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General discussion

Broadband Phone Service

Mar 3, 2005 8:44PM PST

Has anyone tried the Broadband phone service, "Vonage" or another one like it? I am wondering how good it really is and what all you need to get it going if you already have a broadband connection.

Thanks,
Dave

Discussion is locked

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Comcast and crew may be un-prioritizing the signal
Jul 4, 2006 5:19PM PDT

Comcast, 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

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Vonage
Oct 14, 2005 1:26AM PDT

I'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.

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Been on Vonage for 5 months now
Oct 14, 2005 1:52AM PDT

I'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.

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Vonage Voip/ Hardware
Oct 14, 2005 2:09AM PDT

I'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!

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Use of Vonage VOIP
Oct 14, 2005 2:45AM PDT

I'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

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Vonage
Oct 14, 2005 3:49AM PDT

I 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.

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VOIP
Oct 14, 2005 4:04AM PDT

I 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

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VOIP
Oct 14, 2005 6:38AM PDT

I 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.

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optimum voice
Oct 14, 2005 6:35AM PDT

now using voip through cablevision optimum voice. free install and no problems.

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2 content customers here
Oct 14, 2005 7:32AM PDT

my 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.

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voip
Oct 14, 2005 8:58PM PDT

Just 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.

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voip
Oct 14, 2005 11:26PM PDT

Where 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.

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911
Jan 16, 2007 7:32AM PST

What would be the point if you do not get routed correctly, Hope your not in grave danger, or worse dying in the mean time while your call is trying to get through to the wright area

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power outtage with landline phones not wholey true
Oct 19, 2005 7:25AM PDT

In 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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Voip Service
Oct 15, 2005 2:35PM PDT

VoIP is cheaper than Landline. Tax on unlimited calling plan is nominal. Pick up the phone and call anywhere in U.S. and Canada unlimited without worrying about regional toll, local toll or long distance charges. Call France 3c a minute. Call free between device to device. Call anywhere in the world while on go using softphone, your laptop and wireless internet connection. Send and receive faxes. Some VoIP companies are offering a feature: you can call from any phone using your home phone account.
BUT-- if you have lot of spare time to resolve the technical issues, if you can call several times to tech support, holding the line for long without resoving the issues, if you have unlimited patience, then it is good for you.

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Voip Phone Service
Oct 16, 2005 3:14AM PDT

I work for a Michigan Based Wireless ISP. www.speednetllc.com, and we offer Voip as part of our broadband service.... Voip, though in infancy in its public arena, is a good and growing product...
our service for voip is 29.95 per month, unlimited us and canada, but you must have our broadband to use our voip. VOIP uses around 28kb of bandwidth, which is very low considering we offer 3M down and 384 up. But your internet connection needs to be solid...
You will see some of the same issues we seen when cell phones started to become viable for all to use. occasionally a woobly sounding voice,some echo on occasion, a dropped call now and then. it is relitively new technology, so has a ways to go to be perfect.
One thing about back feeding your home phone network, you MUST sever the connection between your current land line phone provider and your own home phone network. It simply is not enough to just cancel your current phone service befor you feed your own home phone network. Severing your home phone network is as easy as opening your phone box outside your home, and disconnecting the jumper in the box. usually black and about 4 inches long, just a small phone cord. once that is done, then you can back feed your home phone network from the voip box and have all your household phones on the voip. Porting can be an issue. most large phone companies by law must port your number over, but other amaller companies like CenturyTel do not. for instance, Centrury Tel will lease you the phone number at a price per minute use... not very friendly, but is completely defined by each traditional phone carrier.
Voip, like the new emerging Wireless internet is a VERY HOT market to be in, and improvements are being made DAILY, and it will only be a matter of a bit of time before all voip runs as smoothly as traditional phone networks. and now that the government has stepped in to ensure Voip is compatible with emergency services, 911 service will be available nationwide as soon as the voip providers set their protocals in their networks.
One thing to think of about voip, if you lose power, your internet connection is out, therefore your phone is not available. A problem that can be solved with a UPS attatched to your internet equpipment, router and viop box. A 80.00 UPS should keep power for your internet, voip, and router for a few hrs or more.
we charge no activation services but do charge a 10.00 porting fee, which is what we pay to get the number form your current carrier. a voip box can be leased or purchased with our company. most will purchase as the cost is under 100.00.
at this point all voip does not work with all other services like fax machines, satalite systems, medical equipment. this too will be solved soon, as its one of the major hurdles to be completly jumped. but not all have these hurdles to jump, each voip company, depending on current set up, may already be past this.
Bottom line Voip is here to stay, and is improveing daily. with a solid broadband connection, voip is just the next part of the world wide digital expansion.
Next to the market place, Broadband TV. Soon Very Soon.
Timothy Locke

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Broadband Phone Service
Oct 17, 2005 3:35AM PDT

I really don't know why anyone with a good wireless cellphone plan could get too excited about broadband phone service. Our cell service has 1000 shared monthly peak minutes plus unlimited nights and weekends. Almost all of our long distance calls are made nights/weekends. Why would I want to pay for broadband phone service?

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Many reasons for Broadband Voip
Oct 17, 2005 11:25PM PDT

Many people may want voip sevice to co-exist with their cell service for several reasons.
1. I dont want to give my cell phone number to everyone. At my work I am on call 24/7 and not want any extra calls. With voip I can send some or all callers directly to vmail.

2. Many times I like to use speaker phone for work, or with my kids calling the grandparents. Not very easy to do speaker with most cell phones.

There are dozens of reasons, but really depends on your situation. For many people just using a cell phone is ok, and if it wasnt for my work and kids, well that is what I would probably do. But for many others the savings of using Voip over traditional land line services is well worth keeping standard phones, and a separation of cell and landline numbers.

http://www.voipdetails.com
http://www.howisitdone.com

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This is why I have Voip in addition to my cell
Oct 18, 2005 1:26AM PDT

First, I could not get my landline under $50 per month after all of the ridiculous taxes and fees. With Vonage, I can be sure my monthly bill will NEVER exceed $27. (I have it with Comcast cable and may have had an outage 2 times in the last year. I have it automatically forwarded to my cell phone when this happens so I never miss a call).

Second, no matter how many minutes I have on my cell plan, I have issues with 1) variable signal strength in the house, 2) having to carry my cell phone everywhere I go, 3) NOT having the ability to tell my wife on another floor to pickup the extension to speak with her Mother, and 4) giving out my cell phone number.

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Lingo is the VoIP for me
Oct 18, 2005 1:33AM PDT

As a Brit living in USA, I have found Lingo to be ideal. For $25 a month you get unlimited free calls to all of the USA and Western Europe. For an additional $10 per month you can have a UK number so friends and family in UK can ring me for the cost of a UK call. The quality is normally very good but occasional (< 1 sec) dropouts occur particularly when ringing a cell phone (which is also free). I also like the ability to redirect calls (from the internet - so you don't have to be home) and re-direct depending on the incoming number. Setting the system to redirect from my cell phone to a UK number means I can ring relatives free of charge from anywhere in the USA (and I can change the numbers via the internet). Excellent - see www.lingo.com for details.

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Lingo is Good
Oct 18, 2005 3:20AM PDT

I chose lingo because it had a local number where I live. Vonage, AT&T and manu others could not get me a local #. If you live in a remote place and call to Eurpoe alot, then yes Lingo is a great one.

I have had them for almost a year now, and have had some occasional call quality issues, but the features out way the occasional problem for me.

tell us what you think of your voip provider.

http://www.voipdetails.com

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Broadband Phone service
Oct 18, 2005 7:24AM PDT

I like VoIP. You might have a couple of hick-ups now & then. But like any new Technology those bugs can be ironed out.

1st. The cost is great with (FREE National longdistance)

2nd. Cheap long listance to talk to family members accross seas. Beats buying those short *** calling cards @ the gasstations. Not to mention charges through your regular Phone service.

3rd. They give us credit for referals "free month of service baby..."

4th. ( Who likes a $80.00+ phone bill for regular *** service minus long distance and DSL...)

DRAWBACK.... Forget about sending faxes anytime soon. But thats small stuff. Use your work fax machine.... They won't care..

Finally Your saving Dough. (Hello Gas Prices....)

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Vonage hijacked my line for a month!
Oct 19, 2005 11:11AM PDT

Although Vonage may be a good system. Their ethics as a company are abysmal. Because of trouble with my broadband, I switched back to SBC from Vonage. They assured me It would be a smooth transition. I went to pick up my phone and it was dead. They never notified SBC I was moving back. Then to make it worse, Vonage didn't release my number for another thirty days. After a half dozen phone calls and hours on hold, I just gave up and waited the thirty days. I was lied to by three seperate people at Vonage. I'm apalled by their lack of scruples!!!!

MDH, San Antonio

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Vonage to Vonage
Oct 29, 2005 7:12AM PDT

In addition, during that thirty days, other Vonage users couln't reach you!

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Voip Not perfect
Nov 2, 2005 1:54AM PST

This sounds like a horrible experience, and Vonage should be ashamed if this is all true, which I expect it is.

One thing to do when dealing with companies like this is to use their online support, it creates a paper trail that can help.

If you are in the right on all of this, it pays to ask to talk to a supervisor, explain to them calmy whay has happened, and hope that they take action.

As I am sure you have read, VOIP is not for everyone, please help others know about your experience.

http://www.voipdetails.com
http://www.howisitdone.com

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I highly recommend Earthlink VOIP!!!!
Jan 5, 2006 12:44PM PST

I have been reading some of these messages and I have not found Earthlink VOIP mentioned anywhere. I have had Earthlink VOIP service for a month now and in my opinion, it would be impossible for any VOIP service to be better than Earthlink VOIP. It is a relatively new service from this company. The quality of the calls is consistently superior and the customer service is excellent. I highly recommend Earthlink VOIP.
I have written to the appropriate CNET editor requesting a review of Earthlink VOIP because I want other CNET readers to know about this great service. Using the CNET rating system, I would give Earthlink VOIP a CNET score of 10 out of 10.

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Earthlink VOIP
Jan 6, 2006 2:55AM PST

Earthlink is reselling Vonage services, as far as I know so this should add a notch to Vonage as well.

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Earthlink is no longer associated with Vonage
Jan 6, 2006 4:19PM PST

Earthlink is NOT reselling Vonage. Earthlink used to resell Vonage but this is no longer the case. Earthlink, according to my understanding, is functioning entirely on it's own. And, they are doing an excellent job! I am exceedingly pleased with the VOIP service I have from Earthlink.

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Earthlink True Voice
Jan 16, 2006 1:19PM PST

Thats true. Earthlink used to resell Vonage but not anymore. Superb sound quality. And it even works with my alarm system.

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Vonage
Jan 6, 2006 2:52AM PST

I setup a Vonage account last month and have been using it for evaluation. So far so good. I like the the call forwarding features and virtual numbers to allow friends, family and clients to call local numbers. The next hurdle is the number portability process. I will let you know.