router necessary w/ cable modem?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 4

Hi, I am looking into getting vonage but I had a question regarding the necessary equipment. I have a cable modem and I would like to be able to surf the net while using the phone. I know you have to have a router for DSL, but is it necessary to have have one for cable? Can I still be online during phone calls? I read a review that mentioned something about there being a router in the phone adapter, so does this mean I would not need a separate one? If I do have to get a router, does anyone have any recommendations on a quality (yet not expensive) router that has proven to be compatible the the vonage system? Thanks for any help in advance!!!

Posts: 13 · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:17 pm Post subject:

Two months ago before I jointed Vonage, I had the same question. From what I read, you need a router to use phone while surfing on internet. I went to bought one and it worked.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Apr 06, 2004 Posts: 4

Has anyone tried to do it without a router?

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

There are two issues here. 1) Yes, the MTA has a router built into it so you don't need a router to connect 1 PC to the Internet. You can even use the phone and the PC at one time. You could use more than 1 PC if you provide a switch or a hub (cheaper than a router). You'd connect the switch (or hub) to the PC port of the MTA and then the computers would hook to the switch (or hub).

2) Do you want to do this? No. The MTA is a poor router -- it has a limited ability to open ports, may not work for VPN, and is just generally not a very good router. Routers are cheap (I got one for about $5 after rebate a few weeks back). If you want WiFi or to do anything sophisticated you will want the router. Plus as Moto pointed out, if the MTA goes west, you won't lose your Internet connection with a router.

So the short answer is no, you don't NEED a router, but the long answer is yes, you WANT a router.

Posts: 36 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Aug 15, 2003 Posts: 36

You want to have a router just for the extra security that a router provides.

Posts: 67 · Full Forum Member Joined: Mar 22, 2004 Posts: 67

Supposedly the latest MTA firmware stealths all the ports, so it should be OK, but I agree, a real router would offer better (and more controllable) firewalling.

Posts: 1

My telephone audio quality is really bad when I'm active on the internet. After troubleshooting with both my cable ISP (Charter) and Vonage (neither were helpful), I've learned that this difficulty is likely due to the fact that my ISP uses the "Best Effort" method of data trafficking, and that in order to provide good voice quality you need your broadband service provider to support QoS (quality of service) for your VoIP application, meaning giving priority to your voice traffic first if bandwidth is limited. If I get a router, can I effectively create this QoS system myself, thereby prioritizing the voice data over the other data? If yes, what router would be the best price-to-value solution for this?

Thanks for any help you can provide!