Want to try Vonage, but SO confused!

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 3

Wow, I didn't think this would be so difficult... I am wanting to maybe give Vonage a try because I am tired of paying so much for digital phone service that I just don't use very often. I need to cut some costs and just have the phone there for calls here and there (use cell phones more than anything, like most people.)

I have one computer, broadband service, no router. I have two different cordless phones, one in the living room near the computer and one in the bedroom. Pretty normal setup, I thought, but the lady I spoke with at Vonage made it sound like having a cordless phone was a terribly bizarre thing and would require all sorts of other equipment.

I don't want to have to buy other equipment -- that would not make sense for me. I thought you could use Vonage on your own phones. Am I just out of luck here?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

-gina-

Posts: 1123 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: May 26, 2005 Posts: 1123

Get ready, this is terribly simple Smile

They will send you a device, known as a phone adapter. Sometimes this is also a router, and that's what you want. Steer clear from ones that are ONLY phone adapters, or you will still have to provide your own router. Check the website for what they're offering for router devices.

You connect that device to your cable modem, then connect your computer to the Vonage device.

THEN, you take your base station for your cordless, plug it into the Vonage device as well, and voila! Now you have a networked PC on a router, and all your cordless on Vonage.

Seriously, that's it. If you want to connect it to your actual house wiring in the wall, that's a whole different issue, but we can help you with that.

Posts: 11 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 28, 2005 Posts: 11

Another option is to sign up for the V-Tech phone adapter with the handset. You have to purchase the other one or bargain with them for 2 handsets.

http://www.vonage.com/device.php?type=IP8100

hope that helps....

Posts: 1327 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 1327

Like others have said very easy to set up. I am not using my home wiring, I bought a cordless phone with 3 extensions that plug in the power outlet on the wall. Your phone will have to be connected to the Vonage adapter so you will have to either buy a phone with multiple extensions, or take the cordless phone with you in different rooms or do the home wiring set up.

We just got digital phone in our area, but still more expensive than Vonage and less features. I say switch to Vonage.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 3

Thanks so much for the quick replies! I'm not sure why this is so confusing to me. I have two different cordless phones -- not one base with two handsets. Is that a problem? How would the one in the bedroom work?

If they send me a router, how do I know it's the right one? I'm hoping this was a fluke, but the person I spoke to when I called Vonage to ask about this stuff spoke nearly zero English. Pretty pointless and useless. Thank goodness I found this forum, so maybe I can try and figure this out! I just really cannot afford to go buy any other equipment.

Thanks again!

Posts: 23 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Feb 19, 2007 Posts: 23

take your time to think about it. it's a new technology. certainly a lot of people is not aware that Voip depends on a lot of factors.

Posts: 1327 · Vonage Forum **MVM** Joined: Nov 08, 2006 Posts: 1327

You have to plug your phone into the adapter so if it only has one handset that is all you can use.

If you only have one computer then you don't really need a router type adapter. If you do have more than one computer than you may want a wireless Vonage adapter.

I have heard of complaints about the difficulty understanding the Vonage rep, and if that happens you can ask to speak to someone else or you can hang up and call back again.

Posts: 172 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Apr 19, 2006 Posts: 172

And of course there is the 30day money back guarantee so you are guaranteed to have your money back after you've returned the device (with the ret authorization of course) should you not like the service.

Posts: 533 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:15 pm Post subject:

I'll just add my 2 cents in here. While everything everyone explained will certainly work, there's an easier way, and this is where navydavy was going at the end of his message. All you need to do is connect the Vonage device's (ATA) phone port to an available phone jack in the house, that will "light" every other jack in the house with dial tone. In general, there's really no need to connect cordless base stations or phones directly to the ATA. If the house has wiring issues, then connecting directly to the ATA may be the only option.

One caveat to this is you'll need to make sure you separate your telco's wiring from your house wiring. It's very easy to do. You just locate the telco's box that's attached to your house, open it (you're allowed) and disconnect the rj-11 cable that you see. If you don't do this and the telco accidentally reactivates your line, it'll send voltage that could fry the ATA. Chances of that happening are small, but you should take the precaution.

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: May 03, 2007 Posts: 3

EzCo wrote:

I'll just add my 2 cents in here. While everything everyone explained will certainly work, there's an easier way, and this is where navydavy was going at the end of his message. All you need to do is connect the Vonage device's (ATA) phone port to an available phone jack in the house, that will "light" every other jack in the house with dial tone. In general, there's really no need to connect cordless base stations or phones directly to the ATA. If the house has wiring issues, then connecting directly to the ATA may be the only option.

One caveat to this is you'll need to make sure you separate your telco's wiring from your house wiring. It's very easy to do. You just locate the telco's box that's attached to your house, open it (you're allowed) and disconnect the rj-11 cable that you see. If you don't do this and the telco accidentally reactivates your line, it'll send voltage that could fry the ATA. Chances of that happening are small, but you should take the precaution.

Well... the first paragraph made great sense to me! =/ No way am I going to go jack around with wires and voltage and whatnot. I have a normal house with normal wiring and normal cordless phones. I just don't want to pay out the wazoo for phone service we don't use a whole lot.

If I can really just plug one of my phones into the adapter thingy and plug that thing into my modem, and get dial tones on both my phones, I'll be happy. I also do have an old corded phone I could plug into the bedroom instead of the cordless, if that would make a difference.