I signed up for a VoIP account with Internode because I heard good things about it from a work friend. I installed my brand new modem, configured it with my VoIP account details, and at first, everything was great.

That was until I realised that the modem didn’t handle IVR or call forwards too well. IVR, Interactive voice response, is the interactive technology that allows a computer to detect voice and keypad inputs (eg. “press 1 for this, press 2 for that” OR “say yes if this is correct” etc.). This default configuration also cannot handle phone calls to a number that is diverted to another.

In both scenarios, the phone call “drops out”, ie. the call goes silent all of a sudden (can’t hear anything at all). I searched high and low for a solution online but to no avail. One particular site, however, hinted the problem. The following page http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/532842.html suggested to “have a look at your RFC2833 Outband DTMF options. Maybe ask your Voice Service Provider what settings they support”.

So I did. NetComm NB9WMAXX modem by default sets the “RFC2833 Outband DTMF” attribute to “Auto Negotiation”. I found that this configuration is what causes the problem with IVR and forwarded calls. Unfortunately, I tinkered with every possible configuration on the modem to no avail. NetComm NB9WMAXX is just not compatible with Internode VoIP and vice versa. Don’t bother calling NetComm or Internode support either because they won’t listen to you. NetComm does not have support for Internode VoIP.  Internode VoIP does not support NetComm NB9WMAXX. The hardware and service provider is just not compatible with each other.

To resolve my issue, I signed up with MyNetFone, which one of the many service providers supported by NetComm. I didn’t get the problem again and I’m one happy customer!

Interface name: ppp_8_35_1
Local selection: AUS – Australia (Set to your country)

Preferred codec:  G729
Preferred ptime:  20

Use SIP Proxy: Checked
SIP Proxy: [Your service provider SIP]
SIP Proxy port: 5060
Register Expire Time: 300
SIP domain name: [Your service provider SIP]

Use SIP Outbound Proxy: Unchecked

Enable SIP tag matching (Uncheck for Vonage Interop): checked
Remote server for SIP log messages: unchecked

DispName: [Your VoIP Phone Number]
VoIP Phone Number: [Your VoIP Phone Number]
Auth. ID: [Your VoIP Phone Number]
Auth. Password: [Your VoIP Password]

PSTN route rule: Fixed
PSTN route data: Phone 1
Emergengy calls: Landline
Number: 1. 000 (set to your local emergency number) 2. [Blank]

Max Digits: 24

RFC2833 Outband DTMF: Auto Negotiation

[Leave the rest as the default]

Please Note: I found out through my own various systematic testing that NetComm NB9WMAXX is not compatible Internode VoIP and vice versa. I tinkered with every possible configuration available on the NetComm NB9WMAXX to no avail. I even went as far as Telnet-ing to the modem and turning off the firewall but still experienced problems. I ended up signing up with MyNetFone and all my problems disappeared! For more details about my ordeal, read my next post NetComm NB9WMAXX Drops Out When Using IVR (or when dialled number is forwarded).