drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA
| reply to openbox9
Re: [Phone] Confused
I don't think that is an accurate description either. From what I understand the call from the home goes over Mediacom's network to the head end and is then connected to the service provider (Sprint?). The call does not hit the open internet anywhere on the path and is not considered VOIP.
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Save water...drink beer! |
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openbox9
join:2004-01-26
Navarre, FL
 ·AT&T Southeast
 ·Mediacom
| I may not have described it totally. Yes it ultimately ties into the PSTN via Sprint (?). Does Mediacom peer with Sprint in each market or is voice traffic tunneled over Mediacom's backbone which is leased from AT&T? Regardless of whether the voice data hits the Internet or not, if Mediacom is using IP to transfer voice, then the service is VoIP. Either way, Mediacom's voice service isn't POTS in the traditional sense. |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | Best description would be hybrid VoIP I guess. Either way it's not compatible with some equipment. |
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cfossy
join:2007-04-05
Ottumwa, IA
·Mediacom
·Qwest.net
| But trust me there is a HUGE difference when comparing Mediacom and true VoIP like Vonage. True VoIP does not work well with data services like faxing. It also doesent do well when transfering large files, from what i have been told Mediacom phone has dedicated bandwith? |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA | Yes. In fact when I had Vonage every time I would max out my connection I would lose dial tone.
With Mediacom Phone this never happens. This alone is worth $5 extra I pay each month. |
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cfossy
join:2007-04-05
Ottumwa, IA | That was my opinion also, but the other thing is when you bring this up to your provider the only suggestion they have is to switch isp's (not an option), or upgrade your speed. |
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drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA
| reply to Anonymous
I pay $10 extra per month for my POTS line with unlimited long distance and calling features not offered by Mediacom, no 911 issues, up time better than 5 nines (99.999). I have never seen the appeal of Mediacom phone service that is only $10 less per month that what I currently pay for my traditional land line.
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Save water...drink beer! |
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Anonymous
Premium
join:2004-06-01
IA
| What telco? Sounds like a good deal. The last time I had Qwest it was basic unlimited local service with no added features and it was around $21/mo. They increased it to about $24 around the time I canceled.
So in my case, Qwest offers far less value compared to Mediacom.
My phone uptime is pretty close to 99.999%. In other words I don't remember the last time I had an issue or a dropped all. |
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drslash
Goya Asma
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Marion, IA | Qwest
16.60 phone line
9.95 features
6.99 unlimited LD
8.19 taxes and fees
41.73 total
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Save water...drink beer! |
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acoustix
join:2004-01-30
Fort Dodge, IA
| reply to drslash
said by drslash  :I don't think that is an accurate description either. From what I understand the call from the home goes over Mediacom's network to the head end and is then connected to the service provider (Sprint?). The call does not hit the open internet anywhere on the path and is not considered VOIP. VoIP is not limited to a specific type of network or Internet as you put it. VoIP is not a specific protocol, but a rather a generalized description of "Voice over Internet Protocol". There are many protocols that can be used like SCCP and SIP. It can be over a LAN, WAN, Internet, or whatever, but VoIP does not have to hit the "open Internet". I know because I manage a Cisco CallManager system.
Your understanding of Mediacom's voice network is accurate and it is most definitely a VoIP system. |
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BAINCH
Premium,VIP
join:2003-04-02
Middletown, NY
edit:
May 2nd, @10:23AM
| said by acoustix :said by drslash :I don't think that is an accurate description either. From what I understand the call from the home goes over Mediacom's network to the head end and is then connected to the service provider (Sprint?). The call does not hit the open internet anywhere on the path and is not considered VOIP. VoIP is not limited to a specific type of network or Internet as you put it. VoIP is not a specific protocol, but a rather a generalized description of "Voice over Internet Protocol". There are many protocols that can be used like SCCP and SIP. It can be over a LAN, WAN, Internet, or whatever, but VoIP does not have to hit the "open Internet". I know because I manage a Cisco CallManager system. Your understanding of Mediacom's voice network is accurate and it is most definitely a VoIP system. I wouldn't advise anyone to claim Mediacom wasn't VoIP, but that term has taken on meanings by many users (and reporters) that have confused the issue. So for those who are interested:
Mediacom Phone uses an ITU protocol called MGCP, which is tranmitted in IP between the customer premise and the gateway controllers (part of the switch.) We support dynamic QOS to guarantee bandwidth during all calls to prevent other traffic (primarily HSD traffic from the same customer's home) from affecting call quality. The traffic is separated at the headend and travels a route-diverse fiber ring back to our partner Sprint. The voice traffic never traverses the Internet nor any "public" network of any kind. The voice traffic does travel with HSD traffic (logically separated) from the home to our headend. From there on it travels on physically-separated networks until it terminates at the PSTN. We also use our own circuits into every rate center and 911 center. We build 100% into LOCAL 911, never relying on regional or failover centers. We also provision full E911 in all areas where the local 911 center supports it. We use the universally-accepted G711 codec (another ITU spec) which supports virtually any voice, fax or data communication. We have tested with and are approved for use with many top security companies including ADT (we are what they reference on their website as a Qualified "Managed Facility Voice Network" or MFVN.) We also deploy all our eMTAs with 8hr battery backup.
In contrast, what many people "think of" as VOIP is the Vonage or Skype products. That is based on SIP, has no QOS or route diversity and always travels on public networks (most notably the Internet.) They also have a somewhat sketchy record for 911 support and are not recommended for many uses including security. |
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