Finally Got Scout Working, a Couple Install Options
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:53 pm
I wanted to post my setup since it may help others who are having problems getting their scout working. My hub worked fine right out of the box but I couldn't get my scout going, it would just light up the 4 bottom buttons.
I have Comcast cable internet service and one Qwest landline in my house. I will be keeping my landline until my number is ported. I have wired my house with all Cat5e for phones in a home run configuration. All my wiring goes into my "tech closet" so it's out of the way but easily accessed. I mainly use a base station with cordless handsets. My Ooma hub is directly after my cable modem. Subscribed to Ooma premiere with 2 lines.
Option 1
Incoming Qwest land line connected to WALL port on hub, PHONE port on hub connected to my 12-way phone splitter. With this setup you get an Ooma dialtone for any phone attached around the house. It's nice and simple if you don't want use the voicemail features on the hub. However, if you plug a scout into any of the phone jacks in your house you get all red lights on the bottom of the scout. I wanted to be able to use both lines if needed.
Option 2
Ooma splitter connected to WALL port on hub, incoming Qwest runs into Ooma splitter, other port of splitter connected to my house splitter, PHONE port on hub connected to a single cordless phone. Ooma scout connected in office to cordless base station. With this setup you obviously get the Ooma dialtone for the phone that's connected to the hub. For all the other phone jacks you get a normal dialtone UNLESS they are connected to a scout. Using a splitter was the KEY. I tried this config with a non Ooma splitter and it worked just fine too.
In my pic below you can see the splitter in the wall port of the hub 2. 2A connects to my incoming Qwest demarc. 2B connects to my house phone splitter. 1 is a black cable so it's hard to see but that connects to a RJ45 coupler which then goes to a single cordless phone.
Hopefully this helps some people that can't seem to get their scout light to turn blue. I want Ooma to succeed because it can save SOOO much money for people, it pays for itself in months. After all is complete I'll only be paying a hundred bucks a year for 2 lines and excellent features. The call quality is perfect on my 2nd number. I do have a slight buzzing in the background when I use my landline number but I expect that to go away after the number is ported. I read here that it's probably due to the small voltage in the landline. Also, invest in a UPS (battery backup) for your networking and Ooma device and you'll be good during a power outage for a while.
Carl
I have Comcast cable internet service and one Qwest landline in my house. I will be keeping my landline until my number is ported. I have wired my house with all Cat5e for phones in a home run configuration. All my wiring goes into my "tech closet" so it's out of the way but easily accessed. I mainly use a base station with cordless handsets. My Ooma hub is directly after my cable modem. Subscribed to Ooma premiere with 2 lines.
Option 1
Incoming Qwest land line connected to WALL port on hub, PHONE port on hub connected to my 12-way phone splitter. With this setup you get an Ooma dialtone for any phone attached around the house. It's nice and simple if you don't want use the voicemail features on the hub. However, if you plug a scout into any of the phone jacks in your house you get all red lights on the bottom of the scout. I wanted to be able to use both lines if needed.
Option 2
Ooma splitter connected to WALL port on hub, incoming Qwest runs into Ooma splitter, other port of splitter connected to my house splitter, PHONE port on hub connected to a single cordless phone. Ooma scout connected in office to cordless base station. With this setup you obviously get the Ooma dialtone for the phone that's connected to the hub. For all the other phone jacks you get a normal dialtone UNLESS they are connected to a scout. Using a splitter was the KEY. I tried this config with a non Ooma splitter and it worked just fine too.
In my pic below you can see the splitter in the wall port of the hub 2. 2A connects to my incoming Qwest demarc. 2B connects to my house phone splitter. 1 is a black cable so it's hard to see but that connects to a RJ45 coupler which then goes to a single cordless phone.
Hopefully this helps some people that can't seem to get their scout light to turn blue. I want Ooma to succeed because it can save SOOO much money for people, it pays for itself in months. After all is complete I'll only be paying a hundred bucks a year for 2 lines and excellent features. The call quality is perfect on my 2nd number. I do have a slight buzzing in the background when I use my landline number but I expect that to go away after the number is ported. I read here that it's probably due to the small voltage in the landline. Also, invest in a UPS (battery backup) for your networking and Ooma device and you'll be good during a power outage for a while.
Carl