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 Review by Racerbob 
Posted: 2.3 years ago
member for 8.4 years, 3494 visits, last login: a few minutes ago
 Webster,Monroe,NY
 $19 per month
 about 4 days
 "Good Sound Quality, Works all the time."
 "10 digit dialing"
 "This is a good VOIP service to have as a primary phone as long as you have cell phone backup"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
After Sunrocket folded, we were left with the prospect of looking for another VOIP service. After doing some research we decided on AT&T CallVantage. Our (my wife and myself) reasons for going with AT&T have to do with the fact that this is a stable, established company. It is not going to suddently fold in the way Sunrocket has. We only got the service up and running just today, but the installation was easy to do and it worked right away with no fussing with any settings.
Our monthly charge is only $19.99 plus any taxes. This is a $5 savings because we currently have AT&T Cell Phone service. I shall try to update my review after we have used this service for a few weeks.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of AT&T CallVantage |
 | »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by MM Blues
UPDATED: 2.3 years ago
member for 8.1 years, 2262 visits, last login: a few hours ago
Hightstown,Mercer,NJ
$19 per month (month by month)
about 5 days
"Great call quality, price and basic features package"
"Like any VOIP service, if internet goes down, so does your phone service"
"Great service - great value!"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
1. Package includes unlimited local and long distance calling anywhere in US, Canada and any US dominion (like Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, etc)
2. Since I'm already a Cingular (now AT&T) customer, monthly price was reduced from $24.95 to $19.95/mo.
3. Real American staffed Customer Service Center
4. Intuitive website allows you to tweak your service features to meet your needs
5. Package included the newest D-Link DVG-5102S telephone adapter (VOIP Gateway)
Overall: I've had this service for about three weeks now. Purchased a new Panasonic DECT 6.0 wireless phone system at Sam's club ($114.95 for the four phone unit) and they work together flawlessly.
No complaints - this system rocks!
Just a point to note - my last AT&T landline bill (includes local and long distance) before switching to CV was $71.63. Now I'm getting the exact same service with a lot more added features for $19.95/mo. + taxes which will probably add up to be about $25 - $27/mo.
Update 7/15/2007: I just got my first month's bill. $23.88 for unlimited high quality calls to anywhere in the U.S., Canada and the U.S. Territories seems like a good deal to me!
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Review by videoeditman
Posted: 2.5 years ago
member for 2.5 years, 0 visits, last login: 2.5 years ago
Orlando,Orange,FL
$37 per month
"Website is nice, quality good most of the time"
"When quality is bad, it's really bad, router needs to reset often"
"Much better deals elsewhere"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
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The tech support is not very good. The misdiagnosed a problem for over 3 weeks. I have to reset my router about every 2 days or so. However, it's nice to get an American when I do need to call them.
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Review by pcnetworx1
Posted: 2.5 years ago
member for 4.2 years, 956 visits, last login: 9 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)
|
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
3 edits | 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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Review by Lenagainster
UPDATED: 2.6 years ago
member for 4.9 years, 1416 visits, last login: 5 days ago
Silver Spring,Montgomery,MD
$32 per month
about 5 days
"Clear as a bell"
"Cancelling customers who don't qualify for E-911"
"Customer loyalty doesn't exist at ATT"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
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Update 4/29/07 After reading about ATT cancelling service for existing customers who don't qualify for E-911, I feel obliged to rescind my recommendation for CallVantage. The website does not clearly state that "if you do not qualify for E-911, you cannot become a CallVantage customer". It discusses alternate 911 services and the problems that may be associated with these services and disavows any liability for use of alternate 911 services. For that reason, I downgraded my rating of the website. It is incomprehensible to me that ATT would give so many long time customers the boot for not having E-911. The customers are aware of the limitations and agree not to hold ATT liable for any problems that arise in contacting emergency services. That decision by ATT to shed subscribers rather than risk lawsuits shows that they are more interested in the bottom line than serving their customers. For that reason, I lowered my rating of reliability of the service. Having changed phone services several times recently, I know what a PIA it is in switching over and porting one's number. By imposing this burden on so many of their customers, CallVantage is certainly no great value. How many of these displaced customers will lose their number due to porting issues? I've downgraded my rating for value. Please consider seriously ATT's lack of loyalty to their customers before choosing CallVantage.
Update 2/4/07 The quality of AT&T's CallVantage service has been very good, but I was annoyed by the fact that I was limited to 20 blocked callers (even after paying an extra $2 per month for the service). Additionally, I had been reading a lot of reports about incompatibility with the CallVantage Telephone Adapter and the Actiontec router that is used when Verizon FiOS TV is installed. That started me looking at other VoIPs and I signed up with VoicePulse and was able to compare them side by side, which pointed out the minor shortcomings of CallVantage. VP seems to allow unlimited filtering, so I no longer had to keep a log of who I was blocking in order to delete older blocks to make room for newer ones. It seems that if one doesn't subscribe to CV's Call Filtering, then one cannot block incoming anonymous calls. CallVantage call logs do not show the duration of a call. While this may be unimportant with unlimited local and long distance service, I find myself wishing the information was there. With the opportunity to compare websites, I realized that logging in to my account on CallVantage's website was slow; I had to enter my passcode every time, and it took several annoying seconds for my account to show up. (My new VP online access is fast.) So while not degrading my rating for CallVantage due to these minor issues, I have found something better and have switched. (The CV TA/Actiontec router issue is not a problem for me since I don't intend to install Verizon TV.)
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I initially was looking at the packages with unlimited local calling and per minute long distance. Wasn't interested in a plan with limited minutes of local calling. CallVantage seemed to fit my needs best at $20 per month plus $2 for call filtering, total monthly bill with taxes about $27. The customer reviews for voice quality with CallVantage were very good (and that proved to be true for me).
When I tried to 'port' my number from a local CLEC online, the application was denied, and a CS rep explained that AT&T does not have a porting agreement with that phone company. He suggested I port my number to Verizon, then to AT&T. I wanted to try out the service before committing my home number of 40 years to AT&T. So I signed up with another local number. Worked great from the get-go. As soon as the Telephone Adapter (TA) arrived, I plugged it in to the FIOS wireless router and after a brief automated setup, I could use the phone. (Some configurations suggest putting the TA between the router and modem so that the TA can channel enough of the bandwidth to provide high voice quality. But with that configuration, I could not access the Internet with my computer. At 5M/2M with FIOS, there was plenty of bandwidth when the TA was plugged in to the router. The TA typically needs 90K of bandwidth to operate.)
Once my number was ported over to a Verizon landline, and then to AT&T, the copper line was dead and I could rewire the house, so I can use the house wiring for multiple phones. Before my service was shut off, I measured the voltage and polarity of the incoming landline and wrote it on the wall. As the instructions indicated, I disconnected the incoming wires (I have an old house, old installation, and the wires are easily accessible). I unplugged every phone and answering machine in the house. Plugged a telephone wire into the back of the TA and into the nearby telephone jack. Measured the voltage where all the lines come together and found that the POLARITY WAS REVERSED!!! The instructions say nothing about checking the polarity, or reversing leads on the jack that the TA plugs in to. I tediously reversed the red and green wires on the back of the jack that I was using for the TA, and rechecked the voltage and polarity at the junction of all the phone wires. Polarity correct. Plugged one phone in at a time, tested for a dial tone, and every one worked.
It now appears that my VOIP phone is set up exactly as the landline was with a few differences. No need to dial 1. An occasional requirement to verify that I haven't moved the TA when the power goes out. A lot lower bill than even the most basic landline provides. And a ton of useful features that would cost an arm and a leg if purchased through Verizon's smorgasbord.
For over two months, we have been using VOIP and have had none of the problems that I read about from other users. The voice quality is as good or better than a landline. We have had no problems making or receiving calls. No one has called us and said they tried our number and couldn't get through. There is hardly any difference between using the VOIP phone and a landline Obviously, the router must be kept on. The modem is always on and has a Verizon installed battery backup system, good for about ten hours without power.
We lost power in a thunderstorm a few weeks ago for 23 hours. Calls were automatically forwarded to my cellphone. I shut down the battery backup for the router and computer, since our cordless phones didn't work anyway without power. The battery backup for the modem died after 10 hours. When power was restored, everything came back on normally with no resetting required.
The only "issue" I had with the service is that in order to comply with the requirements of locating a VOIP phone for 911 is that every time the telephone adapter (TA) loses power, it notifies AT&T, and before the first call can be made after a power loss, I must endure an automated announcement to verify that I have not moved the TA. Unfortunately, the TA sends a power loss signal even if the power loss duration is less than a second. It would have been a more intelligent design if the power loss signal only happened when power was out for over a minute. Who could move and install the TA to a new location in under a minute? In an attempt to reduce the frequency of the power loss glitches, I purchased a small battery backup unit for just the TA, which seems to have fixed the problem, as we have not had the automated message since the backup was installed.
Currently, there is a problem with the time that AT&T sends with the Caller ID information on an incoming call. In my case, I must add three hours to the indicated time. The call log on my account online shows the correct time of incoming and outgoing calls. Speed dialing through the AT&T system is impractical. To dial the number in speed dial location 9, for example, one must dial ATT9# That's FIVE keystrokes to dial a ten digit number. We use the speed dial provided on our cordless phones; quite a bit easier. AT&T provides speed dialing for only 9 phone numbers. Our cordless phones provide for 20.
My experience with CallVantage so far has been very satisfying, and I have no regrets about giving up an expensive, spartan landline in favor of an inexpensive, feature packed broadband phone system. I was excited to learn that AT&T dropped the price of their unlimited local and long distance calling plan from $29.99 to $24.99. I signed up immediately. Even if we don't make enough calls every month to justify paying an extra $5 (125 minutes of LD), the idea of making any call any time any where without concern for the cost is well worth the fee.
Followup comments: ExtremeRFR
join:2005-05-13
West New York, NJ
 ·Verizon FIOS
| What happened? AT&T is canceling customers who's not on the 911 databases? That's new. So you still have Call Vantage or VoicePulse? Another thing, how is VoicePulse? Do you still get full Caller Id with name like CV? What about the call quality, is it good or better than CV? What features are included? Let me know ... thanks! | |
| | Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD
 ·VoicePulse
 ·DIRECTV
·magicjack.com
| Re: What happened? Check out this thread on the VoIP forum:
»[ATT CV] Suspended because of no E-911
Yes, AT&T is sending cancellation notices to certain customers, effective 5/21.
I have VoicePulse, very pleased with it. No, it does not transmit the name, just the number, a slight annoyance to some friends, but they are getting used to it. Call quality is the same, very good. More features, including 'unlimited filters' at no extra charge (CV wants $2 for 20). 99 speed dial vs. CV's 20 and easier to use; one or two digits followed by # rather than ATTxx#. Big difference is that one has a choice of what message to give blocked callers and I alway use 'not in service' tone and message. ATT has only one choice; 'this subscriber does not accept calls from this number' almost begging a telemarketer to just call from a different number. Paying VP $15.89 total for unlimited state-wide calling plus 200 min LD vs. $32.60 total for unlimited local and LD from CV. | |
| 
indyacnrep
@comcast.net | Send all of em my way I'm working for ACN and their VOIP works just fine and has great E911 service. If AT&T don't want em... WE DO!
»boutwell.acnrep.com
indyacnrep@gmail.com
For more details. | |
|
Slashdot reader
@comcast.net | Note for AT&T Customers I found it unfair that AT&T will not allow their VOIP customers to keep their phone numbers.
However, there is a free new directory that allows them to be found by their old phone numbers. I hope it helps - www.lookmeup.org | |
|
spike98905
@verizon.net
| E911 related to satellite locating you for ads Most mobile fones now have GIS chips in them so that when you make a call, your location is recorded in foneco records along with the number you called and the conversation record. Now this is related to the '911 system' so that your location can be also relayed to the police if homeland security so desires. Lately it desires a lot! Now if 'E911' does not work right, then fonecos could be pressured to make sure it does or 'get out of the business'. I do not know if that is the case, but another possibility is that your location may be so part of the 'E911' ability that it is inseparable, like as part of the ASIC chip that contains the GIS feature on your cellfone. Thay may also mean that if the 'E911' feature is not working, then neither is the 'graphical location of you so you can be efficiently commercially exploited as you location is known and plottable as a function of time feature'. It is this last autolocation of you feature when you call or when your fone has power with either a public or hidden and undocumented battery..this feature that can make the telcos, like AT&T, money. And money indeed! Think of all the automatic billboards that can now 'see you' when you are in proximity. Having 'seen' you by 'hearing' and automatically computer internet checking your 'signal' and accessing your 'commercial profile and your credit rating, the sign then proceeds to hand you 'relevant advertising' as you pass by with eyesight of the 'smart sign'. If your credit is good, how about a 'new car'. If you are semi-wealthy, how about a condominium timeshare in Florida? ...and if your credit is bad, how about a 'bill consolidating loan' or a 'second mortgage'? Now if you are flagged as a deadbeat, then how about: "Pay up you bum" or some such? Of course if you are 'wanted' for some reason, then the same machinery can call the law for you so that you can be conveniently arrested at the next available intersection. Hey, Graphical Information Systems integrated into your fone are a 'trusted system' now....ARE'NT THEY? | |
| | | |
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Review by ausrere
Posted: 2.6 years ago
member for 3.4 years, 11 visits, last login: 2.2 years ago
Austin,Travis,TX
Contract price not specified.
"None that I can see."
"They send you to a Pizza joint for tech support."
"Run!"
| Web-site:
Tech Support:
(ratings well below consensus)
|
I didn't even get to sign up for service. I emailed a question about their services on March 10th. Got an automated email saying a response would be available within 24 hours. No response ever came. On April 8th, I emailed again. The response I got was:
"Greetings,
Thank you for your recent email in regards to Call Vantage.
I do apologize if your first email was not answered, but all I have to give you is the Website of www.callvantage.com to learn more about the service. There is a telephone number of 1-800- 596-8464 but it is for current and technical assistance for customers with Call Vantage you may not get through on the telephone number."
How helpful. They can't answer my questions, and can't direct me to someone who can either. They give me a number to call, but tell me I can't get through on it. I decided to try anyway. The number is NOT for AT&T tech support. It's the corporate offices for Eatza Pizza. I wonder if they have better customer service if I order a Pizza than AT&T does with their phone services?
Followup comments: Fisamo
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC
·VOIPo
·AT&T CallVantage
1 edit | That's pretty funny. I don't mean to trivialize your bad experience with CallVantage. If you want to reach them, try 1-866-596-8464. (Not 800) Every so often, a CSR will mess up a bit... 
In my experience, they're not very responsive to incoming email. I agree that is an area they can improve greatly.
EDIT: to add the following
Post your questions in the VoIP Tech Chat forum, and maybe some of us BBR denizens can take a crack at them. | |
| Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD
1 edit | 866 vs 800 How can one base a "review" of an untried service on a questionable error in relating or reading a phone number? These "reviews" affect the overall ranking of the services, and when there is no substance to them, they should be deleted. | |
| | ausrere
join:2006-06-11
Austin, TX
| Re: 866 vs 800 I'm reviewing the over-all customer service. I'd want to know if other people had as much trouble as I've had just getting information about the service even before actually signing up. I believe their pre-purchase customer service is a very good indication of their overall service and it should be considered here. Feel free to ignore the review if you don't find it helpful. | |
| 
supergirl
join:2007-03-20
Pensacola, FL | Hi Did you order pizza? | |
| | ausrere
join:2006-06-11
Austin, TX
| Re: Hi Naw. It was the corporate office, they don't deliver. 
I did figure out on my own that the number should have been 866 instead of 800. Didn't help, I spent 20 minutes on hold only to be told they didn't know the answer to my question. I'll be trying another service. | |
| | | 
sonarman
Sonarman
join:2000-11-18
Liverpool, NY | Re: Hi Not sure how one reviews a service they did not get . This is absolutely worthless. | |
| | | | ausrere
join:2006-06-11
Austin, TX
| Re: Hi Hey. Like I said, feel free not to use it.
Personally, I think reviewing a company who:
1. Ignores your questions.
2. When they do finally answer (after multiple emails) they tell you all they can do is direct you to their website (which doesn't answer the question).
3. Tell you to call tech support, but oh yeah, but the way you probably can't get through.
4. If they do answer, they can't/won't help because you aren't a current customer yet.
5. Their own CS people can't even get the phone numbers right anyway.
...is very helpful.
I didn't review/grade call quality, price, reliability or ease of installation. My review is solely on tech support and their website.. which in my experience is terrible for anyone contemplating using the service. A quick look at the FAQ's for broadbandreports asks for reviews of your "experience". Well, here's the review of my experience with ATT's customer service. | |
| 
David
No,there is another.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
clubs: | What's the question? or what are you wanting to know? | |
| | ausrere
join:2006-06-11
Austin, TX
| Re: What's the question? I had tried switching from Vonage to Sunrocket service once before and had major problems with porting both my numbers over (one was no problem the other was - after two motnhs of trying, I gave up. Sunrocket's service was so bad I switched back to Vonage anyway). I wanted to make sure they could port both of them before I signed up. No one at ATT seems to know the answer (or bothers to answer). Other services have been pretty up front about it. It's either Yes, or No. | |
| | | | | | | ausrere
join:2006-06-11
Austin, TX
| Re: What's the question? Thank you. I appreciate that. But I've pretty much decided to give ViaTalk a try. They promise that both numbers can be ported. They responded to my email within minutes, and followed up with a phone call. I'll be trying the service for a while to see how the quality is before I attempt the port though. It's a shame that AT&T didn't try a little harder, especially since I have cell service with Cingular (and have been for years), and I've been very pleased with their CS responses. I learned a valuable lesson about CS with Sunrocket, I'm not about to repeat that.
L | |
| | | | |
David
No,there is another.
Premium,VIP
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
clubs: | Re: What's the question? ok, well if you change your mind I am only an IM or an e-mail away, and thanks again. | |
| ExtremeRFR
join:2005-05-13
West New York, NJ
·Verizon FIOS
| HEY AUSRERE AUSRERE .... The answer is no. AT&T CallVantage cannot transfer a number from a different VOIP provider. The number has to be connected by a landline telephone, like Verizon or AT&T. Local telephony companies.
If you tried ViaTalk, let me know how well they are treating you. I still have AT&T CallVantage for over 7 months. It's pretty good! | |
| |
AdmanOK
@cox.net | Re: HEY AUSRERE That sucks! Why would they not port from another voip provider? I'm using Vonage right now but am trying to get off the sinking ship before it's too late to do so. | |
| | | |
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Review by BobHat
Posted: 2.6 years ago
member for 6.3 years, 2 visits, last login: 2.6 years ago
Newton Center,Middlesex,MA
$30 per month
about 6 days
"Ease of installation"
"Voice quality after Fios"
"I still like it"
| |
CallVantage $29.99/month unlimited package
When I first ordered it, it was about a three day period, but the outgoing switch happened the next day. Incoming took one extra day.
DHCP.
=================================
I am writing this review to tell people what happened to my CallVantage service after I made the switch to Verizon Fios with the Actiontec Mi42WR router.
I had CallVantage under Comcast until a few weeks ago and then succumbed to the marketing of the Verizon folks who could reduce my cable TV bill to $50/mo from $83. No kidding. In addition, I signed up for their internet service which dropped that charge from $48/mo to $41/mo. In addition there were six months incentives.
It didn't even occur to me to check whether Callvantage would have any issues with Fios. I figured that all it needed was clean access to the internet. I WAS WRONG.
Fios was up and running in a day and I must say that the tv pictures are better than Comcast. But, that's not the story.
Callvantage wouldn't work. I called them and they told me, oh, we don't work with Fios and there was nothing they could do.
I called the Verizon guys and asked to speak to a Level 2 tech. This kid was excellent and tried his best over two days to get it working. We changed QoS and DMZ in the Actiontec but it still didn't work.
I called Callvantage back and told them I was leaving them and going to VoiceWing from Verizon (same price as CV) and told them the issue and they put me in touch with a Level 2 CS manager. This guy was great and wouldn't accept defeat.
After a couple of hours fiddling with settings on the DLink VOIP router he said he'd like to try a different router. He fed ex'd it to me and I had it by 10am the next day. This new router worked right out of the box.
ANYONE WHO HAS ACTIONTEC FIOS AND CALLVANTAGE ISSUES SHOULD CALL CALLVANTAGE and get a LINKSYS WRT54GP2A-AT router. WRT 54G P2A-AT.
Now, the review. although I can make calls and everything is fine. The voice quality on my end is not as good as it was with Comcast. That's probably because there is an Actiontec router between the Linksys and the internet. But, it is quite acceptable. In my first few calls I've asked the person on the other end to comment on the voice quality and they all said it was excellent.
I've asked both CallVantage and Verizon Fios to put in there database that this is a solution to the problem. I hope this helps people and they don't have the two week headache that I had.
I really like CallVanage and have recommended it to others. I am happy to stay and was relucant to switch.
Best regards,
Bob
Followup comments: Lenagainster
join:2005-01-07
Silver Spring, MD
·VoicePulse
·DIRECTV
·magicjack.com
| Oh no! Not VoiceWing! Bob, you're not alone with problems with the Actiontec router and CallVantage, as there have been many posts on the issue. I recall that it might have been resolved with an update to the Actiontec firmware. Search the Verizon FiOS TV forum and you might hit on the solution. Be thankful that you didn't fall for VoiceWing. Look at the rating in "Good, Bad and Ugly", at the bottom of the list. | |
| | NYC Girl
Premium
join:2007-02-04
Bronx, NY
 ·Optimum Online
·Optimum Voice
| Re: Oh no! Not VoiceWing! Yes, don't do the VoiceWing, I have seen bad reviews on them everywhere!!!! Seems as though, VZ does want anyone to subscribe to anything other than VZ products. However, I wonder VW it works better on the VZ network rather than anyone elses?? Read up on it first!! | |
|
Karmayogi
@verizon.net
| Solution to Callvantage and FIOS problem Yes, even I had the same problem. I knew the answer thanks to this post, but the ATT folks were very dumb. They kept sending me DLINK replacement adapters even though I kept asking them to send me a Linksys router that was supposed to solve the problem. Anyway a little bit of yelling put me onto level 2 support, who actually acknowledged this and sent me the WRT54GP2A-AT router. It sits behind the Actiontec like a bridge and works well. No drops so far. voice quality is good and internet is blazing fast. So thanks a lot. Verizon support was actually extremely good. Not so happy with callvantage support, though I love their service and call quality. Have had Callvantage for about 3 years now. | |
| | archiet
join:2004-10-11
Windsor Mill, MD
| Re: Solution to Callvantage and FIOS problem I can also confirm the Callvantage DLink TA not working with the Actiontec router. I got the Actiontec when I added TV to my existing FIOS internet service. Every month or so I plug the AT&T DLink TA into the Actiontec just to see if a firmware update fixed anything, but so far: nope. I just don't use the Actiontec and keep using the same router that was in service before they added the TV service. You need the Actiontec so the TV boxes can download the program guide, but if you plug the Actiontec BEHIND that other router, everything works except pay per view. Maybe I'll call AT&T and request a new router, but, although the DLink is lame and clunky, it has worked perfectly for years now, and I hate to mess with it. | |
| pluskey
Premium
join:2003-07-09
Columbia, MD
| Callvantage and Actiontec on FIOS in reply to problems with the Callvantage service using the Actiontec router on FIOS, I posted a work around in November or December of 2006.
I never found or heard of a cause of the problem, but the solution works.
The definitive symptom of the problem is that the MTA-1 seems to believe that it's WAN side has two name servers when connected to the Actiontec, the correct name server 192.168.1.1 and a ghost at 192.168.0.1. Since there is no actual device at the .0.1 address, any name queries routed to the .0.1 ghost will time out, and the MTA-1 will go off line.
This ghost problem DID NOT happen when I used my old D-Link FIOS router, only the Actiontec.
The solution is to assign the MTA-1 a static route bypassing the WAN side DHCP assignment.
Reduce the DHCP assignable range on the Actiontec FIOS router to between 192.168.1.1 and ...199. Set the Callvantage MTA-1 to a static IP 192.168.1.200, which is now outside the range of the DHCP assignments of the Actiontec. Set name server and default gateway on the MTA-1 to 192.168.1.1. | |
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Review by gotfios
Posted: 2.8 years ago
member for 2.8 years, 17 visits, last login: 2.5 years ago
Ambler,Montgomery,PA
$30 per month
"great from day 1 going on 3 years over Comcast Cable"
"Does not work with Verizon Fios Internet (and TV) service"
"AT&T needs to take immediate action or they will lose subscriptions"
| |
The short of it is, I Fios installed b/c Comcast is ripping people off with price increases and not enhancing, but actually taking away services. Fios is cheaper for comparable TV and Internet services. Actually I notice the clarity is better on the TV's. Anyway, for some reason my calls will not last for more the 40 seconds and then drop. And then I have to reboot the TA and then another 40 seconds. There has been extensive troubleshooting on this issue, nothing seems to be working. Does anyone have any experience with this.
Followup comments: pluskey
Premium
join:2003-07-09
Columbia, MD
| Fios solution I had a problem with Callvantage over FIOS, and was able to track it down to some strange interaction with the FIOS Actiontec router and the Callvantage Centillium TA. You can search the FIOS forums for my detailed solution, but in summary, I set the Actiontec to DHCP range of 192.168.1.1-192.168.1.199 (reduced from .1-.254), and set the Centillium to a fixed IP at 192.168.1.200. I turned down the Centillium MTU to 1492 to match FIOS PPPoe. Since this change, my Callvantage service has been flawless. I can even send faxes without turning on the optional fax support.
If your setup is different, you might try a similar configuration, fixed IP on the TA outside router's DHCP range and MTU adjustment for PPPoe on the TA (but don't log in, the FIOS router does that) | |
| | ceperez
join:2005-04-01
Eatontown, NJ
| Re: Fios solution-Callvantage is your ta in front or behind the actiontec router?
i could only get CV to work placing my DLINK in front of the router. The problem now is that my connection speed dropped from 19MB (DL) to 5MB. Also, some of the TV features do not work, Pay per view,,,,
By the way, How did you find out the FIOS PPPoe and what is the process to set the Centillium MTU to 1492? | |
| | | pluskey
Premium
join:2003-07-09
Columbia, MD
| Re: Fios solution-Callvantage Didn't get notified by your comment, so sorry for the delay. My CV adapter is behind the Verizon Actiontec router. The only way it worked acceptably is with the static IP assignment I described.
When it was first in line, the speed was very bad - not what I paid for with the FIOS fiber solution. When I put it behind Verizon's Actiontec router, it cut out regularly until I assigned it the static IP solution. | |
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Review by voipuser4
Posted: 2.8 years ago
member for 6.6 years, 79 visits, last login: 2.2 years ago
San Ramon,Contra Costa,CA
$24 per month
about 4 days
"Good call quality"
"Service was unreliable and very poor support"
"There are other providers out there who consider customers as more than a source of revenue for something that doesn't work."
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings well below consensus)
|
I ordered on line and received the TA (D-Link DVG-1120M) in four days.
Out of the box the TA wouldn't register. It took an hour working with at&t support to get the TA to register. I suspected a defective TA and asked why I had received the D-Link when they were using Centillium and if the unit could be switched. I was told Centillium TA’s were back ordered and the D-Link would only be replaced if I COULD PROVE it was defective. If it was replaced it probably would be another D-Link.
Intermittently the TA would loose registration with the server. All the lights on the TA would show working, but test calls would go to voice mail instead of ringing the phone. Outgoing calls would go to dial tone. (Dial tone + dialing number = second dial tone instead of ringing) Sometimes the problem would be resolved if the TA was power cycled.
Repair support is practically a joke. Five minutes of listening to IVR and punching buttons to reach a “live” person. Then all they could do is walk me through resetting the TA from a scripted aid. (Something I had already done several times prior to calling for assistance.) When that didn’t resolve the problem, I received the typical monopoly phone company response; the trouble is with your equipment.
After multiple reports over 3-4 weeks, I was finally connected to the next level of support. That person informed me their service wouldn't work and if my Vonage service worked, I should cancel at&t CallVantage and keep Vonage, then hung up on me.
I called back and was connected to a supervisor who told me he would work with their Tier 2 support and call me back. Five days later, no call. The next day I cancelled at&t CallVantage. An hour and a half after canceling, someone from at&t called to see how they could assist to resolve my service issues.
Bottom Line: There are other providers out there who consider customers as more than a source of revenue for something that doesn't work.
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Review by doopstr
Posted: 2.8 years ago
member for 5 years, 531 visits, last login: 22 days ago
Hightstown,Mercer,NJ
$28 per month
about 17 days
"About half the cost of a land line, better than expect call quality"
"Took a week longer than expected to port my number, questionable 911 availability"
"If you are looking to save some serious coin on your landline this is a great choice"
| Web-site:
Ease of Installation:
Call Quality:
Reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I got a notice from Verizon that they were upping my monthly landline bill by $5/month. That was it, I was not going to pay almost $60 a month for a landline. Here are the details of my bill
Verizon Freedom Essentials $44.99
Federal Universal Service Fee $0.99
Federal excise tax $0.20
State tax $0.50
State tax $3.22 (no idea why its listed twice)
E911 $0.90
Federal Subscriber Line Charge $6.50
Federal Universal Service Fee $0.60
$12.91 total tax! (around 28%, WTF?)
Grand total $57.90 ($694.80/year)
I decided to give AT&T CallVantage a try because of the reviews I have read here. So far I've been satisfied. I ordered the service on Dec 19th. After placing the order I received an email confirming it. At the bottom of the email there was a notice that E911 isn't fully working in my area. My address wouldn't be provided to 911 automatically. That was the first mention of a possible problem with E911 in my area. I think they should have told me that before I completed the order. The email did say that I could call to cancel service with no problem if I chose to.
The DLink DVG-1120M TA appeared on Sat. the 23rd via FedEx. The package contained instructions on how to hookup to a cable modem or dsl connection. There was no mention of fiber (FIOS) hookup. I went to their website and they did have instructions there. The instructions said to just hook the TA behind my router and I would be good to go. Well I've read about problems with CallVantage and Actiontec routers but since I have a Dlink DI-624 I gave it a shot. The TA failed to connect to CallVantage. The status light just blinked red. So I decided to try it in front of the router. I had to go into the TA configuration and enable PPPoE. When I did that the TA immediately connected and updated it firmware. After a few minutes my phone rang and it was ready to go. I made a successful outbound call. After I got that working I decided to reset the TA back to its original configuration and try it behind my router. This time it worked. Now why can't they ship these TAs with the latest firmware?
Well this review would be over but I was also porting my home phone number to CallVantage. One thing I don't like about CallVantage is that you must decide up front if you want to port your number. You can not elect to port your number later without canceling CallVantage and putting in a new order. A few hours after I placed my order I received an email stating that they could indeed port my number and gave me a date of the Dec 29th. The 29th came and went with no number port. I called them around 5pm that day and was told not to worry, the number would port by the end of the day. It didn't. I called tech support on the 30th and was informed that the date had changed to January 5th. I was willing to give them another chance to port the number. Shortly after 12:00AM on the 5th I received an email that my number had ported. Sure enough it did. I had no problem rewiring my house to run on CallVantage and I was up and running.
So we've been fully operation for almost 2 weeks and I am pretty happy. WAF is high. People we talk to on CallVantage can not tell that we are on VOIP which is great.
I put in $28ish for price because I haven't received my first bill yet and don't know what the taxes are. The plan is unlimited calling for $24.99 a month plus tax. I also received a free month but there was a signup fee of $29.99 and $9.99 charge to ship the TA. The TA was otherwise free.
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gerr