Switch to VoIP from Lan(d) Line & upgrade Internet speed for same price?

[LinuxL0ver]

I have a conundrum. I had DDSL and it was HORRIBLE when the new nationwide service took over. I changed to cable and it was great except the d/l cap so I went to biz class @ 12Mbps. I needed the phone service and it was $44.99 a month through the DSL company and another $5 for the fastest internet they offered. Sounds reasonable right? I have to pay $44.99 for my phone, why not get 2 internet connections - both 12Mbps.

The thing is, now that I have cable, my DSL has been better than ever while other local customers still complain non stop that their service is horrible. I use both at once, sometimes on my load sharing router.

Well, my $49.99 phone/Internet bill has finally reached almost $94 a month ( $44 in fees, service charges and taxes).

I'm considering dropping the DSL/phone and getting Voip. I'm totally willing to setup a full blown PBX but don't know what other charges I will incurr. I don't use the phone much as I have tons of nationwide cell mins. I could get 50Mbps in cable for what I'm paying now between the 2 services.

Can anyone tell me what I should look into for voip? Do I need a Analog to Digital POTS card (I remember those from 2006-2009 when I worked in that field...) What do I need to do to find a phone that will work or an adapter.

Please don't hink I didn't research, I just find conflicting stories, like it is free except for a $2/month number charge. Some say there is a $$ per minute fee depending where you are calling and some say there is a $15-20 PSTN or something like that in addition to a $5-10 service fee for like 100 minutes.

I know there has to be a way to get away with paying almost next to nothing as it is all data packets and routing. I woudl thin the most expensive woudl be the post exchange that deals with routing your calls to your IP.

So, can anyone help out or point me in the right direction for research? Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[nsafreak]

The easiest way I've found for most folks that want a home setup isn't to get something as elaborate as setting up a PBX it's to get a separate VOIP provider that provides SIP service and use a SIP client device to connect to it. Personally I'm using an ObiTalk 110 SIP device to allow my phone to connect to my voip.ms account. If you're looking for just a basic phone service this is the route I would recommend as it's the cheapest and is really easy to setup.

 

[QuietDad]

I install VOIP from Cablevision (Optimum) and Comcast (Xfinity). When you order the phone package, the VOIP/Internet modem will have two jacks on the back. One internet and one phone (maybe two phones for two lines). The internet jack is a standard internet jack that either plugs into a PC or a Router. The phone jack is a standard phone jack and if you plug in a phone, you get a dial tone. You can also plug this into any phone jack in the house, go to your old Telco NIB (the box were the phones connect from the street) and disconnect the phone line to the street and get phones in all the jacks connected thru the whole house. YOu can also put a phone spltter on the jack in the room with the modem and plug in a phone and the modem so the house gets powered and you can have a phone next to the PC

 

[VirtualLarry]

I install VOIP from Cablevision (Optimum) and Comcast (Xfinity). When you order the phone package, the VOIP/Internet modem will have two jacks on the back. One internet and one phone (maybe two phones for two lines). The internet jack is a standard internet jack that either plugs into a PC or a Router. The phone jack is a standard phone jack and if you plug in a phone, you get a dial tone. You can also plug this into any phone jack in the house, go to your old Telco NIB (the box were the phones connect from the street) and disconnect the phone line to the street and get phones in all the jacks connected thru the whole house. YOu can also put a phone spltter on the jack in the room with the modem and plug in a phone and the modem so the house gets powered and you can have a phone next to the PC

I had heard that Xfinity Voice service was NOT VOIP, but rather something else. Meaning, Comcast allocates a dedicated data channel between the customers EMTA and the head-end for the voice channel, and it does not simply packetize the voice, and carry it over the customer's internet IP connection. The reason for this, is voice quality. With a customer's internet IP connection bandwidth being highly variable due to load on the node.

OP: I suggest getting a MagicJack, for light (non-business) usage. At least, it seems like the cheapest option to me. Just be aware that customer service from MJ is basically non-existent.

 

[QuietDad]

Comcast uses VOIP technology, but does not use the public internet to move traffic.

CDV stays on Comcast's private IP network, if you talk to another Comcast CDV subscriber, it never leave's Comcast IP network. If you call a phone from another provider, it stays on Comcast's IP network until the call transfers to a gateway with the public telephone network. The call never goes over the public internet.

 

[mxnerd]

I have Ooma Telo at home, it's pretty decent. Clear voice. $3-$4 per month. You can buy Ooma at Costco or Amazon.