Vonage?

[Cleo]

Right now my phone line drops into my cell after the third ring or if I'm on the phone.

This works well but people calling me sometimes have to let my phone ring a very long time to get me or for my cell's voice mail to pickup. From what I understand I can have Vonage ring both my cell and home at the same time and then my cell's voice mail will still pickup if I don't answer either.

I just called my phone company so that they would allow my phone number to be transferred to Vonage since I had it password protected. They wanted to know if I was having any other issues with my phone line and I told them that no I wasn't and that they had fucked me over for the last time and I was switching to Vonage. At the point the woman just became silent.

Since my ADSL is actually through Earthlink and not our phone company I'm going to see if the ADSL still works after transferring my number before ordering a cheap land line to carry it since it looks like my alarm system will work just fine though Vonage.

Anyway I'm not doing anything more until Comcast gets my cable modem working again which should be Friday.

[MrYum]

I switched over to Vonage a couple months ago...very pleased with the service so far. And the fact that it's well less than half what I was paying the telco is great

I did hook it up so that all my jacks in my house are connected. Had to disconnect the main phone box from the telco (they're very specific to do so or you 'could' end up frying the vonage equipment). Then, backfeed the vonage box into any phone jack and the rest of the house is live...very cool

I've had no dropped calls or poor quality here. Only thing I noticed is that the sound is louder on my cordless phone, so I turned it down a notch and all is good

[cd34]

On my home router, it has a QOS (Quality of Service Setting). I put port 4 as high priority, and plugged the vonage device into that port. That way, vonage takes precedence on the bandwidth and I don't get the jerkyness.

Cleo, you can also set in vonage Simulring (I think that is what it is called) where it rings your other landline, the vonage line and your cellphone at the same time - then, whichever device is picked up first gets the call. Cuts down on the 3 ring + 3 ring -> voicemail syndrome.

And yes, you can take the number with you. It does work at marriott hotels.

[selena]

Well, I signed up and got my router a day or so ago. I have yet to set down and actually do all the hookups. I need to do it this weekend, before my number transports over to them.

What I got was a Linksys Wireless G Broadband router. I ordered it from Vonage, so hopefully it is what I need. Not sure if I plug the existing netgear router into the new router, or run all my stuff through the new one.

Once I get that figured out, then I will attempt making it work on all the jacks. I found a really good diagram of what to do online once. Of course, like a dumbass, I didn't keep the link.

[juggernaut]

I should state here that the main reason I have shitty calls is because the wify running the cam like 24/7 so when someone calls If its important I make her shut off the cam. Also vonage has a setting on the website that will allow you to get a clearer sound if you have the BW, i changed it and it did make the service better. Besides I have a friend who used to work for them and if you really want to get some extra $$ call them and tell them you are canceling the service cause your internet is crappy and the support reps are told to offer you 1 to 2 months free to keep you on. lol. I did not do that but there are times I think about it.

[Cleo]

I'll be using mine on what is a mostly unused 1.5/125 ADSL line so quality should not be a problem.

I see Comcast is working on the cable lines three houses down from me. Turns out the electrical fire in my backyard was only one of two the same day and three houses from me another pole caught on fire cooking the cable box on that pole too. Got to love our electric company and their great maintenance that they do.

[RawAlex]

Cleo, the vonage box only needs about 90k or so if I remember correctly. Iput mine in about a month ago, no real issues, although there are occassional little blank spots on long conversations. QOS issues perhaps. Anyway, overall it is quite good, and the all included long distance is a nice bonus.

Alex

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by selena

Well, I signed up and got my router a day or so ago. I have yet to set down and actually do all the hookups. I need to do it this weekend, before my number transports over to them.

What I got was a Linksys Wireless G Broadband router. I ordered it from Vonage, so hopefully it is what I need. Not sure if I plug the existing netgear router into the new router, or run all my stuff through the new one.

Once I get that figured out, then I will attempt making it work on all the jacks. I found a really good diagram of what to do online once. Of course, like a dumbass, I didn't keep the link.

Vonage is so easy to install that even a Dallas Cowboy fan might be able to do it

[Useless]

I use Sun Rocket because that damned Spookyx mentioned it to me. I'd say that we are overall pleased with them and our phone bill is less than half of what it used to be, but there are a couple annoyances. When I call out, it tends to take a few seconds before I hear it ringing on the other end. And, during the occasional call, I hear myself echoing. Luckily that doesn't happen enough for me to do anything about it. I have had a couple instances where people have asked if I was still there, but I think that is due to my lack of interest in what they were saying.

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

And, during the occasional call, I hear myself echoing.

Are sure that's your voice echoing? I always figured you had many voices in that head of yours

[pvtspanky]

I've been using Vonage a little over a month now, and I really like it. No problems here. I also like all the extra features. I was getting voice mails in my email before I even got the linksys router, at the time, I didn't even know it was an option. So far, so good

[Cleo]

If I ever get my cable modem working again I will finally be ordering Vonage.

Unfucking real… Comcast came out today. The tech looked at everything and didn't seem to know what he was doing and left saying that he couldn't fix it. I've called Comcast about a half a dozen times today and now someone is suppose to be here tomorrow morning.

I'm just glad that I have this ADSL line as a backup but wow it is a lot slower then my cable modem and I sure don't want to do anything that might interfere with my ADSL line until I'm sure that my cable modem is working again.

[MeatPounder]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

Vonage is so easy to install that even a Dallas Cowboy fan might be able to do it

Now don't go overboard!

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Cleo

If I ever get my cable modem working again I will finally be ordering Vonage.

Unfucking real… Comcast came out today. The tech looked at everything and didn't seem to know what he was doing and left saying that he couldn't fix it. I've called Comcast about a half a dozen times today and now someone is suppose to be here tomorrow morning.

I'm just glad that I have this ADSL line as a backup but wow it is a lot slower then my cable modem and I sure don't want to do anything that might interfere with my ADSL line until I'm sure that my cable modem is working again.

The switch over takes about 2 weeks or so Cleo. So, as long as you are confident that your cable modem will be fixed by then, you can signup to Vonage. Your phone company you are using now is in no hurry to give up your number to another provider. Get the better Vinage Router...you can do things with it to make sure your phone never drops a call. Vickie has the cheap one and it works fine and so far there have been no problems. But, I suppose there could be.

[Cleo]

Cable modem is finally fixed so I ordered Vonage yesterday.

Last night I got an email from Vonage saying that my phone service could not be moved because there is DSL service on that line.

So this morning I called Bellsouth and ordered the most basic phone line that was offered in my personal name to move the DSL service to. Phone call took forever because the woman kept on trying to sell me cell service, long distance service, phone features, jack service plans, DSL service, DirecTV service, and a bunch of other services to which I just kept on reminding her that I wasn't even going to plug a phone into this line. Basic no frills is 19.95 a month with taxes.

Logged into my Earthlink account and told them to disconnect my DSL service today and to move it to the new line on Thursday which is when new phone line suppose to be hooked up.

Replied to the Vonage email letting them know that I had arranged to remove the DSL service from the phone line that I'm moving to them.

Next…

[Jim]

It will be worth it Cleo. If you use a fax machine, get that option as well. It is only an extra $5/month and there really is nothing like a dedicated fax line.

[Cleo]

Fax machine???
That is like so 20th century…

Vonage modem should be here on Wednesday and they gave me a temp number to use with it until my business number is moved to it. I've already logged into my Vonage account and setup the features that I wanted. No voice mail and rings to my cell at the same time as my home.

The biggest hassle is going to be changing my home wiring to accommodate the new lines and equipment. ADSL modem is going to have to be wired into the new line that Bellsouth is putting in and then all my house wiring is going to have to be hooked into the Vonage modem including my alarm system. Should be easy enough to do since Bellsouth's box is just on the other side of my office wall. Guess I should go by Home Depot and buy a long carbide masonry drill bit today since the wall is cement block. I hate doing wiring.

[SirMoby]

Originally Posted by Cleo

Cable modem is finally fixed so I ordered Vonage yesterday.

Last night I got an email from Vonage saying that my phone service could not be moved because there is DSL service on that line.

So this morning I called Bellsouth and ordered the most basic phone line that was offered in my personal name to move the DSL service to. Phone call took forever because the woman kept on trying to sell me cell service, long distance service, phone features, jack service plans, DSL service, DirecTV service, and a bunch of other services to which I just kept on reminding her that I wasn't even going to plug a phone into this line. Basic no frills is 19.95 a month with taxes.

Logged into my Earthlink account and told them to disconnect my DSL service today and to move it to the new line on Thursday which is when new phone line suppose to be hooked up.

Replied to the Vonage email letting them know that I had arranged to remove the DSL service from the phone line that I'm moving to them.

Next…

Good luck. I've been trying for 10 weeks to get my phone line moved. While I do think Bellsouth is dicking around a bit every time I call Vonage I get a different excuse so I think they're a bit clueless as well.

I'll give them until the end of the month .

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Cleo

...and then all my house wiring is going to have to be hooked into the Vonage modem including my alarm system.

Maybe your alarm can go out over both your Vonage modem and your new BellSouth line? Would make your house better protected when cable is out. Unless they're both out at the same time.

[Cleo]

I'm actually going to put the Vonage on my ADSL line once it is working again but really my alarm could go on either the Vonage line or the line that the ADSL is going on.

[RawAlex]

Up here, you can get your DSL "unbundled" from your phone line. They assign a new number to "just your DSL" and the phone part stops working (but the DSL stays live). There is no real requirement that there is a working phone number for DSL to work, just a solid physical connection to the C/O.

However, phone companies will try to stiff you by trying to tell you that it isn't possible.

Good luck Cleo... I moved mine over to Vonage a couple of months ago without any major issues at all.

Alex

[selena]

Originally Posted by MeatPounder

Now don't go overboard!

Hey now, I resemble that remark!!!

Don't pay attention to Sir Moby. He is stalking me for my collection of Cowboys clothing.

I got Vonage going, and it wasn't a problem. I haven't tried to do the thing about making it live on all the phone lines yet, however.

[Cleo]

Vonage can't move my phone number until I have a confirmation number from Earthlink but Earthlink can't give me a confirmation number until Bellsouth has put in the new phone line.

[Cleo]

Vonage modem arrived today. I plugged it in to the power and my ethernet hub, and a phone into it and the phone worked.

Then I went outside and disconnected from the company and plugged the Vonage modem into my house's phone jack and all my house phones worked.

That was the easy part…
I had this big rat's nest of wires outside that is my house's phone wires that I needed to go through and figure out which ones went to my bedroom, living room, office, alarm system, and the ADSL modem. I was going to leave the alarm on the Vonage system since that seemed easiest but somehow in separating the ADSL modem wire from the rest of the house's wires nothing ended up working so I had to trace each wire by plugging a cordless phone into it and then testing which wires outside made that line work. Also the alarm system was wired in such a way that first my phone passed through it and then into my house so that it could hang up the line if it was busy and it needed to make a call.

Got everything hooked back up and working. Now there is just two sets of wires going to the phone company's box, one for the alarm and one for the ADSL modem.

Tomorrow Bellsouth is putting in a new line so that I can have Earthlink move the ADSL to it and then I can start the transfer of my phone number to Vonage.

In the meantime I forwarded my home number into the Vonage temp number that they gave me and everything seems to be working correctly.

Since I have Vonage set to ring my house and cell phone at the same time it's really nice the way if I'm on the phone both my call waiting and cell phone rings at the same time and then I can either answer it form my home phone or cell phone or just let my cell's voice mail get it.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Cleo

Vonage modem arrived today. I plugged it in to the power and my ethernet hub, and a phone into it and the phone worked.

Then I went outside and disconnected from the company and plugged the Vonage modem into my house's phone jack and all my house phones worked.

That was the easy part…
I had this big rat's nest of wires outside that is my house's phone wires that I needed to go through and figure out which ones went to my bedroom, living room, office, alarm system, and the ADSL modem. I was going to leave the alarm on the Vonage system since that seemed easiest but somehow in separating the ADSL modem wire from the rest of the house's wires nothing ended up working so I had to trace each wire by plugging a cordless phone into it and then testing which wires outside made that line work. Also the alarm system was wired in such a way that first my phone passed through it and then into my house so that it could hang up the line if it was busy and it needed to make a call.

Got everything hooked back up and working. Now there is just two sets of wires going to the phone company's box, one for the alarm and one for the ADSL modem.

Tomorrow Bellsouth is putting in a new line so that I can have Earthlink move the ADSL to it and then I can start the transfer of my phone number to Vonage.

In the meantime I forwarded my home number into the Vonage temp number that they gave me and everything seems to be working correctly.

Since I have Vonage set to ring my house and cell phone at the same time it's really nice the way if I'm on the phone both my call waiting and cell phone rings at the same time and then I can either answer it form my home phone or cell phone or just let my cell's voice mail get it.

You know another nice feature??? You can have a voice mail file emailed to you. So, all you have to do is click on the file and listen. And, that way, you never lose any voice mail messages.