Do I need a Wireless Ethernet Client for Vonage?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 4

I just ordered Vonage. My situation is that I have cable internet that comes into my attic. My modem and a Netgear wireless router are in the attic and there are no phone jacks in the attic. Vonage sent me the D-Link VWR-VD wireless device. Vonage tech support told me that they have no way to make my setup work unless I can hard wire the Vonage device to the modem. A friend told me that a might be able to use a wireless ethernet client and connect to the Vonage D-Link wireless device in another room with a phone jack. The frustrating part is that I explained my setup to the sales agent and we were on the phone for 45 minutes. I get the feeling now that he was just telling me what I needed to hear to make the sale. Evil or Very Mad

Can anyone help? Thanks.

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

If a wireless ethernet client is the same as a wireless access point, then your friend is right. This should work. Another solution would be to put the Vonage device in the attic and go with cordless phones (preferably 5.8 GHz) with multiple handsets and docking/charging stations.

I don't suppose there's any way to get the modem and other gear out of the attic?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 4

I don't know if the wireless ethernet client is the same as a wireless access point. I may head to the electronics store today and ask. As for your alternative solution, doesn't the Vonage device need to be plugged into a phone jack? Maybe that solution went with your question about moving the modem out of the attic. Unfortunately, I don't think it is possible. I've had someone come out to look at dropping cable from the attic and they didn't think it could be done. I have vaulated ceilings everywhere except where the attic is on the second floor.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Aug 25, 2006 Posts: 1

I bought a Linksys Music Bridge and set it up to work on my home network. The setup utility is very easy to use.

After setting it up, I removed the CAT cable from my laptop and connected it to the Vonage adapter. In less that half a minute I had three lights and dial tone.

I have not tried the bridge on an unsecured network, such as in a hotel or my neighbors unsecured home network, but I suspect it will work without any setup, just letting the Vonage adaptor punch its way through.

Mark Smith

Posts: 4777 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 4777

dford13 wrote:

I don't know if the wireless ethernet client is the same as a wireless access point. I may head to the electronics store today and ask. As for your alternative solution, doesn't the Vonage device need to be plugged into a phone jack? Maybe that solution went with your question about moving the modem out of the attic. Unfortunately, I don't think it is possible. I've had someone come out to look at dropping cable from the attic and they didn't think it could be done. I have vaulated ceilings everywhere except where the attic is on the second floor.

The Vonage box doesn't have to be plugged into the wall, unless you want to energize the other wall plugs. Any phone plugged directly into the Vonage box will work, but, of course, your house phone jacks won't. That's why I suggested a multi-handset cordless phone. It doesn't need the house wiring.

As far as moving it out of the attic, I was wondering whether you had access to the cable anywhere else. Most people use cable for television. I thought that maybe you have cable to your television somewhere and could put the networking equipment there.