 Review by HRM 
UPDATED: 279 days ago
member for 6.5 years, 3791 visits, last login: 3 days ago
 Darien,Fairfield,CT
 $18 per month
 about 4 days
 "Router synced by itself behind two others - 60 seconds to setup"
 "I didn't know about referrals, would have had a free month if I was refereed"
 "Screw ATT and SBC, tons more features for less money."
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
After ATT raised my minimums again I got pissed and looked around. After looking at my bills I discovered I do not make many calls at the house. Vonage had a $16.94 (including all taxes, etc.), 500 minute plan which should work perfectly for me. Even if I go over the minutes it's only 3.9 cents...I would need to make 256 extra minutes before the $25.00 unlimited plan saved me money. (I average about 200 minutes for the past three months so I'm safe)
I really don't care to keep my old phone number, I have only been here 2 years and most people I can email the new one, others I will call. I hear some have had issues with the porting of the old phone, but not me...I have a nice fresh, no one bothers me number.
The features included are great. I have had a caller ID ready phone, but never paid for the service, now I see the callers name and number. I have set the voice mail to only work in an emergency, but when it does, the VM is emailed to me, then Outlook forwards it to my wife. That feature will be great when away. I can check messages anywhere. Meanwhile, I still use the answering machine built into my phone, but turning it off would let me go with the online VM.
The website allows me to see an up to date count of used and available minute, I intend to use the three way calling to eat up the extra minutes I have included in the plan and the web will let me monitor the count.
I have two routers already and being a man's man, I was going to configure the phone router behind them. I plugged in the linksys RT31P2 and walked away to get the manual. When I returned I noticed the phone LED was solid rather than blinking or off, so before I wasted time logging into the router I decided to just plug in a phone. Low and behold I had a dial tone and I was finished. I did have DHCP enabled on the main router. I forgot to set it back after I had plugged in a new machine I built for the in laws. Luckily I did though, since it really made the setup easy. I have a DHCP table that has only one free IP available (for that guest machine) and it was very fortuitous. Dumb and lucky is not a bad thing at all. Make sure DHCP is enabled upstream and you have a free IP in the range, then plug and pray. I didn't bother shutting anything off or restarting etc. I am not going to use it as a router and a 15 second painless install is OK with me.
After I signed up I realized that if I had gotten a referral, I would have my second month free, but I didn't know, otherwise I would have IMed someone to get the referral link and save money (the referring person also gets free months) I think a lot of my friends and family will go this route. I have been using it three days now and so far it is perfect. Very happy with the tons of features and only sorry I didn't do it sooner. I have optonline which has been a very fast and reliable ISP for years (at three locations) This makes me fairly certain I will continue to be happy with the quality which is very high. A couple people have asked "Where are you calling from?" it is so crystal clear. I even called the Bahamas by accident (cell phone user was on vacation) and it was like next door. I already have my routers and cable modem on UPS and I will have this on UPS also. This prevents anything but a long power outage from disrupting the network and with my portable phone that has a battery in the base, I will be able to use the phone for a couple hours even after the power goes out. (routers and modems use very little power, a good UPS will keep you online for a long time.) I have not tried the 911 service, but I called the Police and they assured me that the enhanced 911 works in town very well. They didn't seem to psyched too have me try the number, but maybe will call the regular number another time and see if another officer will let me dial 911 (she sounded a little busy) So far, I am extremely happy with my decision and can't wait to cancel the land line tomorrow.
One week, still very happy.
update is below
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Vonage |
|
Vonage
(60)
(126)
