Broadband: Broadband Phone Service
VOIP & Comcast
by rdj - 7/3/06 9:38 AM In reply to: VOIP/Vonage is great, so long as.... by dcis_steveThanks for the input. I had Vonage and for the most part it was great, however, .... Comcast is my ISP and we are always having trouble - the quality of service from Comcast was so poor that I had to give up the VOIP. I was recently in Dallas, TX and helped a friend install Vonage throughout his home (tied into existing wiring, after disconnecting the NID). His service with Voange is terrific.
NOW - If only we could get consistency and quality with Comcast, along with a reasonable price, this world would be a better place.
Comcast and crew may be un-prioritizing the signal
by ackmondual - 7/5/06 12:19 AM In reply to: VOIP & Comcast by rdjComcast, Cox, and other similar cable companies do have a "little hatred" for VOIP phones. They'll discourage ppl from using it, since ppl who do will detract business from their own phone service business.
The kicker is, while they're NOT allowed to degrade VOIP signals through their internet lines, they could de-prioritize those signals so that call quality gets poor. Not sure if they actually (or still) does this, but it would explain a lot with your poor performance through Comcast
Vonage
by mrsshapat - 10/14/05 8:26 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444I've had Vonage service since February '05. Occasionally I've had issues with having to redial calls before connecting or callers complaining that I need to speak louder. But I had similar issues with Verizon service too. Also I had a problem with my adapter not downloading updates. But Vonage replaced it with a more expensive model at no charge. The customer service reps have varying skill/knowledge levels but that applies to most companies. Overall not a bad deal for $27/mo incl taxes ($24.95 pkg). I've seen deals for less but these are lesser known companies. I was paying Verizon $35 plus approx $15 in taxes for unlimited local with only three custom calling features.
Been on Vonage for 5 months now
by badsponge - 10/14/05 8:52 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444I'm very happy that I switched. My phone bill is only $29.28, including taxes, no matter what. Every time I've had to call Vonage customer service, the reps were very polite and helpful. I still hear some minor echoes and delays occasionally, but the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.
Vonage Voip/ Hardware
by guberro - 10/14/05 9:09 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444I've had Vonage VOIP for almost 6 months and overall, it has been great. It was not without its share of problems but they can be overcome.
The primary reason I chose Vonage was cost. Both my wife and I need our own lines since we both have two different business's and like to have our own voicemail systems, this way, as a second phone line, it is very price atttactive. My Vonage is on her DSL line.
I've had to call Vonage many times to get problems resolved and they've been there every time. Sometimes a long wait, sometimes not. Here is a quick list of problems and how to solve them:
-If you have echo issues, call them and they can squelch that out.
-If you get their router and you already have a router, make sure that their router is first in line from your DSL/Cable modem, put YOUR router after theirs.
-You must have a high quality DSL/Cable service connection
-If your caller ID is incorrect, they can correct this on their end.
-If you need Anonymous Caller Rejection (telemarketers) you will need a third party service/device. I use www.privacycorps.com's Person-to-person telephone filtering device, a one- time purchase.
-I did have a D-Link DI-624 router, it did not work with Vonage's provided Linksys RT31P2 router. Of course, nothing worked the D-Link router-that's another story (drop, drop, drop). I recently upgraded to Belkin's Pre-N Router, which works transparently as good hardware should.
-You must have your modem, router(s) & adapters on a decent UPS (but you already have one for your PC system, right?)
-Vonage has great Voicemail system but if you already have a machine, just set your voicemail to answer two rings after your machine. i.e., your machine rings 4 times before answering, set your voicemail to answer on 6 rings.
-If you live in a rural area and have DSL, and are a few miles from the CO (Central Telephone Office) and you experiance choppy audio, call Vonage and have them reduce the packet count (from 30 to 20 to 10). You can only do this by a phone call to Vonage, it is not a software setting.
-Keep all equipment cool. If you can't keep your environment cool (under 75) you might keep with a standard POTS line. Hi speed routers and DSL/Cable routers like to be COLD (<65 degrees F) to run properly.
VOIP is not a perfect solution, but if your tech savvy and are willing to put in a little time to get the bugs worked out, you can talk all you want and save some $$$. And learn a lot in the process!
Use of Vonage VOIP
by bjmillis - 10/14/05 9:45 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444I've used Vonage since July 04. By far and large is is as good as provided by the regulated companies - and were I've had years of experience of large scale professional use. Been quite relieable with generally very good service.
Bill
Vonage
by jtreed - 10/14/05 10:49 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444I use vonage for my business phone and fax. I have been with them for a year. I can think of perhaps three days that I have had service interruptions of a significant length. Most had to do with accessing voicemail, and you can have the messages emailed to you in wav format so that is not really much of a problem. One of the other responses mentions bandwidth as the difference maker and I would have to agree. It really comes down to wanting as much bang for your buck as possible. As a start up business with clients all over the country, it made sense to wrap up everything in a package that costs just over $60/mo for a phone line, fax line and a toll free # for out of the area clients.
As far as what you need to get going, I simply added their phone adapter to my existing network. I think they now have a combination router/adapter from Linksys that was not available when I was getting started. I will admit that the ''rebate'' never materialized, but I am otherwise completely satisfied with their service. I have had almost zero technical problems so can't really comment on their tech support. As an aside, with a smart phone (I use a BlackBerry) the email notification when you receive a voice mail makes staying in contact very, very easy, even when traveling. This combination has really made me more productive/effective.
VOIP
by cnetmmf - 10/14/05 11:04 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444I haven't tried VOIP, and I don't intend to. Competition in this country falls into 2 categories, pricing and features. From what I'm hearing, VOIP is merely providing telephony service for LESS MONEY. When you consider that the Internet utilizes thelephone lines, isn't VOIP really just telephone service after all, but for less money? Of course it is, so how long will the Baby Bells wait before they begin dropping their prices to meet or beat the VOIP providers. I don't know, but as more people convert to VOIP, it's just a matter of time, and I'm not about to spend money on the new required equipment necessary to implement VOIP. I'd sure like to hear from someone as to what I am missing here.
M. Freeman
VOIP
by thafeez - 10/14/05 1:38 PM In reply to: VOIP by cnetmmfI had Vonage - it is the Rolls Royce of VOIP no trouble @ all billwas $ 28.00 with all taxes etc per month.
I switched to SUNROCKET there price was $199.00 total including all taxes plus two 2.4GHz phones for free and all equipment for free - no sign up fee etc.
They have had 2 major outages nationwide and have minor outages quite frequently after midnight till 9.00am next day no support at all.
I have cell phone so crtically I depend on it.
But for reliable, trustable service if anyone wants go with VONAGE.
optimum voice
by roberthelfrick - 10/14/05 1:35 PM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444now using voip through cablevision optimum voice. free install and no problems.
2 content customers here
by ackmondual - 10/14/05 2:32 PM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444my sis and bro-in-law seems to enjoy theirs. I think it's vonage, but it's definately some VOIP on broadband. The call quality from my end is worse than traditional landline. There are some "breaks" in connection, but unlike some cell phones with lousier signals, I can usually make out conversions whebn these breaks in VOIP calls occur. It's subtle and noticeable, but usually not bad as "breaking out" for 2 whole seconds at once.
Price is right for them, cheaper per month than land line, and they got to keep the same phone number when they moved from New York to Arkansas (the only 718 area code in AK!). THey make only national calls to the continental US. No canada, nor international calls.
voip
by jmacros - 10/15/05 3:58 AM In reply to: Broadband Phone Service by steward444Just remember that voip works only if the power is not out. thats why you should still have a regular phone in your home because if there is a power outage you still have a phone because the phone company provides the power. Also you cant dial 911 if you have voip for now.
voip
by steve1962 - 10/15/05 6:26 AM In reply to: voip by jmacrosWhere do you get the idea that 911 is not available with voip? It is available tho you may not be routed directly to the correct Operations Center.
I have had Lingo for nearly 5 months, pay $22.09 per month incl taxes - this includes all of usa, canada and western europe, which I can call my family in the UK.
I used to pay $42 per month for local service only!
The quality is no different (to my ears) from landline.
power outtage with landline phones not wholey true
by ackmondual - 10/19/05 2:25 PM In reply to: voip by jmacrosIn a pinch, most ppl will hopefully still have cell phones to use in power outtages (depending on how power is affected to cell towers)
Even if that's not available, most landline users these days use fancier phones that also require electricity and hence a power charger into an outlet. Most of them being extention phones. Other phones have lighted keypads, LCD displays, etc. I felt like the king of the world for a few days when my campus had a power outtage. Although an extension phone would've been nice, i couldn't justify buying one as i didn't really need it. For those few days, nearly all my roomates and those on my floor were borrowing my phone extensively
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