Review by pcnetworx1 
Posted: 1.1 years ago
member for 2.8 years, 706 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Bethel Park,Allegheny,PA
 $25 per month (month by month)
 about 4 days
 "Best out-of-the-box VoIP sound quality I've heard, Great reliability, Easy Setup Behind Router"
 "If you don't NEED the cheapest, this is the way to go"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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I've used various VoIP providers in the past including Sunrocket and Lingo respectively. Sunrocket was okay, but occasionally our inbound calling would be messed up for days, then return to normal for no reason, and at the time outages happened briefly every six months or so. My internet connection was an Adelphia Extreme Connection at that time, so about 2 years ago is the last time I had them.
After switching to FiOS which was wonderful, I decided since I had a better connection, I might as well switch VoIP providers since the incoming-down issue was getting a little annoying as I had no cellphone or anything to forward it to. Lingo had lots of options, and a great deal on the calling package. Now I didn't have much success with the setup of Lingo, but looking back I'm pretty sure it was a mediocre router I got for my FiOS service. I received from Verizon an intermediate solution between the Linksys (or was it D-LINK?) routers they used to give, and the new Actiontecs. Basically I have something akin to a prototype Actiontec, not the worst but not the best.
So I switched to POTS with Verizon at that time.
Last year (2006) in September, I built a pfsense box as my networking needs expanded, and I realized then that the router was quite mediocre I had, as now the connection went straight into the new box, and was truly an improvement on my already awesome service.
But when the POTS bills started getting up to $60 a month on the $30 plan, enough was enough, I was going back to VoIP.
I decided this time I wanted to go with a major carrier, and one that would be around for a while, so that was why I went for ATT. (It was between ATT and ViaTalk, which I'm sure also would've been great)
Ordering was painless, E911 qualified, and the number transfer was set as May 10th. Box was to arrive on the 4th, when it didn't show up that day, I RECEIVED a call from a REAL person asking me if I had received the box, as I hadn't activated with the system. I said I had not, and she said she would check their shipping records (I didn't even have to ask!) Sure enough, somebody forgot to send it out, she gave service credit (I already have a free month included too) and overnighted the box from Texas.
Once I received the ATA, a D-Link, it has a very solid feel to it physically. Its not the premier ATA by any means, but the Sunrocket felt pretty cheap, and Lingo was only marginally better. This "felt" like a rotary phone next to them as far as the quality goes.
I put it behind my Pfsense box, turned it on, didn't even have to forward ports for it to sync up, and after it synced I setup QoS service accordingly with 128 kilobits of reserve bandwidth.
I am able to do large transfers, gaming, and even dabbled in some torrents to test if it would get choppy under any of those conditions. Doesn't make a dent on sound quality! Sound quality has been as good as, or better than POTS depending on the call. Calling cell phones sounds better than POTS oddly now, and calling other POTS numbers, well, still sounds like POTS. So very satisfied there.
Now finally, the calling features all work well, and do not disturb activated by using control by phone is nice. I now have a cell phone, and the simultaneous ring does work, but that worked on Lingo too I remember, so nothing too groundbreaking.
I could say that the feature control site COULD be "prettier", but I really don't care. It's very much functional, and isn't useless or ugly by any means.
As long as nothing drastic happens, I think I'll be sticking with "Ma Bell" VoIP for some time to come. I'm surprised, I usually would run for the small company, but sometimes going with an established player really can get you great service.
Followup comments:  abely2k
join:2004-02-29
Miami, FL
edit:
May 24th, @04:24PM
| I am very happy too. I've been a CallVantage client since November 2004. Maybe tomorrow, I will change my mind and switch to SucksRocket, but today I am not that crazy to sabotage my phone line and become a ginea pig. | |
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