VOIP users or knowledge

[David Oxland]

Any one using or know much about VOIP(voice over internet protocol)?

We plan to do a few months of traveling in our trailer this winter and wondered about taking on Voip at home with the idea of accessing telephone and mail while away. Anyone doing this, and any comments; success or troubles?

Be glad to hear from you

David

 

[RMachida]

In general, VoIP requires a broadband type of connection. There are a number also need to decide whether you want to be able to be called from the PSTN (public service telephone network) or just via IP and whether you want to be able to make calls to the PSTN.



Vonage is an example of a service allowing calls to/from PSTN for a monthly service charge. The disadvantage is the bandwidth required (20 - 64 Kbps uncompressed) and their equipment is designed to be plugged into a broadband connections i. e. cable or DSL. Services such as Skype or any of the many IM apps support voice calls using your computer. Typically, they don't allow access to the PSTN as there are real costs that need to be paid by someone but do permit computer to computer connections and work adequately with low bandwidth connections.



Services such as sipphone.com typically use software phones which only support uncompressed voice (i. e. they need more bandwidth - 64k) as voice compression codecs such as G. 729 are copyrighted with associated licencing fees.



This is a summary. Hope this helps.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

IF I understand the application you speak of, we've played around with it across the US talking with our daughter - on a 26. 4 KB dialup connection at both ends. Worked quite well.



Now, we are both using MS messenger, which has both audio AND video capabilities, and once they get fully settled from their move back over to the west coast, we'll be using the voice portion of that capability - the fact that I am now on high speed DSL can't hurt...

 

[klenger]

I tried Vonage and while the voice part worked fine, it does not work with our Tivo, which was the reason I got it in the 1st place. I sent it back and canceled the service. For voice only, I'm sure I would have kept it. $15 / month including 500 min/month of local and/or long distance calling. Calling toll free numbers does not count against your minutes. Features like caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, etc. are all included. You can manage all the features from their website. I understand that you can even take the hardware with you when you travel and plug into a hotel internet connect and take your calls, but some systems block the port that VOIP uses. Thats all I have to say about that.

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Klenger - for $15-30 you can get a USB adapter for the Tivo and it'll get the updates over the internet. Not sure if that'll work with Series 1 tivo's (Series 2 here). That being said, true, Fax will not work over VoIP, nor will modems, dial up, etc.

 

[Rman]

I'm thinking of trying it out, I'll do anything to stick it to the phone company.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

I have Vonage, and really like it. At home, $25 a month, unlimited calling anywhere, anytime. They also have software called Softphone, which I don't have. Use it on your laptop, just like your regular phone. It's basically a second number. You have to already have access to the internet, though. Costs an extra $10 a month.



Jim

 

[klenger]

Patrick:



DirecTV Tivo sets do not use the USB ports, but I hear that they may add support for it sometime.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I had Vonage and cancelled it.



I have a very fast cable broadband connection.



Others would stop hearing me during a conversation. Tried to have the issue allieviated to no avail. Basically made it unusable.



Also it is not recommended to drop your land line if you have a home security system as you they will not take responsibility for system outages. They say state the same in there info package they send you.



I did end up with a nice cable router with dual phone inputs for $49. I use it to route to my other computer.

 

[RMachida]

I also have Vonage and it has been fairly reliable but currently we can't get a local number so we also retained our land line. UPSs on the cable modem, router, Vonage ATA (analog telephone adaptor) keeps it up and runnning during short outages. With the longer power outages, the cable infrastructure goes down. Vonage and other VoIP carriers are under the gun to get enhanced 911 service up and running to their customers by the middle of September. Most had it as an optional component but now they have to do it. If you don't need to call the PSTN, I would recommend trying out the voice feature of IM clients like MS Messenger or AOL. Those work fine even with dial-up connections and the called party stays online and logged into the IM service.



Many hotels don't go out of their way to block VoIP ports but do have you on a translated network (private IP space) which breaks most of the VoIP clients since they rely on peer-to-peer communication and if you are on a translated network, they calling party doesn't know how to reach you. IM clients use a server to pass traffic through so this poses no problem.

 

[JimScott]

Be aware that 911 calls are not received locally with VOIP.

 

[AggieJustin]

Be aware that 911 calls are not received locally with VOIP.

Right now they're handling 911 two different ways that I'm aware of. Some providers just say up front that they don't offer 911 service on the line, but I think this position is disappearing fast due to the legal responsibilities. Others are offering the service, but it's limited to your "permanent" address. So if you use the softphone or take your hardware with you to a new location, 911 calls will not be routed to the correct dispatcher.



I know they've been working to get around this issue, but I'm not aware of what they are coming up with to get around this mobile issue. Anyone have any ideas?

 

[PatrickCampbell]

The thing is - VOIP will not be helpful on the road unless you had a fast internet connection. And how readily available is that? Where will you be staying?

 

[Yo Hoot]

I also have Vonage and it has been fairly reliable but currently we can't get a local number so we also retained our land line. UPSs on the cable modem, router, Vonage ATA (analog telephone adaptor) keeps it up and runnning during short outages. With the longer power outages, the cable infrastructure goes down. Vonage and other VoIP carriers are under the gun to get enhanced 911 service up and running to their customers by the middle of September. Most had it as an optional component but now they have to do it. If you don't need to call the PSTN, I would recommend trying out the voice feature of IM clients like MS Messenger or AOL. Those work fine even with dial-up connections and the called party stays online and logged into the IM service.



Many hotels don't go out of their way to block VoIP ports but do have you on a translated network (private IP space) which breaks most of the VoIP clients since they rely on peer-to-peer communication and if you are on a translated network, they calling party doesn't know how to reach you. IM clients use a server to pass traffic through so this poses no problem.

By outage I mean when thier computer system has problems. UPS won't help.

I too did not have a local number. It was a regional call. That stunk. Between the dropouts and the toll charges it just didn't pan out for me. Personally I think Vonage is shoving out a technology that still has issues.

 

[TimBrunett]

I dropped Vonage because of too many dropped calls, echos in the call, and customer service reps in India who cant handle a problem. Also, the phone router they sent went out of service twice. The first time I was without a phone for over a week could not get the Indians to understand. All they know how to do is read from a scripted response form and not really solve any problems. The second time the router broke I cancelled Vonage. TB

 

[David Oxland]

My understanding was that hi-speed WiFi was available at lots of campgrounds around

 

[Jay]

SunRocket VOIP

I've been very happy with the VOIP service from SunRocket (www.sunrocket.com). $24. 95 per month (or a $199. 00/yr option) for unlimited local, long distance to US and Canada and a second incoming only number. If have the second number local in Wisconsin so that relatives can call us "locally". Sunrocket, however, does not yet support softphones.



A good source of info on VOIP is www.broadbandreports.com



Jay

 

[DIESELMAN]

I had about 24 users that were on Vonage, they switched from the Cisco ATA to the Motorola and now it works like crap, I complained to their tech reps, and cancelled every account. All mine are private VOIP now, I am the provider using ALL CISCO (this wasn't cheap).



Most areas have campgrounds that have wireless access points, AND, most people who have cable or DSL are dolts and don't set their security, not even their passwords. When I need online, I fire up my laptop, drive through ANY neighborhood, and within seconds I find an open, unsecured network, and bingo, I am online. SET YOUR WEP KEY!!!



This crap of outsourcing everything is really ******* me off. I have vowed that if I call customer service, and an American doesn't answer, I don't do business with them anymore, period. I am really sick of calling travelocity and getting a terrorist on the phone, being told to reboo yo vindows sovware, even many states are selling out their own citizens by outsourcing GOVERNMENT CALL CENTERS, stupid, stupid stupid!



AAAGGGHHH!!!!! I feel much better now.