Can I use Vonage if I connect through wifi?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 4

I live in an apartment complex that offers wifi internet access to residents. We create a login and then we have access once we set our wireless SSID.
I connect to this network through my laptop with no other equipment. An icon displays my connection as "Excellent" with a speed of "11mbPs", occasionally this speed will dip to "5.5mbPs".
Can I use Vonage? Will this provide enough bandwidth for a Vonage line? Also, I think that since I have no modem or router, I won't be able to hook up the Vonage equipment.
Any ideas?

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Feb 17, 2005 Posts: 4

You have to wait until Vonage releases a wifi phone. I read somewhere that this phone should be available this year.

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:02 pm Post subject:

Yes, try this thread: http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic4708.html for the hardware required. (or search for "ethernet bridge")

Run the Voip Speed Test when your connection is slowest (probably right after everyone gets home from work). Post your results if they are questionable.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 4

Thanks, I will do the speed test first. But then are you saying that I could get an ethernet bridge (not sure what that is yet, but I have the ethernet jack in the laptop) and I would be able to connect the Vonage box to that?

Posts: 482 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:38 pm Post subject:

You know how a wireless access point works, right? This is a real basic explanation, but a WAP takes an ethernet connection and turns it into wireless. A bridge does the same thing in reverse, it takes a wireless connection and turns it into an ethernet connection. At that point, you can plug in a wired device (or several via a hub/switch). Obviously the speed of those wired devices are limited by your wireless network, but that shouldn't be an issue with Vonage's minimal bandwidth requirements.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 4

Ok, that helps a bit. My computer knowledge is pretty much middle-of-the-road. I will search for an ethernet bridge. Then hopefully I will be able to get the Vonage service and connect the Vonage box to that bridge rather than to a modem or router?

Posts: 12 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 31, 2005 Posts: 12

check out my solution

http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic2681.html

I used this setup in FL this last winter. It work good most of the time. I had wireless to the antenna in front of the condo. and then wireless from there to someplace else. Ie to wireless jumps.

Posts: 4 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 4

Thanks all. I am going to give this a shot. I'd love to have Verizon out of my life forever!
Wayne, I will look into the Linksys WET11 that you used as the bridge and set it up while on the network, then try to set up the Voip.

Posts: 492 · Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

I have to agree. It will work and you have plenty of connectivity and to spare.

Posts: 20 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 20

i think there's a misunderstanding on the actual bandwidth available.

you get 5-11mbps on your wifi connection.. this does NOT mean you have a 5-11mbps connection to the inernet.

i'm offering wifi to residents of apartments i own and they're all sharing one cable modem connection through a wireless g router. so they have high bandwidth within their intranet but a max of 300k upstream between them all..