phatTweaker
join:2002-03-15
Redkey, IN
|  Internet Phone
Hello all..I was wondering if anyone uses Vonage or a similar voice over IP phone service and if so does it work well? Also since it uses your internet connection does it suck up allot of bandwidth? Would my upload speed be enough? I'm currently on Insightbb's basic 3000/128 service
thnx |
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compugeek
I love making my own beer.
Premium
join:2002-07-30
Pickerington, OH
 ·Insight VOIP
·Vonage
| I have been using Vonage for about 7 months and I love it. I used it on InsightBB and didn't really have any problems. I did notice with heavy net usage there was some lag in the audio. I have 2 numbers with them one in the local area code and one in my old area code so my friends and family can call me as a local call.
The amount of bandwidth is really minimal. I had a computer fail and only had my router and phone running. After about 300 minutes of calling I barely broke 5 megs in both directions.
I am very happy with the service and have totally dropped SBC and Verizon. I still have a cell as a backup if it is needed, which it has been a couple of times.
One big downfall is if the cable connection goes down... YOUR SCREWED!!!
Geek |
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
 ·AT&T Midwest
2 edits | reply to phatTweaker
I used Vonage from February to November on my InsightBB connection. My only complaints were not related to the broadband connection. I had problems with their 911 implementation (it kept calling an insurance sales man's voicemail), and I did not like that it is half duplex (two people can't talk at the same time). Other than those two issues every other issue was minor (unless you consider their too frequent voicemail upgrades that messed things up).
I used the 30 kbps codec, and had good quality calls. I occasionally upped it to 90 kbps if a fax was not going thru correctly.
I ended up switching to SBC unlimited local/local toll/long distance for $43.95 & SBC DSL 1500/256 for $26.95 about a month ago... |
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compugeek
I love making my own beer.
Premium
join:2002-07-30
Pickerington, OH | reply to phatTweaker
Here is more info about how Vonage works and info about VOIP in general.
»www.vonage-forum.com/article108.html
Geek |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to phatTweaker
Another good place for info is of course »VOIP Tech Chat Honestly users shouldn't have to look elsewhere for phone service. Insight should be offering the AT&T Digital phone service or a VOIP solution - like there partner TimeWarner is doing with AT&T. This has been one of my biggest complaints for ages. But I guess Insight considers the capital of this state hickville USA and won't be offering the service anytime soon. Have to move to Louisville to get any major technology upgrades from Insight.
There have been several good threads in the past on this subject. I unfortunately only have 1 bookmarked »VOIP and insight? this one isn't as good as the other threads I remember reading in the past.
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Test Your Security Team Z Member Cable Modem Diagnostics InsightBB 3000/384 XP PRO |
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fancydancer
Perception is reality
Premium
join:2002-08-28
Springfield, IL
clubs:
 ·Comcast
·Insight Communicat..
| said by IGGY  :
Have to move to Louisville to get any major technology upgrades from Insight.
Sadly, from what it sounds, you are so very true.
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MCSE- Minesweeper Consultant Solitaire Expert |
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spyfy
join:2001-11-03
Bowling Green, KY | reply to WeKnSmith
I don't think you're correct about Vonage being half-duplex. I have Packet8 and this is not the case with it. 2 people can indeed talk at same time. Either that or I've lost my mind. |
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
·AT&T Midwest
| said by spyfy :
I don't think you're correct about Vonage being half-duplex. I have Packet8 and this is not the case with it. 2 people can indeed talk at same time. Either that or I've lost my mind.
Either it is the 30 kbps codec, or Vonage is half duplex. I have not experienced a situation where the person on the other end of the phone can hear me trying to interrupt them while they are talking. |
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mams1
join:2004-01-02
Buffalo, NY
| You should be able to switch between 30k and 90k compression. I subscribe to Quantumvoice (.com) and they told me how to configure my ATA for different compression. I have the Cisco device and get great voice quality. My dad says I sounded like Darth Vader when I was pulling down email so I set compression for 30k. I do notice some voice delay, and have been told to use a switch on my LAN versus a hub. Anyone know if switch versus hub makes a difference? |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL | reply to WeKnSmith
»Half-duplex with VoIP? |
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WeKnSmith
join:2001-08-09
Noblesville, IN
·AT&T Midwest
| said by IGGY :
»Half-duplex with VoIP?
Thanks for the link. As I have mentioned before, we had Vonage for over 9 months on our InsightBB connection. It was always half duplex regardless of which internal phone we used. We have a wired phone, $100+ cordless Uniden phones, and $200+ cordless Panasonic phones.
No idea what the problem was. In the end, the 911 calling an insurance salesman was the straw that broke the camels back. My wife made the final decision, and we switched all of our services to SBC. |
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Billgriffin
join:2001-12-15
Lake Zurich, IL
| Re: Internet Phone-Quantum Voice is GREAT
I have QuantumVoice (.com) and the service has been spectacular. It is a complete no-brainer to hook up, just plug it into the router and wait 30 seconds while it "finds the network", indicated by flashing red light on the top of the ATA box. I have have no issues except for when I am pulling down a 4 meg file, and that is a function of my DSL (SBC) and the bandwidth available, not the Qauntumvoice service.
It is amazing how much you can keep in touch with people when you have flat rate billing. There is no "consequence" for just picking up the phone and staying in touch.
If you are interested in exploring, see www.quantumvoice.com
If you are interested in signing up, enter # 1031 as the IBR number.
If you have questions, email me at bill@ams-llc.com |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
| reply to phatTweaker
Re: Internet Phone
Well since this thread got reopened. For what reason I'm not 100% sure. I'll add that I'm using Broadvox Direct over my Insight connection with great results. They do use a 30 kbps codec with a Sipura unit. They did have a slight security issue after launch which can be read about on the front page and in the »VOIP Tech Chat forum. But I'd still recommend them on quality, price and the fact there president puts up with end users endless questions in the forum and actually answers them.
Phone quality has been great. Of course when uploading the quality can suffer. But I can now control this within our routers settings. Using a "hacked" firmware with our new Linksys WRT54G. The firmware allows for QOS to be setup and controlled.
I'm using Insights 3000/384 package. But users with 128 upload have reported good results using this and other VOIP companies.
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Test Your Security Team Z Member Cable Modem Diagnostics InsightBB waiting for new tiers |
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linxer
join:2000-05-20
Campbellsville, KY
clubs:
·Comcast
·Windstream
| reply to phatTweaker
I've had Vonage for about a year now. I am on the Insight 3000/128 plan and mine works fine. Even with heavy net usage, up or down it works great. I dumped my local phone company and use Vonage alone. My 911 service works just like my phone 911 did. I tried Broadvox and my opinion is that it is an inferior product compared to Vonage. Packet8 device should be here in a few days and Ill let ya know my experience with them. |
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davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ | I have a stupid question. Do you have to use special phones how does this work is there like a router that changes the ethernet cable into a regular phone cable? |
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IGGY
No Guru Just Here To Help
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-30
Chatham, IL
3 edits | »www.sipura.com
»www.broadvoxdirect.com/
»VoIP: Voice over IP
Those are just a few places to get information. You can use special phones with most providers. But special phones aren't needed. You just hook up a device like the Sipura to your router then a regular phone to that device.
The Sipura is just 1 example of a device a provider can use. Other providers use a Cisco product or other devices. I think some providers even support the use of multiple devices. Meaning if you own the device you can switch from provider to provider.
The only stupid question is a question not asked in my opinion. We all have to learn somehow. If you don't ask questions or seek answers to your question = how would you learn?
Providers have multiple types of pricing and features. Vonage is probably the best known. But a quick glance of this forum »VOIP Tech Chat shows that like any growing company - they are seeing some growing pains. Other providers have run into those same pains as well.
With our provider we pay $19.95 a month for free local and regional calling. We get 300 long distance minutes a month that work for the USA or Canada. We get a friends and family number - meaning my family down in Florida can have a local number to call me here in Illinois. So it's only a local toll call for them. My provider only provides friends and family numbers in areas they serve. So that feature can be limiting depending on your needs. Example of another negative = they don't serve my city. So I had to go for a Ottawa,IL number. The closest city to me that they provide service in. This doesn't matter to me - since local and regional is free. But it does make it to were your local calls ( from your real area - - for me Springfield,IL ) would be a charge for those that call you. We just use caller id for this. Have the people do 2 rings so they show up on caller id then we call them back if were home.:)
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Test Your Security
Team Z Member
Cable Modem Diagnostics
InsightBB waiting for new tiers |
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davidcb13
join:2004-02-06
Branchville, NJ | Thanks alot your info and websites really helped. |
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Neutron1998
@rescare.com
| Is there any VoIP service that has service in Southern Indiana (812) area code? I live just on the other side of the Ohio river from Louisville KY. I have checked Vonage, Packet8, Broadvox. Vonage and Packet8 can give me a Louisville (502) number but I would be long distance to anyone near me in 812. The telco (SBC) has it set up to where us in 812 in our area can call 502 numbers as a local call, with no 10 digit dialing required. |
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fancydancer
Perception is reality
Premium
join:2002-08-28
Springfield, IL
clubs: | It looks like you have exhausted all possibilities but you may find more information here (as mentioned previously above) »VOIP Tech Chat
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MCSE- Minesweeper Consultant Solitaire Expert |
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flw
Security Is Like An Onion, It Has Layers
Premium
join:2004-01-04
| reply to phatTweaker
Not trying to hyjack the thread but wouldn't VOIP be a network sevice? TOS... ? It (TOS) is just so ill definded for anyone honestly trying to follow it and use technolgies avaiable.
Seems like it would be the same answer as for P2P apps. Even though the function of server goes back and forth (poor analogy but the only one that comes to mind) there is still a dynamic server service involved.
Best guesses or comments during conversations with insight?
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"Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer" »www.byronnews.org |
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