1 month Free Service of Vonage for new subscribers

[SunnyD]

Updated some information and details about the plans.

 

[WebDude]

Originally posted by: cyberia
I looked at Vonage a while back. One thing that bothered me was their 911 capability.
I do not know if it got resolved by now.

Vonage might not always forward you properly to your local emergency services, and your local emergency services might not be able
to trace you and your location when you call (in case if you are incapable to talk, or whatever).

Vonage does have a 911 coverage now. I doesn't work the same as the regular 911; you have to activate it and instruct it what
area to route the 911 call to (since your local area can be arbitraily chosen with Vonage). However it does work, as long as your
broadband connection is working. That's the only real disadvantage of Vonage (IMHO) -- if your broadband goes down, your phone goes
down with it. (One benefit to Vonage 911 is that there is no monthly 911 fee. My local phone co. was charging me that fee.)

However I've had Vonage for about a year now and I wouldn't switch back for anything. I can also refer people who want the month's
free service, as can any current Vonage customer.

WebDude

 

[newtotech]

Has anybody used it for making international calls esp to asia. Is that quality better than calling cards?

How is overall voice quality. Is it linked to speed of broadband connection. Any estimate as to what it wud be for 2500Kbps Dld/250kbps Upload speed connection

 

[PrimeRisk]

There is a cancellation fee of $40. Keep that in mind if you try out the service and think you may not want to keep it. I have had vonage for 6 months and wouldn't give it up for anything. But there is a "hidden" fee for cancellation. To date, I've saved $120 over Qwest, not including the 2 free months I've gotten for refering friends.

 

[cyberia]

Can you keep your existing phone number that was provided by the local phone carrier (BellSouth in my case)?

 

[newtotech]

I read somewhere that Cisco ATA only comes with one functional phone connector. This means you will have to find a way to hook all your phones up to one jack. Any solutions for this problem?

 

[xkenny013]

Originally posted by: cyberia
Can you keep your existing phone number that was provided by the local phone carrier (BellSouth in my case)?

Yes, you have to fax them a form and include the front page of your current phone bill (no more than 30 days old), and they say it takes about 20 days to complete the transfer. I just faxed them my form, so hopefully it will go quickly. In the meantime, they assign you a "temporary" phone number.

More info is available at the Vonage site, third item down.

 

[xkenny013]

Originally posted by: newtotech
I read somewhere that Cisco ATA only comes with one functional phone connector. This means you will have to find a way to hook all your phones up to one jack. Any solutions for this problem?

I got mine yesterday, it's got two phone jacks in the back, but yes, only one of them work. There are a few options on how to split the line ... routing all those lines through the house is another matter. Apparently, you can use third party devices that distribute your phone signal through your house's power wiring. You can theoretically also just wire into the current phone lines of the house, AS LONG AS THE WIRES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING ELSE!! If there is voltage on the lines at all, you could fry your Vonage box.

I haven't tried it yet, myself ... still just gettin' set up.

 

[cyberia]

Originally posted by: xkenny013
You can theoretically also just wire into the current phone lines of the house, AS LONG AS THE WIRES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING ELSE!! If there is voltage on the lines at all, you could fry your Vonage box. I haven't tried it yet, myself ... still just gettin' set up.

In other words, you have to go to the phone box outside your house and make sure you are disconnected from there, correct?

 

[wildta]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Scyber
This is a referall link. You are giving some unknown person discounted service by signing up through this link. This link should be removed.

Feel free to PM me w/ your email address and I can refer you.

It's a referral link yes - but it's an advertising link directly through Yahoo! directly off of www.yahoo.com main page. IE you're being referred by Yahoo, not an individual.

Either way it's still a referral and you are still benefiting someone else, be it yahoo
or someone with the referral id: F3FMOTV1.

It's not hard to remove the referral id. Look, tada:

http://www.vonage.com/index.php

I understand you so need a referral to get a free month of service, so why not ask a
fellow anandtech member for a referral link that way we are benefiting each other
instead of this person "F3FMOTV1."

 

[WebDude]

Originally posted by: cyberia

Originally posted by: xkenny013
You can theoretically also just wire into the current phone lines of the house, AS LONG AS THE WIRES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO ANYTHING ELSE!! If there is voltage on the lines at all, you could fry your Vonage box. I haven't tried it yet, myself ... still just gettin' set up.

In other words, you have to go to the phone box outside your house and make sure you are disconnected from there, correct?

Basically, yes. Just make sure the line to the former TelCo is disconected somewhere (can be outside at the box, or where the lines
feed inside from the box). I disconnected mine at the outside box, on the side labelled 'customer access. Then I just connected
the Cisco box to the existing phone lines (anywhere on the line is fine). I have about 6 phones on the line in various rooms, and
they all work normally.

WebDude

 

[AAjax]

I can confirm webdudes advice, just go out to your box (most have rj11 plugs built in now) and unplug the line from the street.
Then just plug in the cisco box to a wall jack, I used a spliter so I could still use the jack and viola your entire house now runs
off vonage

I also have to plug their customer service, it is A+ top notch. I would stay with them just for that (SBC customer service blows)

Jax

 

[vette98]

FYI--Vonage says that their service will not work with Tivo but I just tested it and had no problems.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: wildta
[I understand you so need a referral to get a free month of service, so why not ask a
fellow anandtech member for a referral link that way we are benefiting each other
instead of this person "F3FMOTV1."

Because THAT can't be posted in Hot Deals. Feel free to ask in off topic if you want, and yes, it's a great idea. However, this thread got people aware of the offer and if they read far enough down to your post they'll probably happily drop someone on AT a referral.

 

[klaatuboradonickto]

Prime Risk Said:

"There is a cancellation fee of $40. Keep that in mind if you try out the service and think you may not want to keep it. I have had vonage for 6 months and wouldn't give it up for anything. But there is a "hidden" fee for cancellation. To date, I've saved $120 over Qwest, not including the 2 free months I've gotten for refering friends. "

This is indeed true, but if you send your Cisco ATA back to Vonage within 14 days after cancellation, in working order, that $39.95 cancellation fee will be credited back to your Credit Card.

Klaatu

 

[max2k1]

Hi:

Am thinking about Vonage --
PM me a referral so that both of us can save some $$

Happy Holidays !
-Max

 

[WebDude]

You've got PM!

 

[foolish501]

when using voice, how much does it affect your download speeds ? I'm on 1.5mbs cable.

Also what are the international rates like (to the uk) ?

sadly it's not available in my area yet, but when it is i'll look at getting it.

 

[Macro2]

packet8 is only 19.95 unlimited/mo. works great too.

 

[daMachine]

I'm intersted in foolosh501's question too:

when using voice, how much does it affect your download speeds ? I'm on 1.5mbs cable.

Also, I'll probably be going to Vonage with in the next few days. So, someone PM me a referral.

--daMachine

 

[newtotech]

Damachine: I have sent u a referral on email-id registered with Forums

 

[C'DaleRider]

I've a good friend that uses Vonage.......says it works great until there's a power outage and his phone dies. Power died at his house and he couldn't call out, unlike the local Telco lines which still work during outages.

 

[max2k1]

Hi there:

The cancellation fee is not hidden at all.
Section 4.6 (I think) of the agreement clearly states this -- I was aware of this when I signed up.
It also clearly states that, when you return the equipment you will get a credit.


Oh yeah -- PM me if you need a referal to Vonage !

Thanks !

 

[TMPadmin]

Anyone with Vonage have a security system? I've been thinking of switching but I have this ADT system what is wired to my phone lines. I could cut it and patch it to my phone block (same as any other phone ext) but I really don't like messing with the security system. Makes me nervous, I hate it but my wife won't let me get rid of it.

 

[Shippy]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
I've a good friend that uses Vonage.......says it works great until there's a power outage and his phone dies. Power died at his house and he couldn't call out, unlike the local Telco lines which still work during outages.

The same thing happens when all of your phones are cordless (I found out the hard way). Luckily I had an old corded phone stashed away so I could make a few calls.