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Author Topic: Vonage Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-13-2003 05:34 PM                     Just wondering if anyone has used Vonage web page or anything like it. Vonage is a Voice over IP (VoIP) service that works over a broadband connection. For ~$24/month you get extended local coverage and 500 minutes of free long distance a month, free voicemail and other features too. They send you a pre-configured Cisco ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) so that you can use your regular phones with their service. This seems like a really good idea, supposedly the audio quality is not distinguishable and uses minimal bandwith. I will say that VoIP in my corporate network sounds just fine and the bandwith usage isn't bad at all, but I'm not sure about going across the internet. If you have any expriences with Vonage or somethign similar, I'd like to hear.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 10-13-2003 06:13 PM                        We chatted somewhat about Vonage in a thread about payphones. I have two Vonage accounts, and my daughter has one. With a good cable modem, it works great. It would even work well with a DSL... I guess if you needed additional lines or the like. It isn't very good at ISDN speeds & below... mainly because it needs 90kb per line. Reliability and voice quality have been very good. Their customer service is a bit long, but my reasons for calling have had nothing to do with technical issues. So far, so good!  |  IP: Logged Mike Williams Master Film Handler Posts: 255 From: Knoxville, TN Registered: Feb 2002 posted 10-13-2003 06:15 PM                     A friend of mine is using this down in Florida. He said it is pretty good with his cable modem. For me, I could not tell the difference on my regular phone talking to him on it. I am waiting for them to start with the 865 area code before I start using it. I think it is a good deal also.  |  IP: Logged Floyd Justin Newton Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 559 From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 10-13-2003 06:16 PM                     Jason-- Yes. I have had Vonage for abot six months now and I am very happy with it. Audibility is very clear and clean. You can only use it on high-speed cable. The only gitch I've come upon with it is this: the ATA 186 MUST be at least 2-feet away from the router too avoid echo. It sure beats the local phone company both in service AND monthly cost. FJN  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 10-13-2003 10:53 PM                     I use it all the time with my cable modem. If the internet service is having issues you will get occasional dropouts lasting anywhere from less than a second to a few seconds. Sometimes when that happens I just end the call and try later. Most calls are just fine, though. My home network doesn't use a router. I use a hub and the Vonage adapter sits right on top of it with no echo problems observed. Something I just learned -- Vonage doesn't work with TiVo yet but they are working on it Oh well I guess I'll have to hold off on my TiVo purchase.  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-13-2003 11:45 PM                     I've done some looking around, but have yet to see anyone that really had anything bad to say about the service. I'm not worried about Tivo since I don't use it anyways, I suppose the problem comes in how the Tivo box dials or something. The only other issue I've heard of is names not showing up on Caller ID, just the number. Again this isn't a big deal for me. Looks like I too may be telling Ma bell to shove it.  |  IP: Logged Sean M. Grimes Expert Film Handler Posts: 247 From: Lunenburg, MA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-14-2003 12:57 AM                        Everything looks great about vonage, but I have one question, do you have to 11 digit dial all numbers? Or when you are calling locally (within area code) can you dial 7?  |  IP: Logged Manny Knowles "What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???" Posts: 4247 From: Bloomington, IN, USA Registered: Feb 2002 posted 10-14-2003 01:51 AM                     Even if you are calling to another number within your "area code" you must dial 11 digits: 1 + area code + 7-digit number It's true about no names with Caller ID -- Just the number comes through. Not a big deal for me, either. Vonage sends you advisories by email when you get voicemail. You can check voicemail from any telephone (including your Vonage phone) or via your account on the Vonage website. I'm very happy with Vonage. Does anybody know what the 2nd phone jack on the ATA could be used for? I accidentally plugged into that one and wondered why I got nothing. I remember reading somewhere (the manual maybe?) that Vonage doesn't use the 2nd jack at this time. Just curious.  |  IP: Logged Mike Williams Master Film Handler Posts: 255 From: Knoxville, TN Registered: Feb 2002 posted 10-14-2003 05:08 AM                     It says on their website it can be used for a seperate fax/modem line for an additional charge.  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-19-2003 06:06 PM                     Well I've had Vonage for a little over a month. I have to say that I have no complaints about their service as of yet. Calls are crystal clear, my wife says it acutally sounds better than the "land" line. I haven't noticed any difference in bandwidth usage. I did have to set up port forwarding on my Linksys router, but that was a very simple task. My ATA sits right beside my router with no echo problems at all. Unlimited Long Distance, Virtual numbers and CHEAP international rates are fantastic. I highly recommend this service  |  IP: Logged Ron Yost Master Film Handler Posts: 344 From: Paso Robles, CA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 11-19-2003 07:37 PM                     Can you dial emergency numbers? 911, etc.? I'm guessing probably not. Ron Yost  |  IP: Logged Floyd Justin Newton Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 559 From: Phoenix, Arizona, USA Registered: Jun 2002 posted 11-19-2003 08:21 PM                     Ron-- Re: Vonage 911 yes, after initial setup; FJN  |  IP: Logged Jason Burroughs Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 654 From: Allen, TX Registered: Jun 99 posted 11-20-2003 09:21 AM                     I haven't had occasion to try the 911 service yet <knock on wood> But you do have to configure it, by entering your address etc. Interrestingly 911 calls aren't handled as they normally are by the local 911 call center, but some other type of emergency routing service. Supposedly not an impact on service though.  |  IP: Logged Ron Yost Master Film Handler Posts: 344 From: Paso Robles, CA Registered: Aug 2003 posted 11-20-2003 10:48 AM                     It does impact emergency response time and that's what I was worried about. The delay caused by the 'forwarding' is dangerous and potentially life threatening. It's the one reason I wouldn't go totally landline-less yet, much as I'd like to. Ron Yost  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 11-20-2003 02:51 PM                        Their service is not connected to the network that auto-reports E-911 information to the call centers. Several reasons for that: * The E-911 network is not national, mainly because it does not need to be. It's split up into many regional areas and there's no single method to hook them all up. * Probably a larger issue, but maybe not why the idea of 911 reporting for IP-based phones doesn't work: You can pull the ATA from your router in Seattle, go to Bogalusa and plug it back in. It will work as if you never left. Unfortunately, nobody on the end of a 911 connection would know you moved the phone. The Vonage system takes your 911 call and routes is to a regular land-line at the call center you specify. You will have to inform the call taker of your address, number, etc... which they usually ask for anyway. This WOULD be a problem if you couldn't communicate and were counting on 911 to dispatch based on their screen information. We've kept a couple of hardwired lines here because of that... but we've made use of Vonage for everything above that... especially for lines that wouldn't likely be used for 911. [ 11-20-2003, 06:20 PM: Message edited by: Jack Ondracek ]  |  IP: Logged

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