Not subscribed yet...have questions!

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 7:09 am Post subject:

hairmetal wrote:

Another question -

I moved to Maryland 3 months ago, most of my family is back in Ohio. If I remember right, I can get a single line but still have a secondary number local to my family in Ohio, and have my Maryland number as the "master" is that correct?

Yes, you would sign up asking for a Maryland number, then (assuming Vonage offers numbers local to your old address in Ohio) you'd add a "vritual" number so people in Ohio would call a local (to them) number. You can have all the virtual numbers you want, for $5 a month each if I recall the price list correctly, plus a $10 or so setup fee.

You also do not have to have a Maryland number at all, technically. You can ask for a number anywhere in the US you want as your primary number. But it's probably more convenient (and less odd) for your new neighbors to get a local number, too. Wink

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 07, 2007 Posts: 15

When I hook up my Vonage adapter, does it have to actually be connected to a PC at all?? Or can I just plug the ethernet into the modem and be done? I worry if I have to connect a PC THROUGH the Vonage router/adapter that I might lose internet speed on that PC. And, again, I already have a router from Verizon FIOS.

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 07, 2007 Posts: 15

NateHoy wrote:

Yes, you would sign up asking for a Maryland number, then (assuming Vonage offers numbers local to your old address in Ohio) you'd add a "vritual" number so people in Ohio would call a local (to them) number. You can have all the virtual numbers you want, for $5 a month each if I recall the price list correctly, plus a $10 or so setup fee.

You also do not have to have a Maryland number at all, technically. You can ask for a number anywhere in the US you want as your primary number. But it's probably more convenient (and less odd) for your new neighbors to get a local number, too. Wink

One thing that is slightly annoying (to me, probably not to most people) is that all the numbers available both in my current town and my Ohio former residence are in the "new" overlayed area codes, not the "old" ones - which just complicates giving out my number to people. Lol

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 07, 2007 Posts: 15

BTW, slightly off-topic:

Is it true that the DECT 6.0 cordless phones cause cancer?

Posts: 2257 · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 9:53 am Post subject:

All cell phones, cordless phones, WiFi cards, Bluetooth adapters, CB radios, and other devices put out a certain amount of RF radiation at various frequencies. Overall, though, I'd be far more concerned about a cell phone, which has to reach a tower more than a mile away and puts out a lot more power, than a cordless that only needs a range of a few hundred feet.

As far as the 6.0Ghz frequency specifically, I can't imagine it is significantly different from the 5.8GHz frequency in terms of risk. Most of the actual long-term testing has been done on devices that have been around for a long time (900 Mhz frequency range), and no direct link has been found. I haven't researched it exhaustively, but I don't think a link has been found between brain cancer and low-powered RF transmissions.

Unless you're a VERY heavy user of such devices, I really don't think you have much to worry about. Personally, I keep my RF transmitters (where they are adjustable) at the lowest working setting. My WiFi router has an adjustment, and I leave it off when I'm not using wireless. When I do use it, I set the transmit to a fairly low power setting when I'm going to be using it in the same room.

As far as cordless phones, I tend to use the speakerphone feature or a corded handset so the antenna isn't up against my noggin. Remember that the intensity of radiation decreases at the square of the distance, so a 6 inch separation from the transmission source means you absorb a LOT less power than a 1/4 inch separation.

I don't use my cell phone a lot, so I don't worry too much about that. If I did use it a lot, I'd probably pick up a corded or possibly bluetooth headset - Bluetooth is still RF, but much lower power than the actual cell, so if I can keep the powerful cell antenna itself away from the little grey cells, that's a good thing.

There's no reason, IMHO, to live in a Faraday cage, but if you can sensibly reduce the sources of RF transmission around you, and especially VERY close to you, it's probably a decent idea.

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Aug 07, 2007 Posts: 15

I had a post asking if Vonage would be around in the future...and it was pulled. Why would a valid question be yanked? I thought this was an INDEPENDENT site?