Background Noise is a Bit Excessive

Posts: 292 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Oct 08, 2004 Posts: 292

If you order online with the coupon from this site (which gives you a free month of Vonage service) your order looks like this.

Do the math. You are better off ordering online with this coupon, the unit is FREE: The $57.78 includes your first month @ $14.99 PLUS a free second month at $14.99 (even more if you get the $25 plan) so your real cost for the unit is only $27.80 Even without the free month coupon from this site, you are better off ordering online.
**********************************************

Congratulations!
Because you signed up under a special offer, we are pleased to inform you that you are eligible to receive your second month of Vonage service free!

Review order summary:

Please take a few minutes to review your account details and order information. Please remember to print a copy of this page for your records.

Your order will not be processed until you click 'ORDER NOW'

Account Information
Plan Description Residential Basic 500
Monthly Service Charge $14.99
Area Code 251
Location any

User Information Edit
Name XXXXX
User Name XXXXX
Email Address XXXXX
Phone Number XXXXX
Time Zone Arizona
Broadband Provider BellSouth
Shipping Address XXX
XXX, AR 56039
US

Billing Information Edit
Name XXXXXX XXXXXX
Card Type VISA
Card Number ************XXXX
Billing Address 670
XXXXXX, AR 56039
US

Item Quantity Unit Price Subtotal
Basic 500 Plan Activation Fee 1 $29.99 $29.99
Residential Basic 500 * 1 $14.99 $14.99
Shipping Charge 1 $9.95 $9.95
FET Tax $1.35
Regulatory Recovery Fee $1.50
Total Amount $57.78
*Monthly Recurring Charge

Your order will not be processed until you click 'ORDER NOW'

Copyright Vonage 2002-2004. All rights reserved.
No contents may be reproduced or altered in whole or in part
without the express written consent of Vonage.
********************************************

Posts: 37 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Dec 29, 2004 Posts: 37

Personally, I would rather have the ability to get it NOW and return it NOW, even if it is a little bit more. But still, I don't see where it will cost more retail "IF" I get all of my rebates.

+$50.00 Paid out Retail no fees
-$50.00 Rebate refund
-$25.00 Gift Card refund

+$14.99 First Month charge
+$14.99 Second Month charge
----------------------
Total Cost after 2 months $4.98 "IF" I get my rebates.

Your cost is $27.80 after 2 months. Am I missing something from your calculations? If so, I apologize in advance.

Posts: 292 · Vonage Forum Master Joined: Oct 08, 2004 Posts: 292

CompUSa shows that offer here:
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=314460&pfp=SEARCH

AS COSTING $60

I would rather be out of pocket $27.80 then $60 and waiting and hoping for a rebate that is widely posted on this forum and others as never arriving. Plus the $25 Compusa offer is only good until 01/01/05

Post your rebates when you receive them. Until then, post your real out of pocket cost.

Now do the math.

Posts: 2252 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:18 am Post subject:

The veterans on this board know that I rarely moderate, however I think the time has come to give this thread back to rebus and his/her original topic.

Wadda you say mates?

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 04, 2005 Posts: 1

I have the linksys modem and the background noise is so annoying I want to go back to the LAN line. Was told that the motorola will fix it right up, so why is Vonage sending out these problem linksys routers? I also went through all the troubleshooting steps. The tech recommended I buy a noise canceler, which I did, and then returned after it made no difference. Happens on every phone, wireless or not. Was going to recommend this to others, but how can you? This is not worth the aggravation. Anyone recommend another Voip provider? I was told the local SBC is getting into this game soon. If Vonage can't fix this problem, they won't be around long.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:54 am Post subject:

this problem doesn't affect everyone. it may seem like a lot here since people with the problem are likely to seek out help/information on it and this is a good place to do that. there are a ton of Voip providers. packet8.net, broadvox, broadvoice, voicepulse, lingo just to name a few. personally I would never use a phone or cable company's Voip product. they've screwed people for so long I can't see using them for a product that a lot of new(er) Voip companies offer.

Posts: 5 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 28, 2004 Posts: 5

I am on my first Linksys RT31P2, the background noise is a little excessive, but the router has at least functioned enough to give me a dialtone and handles computer network traffic fine.

After calling Vonage tech support, I asked them, as I saw on this forum might work, to switch the line to the second port.

Something interesting happened when the port was switched, the indicator light (blinking when phone is off the hook) moved over to two, but port two on the back of the router didn't function. However, the first port still functions, even though the second light is acting as the indicator for it.

The second port, usually powered, even if left inactive, has the same noise, but one doesn't need to hit a button in order to get the line silent enough to hear it.

I've worked on a linksys wireless router that had a similar problem a while back when it wouldn't route any packets to the internet properly. Instead of creating a 192.168 local network, any computer plugged into it would immediately pull the full internet IP address from the cable modem. So, only one computer at a time could be plugged into the device and connect to the internet. Seems like a slightly similar type of issue with another linksys router.

I am also not worried about them charging me. They have charged a 99 dollar deposit, but I don't have to pay it, and they've agreed to pay for shipping. I'm still rather impressed with the service, but I think I'd get pissed if I hooked up three of these things and they didn't work.

Posts: 66 · Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2005 7:17 am Post subject:

Oddly enough, I just set up my Vonage service just two days ago and I have the same Linksys unit as you have, and yes I'm familiar with the the background noise/hiss.. it is rather annoying. Ironically enough, I work as a repair technician for a local phone company with a three letter acronym. I have the Vonage in addition to my traditional land line to compare. I'm starting to experiment with different ideas that are already in use with POTS (plain old telephone service). I'm going to try combinations of "z" filters, rfi filters, line attenuators etc.to see if this would help with the noise. One of the first things is to see that the handset volume on the individual phone is turned down. If I find something worthy, I will post ASAP. Eek

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 08, 2005 Posts: 3

I am on my 3rd linksys.....I found this one to be the best of the 3 although there was still noise. I found a post and dslreports.com that said to hook a phone to line 2 on the linksys and leave it off the hook. This reduced the noise to the best level yet.

I did email Vonage again and the tech told me that new harware should arrive in 2-3 weeks from linksys that will not have the noise problem.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 3:15 pm Post subject:

ooo that's interesting. any other details? might be worth complaining about the noise problem to get a new device.