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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: VoIP onto the home Phone...

Well, I ordered VoIP last year from Packet8 and it never worked right, so I sent it back after they never responded to tech support either...

So now I've signed up with someone new (it's been a year, try again!), PhonePower.com, and got the Linksys RT31P2, and it's going to live behind my main router and a switch off of that. Got it, plugged it in, set it up...and walla... it works. This is a much better experience than I had last year.

On Feb 1 they make the cut over from my old provider to 100% VoIP... I need to remember to wire into the home phone wiring distribution. I was looking to see if there really was a problem with this, my instincts tell me there's no problem... and I stumbled across this page:
How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home

Wow...those guys can write A LOT! But, it served my purpose and confirmed there's no issues wiring the VoIP router to the home phone lines so long as I disconnect the main line coming in from the phone company. yay. Big Smile

I thought the guide might be good for someone who had more questions, because it would take some time to read it all...which I didn't do Smile

Ohwell, so long $38/mo phone bill, hello $10/mo phone bill for 3 months then up to $20/mo! If anyone is thinking of switching, let me know so I can get a referral.

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: VoIP onto the home Phone...

Rahhstah wrote:
Well, I ordered VoIP last year from Packet8 and it never worked right, so I sent it back after they never responded to tech support either...

So now I've signed up with someone new (it's been a year, try again!), PhonePower.com, and got the Linksys RT31P2, and it's going to live behind my main router and a switch off of that. Got it, plugged it in, set it up...and walla... it works. This is a much better experience than I had last year.

On Feb 1 they make the cut over from my old provider to 100% VoIP... I need to remember to wire into the home phone wiring distribution. I was looking to see if there really was a problem with this, my instincts tell me there's no problem... and I stumbled across this page:
How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home

No problems with this...I did it for years with no prob. And they definetly write allot. Heres the easy version:
Step 1 - Go to your NIU and unplug the lines from the test jack.
Step 2 - Plug your adapter into any phone jack
Step 3 - Use your phones!

Wow...those guys can write A LOT! But, it served my purpose and confirmed there's no issues wiring the VoIP router to the home phone lines so long as I disconnect the main line coming in from the phone company. yay.

I thought the guide might be good for someone who had more questions, because it would take some time to read it all...which I didn't do

Ohwell, so long $38/mo phone bill, hello $10/mo phone bill for 3 months then up to $20/mo! If anyone is thinking of switching, let me know so I can get a referral.

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: VoIP onto the home Phone...

Rahhstah wrote:
Ohwell, so long $38/mo phone bill, hello $10/mo phone bill for 3 months then up to $20/mo! If anyone is thinking of switching, let me know so I can get a referral.

I'm looking to go to VoIP to save some money, how has PhonePower been? Anyone else have some opinions?
I was going to go through the cable company, but it looked like it would actually cost me MORE each month... (I rarely use the phone as is... long distance is usually on my cell phone)
Oh the story is I just bought a house and moved in over the weekend, so need to get this figured out pretty quick. I've contemplated just dropping a landline, but my cell doesn't work well inside the new house, and its nice to have a number when I don't want to give out the cell.

Sooo.... looking for other opinions if anyone has them, or I'll take a referral from Rahhstah if that looks like a good idea.
Thanks!

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

Well, I've been "officially" on VoIP since like Jan 28th when they switched all the incoming to PhonePower.

So far, so good. I don't notice a difference in call quality, and I do like being able to block numbers from my account page.

3 months for $9.95, then it's $19.95 after that + all the taxes and crap. Should end up saving me $15/month in the long run over traditional pots.

If you go with phonepower, my referral username is Rahstah Big Smile

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:02 am Post subject:

I guess I can't figure out why Time Warner charges so much for their Home Phone package especially since Vonage had been offering it for much cheaper for many years already. Looks like there are cheaper providers out there then both of them.

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

The cable companies charge more for a couple reasons.

1. Higher reliability. Cable companies still use packet based phone transmission, however it does not go over the internet, jus their internal network. Also the MTA they use prioritizes voice packets ahead of data packets.

2. Service Calls. You will have a heck of a time getting someone for Vonage, etc. out for a service call if your phone lines get cut or go bad, and you will have to send the box back if it dies, waiting much longer than it would take to get a service tech to your home.

Those are the two major reasons. There are plenty of other benefits.

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:54 pm Post subject:

squashman wrote:
I guess I can't figure out why Time Warner charges so much for their Home Phone package especially since Vonage had been offering it for much cheaper for many years already. Looks like there are cheaper providers out there then both of them.

what gets me is that cable providers are still offering an inferior product in their high speed internet access compared to fiber installs instead of dropping their price to be competitive in the market. Charter charges $50/month for 3/0.25 while verizon charges $40 for 5/2

umm... that math don't add up.

now the bundle rates are competitive... the triple play deals (TV/Phone/Net) are about $100 on both sides of the fence... but the fiber is still faster.

*shrugs*

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

Well, my land line phone is still cheaper then it would be to get Time Warner or Vonage for home phone service.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:00 am Post subject:

squashman wrote:
Well, my land line phone is still cheaper then it would be to get Time Warner or Vonage for home phone service.

then you don't need to switch to save money... It was cheaper for me to go VoIP.