[Shotimes] OT Vonage

[Carl Prochilo]

Mike,  I'm using AT&T CallVantage.  I signed up for their 2 line
service.  The Linksys router they provided has two phone jacks on it
along with a 4 port 100MB ethernet switch.  One of the ports is used
to cascade to my 801.11G wireless router.  This type of service would
solve the problem of having one phone tied up all the time.

My observations after a few months of usage.
First, my POTS line had always been the most reliable service in my
house, even moreso than electricity.  I now have to rethink this
because of the following reasons.
Because VoIP relies on your broadband ISP, you have an availability
issue right from the get-go.  I have frequent service interruptions
from my ISP.
The VoIP service itself is still in its infancy as a technology and is
prone to its own outages.  Have had several of these already.
People on the other end listening to you can get the "garbled voice
underwater" problem at times, and seems to be aggravated once call
waiting is used.  Has happened several times.
I still have to keep a POTS line for 911 and my home alarm system.

The technology is great and has promise, but it does have some
drawbacks presently as you can see.  Nevertheless I am using it for my
home office as my primary business phone service.
-- 
Cheers,
Carl Prochilo
92 Ultra Red Crimson

On Thu, October 13, 2005 17:07, Mike Wojton said:
> We have broadband. I don't know how reliable it is, we've only had it
> a
> couple of months. Most people tell me to get a cell phone for long
> distance,
> but we can't do that. Well, I guess we could, but we need to have
> standard
> long distance too. My wife does medical transcribing at home through a
> company in the Chicago area. She uses the broadband service to log
> into
> their network, but receives the audio to transcribe on a Dictaphone
> connected to the phone line. Kinda defeats the purpose of the
> broadband I
> know, but that's the deal.
>  We had to get an unlimited long distance plan because she will
> basically be
> making a long distance call for 8 hours every day. The downside is
> that the
> phone line is tied up all day now. We can use Call Waiting, but
> there's no
> way to call out unless she hangs up. We're debating getting a second
> line
> just for her work, or getting a local call only cell plan. I'm too
> cheap to
> pay $40 or $50 dollars a month for a regular cell phone plan on top of
> my
> home phone charges.
>  The Verizon Freedom Plan, which has unlimited long distance, is about
> $55 a
> month. Supposedly, the Vonage unlimited plan is less than $30. I was
> thinking Vonage plus a second line - either Vonage or Verizon standard
> service - would be about the same price, and we'd always have a phone
> line
> available. I know about the 911 thing. They supposedly are addressing
> that,
> but who knows when it will be available in my area. We don't have too
> many
> options. I thought I'd check tham all out.
>   --
> Mike Wojton
> Dover, PA
>
> -'95 White MTX
> '96 Brake Upgrade
> Eibachs (front)
>
> "Avoid the clap." - Jimmy Dugan
>
>
>  On 10/13/05, Paul L Fisher <sho@paul-fisher.com> wrote:
>>
>> You have to have a broadband internet connection. In addition, there
>> is
>> some
>> sort of issue with 911 service that they won't see where you are.
>> They
>> will
>> see the phone # but not the address. In addition, if you internet
>> goes
>> down,
>> your phone does.
>>
>> Now, the upside. You can take the 'router' they give you anywhere in
>> the
>> world and plug it in to a broadband connection and and the phone
>> calls
>> will
>> follow you.
>>
>>
>>
>> Paul L Fisher
>>
>> Visit my website: http://www.paul-fisher.com
>> SHOClub Member: http://www.shoclub.com
>> Amsoil dealer: http://www.paul-fisher.com/oil
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net
>> [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
>> On Behalf Of Mike Wojton
>> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 3:22 PM
>> To: Shotimes
>> Subject: [Shotimes] OT Vonage
>>
>> Does anybody use this phone service? Does anybody know any
>> downsides? It
>> sounds almost too good to be true, compared to our unlimited long
>> distance
>> plan through Verizon. Almost half the price. Any hidden costs?
>>
>> --
>> Mike Wojton
>> Dover, PA
>>
>> -'95 White MTX
>> '96 Brake Upgrade
>> Eibachs (front)
>>
>> "Avoid the clap." - Jimmy Dugan
>> _______________________________________________
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