Problem with calls coming into my OBI 202 tied into Google Voice.
Of course there are MANY threads out there with similar issues, and please trust me, I have attempted to read them all!
This started about 4 years ago, after a move to Florida.
I actually have a
"fix" for this issue but I do not like it, will explain below.
Facts - basic setup - GV forwards allowed numbers in my contacts to ring my home (OBI) phone.
GV is NOT forwarded to ANY phones. This was all worked out to avoid SPAM and nuisance calls and works very well.
Simply put, when my phone rings, I know it is a contact of mine or an allowed number - spam and unknown numbers go straight to voicemail.
Our biggest issue may be really poor internet service (which, thank the tech Gods, is about to change): 6 mbps down and .5 mbps up. in NJ Verizon provided 75 mbps up/down!
Example:
daughter called today four times. Each time, the OBI home phone rings once or twice and then goes to voicemail - picking up the phone immediately will not connect the call - as I try to pick up the home phone, the cell phones start ringing (normal) but cannot pick up a call/connect from them either. Google Voice shows 4 incoming calls from her. When this happens, I do not see a connecting number on the phone as usual - it just says
"Incoming Call" and then the call drops. For example, when my daughter calls the phone normally says
"Incoming Call" for a millisecond, then
"Barb".The "fix" - the only thing that appears to restore normal functions is a restore from backup. Ugh. I do not have a problem doing this, but I am up to my 9th restore in 4 years.
I am trying to find out if other users have this same issue, and see if it is possibly internet speed, a power issue (in Florida, when power corrupts, it goes all out!) or my 202 is just getting old (seriously doubtful - purchased in 2015 and seems solidly made). I do have the OBI on an UPS to smooth out power issues. FYI, rebooting the OBI has no effect.
All the info - I have verified the following many times: my Google address/account are correct. I have no options set in Google Voice other than to allow my contacts and stop others.
No GV calls are forwarded to any number - our OBI and cell phones ring based on our GV contacts/labels setup - calls come to GV, then direct to the OBI and ringing our cell phones. The "Rules", "Labels" and "Groups" in Google Voice are all correct and verified..
My belief is the software in the OBI 202 is becoming corrupt, and the restore gets it back to business.
The WHY is my query. When working (98%+ of the time) it is an absolutely awesome system.
If I have to keep restoring from backup it will just become a labor of love, but I'd like to keep it down to once every few years!