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General Support => Installation and Set-Up (Devices) => Topic started by: glnz6 on March 02, 2018, 06:13:26 AM

Title: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 02, 2018, 06:13:26 AM
  
My new Obihai 202 is set up with my new Google Voice (GV) number (area code 917) and seems to work well in and out.  When I go to GV on my browser, GV also works well there.  So far, I have only that one GV number in the Obihai - I have not yet connected a second Voip to the Obihai 202.

However, when I pick up the simple plastic phone connected to my Obihai 202 and call out to one of my cell phones (area code 212), I always get a busy signal.  Always, even though that cell phone is in my hand and not in use, and even though when I go to GV on my browser I can call that cell phone and send text messages back and forth.  Also, that cell phone can call the GV number, and then the plastic phone connected to the Obihai rings, answers and works.

Important detail:  That Verizon cell phone number (area code 212) used to be one of my Verizon land line numbers, but over the past three days I ported it successfully to the cell phone, although the Verizon porting department had to help with that.  It is working very nicely on the cell phone in and out and with text.   Is there something about the porting that Obihai+GV don't like?

It is my plan to do a second port of that number into the Google Voice account so that the ObiHai+GV has acquired that old Verizon land line number.  But I have NOT started that at all.  I am worried that the busy signal means that GV has some kind of problem with that 212 number and the second porting will fail.

Ideas?  Thanks.
 
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: SteveInWA on March 02, 2018, 03:32:21 PM
You have too many things going on at once, and not enough information to diagnose the problem.

You said that you get a busy signal when you call your cell phone.  OK, but, what about when you call other phone numbers?

If you recently ported a land line to the cell phone carrier, the port might not have fully completed yet, to re-route inbound calls to the new carrier.  What happens when THAT telephone number is called from other phone numbers, NOT from your OBi?
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 02, 2018, 06:55:26 PM
Steve -

1)  When I use the current GV in the Obihai to call other numbers, the calls go through fine.
2)  When I use other phones to call the ported number now on the Verizon flip phone, the calls go through fine.
3)  When I go to the current GV in a browser (not the Obihai) and call the ported number, the calls go through fine.   And the same with texts in both directions.
4)  When I call from the flip phone with the ported number to the GV number, the Obihai phone rings fine.

The only problem is that when I use the current GV in the Obihai to call the ported number on the flip phone, it's a fast busy.

I'll try again tomorrow.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: SteveInWA on March 02, 2018, 07:28:33 PM
I don't know why you can call the ported cell phone number from "the current GV in a browser", whatever that means, but you cannot call that number from "the current GV in the Obihai".  Your terminology is so borked up that it makes no sense.

Google Voice is an inbound telephone call forwarding service.  It uses regular telephone connections for all calls, not VoIP.  If you have an inbound Google Voice number, you then configure that number to forward inbound calls to a) up to six US-based, 10-digit telephone numbers and b) to "Google Chat".  OBi (not "Obitalk" or "Obihai") devices act as Google Chat clients.

Google Hangouts is the VoIP service for Google Voice, and it works independently of Google Voice/Chat.

When you make an outbound call on a laptop or desktop computer, you are either initiating that call from Google Voice or from Hangouts.  If you click the "new call" button on your Google Voice web page, then you are telling Google Voice to call you on a 10-digit forwarding phone number.  When you answer that number, Google Voice will then call your desired party and bridge the two calls together.  This is not a VoIP call.

When you make an outbound call, either from your Gmail page, or from the direct Hangouts page, you are using Hangouts, not Google Voice.

When you make or answer a phone call on an OBi that is connected to a Google account, the OBi is using the old, Google Chat XMPP protocol to make or receive the call via VoIP.

I have no idea what is going on with your ported number, but it sounds like it is messed up.  I can't help you with that, and I would strongly advise against porting that number again, to Google Voice, unless you can get it fully working.

Try adding and verifying some other mobile or land line number as a linked forwarding number on your Google Voice account, and see what the behavior is with that number.  I don't want to waste time trying to get your ported number working, as I have no ability to troubleshoot it.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 05:10:57 AM
  
Steve - you are correct that I'm not describing things well, but this is my almost-first experience using GV or Hangouts ever.

You wrote above, "Try adding and verifying some other mobile or land line number as a linked forwarding number on your Google Voice account, and see what the behavior is with that number."
Please reply with a link describing that and I might try.

I think i'll also reset the obihai 202 to factory default and re-connect it to my GV account.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: drgeoff on March 03, 2018, 06:09:59 AM
I strongly suspect that there is nothing amiss with your Obi and your configuration of GV on it. I think that the porting of the number to your cellphone is the issue. Either some problem with it or other systems have not caught up with the change.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 09:18:27 AM
Dr. Geoff - You are very likely correct. 

However, in any case, how DO I do the reset from the Obitalk portal?  The Obihai Device Administration Guide (pages 43 and 45) indicates there should be various flavors of reset via the Expert Config menu, but that seems to be older firmware, and I can't find "Reset Configuration" on my Expert portal pages as they appear today.

I'd like to see this before using the reset button on the underside of the device.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: Taoman on March 03, 2018, 10:12:58 AM
Quote from: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 09:18:27 AM

However, in any case, how DO I do the reset from the Obitalk portal?
From the Obitalk web portal, click on the blue "gear" icon. You can "Delete Device" from the Obitalk portal and then readd it. Then you will be starting from scratch.
You can also click on the "Trash can" icons to delete a specific SP configuration.

Quote from: glnz6The Obihai Device Administration Guide (pages 43 and 45) indicates there should be various flavors of reset via the Expert Config menu,
Notice what it says at the top of page 43. "Firmware: Local OBi Device Update and Management." This is referring to managing the device locally and not using Expert Config on the Obitalk web portal.
Read page 41........carefully.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: SteveInWA on March 03, 2018, 11:17:58 AM
Quote from: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 05:10:57 AM
 
Steve - you are correct that I'm not describing things well, but this is my almost-first experience using GV or Hangouts ever.

You wrote above, "Try adding and verifying some other mobile or land line number as a linked forwarding number on your Google Voice account, and see what the behavior is with that number."
Please reply with a link describing that and I might try.

I think i'll also reset the obihai 202 to factory default and re-connect it to my GV account.

This sounds like you were attracted to Google Voice on OBi by Obihai's advertisement of "free phone calls", without any understanding of what you were signing up to use.  It's not a simple plug'n'play phone company.  You need to put some effort into reading the Google Voice help pages and learning how to do things.

To link a forwarding phone number to your inbound Google Voice phone number, use a laptop or desktop web browser, not a tablet or phone, and go here:  https://voice.google.com/settings (https://voice.google.com/settings)
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 12:13:56 PM
  
UPDATE

I just went to a different Obihai 200+Google Voice setup at my wife's mini-office elsewhere, and when I use it to call my ported number, it works!  The VZ mobile phone with the ported number rings, answers and gets connected.  Calls go through beautifully.  (And in the other direction also, but that was never a problem.)

SO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY PARTICULAR Obihai202+GV setup at home.

Hmmm.  Reset the Obihai202 to factory?  Create a different GV account and number, install it in the Obihai 202 and call the ported number (Vz cell phone) again?

Thoughts?  Apologies, but I have not yet tried the preceding two replies, and I thank Taoman and of course Steve for continued attention, but this is getting INTERESTING.

EDIT - Taoman - you wrote "This is referring to managing the device locally and not using Expert Config on the Obitalk web portal."   How do I manage it "locally"?  If I go to any PC on my home network, open a browser and go to the Obihai's IP address (also on my home network), I get an error page, not a sign-in.
 
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: SteveInWA on March 03, 2018, 12:45:26 PM
Consider that you are wasting our time, by not accepting that we know what we're talking about.  There is a problem with your ported number.  I asked you to add and verify another number to confirm this.

There is no reason to "reset" your OBi.

...and no reason to try to manage the device locally, since you need to use the OBiTALK portal to set up Google Voice.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 01:11:59 PM
  
Steve - from your link above, I found the GV control for adding a number, but I'm not sure what that does.  (I have not implemented the addition yet.) 

Am I adding an existing number (like my other land line or my other cell phone), or am I getting a new second GV phone number?

Is there a link that describes what this does?

Thanks.
 
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: SteveInWA on March 03, 2018, 01:18:56 PM
If you can't read the help pages, and figure out basic concepts like this, and/or understand and follow what we've posted, then VoIP telephony is not for you.

I asked you very clearly:

Quote
Try adding and verifying some other mobile or land line number as a linked forwarding number on your Google Voice account, and see what the behavior is with that number.

Google Voice is an inbound call forwarding service.  It forwards calls to other US 10-digit telephone numbers.  It also forwards calls to "Google Chat".  OBi devices act as Google Chat clients, so when someone calls your inbound Google Voice number, Google Voice then forwards that call to all of the linked phone numbers and OBi devices you add and check-mark in settings.  The point of adding a real telephone number is to demonstrate that your Google Voice account is fully functional, by calling your Google Voice number from some other, unrelated phone number and verifying that the calls ring the phone number you linked to your Google Voice number.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: drgeoff on March 03, 2018, 01:24:04 PM
Quote from: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 12:13:56 PMIf I go to any PC on my home network, open a browser and go to the Obihai's IP address (also on my home network), I get an error page, not a sign-in.
 
Again you have not taken the time to understand how things work.  The OBi202 contains a router between its INTERNET and LAN sockets.  Although that can be disabled (putting the OBi202 into bridge mode) it is enabled by default.  Also by default, access to the onboard configuration web server configuration from the INTERNET port is disabled.

But anyway as SteveInWA says you need to use the Obitalk portal to configure GV so no real reason to use local configuration.

If you really want to reset the device there is a reset button on the underside and instructions how to use it at https://www.obitalk.com/info/faq/Troubleshooting-sec/How-to-Factory-Reset
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 01:28:56 PM
Steve - I promise I shall try if I can UN-add the number later.  Can I?

Please have patience with my not getting it, but the Obihai202+GV that is giving me trouble CAN CALL OUT SUCCESSFULLY to any number OTHER THAN the number that was ported to my Vz prepaid flip phone.  Only that outgoing call gets a fast busy on the Obihai202+GV.  All other outgoing calls from the Obihai202+GV go through fine.

And now, from a different Obihai+GV setup, an outgoing call to the number that was ported to my Vz prepaid flip phone goes through beautifully (no fast busy), so the Vz port seems OK for GV in general except only for calling that ported number from my home Obihai202.

But wait - you say GV is only "an inbound call forwarding service".  Doesn't it also handle the outgoing calls?  If not, then who is completing the outgoing calls?

Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: GPz1100 on March 03, 2018, 02:00:15 PM
^^You don't have an active port in (to gv) of that VZW number that's having issues?
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 02:28:07 PM
    
GPz1100 - No. 

This past Wednesday Feb 28, I completed the FIRST port of the number from my Vz copper land line to my new Vz prepaid flip phone.  I have NOT started the SECOND port of the number from the Vz prepaid flip phone to the GV account that is SP1 in the Obihai202 under my desk.

WITH ONE EXCEPTION, every phone everywhere can call the ported number and my new Vz prepaid flip phone will ring, as it's supposed to.  (That is also true from the Obihai200+GV+simple desk phone setup in my wife's mini-office - there is no problem calling my ported number from that setup.)

THE ONE EXCEPTION is that I cannot call the ported number from the Obihai202+GV under my desk - I get a fast busy every time.

(To clarify - my wife's GV number and account are completely different from the GV number and account for my new Obihai202 under my desk.)

However, if I go to Google Voice or Hangout on my GV account on the PC on top of my desk (not on the plastic phone connected to the Obihai202), I can call the ported number and send and receive texts.

I don't doubt for a micro-second the superb expertise of everyone here - and Steve helped me when I set up my wife's mini-office last April - but my situation seems WEIRD.

Thanks.
 
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: GPz1100 on March 03, 2018, 02:41:11 PM
Since calls from hangouts are getting through then something is blocking that number, either on the obi or on the handset you're using.  Obi has an option to block certain inbound calls, but that doesn't restrict the device from placing calls to that #, unless it's been blocked elsewhere by a dialplan or similar.

I'd try a traditional analog phone without any fancy features.  Ideally one that just plugs into a phone jack and nothing else.  If that still doesn't work then i'd do a factory reset either using the reset button or device web UI, delete any existing profiles from obitalk portal and start over.

Also, when we did what you're doing, I didn't bother doing much testing on the prepaid line.  In fact, as soon as the port completed I initiated the port to google minutes later.



Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 02:52:39 PM
GPz1100 - You wrote "I'd try a traditional analog phone without any fancy features."

Oh, my God, if you could see the phone that's plugged into the Obihai!  It's a $10 plastic copy of an old Princess phone.  Totally analog and embarrassing.  In fact, it used to be in my wife's mini-office, and she threw it out when I "forgot" to buy a nicer desk phone. I retrieved it from the garbage to keep it as my occasional test phone.

Yes, tomorrow I'll try some re-sets.

If that doesn't work, I'll create a new GMail account, get it a new GV number, re-set the Obihai to factory, and connect only that new Gmail+GV number to the Obihai.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 03, 2018, 09:07:04 PM
  
This is so strange.  Is there anything in the Verizon prepaid features or flip phone (Samsung Gusto) that might be blocking calls from the Google Voice number that is in the GV account that is connected to the Obihai?
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: GPz1100 on March 03, 2018, 09:49:50 PM
^^If that were the case, calls would be blocked from hangouts too.  Your flip doesn't know the call is coming from gv by way of obi, or hangouts or where ever.

You know how they say a reboot fixes most issues... A factory reset is worth a shot at this point IMO.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 04, 2018, 10:04:10 AM

Very busy today and not had a chance to catch up and do resets.  But  I noticed one thing - when I use the plastic phone attached to the Obihai in my GV account to call an unrelated mobile phone and the call goes through, the unrelated mobile shows as incoming caller ID the absurdly long name I stupidly put on the GV number - "Google voice 1st to be #### later" (where ### are the last four digits of the number I wish to port).

Maybe that long name is the problem?  Can I change it?  I don't see where.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: drgeoff on March 04, 2018, 11:30:24 AM
Google Voice does NOT send Caller Name, only either the Caller Number of the number of the GV account (see screenshot).  So where is the name coming from?
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: GPz1100 on March 04, 2018, 11:53:40 AM
Probably coming from a contact defined in the phone's contact list.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 04, 2018, 12:05:46 PM
  
GPz1100 - That long name is not in the unrelated recipient phone's contact list at all.  I must have typed it as I started setting everything up - maybe in the set-up for the GMail account that I first created before I did anything else?

But, again, if I call from Hangout from the GV number to the Vz prepaid flip phone (that now has the number I want to port), the call goes through and the Vz prepaid flip phone shows me only the GV calling number and NOT  "Google voice 1st to be #### later".

More to do.
 
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: GPz1100 on March 04, 2018, 01:00:11 PM
No clue then. Google voice only provides CID number, not name. 

I *highly* recommend resetting everything so you can start back at square one.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 05, 2018, 04:03:57 AM
  
GPz - Reset did not help.  Same issue.

By the way, I have posted a different question at
http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=13613.0 (http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=13613.0)

Thanks,
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: GPz1100 on March 05, 2018, 08:54:15 AM
The stars and planets must be in alignment for you then. 

I don't know what else to suggest other than starting over with a new and different google voice account/number.  If that still fails then I'd exchange the obi for another one.
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 07, 2018, 07:40:53 PM
  
GPz1100 - Well, I finally took the plunge, and it's now working.  My original land line number (area code 212) has been ported successfully to the GV account, and calls to and from that number are working in the Obihai 202 on the cheap plastic phone on Line 1.

Whew.

I was worried that the earlier glitch meant I'd have a problem, but at the end got lucky.

FYI - I did NOT re-try with a new GV account because I finally understood (from Steve's posts elsewhere) that I'd need a different "linked to" outside number, and I don't have enough outside numbers to experiment like that.

Have not yet set up anything special on the GV voicemail or anything else.

And in 10 days I am going to do the whole thing again for my second land line - my wife's important number.

Thanks!!
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on March 21, 2018, 08:02:14 PM
  
A month later, I have created a SECOND Gmail email + Google Voice account with a phone number and set that up in SP2 on my Obihai 202, and I am getting the same problem !!

The new Gmail I created is 212xxxxxxxF@gmail.com and it got a Google Voice number that is 516 yyy-yyyy.  I put 516 yyy-yyyy into SP2 in the Obihai 202.  It works to dial out and receive calls.
I picked the Gmail name 212xxxxxxxF@gmail.com because 212-xxx-xxxx is the same as my land line number that will eventually be ported into the Google Voice account.  When I'm done, 516 yyy-yyyy on Obihai SP2 will become 212-xxx-xxxx.
(I also called Verizon's Porting department and ordered the porting of the 212-xxx-xxxx land line number to a Verizon prepaid phone, which will complete 2 - 10 days from now.  When that first port is complete, I will re-port the 212-xxx-xxxx number from the Verizon prepaid phone to my new 212xxxxxxxF@gmail.com + Google Voice account.)

BUT ... right now, my plastic phone plugged into SP2 on the Obihai 202 with new number 516 yyy-yyyy gives me a fast busy when I use it to call 212-xxx-xxxx.  Same as a month ago - above.

► WEIRD MAN.  
WEIRD !
 
Title: Re: Call from Obihai 202 to my mobile number always busy - why?
Post by: glnz6 on April 01, 2018, 12:50:15 PM
  
Well, the second number 212-xxx-xxxx has now been ported into my GV account 212xxxxxxxF@gmail.com and seems to be working on SP2 on my Obihai 202.

Like last time.

Whew!

But if anyone ever figures out why the INTERIM calls to 212-xxx-xxxx from SP2 got a fast busy, I'll always be curious to know.  (Maybe it's because I originally put 212xxxxxxx as part of the gmail name for the account?)