Questions from Possible new user

Guest

Hi folks,

I am going to be convering ( unless one of you talk me out of it ).

First, I now have dial up ISP, and the only computer in the house is my Toshiba laptop.

My choices for broadband are;

DSL @ 22.00 per month/ satallite tv (dish network) 35.00 per month
total 57.00per month

Cable Internet @ 45.00 per month/basic cable 40.00per month
total 85.00 per month

First question - Honestly.... how does the Vonage VoIP service work for you???? I want to simply replace my landline phone, and that would leave me depending on the Vonage set up. Is the service reliable????

Seeing that the DSL/ Sat. combo saves about $300 per year, thats the way I am leaning. WHAT IS YOUR RECOMENDATION ????

What is the proper configuration.

Cable or DSL line - then modem - the Motorola ATA ?????

Your responses will be most appreciated

Thanks, Todd S.

Posts: 41 · Full Forum Member Joined: 1064934432 Posts: 41

Todd,
Does your price for DSL include the cost of a basic phone line? As I understand it, you must pay for a basic POTS line in order to get a DSL internet connection. The cost of DSL that you put in your post sounds awful low...

As for my satisfaction with Vonage - I'll say that I'm very pleased with how it is working. I do have to admit that it hasn't been quite as reliable as the phone service from the telco, but the problems were never due to Vonage - they were problems with my ISP or my line connections, etc.

I have a cable modem because I don't have DSL available. After I worked out some problems with my line connections (getting the right splitters, etc.), I have been very stable. The only problem I can still gripe about is that I occasionally hear an echo when I am talking with someone. I haven't been able to figure that one out yet.

I must note that I am a very basic user. I don't do heavy downloading or uploading, and I am also not a big-time phone user. Some of the problems I see discussed here are brought on by people who are running multiple-computer setups while working the phone pretty heavily. I'd say sign up and be happy! Very Happy

Guest

Thanks Bob,

I appreciate your comments. I will definitly double check the cost on the DSL line and make sure that I can drop my phone line and keep the DSL.

If I can't drop the phone line and maintain the DSL, it wont be worth having DSL.

Anybody else using DSL out there. Your comments and input will be most appreciated.

Thanks, Todd

Posts: 28 · Vonage Forum Junior Joined: Nov 18, 2003 Posts: 28

It's unlikely that the $22 monthly charge for DSL includes the phone line. All the ads for DSL in that price range say in small print at the bottom "Price does not include DSL-compatible phone line from [insert baby bell here]."

Why not go with cable modem + satellite? Or are you hit with a huge fee for having cable internet without basic cable TV service?

Guest

Gonzo,

DSL is not at the low price of 22.00/month.....Well it is but you have to maintain an active phone line....Min cost for phone line 20.00 approx, including taxes. Not such a good deal if you want to get rid of the normal phone.

Cable internet...44.95/month..BrightHouse....have no choice their. Surrounding cities have comcast, and their cable internet is 19.95 per month. I'm just a lucky guy eh.

But.....are you people happy with your Vonage VoIP???????????????? If you would be kind enough ... please tell the truth!!!!!!

Thanks - Todd

Guest

You might want to double check your cable prices. Cable companies often give reduced pricing for cable with internet. As an example, I use Comcast. They charge $58 for internet without cable. Basic cable with internet is $57. That is not a typo. It is actually $1 cheaper to have both services.

Posts: 8

Vonage service works great for me and had saved me hundreds of dollarv in International calls. The rate is much cheaper even compared to discounted calling cards that you buy off the street.

I used Time Warner's cable and Road Runner service for my cable/ Internet and VOIP with Vonage. In term of satisfaction, I'm very satisfied and has been off Ma Bell's Land Line for over six mos. The overal cost for Digital cable in NYC is much cheaper than DSL after you account for taxes, excise fees and 911 surcharges. Besides, I'm paying 911 and county surcharges on my two cell phones.

Used in conjunction with Cisco ATA 186 and PIX 501 firewall / router with no problem at all.

Posts: 7 · New Forum Member Joined: Jan 01, 2004 Posts: 7

I'v been using Vonage for my business sonce August and love it. I switched my home service to Vonage in the last couple of weeks also. I am in the Tampa FL area running it on Brighthouse Cable Modem and I am using Sat for my TV (never liked cable for tv). You pay a little more for this setup but you make it up in what you save from the ripoff company err I mean phone company. I don't use DSL here as everone I know in my area has WAY to many problems in the rainy season here.

Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2004 7:30 am Post subject:

What you have to understand is that your walking on the bleeding edge of technology. I'm using vonage for both home and business and find the quality of service just so/so. My wife simply doesnt like it and I over hear her constantly appologizing for the echo.

I can reccomend this only with a cell phone backup since if you power or ISP go dark you will not have phone service. Some of the problems you will encounter are;

Fast Busy - the vonage ATA can't find itself on the network, usually an ISP problem, when this happens you can not make/receive calls

Echo - not sure why but most of us have this problem, it is very annoying.

Choppy calls - I've had callers say that every 3rd word is dropped. I'll hang up and immediately call back and it usually works fine.

I've changed routers and this seems to have helped somewhat, I use a DLink 614+. The ATA is routed to a wireless handset (900mhz to avoid conflict with the wireless router) and I have noticed that what type of phone seems to make a difference. I have a Uniden 900mhz digital that echos, chops and is generally a pain to use. In desperation I switched to a cheap 900mhz GE analog and it works fine, not sure what the cause/effect is but it is real.

When it does work it works well and is unnoticeable from a land line, in fact since voip doesnt transmit dead space there is no static on the line telling you it is active. During a conversation I will constantly get "are you still there?" because we have been subtly programed to hear that white noise which tells us the conversation is still on.

Guest

Once my house is activated, anybody know if an old rotary phone with real bells will work. I am guessing I won't be able to dial but will it ring on incoming calls and will I be able to converse.
Thanks