User Impressions of New Earthlink Phone ServiceGood speed & no TA, but fax, alarm systems won't work ( old news - 12:32PM Thursday Feb 16 2006) tags: dsl · business · alternatives · VoIPEarthlink began offering new DSL and home phone service (not to be confused with regular VoIP) to customers in San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Dallas earlier this month. Users in those markets can get 1.5Mbps DSL with 500 minute VoIP for $49.95 a month; 1,5Mbps DSL & unlimited local and long-distance calling for $64.95 a month; or a tier that offers 8Mbps (or best effort) ADSL2+ with unlimited VoIP for $69.95. The interesting bit is that the bundle uses Covad's line-powered voice, which needs no consumer side hardware, works through every jack in the home, and receives its power from the jack just like regular phone service&$#46 The service functions much like typical POTS in that regard until it hits Covad's new Samsung DSLAMs, with traffic routed over Covad's nationwide UNE-L network, avoiding bell infrastructure. Users in our Earthlink forum have been discussing their experiences with the service. Users get a ZyXEL Prestige 660R-61 ADSL2+ modem in the mail for self-installation, along with 3 filters (2 single jack, and one dual jack). While the price and full 8Mbps speed is nice if you're in range (closer that 5k feet to your CO), apparently traditional modems, alarm systems, fax machines, and DirecTivo aren't working with the service at this point. One of our users cancelled his service within the 30 day window because of these issues. "Sure, your phones will work in a power outage and you don't have a TA in your house," says the user, but "since you don't have a TA there don't appear to be solutions for the fax and alarm system issues that other people have figured out for Vonage, et al."Of course as a second user notes, alarm companies like ADT do offer cellular monitoring, and DirecTivo's still work (as this author can attest) without a landline. You just can't order pay-per-view with the remote, and you'll be incessantly nagged about making an update call. It sounds like these early markets will be playing beta testers for some time. Hopefully Earthlink can work out the kinks in the service before broader deployment.
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
 ·Qwest.net
2 edits | Well now My main objection to VoIP has been the power issue this hybrid system at least answers that, and bares watching. Of course it will be well into the next century before we see anything like this in Cheyenne but at least it a start to something I would be interested in.
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Low voltage Tech's are wimps, Real tech's use 45 pound filament transformers, plate voltages no less then 2400 volts with at least 10 amp's lighting 8877 triodes...BPL I'm coming to get you.
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| rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ
| VoIP isn't POTS.... ... no matter how you have it wired.
Granted, there are workarounds aplenty to get things working and ways to be truly "Bell-less" but for a company to claim that everything is going to work just the way it always has like Earthlink did, is just plain silly. I think they were better off branding service through Vonage. Less expense, more revenue, and everything still works.
Of course, that's my 0.02.
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Abortion is murder, Reagan was a hero, Clinton was a sleazeball, Iraq is much better off without Saddam, and the telcos are not trustworthy with American tax dollars. There! I've managed to offend a significant portion of BBR! | |
|  | | | | rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ
| Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... Well, what I mean is that VoIP has been advertised and presented as a full and valid replacement for existing telephone service that American customers have come to expect over the years. People don't expect that when they switch providers, they'll need to mess around with networking equipment or play with their demarcation point. Even that, the demarcation point, is something that most people look at and are just dumbstruck as to what the heck it does.
THAT seamless replacement of phone service is what I'm talking about.... the expectation that things will "just work" 99.9999% of the time.
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Abortion is murder, Reagan was a hero, Clinton was a sleazeball, Iraq is much better off without Saddam, and the telcos are not trustworthy with American tax dollars. There! I've managed to offend a significant portion of BBR! | |
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Matt
Quitting Caffeine - Argh
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..
| Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... said by rileyjam514  :Well, what I mean is that VoIP has been advertised and presented as a full and valid replacement for existing telephone service that American customers have come to expect over the years. People don't expect that when they switch providers, they'll need to mess around with networking equipment or play with their demarcation point. Even that, the demarcation point, is something that most people look at and are just dumbstruck as to what the heck it does. THAT seamless replacement of phone service is what I'm talking about.... the expectation that things will "just work" 99.9999% of the time. Did you completely gloss over this part of the article?
The interesting bit is that the bundle uses Covad's line-powered voice, which needs no consumer side hardware, works through every jack in the home, and receives its power from the jack just like regular phone service&$#46 The service functions much like typical POTS in that regard until it hits Covad's new Nokia DSLAMs, with traffic routed over Covad's nationwide UNE-L network, avoiding bell infrastructure.
No need for the consumer to "fiddle" at all. | |
| | | | | rileyjam514
There You Go Again...
join:2005-06-26
Kearny, NJ
| Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... The service works in terms of making standard voice calls, and in that respect it is a valid POTS replacement.
In the respect that people expect any other services to work over Earthlink's TrueVoice, like faxes, home alarm systems, dial-up modems and such, it is in no way capable of being called a POTS replacement.
That's the thing about POTS, VoIP and LPV. None can do all of the features without some adjustments out-of-the-box. POTS doesn't have VoIP features, VoIP doesn't have emergency power backup, and LPV can't handle anything but standard voice calls.
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Abortion is murder, Reagan was a hero, Clinton was a sleazeball, Iraq is much better off without Saddam, and the telcos are not trustworthy with American tax dollars. There! I've managed to offend a significant portion of BBR! | |
| | | achuchma
join:2001-04-11
Tampa, FL
| said by LiamJunket :POTS isn't POTS either. If you are making a long distance call in the US, your call is being converted from analog into digital between cities anyway. The Earthlink svc isn't any different in that regard. Do keep in mind when you use the POTS network in the US, voice data is usually transmitted on private, dedicated fiber trunks with no other traffic other than voice traffic. If mixed with data, voice will get the highest QoS.
VoIP runs on the "best effort" Internet, which is with a pot luck of other data...
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Bring back chicken and potato chips - Vote Perot! | |
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ
 ·Optimum Online
| Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... said by achuchma :Do keep in mind when you use the POTS network in the US, voice data is usually transmitted on private, dedicated fiber trunks with no other traffic other than voice traffic. If mixed with data, voice will get the highest QoS. VoIP runs on the "best effort" Internet, which is with a pot luck of other data... Actually that was accurate back in 1996 or so. Today most carriers are using VoIP on their own network. It allows for more statistical multiplexing (ie: oversubscription) than traditional TDM voice carriage does.
VoIP does not need to go over "the internet" to be VoIP.
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Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity | |
| | | | | achuchma
join:2001-04-11
Tampa, FL | Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... You are correct...I tend to avoid using "VoIP" to describe the digital transport section of the voice networks since most people tend to associate VoIP and Internet together.
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Bring back chicken and potato chips - Vote Perot! | |
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Jim Gurd
Premium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI
·Comcast
1 edit | said by LiamJunket :POTS isn't POTS either. If you are making a long distance call in the US, your call is being converted from analog into digital between cities anyway. The Earthlink svc isn't any different in that regard. But that's not the point. POTS is powered remotely by the CO and has backup batteries and a generator to allow calls to be completed even in a power failure. No VoIP system can claim that kind of disaster preparedness.
I remember the power failure of August 2003. I had no power or running water (the pumping stations didn't have backup power) but my POTS line never failed for the entire duration of the outage.
That having been said, what Earthlink is offering sounds interesting, especially the bit about being line powered. That's a big plus in my opinion. I wonder exactly what type of backup systems they have in place. | |
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ
·Optimum Online
| Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... said by Jim Gurd :That having been said, what Earthlink is offering sounds interesting, especially the bit about being line powered. That's a big plus in my opinion. I wonder exactly what type of backup systems they have in place. As far as power is concerned, they have the same backup that the rest of the phone company CO has since they are co-located there.
As far as redundant backhauls out of the CO... well unless they've changed something, Covad is very cheap with that.
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Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity | |
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lumpy9138
Premium
join:2003-12-19
Elgin, IL | That statement is not true. Comcast digital voice comes with a battery back up in the MTA, and has battery back up on the main lines, and will also work with alarms, fax, dial up modems, etc.... | |
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Jim Gurd
Premium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI
·Comcast
| Re: VoIP isn't POTS.... said by lumpy9138 :That statement is not true. Comcast digital voice comes with a battery back up in the MTA, and has battery back up on the main lines, and will also work with alarms, fax, dial up modems, etc.... Yeah, but how long does the battery last? I'll bet not more than 8 hours. That's fine for short term outages but what happens when the power is out for 2 or 3 days such as after a big storm that knocks down a lot of power lines.
The advantage of line powered systems is that the central office usually has diesel generators that can last a week or more. | |
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Pizz
Hi
join:2000-10-27
Astoria, NY | great offer. if this should be offered in New York City, i would 100% jump on this. this deal to me is too good to be true.
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"Take your worst nightmares, and put my face to them." Tommy Lynn Sells | |
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gimme5
join:2002-12-23
Kissimmee, FL | Re: great offer. I don't think its too good to be true.
In France, for example, they can get 20Meg DSL, unlimited VOIP for 30 euros/mo. | |
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Pizz
Hi
join:2000-10-27
Astoria, NY
·Verizon Online DSL
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·AT&T CallVantage
| Re: great offer. said by gimme5 :I don't think its too good to be true. In France, for example, they can get 20Meg DSL, unlimited VOIP for 30 euros/mo. sadly to say i dont live in france! i gotta take what the best offer is in the USA, not the world.
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"Take your worst nightmares, and put my face to them." Tommy Lynn Sells | |
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xdeadhead
220, 221, Whatever It Takes.
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA | yeah that may be. but who the hell wants to live in france? not me. not ever. i can get all the attitude i want from the taylor troll lol.
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I am not herbert. | |
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Iceblink8
By your command
Premium
join:2002-03-21
San Diego, CA | bring it to san diego and I'll sign up I am so waiting for them to roll this out in San Diego.This deal has TW beat.I could finally drop my RR business and AT&T phone line... | |
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inkscarab
join:2004-03-20
Harrisburg, PA
·Comcast
| Alarm option As far as not being able to use traditional alarm systems, I faced a similar problem when I dropped my landline. I found that alarm.com offers a wireless monitored system and I have been very happy with it. To have ADT add cellular monitoring on top of their monthly rate was more cost than going with an alternative company. You have two options for monitoring, an automated call, email, text message type or a full traditional operator monitor center. I know the monitor center is good as I accidentally tripped an alarm and they were calling me to confirm as I was calling them to tell them it was a false! Plus there's no contract committment! I've used ADT as well as alarm.com for home security and alarm.com has me for the next house I buy. | |
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roamer1
sticking it out at you
join:2001-03-24
Atlanta, GA
clubs:
1 edit | Re: Alarm option said by inkscarab :As far as not being able to use traditional alarm systems, I faced a similar problem when I dropped my landline. I found that alarm.com offers a wireless monitored system and I have been very happy with it. There's also NextAlarm, who provides monitoring over broadband using what amounts to a customized ATA.
My local monitoring company just sent me a mailer advertising their cellular monitoring service...at least for the next year it'd be only $5/mo extra, plus the device and installation which is $200 or so. I'm debating whether to take them up on their offer and stay with them another year or switch to NextAlarm...
-SC
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"it seems like all you ever buy is Abercrombie and cell phones" --a friend | |
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ArchAngel21x
MacFan Pro
Premium
join:2001-10-28
Lincoln, NE | Good speed & no T&A Well then I don't want it.  | |
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danza
Premium
join:2002-08-23 | Wow... ADSL2+ is out? :O | |
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sporkme
drop the crantini and move it, sister
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-01
Morristown, NJ
·Optimum Online
| Re: Wow... said by danza :ADSL2+ is out? :O Welcome to the world outside the United States!
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Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity | |
| | bogey780
join:2004-03-19
Here
| Most DSL providers are mailing their customers modems that will support the standard. It's really a small change on the CPE end.
It's odd that Earthlink is allowing only 6 meg service when they're clearly in range and have the equipment to do up to 24meg. | |
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reddog6102
Premium
join:2006-02-04
united state
| how are they belless? how do they claim to be belless?if they are colocated in the c.o. and they are using UNE platform then the copper lines leaving the co are ma bells lines.all they have is a dslam in the central office of ma bell!they are still leasing ma bells infrastructure.once ma bell offers dry dsl this company will also fall by the wayside(coming to a bell near you soon). | |
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nonasfame
@mindspring.com | dslam correction Actually, they are using samsung dslams for the voice and dsl 2/2+ technology, the nokia dslams are only for the existing dsl data customers. | |
| maccur
join:2004-12-21
united state
·EarthLink
| Not ready for primetime I'm an existing Earthlink DSL customer who has been trying to get the service. Currently, my 3.0 DSL comes through Covad lines. Unfortunately, Earthlink seems to be having difficulty switching its existing DSL customers to the line powered voice/DSL service. I've been told by their reps that they don't yet have a way of determining if a pre-existing customer is in a qualifying area because the line is already provisioned for DSL. Their only work-around so far was to suggest downgrading me to dial-up first and then reprovisioning the line. I think I'll wait until they get the bugs out. | |
| tquan
join:2001-09-13
Mountain View, CA
1 edit | Earthlink/Covad fixed fax,alarm,modem issues Someone from Covad IMed me (abarson) and indicated that the fax, alarm and modem issues should be fixed now for all areas with LPV service. Tried again and sure enough they are. The issue was that the codec they were using for the voice lines was not properly set up. Thanks Covad! | |
| 
DSLTech
join:2000-12-30
San Jose, CA
| They're not Nokia DSLAMs They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
They're not Nokia DSLAMs. Its the Samsung AceMap DSLAM.
Had enough? | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02
Host:
Road Runner
PC gaming GAMES
PC gaming Tech
2 edits | Re: They're not Nokia DSLAMs Yeah, I keep hearing you say that, but information from Covad's own website says it's Nokia & Zhone:
»www.covad.com/companyinfo/pressr···00201546
quote:
Line-powered voice access is made possible by next-generation Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) technology that enables fast deployment of new value-added services and provides the foundation for services in a next-generation broadband network. Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Zhone Technologies (Nasdaq: ZHNE) are providing the new DSLAMs and voice cards to be used in the trials.
If you can show me where it says the Line-Powered Voice DSLAM is a Samsung, I'll gladly correct it. I know they were testing Samsung DSLAMs as of last summer, but I think they went with Nokia? | |
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Raybro
VIP
join:2000-11-04
Back home | Re: They're not Nokia DSLAMs The web site is wrong, the DSLAM's for LPV are the Samsungs. | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: They're not Nokia DSLAMs Do you install them, or can you show me some documentation that says they are Samsung? | |
| | | | | abarson
join:2006-01-31
San Jose, CA
| Re: They're not Nokia DSLAMs Please reference the following:
»www.covad.com/companyinfo/pressr···ws.shtml
Neither the Nokia D500 nor the Zhone was not deployed. The legacy Nokia D50 is not capable of providing this service.
For all those wondering, LPV is traditional POTS service to the end user, including battery during power outages and a full list of call features. No ATA or adaptor is required. The voice is packetized at the DSLAM, thus being truely VoIP from that point onward. The DSLAM also provides the ADSL2+ service, so this is a line shared service with no ILEC intervention, other than leasing the copper pair. | |
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Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02 | Re: They're not Nokia DSLAMs Thank you. That's the kind of documentation I was looking for. | |
| | | | | | abarson
join:2006-01-31
San Jose, CA | Sorry for the bad grammar. That first sentence should read:
Neither the Nokia D500 nor the Zhone was deployed.
Too many double negatives!!! | |
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