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Forum Discussion
Can't Call My Brother
I have an RBE972S (RBE971 router with 2 RBE970 satellites) system using a CM2050V cable modem. I can not connect to two telephone numbers that are cell phones on an AT&T network. No known problem connecting to any other telephone numbers. When I use my home telephone system (Panasonic KX-TGE662, HD Link2Cell Cordless) which is an ethernet cable connection to a CM2050V modem (Tel 1 port) I essentially get a constant fast busy response when I call my brother and sister who use AT&T cell phones (I am on Comcast/Xfinity Cable for home and Verizon for cell). In addition to the Panasonic phones not being able to connect to these two specific numbers and only these two telephone numbers as far as I know, I get the same fast busy when I use my Google Pixel 10 Pro cell when it is connected to the home WiFi (WiFi calling has to be Comcast/Xfinity) YET when I force the Pixel 10 onto the Verizon 5G cellular network, I have no problem calling these two local numbers. I've checked the CM2050V and it is up to date with the latest firmware and no problems logged. Where do I start, Panasonic, Netgear or Comcast? My bet is that the problem is caused by the CM2050V cable modem but I am guessing. All the Netgear is only 8 months old, essentially brand new with ALL firmware current (I live for updates). Maybe the world is telling me to go all in to cellular (lol). I've already had my POTS (copper) abandoned by Frontier/AT&T since they are fiber only today, but luckily I am an expert in morse-code (CW).
9 Replies
You'll need to check with your ISP and phone provider service in regards to this. Have them make sure the phone lines are good up to the modem and signal is good as well.
If your having issues with only specific phone numbers, this is something to contact your ISP or phone service provider about.
Can post the cable connections and even logs status pages from the CM modem here for review:
Be sure to disable any MAC Address randomizers on phones and pads while at home:
NETGEAR Mobile Applications and Android/Apple/Windows Devices FAQ | NETGEAR Communities
I have a CM3000 cable modem and have had a 970 series connected to this modem and my iphone and other android phones on ATT network connects just fine. However my modem doesn't have phone features.
Start with Comcast. The fast busy on your dial tone is the first indication. Log in to your primary Comcast account and go to the voice mail section. Your voice mail box may be full. There are several pages of settings under the gear icon in the upper right hand corner. Comcast added several sections of voice settings a few months ago and the default values were inappropriate or not set at all. You need to get back to your basic normal dial tone. After you make the changes, be sure and reboot your modem.
(Panasonic KX-TGE662, HD Link2Cell Cordless) which is an ethernet cable connection to a CM2050V modem
I thought that phone connections use an RJ11 plug whereas Ethernet connections use an RJ45 plug.
I thought that phone connections use an RJ11 plug
It's a mistake on krgoodwin's part. The base connection on the phone system is RJ11. See page 12 of the manual:
The modem has a multigig LAN port out and two RJ11 phone jacks. See page 9 of the manual:
The phone line should be connected to the top jack (labeled 1 on the modem). The second won't work unless you have purchased two-line service from Xfinity.
I get the same fast busy when I use my Google Pixel 10 Pro cell when it is connected to the home WiFi (WiFi calling has to be Comcast/Xfinity)
Wifi calling is a carrier feature (so Verizon in your case). and it is ISP neutral - Xfinity carries the wifi traffic the same as it carries any other traffic.
Still, starting with Comcast on the landline phone is a good place to start, though this could also lead to AT&T.
On the Panasonic telephones connection to the CM2500V, I did have it wrong. I rarely stick my head into my equipment closet plus I am plagued with CRS. It is an RJ11.
I still don't understand when calling the numbers in question on my Google Pixel 10 Pro, that when I am on the Verizon 5G cellular network - no problem. When using WiFi calling on the Comcast (ISP) cable network - negative function. However a few very good suggestions that I will execute as I waste my life dealing with this BS - I truly appreciate the free education. Thanks guys. I will report back if and when I've cracked this trivial problem since I don't like to talk to my brother anyway and rarely call him unless needed. In reality it is my brother-in-law but to save time I lied which is the current baseline in this country.
While you sort this situation out, recommend you find a plane Jane telephone handset you can plug directly in to the RJ11 (#1) on the back of your CM2050V. This will take Wi-Fi calling completely out of the equation.
The Original Post (above) identified two issues:
- Phone system connected to the modem telephone jack would not connect, and
- Phone using WiFi calling would not connect
My understanding is that connecting a "plane Jane" telephone to the modem telephone jack is equivalent to connecting the Panasonic cordless phone base unit to the modem. Amazon sells regular phones for $4.99 (US), so it would not be an expensive experiment to get one.
I have no problem calling these two local numbers.
Is there some significance that these numbers are identified as "local"?
i.e. pick up the phone. get a dial tone. enter the phone number (including "1" + area code), and then instead of hearing it ring, hear a fast busy signal.... correct?
Is there some significance that these numbers are identified as "local"?
Likely not, since today every place in the US requires 10-digit local dialing, and in the US you don't need to dial 1 for domestic long distance calls.
The fast busy symptom suggests there is a routing problem specific to these two numbers. The fact that the call doesn't go through with both Verizon or Xfinity VOIP calls suggests the routing problem is on the AT&T leg, and is specific to VOIP calls.
krgoodwin - if the SIP ALG is enabled on the Orbi ( ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup) then disable it. That could explain the issue with the Pixel, but not the Panasonic (since it doesn't go through the router). In general, the SIP ALG is almost never needed - modern phone infrastructure has other built-in procedures to handle NAT. And it can cause problems with VOIP calls if you turn it on.
