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 Review by hortnut 
UPDATED: 32 days ago
member for 4.1 years, 1027 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Portland,Multnomah,OR
 $4 per month
 about 1 days
 "Easy to use and setup. Easy to make calls and take calls"
 "Not a true VOIP? - requires computer running skype to use"
 "Easy and cheap way to test out VOIP"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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10/22/09 - Use Skype as a backup and when running out of Cell minutes. I have my own number in my Area Code that can take calls from anyone. Still using the Linksys CIT200. The voice mail system that e-mails me when I have a message works very well. Call quality seems to improve all the time and the updated software works well.
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In early 2007 took advantage of Skypeout at 50% or $14.95USDper year [used the free version in 2006] then added Skypein with my choice of a local number for $36.00/year.
Tired of using a headset, purchased a Linksys CIT200 cordless handset that plugs into recharger and a transmitter that plugs into a USB port on the computer running Skype. Works just like a landline. All the contacts are stored on the computer.
Have to have a computer running w/ Skype installed and phone transmitter plugged into USB port. Maybe not real "Green".
There was an outage this summer but the company extended term [I prepaid year in advance].
My use is for a secondary phone and since my cell is my only other phone, I use Skype during peak minutes to save cell minutes.
Current version of the software: Version: 3.5.0.239. Release date: September 19, 2007
File name: SkypeSetup.exe File size: 23 MB adds many more features that I have yet tried or even looked at [seems some are free for so many minutes per mo and cost after that and others seem to be just fluff]. Some of the add'l:
-Share videos
Add video to your mood.
-Video snapshot
Grab pictures of you or who you're talking to.
-Call transfer
Transfer Skype calls to your contacts.
Features
* Free Skype-to-Skype calls to people anywhere in the world.
* Call phones and mobiles at pretty cheap rates per minute.
* Instant message when it's not a good time to talk.
* See who you’re talking to with free video calls.
* Forward your calls and get text messages when you’re not online.
Followup comments:  Amanita
Premium
join:2007-11-03
92173-1522 |  Has anyone used Skype successfully witha satelitte service?
Maybe Skype or another similar service will work better. Help please. | |
| | | | Amanita
Premium
join:2007-11-03
92173-1522
| Hortnut? I love it.......... Well I tried using Skype 3 days ago. Really, setting up Skype is just so simple, dumb simple. Just what I needed! I have many issues going on: just brought up Wild Blue, new router, ect so first attempt DID NOT work. My tech found the new D-link router to be unworkable. (and my tech is good), the omni-ant. 9dB was a joke-bad joke. Beautifully finished-but useless. The box says 1-1/2 miles (in small print-2 units together), but unit, clean line of sight died at 800 ft!
So, a new Linksys/Vonage router went in, and suddenly Skype worked fine! Very nice. Surprisingly nice. WHY? It is doing the same thing VoIP/Vonage is doing-down and up, but Skype has little latency and clear voice.
Question #1 Is it likely that the addition of a VoIP Skype telephone/USB telephone would improve matters over a headset? (I used Dragon Naturally Speaking and use very good microphone, but there may be more involved).
Question #2 I purchased the Linksys / Vonage router WRTP54G to compare its function against my old PAP2. (Unknowingly purchased, Vonage will not activate 2 phone adapters for the same Vonage telephone number.) My next step is to decommission the Linksys PAP2 with Vonage and than have Vonage activated the WRTP, to make a test. Permit my to explain the following:
The Wild Blue system is now operating reasonably well for international telephone calls made to Mexico. Mexico can call me-I can call Mexico. The voice quality is reasonably good. Latency, of course, is annoying but certainly is not unworkable. The service is particularly adaptable between parties who have accommodated to the style. Even a newcomer, told there is a "satellite lag time" quickly falls into ending his sentences with "over". It's no big deal. The sound quality is excellent-the same as Ma Bell.
However, notwithstanding the fact that the system works internationally (my experience is with calling Mexican telephone numbers only-at this point), whether I call them, or they call me, the same is not true for dialing within the United States. There is something fundamentally different.
A US telephone can call my Vonage telephone and the system works great-as above. But when I call them, what arrives at my parties end is just garbled packets-essentially my voice is incomprehensible.
Does anyone have a notion of some strategy, or do I give up?
That "next test" is to try the new WRTP and see if there's a difference. I recognize this perhaps sounds primitive to some of you here-perhaps laughable in reality.
Now, beyond that attempting is the following: At this form, in another thread, I read a conversation of skilled technical people (crackers?) discussing opening up the PAP2. To what end is? Why? Just simply to do it? Or can something be accomplished by obtaining internal access to the program in this device? Did I get this correct? Is that what is going on? Now, could such technical capacity be used to assist with my problem?
Another strategy: When I first brought up Wild Blue, in a conversation with a "willing and able" technical representative, he expressed considerable interest in our success with VoIP, leaving the telephone to discuss my situation with his supervisor. His supervisor suggested that I send Wild Blue pertinent data as to how the system was functioning and improvements, if such improvements were forthcoming.
Does this sound like so much nonsense-or do you think perhaps there is interest in successful VoIP usage among management? Might an attempt be productive to open up a dialogue with Wild Blue management, and report on progress? That is, make inquiry to see if there really is bona fide interest? Or perhaps I'm simply demonstrating my naivety. | |
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