 Review by saber11 
UPDATED: 2.1 years ago
member for 8.2 years, 3933 visits, last login: 222 days ago
 Clayton,Montgomery,OH
 $14 per month
 about 10 days
 "If you don't call alot $15 a month can't be beat"
 "Couldn't port number, verizon unable to release it."
 "Ditch your landline if you have reliable broadband."
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I have only had Vonage for about a week now and I am loving it.
I After months of sitting on the fence of VOIP I took the leap. I researched several companies, and settled on Vonage (My wife loves their commercials anyway).
I signed up on their website, signup only took 15 minutes. However I wasn't able to port my number, so I called them. They said the Verizon Central office my landline is connected to does not support LNP. So I called Verizon and they confirmed this, blamed it on old equipment no plans to upgrade.
No LNP was not a deal killer, only telemarketers or the occaisional relative call so it ended up not being a big deal. Anyone important calls us on our cell phones anyway.
Although ordering was quick, it took Vonage 5 days to charge my credit card, and send the router, I chose the free Linksys RTP-300 router as the phone adaptor. Beware if you take standard shipping vonage ships via DHL. They shipped it from Groveport, Oh which is near columbus, I live outside of Dayton, roughly 100 miles give or take. It went DHL from there to Wilmington, to North Dayton, DHL handed it over to the postal service who took ANOTHER 2 Days to deliver the dang thing. Shipping took 5 days itself to go 100 miles. I could have driven up there and picked it UP!!!
Anyway once the router came I debated how to hook the thing up.
I already had Linksys WRT-54GS wireless router, so I had a wired port free, I though I'd just plug it into the router, turn on port QOS badda bing, badda boom.
Plugged it, Could not get a dial tone. Checked all settings, even tried putting the thing in the DMZ, still could not get a dial tone.
So I ended up plugging the RTP300 into my cable modem, using it as a router and plugging the WRT-54GS into it and using it only as a wireless access point by disabling DHCP. This way it works just peachy. Only problem I have is I ran wallwatcher on another PC for logging, and I can't seem to get logging working at all with the RTP-300.
Anyway the actual service has been great so far. I do occaisionlly hear some static on the line, but I don't know if coming from the POTS line I'm calling or being called from or from the VOIP. Calls to others that have VOIP (my aunt has time warner digital phone) and it souned like she was in the same room.
I do have all the phones working in my house using my existing hjouse wiring. I disconnected verizon at the DMARC. Someone suggested on here puting a warning on the dmarc. I did that I put WARNING DO NOT RECONNECT VOIP IN USE!!!! and taped up the wires.
Granted it's only been a few days, but so far no problems. My roadrunner is VERY Reliable, and have only had a couple outages and occaisionally get some high pings on an overloaded router, but it gets taken care of quick (a few days to a couple weeks)
Would I recomend, Vonage? Yes, but it's not for everyone. My Verizon landline I took down line only, no caller ID, no voice mail and no long distance, and it was $36/month with taxxes. So we were nuts to keep it for the little calling we did.
One thing, I have a BIG UPS to back up my cable modem, routers, and webserver, our power goes out here anytime the weatherman says it's gonna storm. My UPS will keep everything up for about 4 hours. Usually our cable stays up when the power is out. So our phone will still work as long as the cable is up and there is power from the UPS.
VOIP isn't for everyone, but if you can accept its limitations, then it makes sense.
*********EDIT 7/6/06***************
Still have Vonage and am still happy with it.
I had a problem about two months ago with incomming calls dropping, first level support was nice but useless.
I was able to get escelated to advanced support and they got the situation resolved, even going so far as sending me follow up emails for about 3 weeks with ping plotter, and their version of line quality tests.
I haven't had another problem, so thanks to advanced support.
Since signing up, my bill has gotten higher, since they have to charge "un-fee's" and state tax (thank you Gov Taft!!! tool) but I am still saving.
My wife and I work from home some days, and we are on the phone alot of that time, and Vonage has proved very very reliable.
Wishing we had of done this sooner. Still highly recomended
Followup comments:  |  | uplike247
join:2002-04-22
Newark, CA
| Re: Welcome to Vonage Sucks VONAGE SUPPORT SUCKS BIG TIME! Yes they do!
They outsource everything to India, while other
VOIP companies such as Packet 8 and Lingo has
real bonafied American workers in the USA.
Lingo and PAcket 8 are not bad, Im with Lingo currently.
Big time sucks!
I got out of Vonage cuz of screwed up accounting on my bill.
They said I called and billed for calls inIndia alot, im not even Indian or even know an Indian people from India.
Pisses me off | |
| pclinc
join:2003-06-03
Benson, AZ
| VONAGE VOIP I've been with Vonage 2 years,as of late I've been getting real bad service. IE as in no support. And more money to change things around. Like a New VOIP Unit. Current useing the Linksys RTP 300 /w 4 port 10/100 plugins.
So since I can't seem to get any Quality Service (Support)
I will pull the plug on Aug.1 06
Plus the fact that I was geeting a great Rate Money wise
till the last month and this month of 30 + Bucks.
Nope, Buyer beware. It starts out great but in time they stick it in your A$$. | |
| | uplike247
join:2002-04-22
Newark, CA
| Re: VONAGE VOIP I here you!
VONAGE SUPPORT SUCKS BIG TIME!
They outsource everything to India, while other
VOIP companies such as Packet 8 and Lingo has
real bonafied American workers in the USA.
Lingo and PAcket 8 are not bad, Im with Lingo currently.
I got out of Vonage cuz of screwed up accounting on my bill.
They said I called and billed for calls inIndia alot, im not even Indian or even know an Indian people from India.
Pisses me off | |
| | | 
Trinijoy
Premium
join:2005-09-12
Brick, NJ | Re: VONAGE VOIP Wow all of you must be born yesterday. Dell out sources. American Express outsources. HP out sources. Mastercard outsourcese.
EVERY COMPANY OUTSOURCES GET OVER IT. | |
| |
Trinijoy
Premium
join:2005-09-12
Brick, NJ | No one is STICKING IT IN YOUR ASSS.
THE GOVERNMENT IS STICKING IT IN YOUR ASS. | |
| | | |
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