBroadband service in all hotels.
- I have a DSL Lite or a Cable Lite broadband plan. Can I send faxes over TalkBroadband?
- No, unfortunately, the Broadband Lite plans do not have enough bandwidth to be able to fax. This is a limitation of the Lite plans, and not a limitation of TalkBroadband.
- How many voicemail messages will my voice mailbox save?
- There is currently a limit of 50 messages of 5 minutes per message, per voice mailbox. If this limit is exceeded, a caller will hear a message stating that the mailbox is full and to try again later.
- Can I receive collect calls on my TalkBroadband service?
- Inbound collect calls are not supported at this time.



