VoIP

[sprintmp]

Hi

Has anybody any experience of this company:

http://www.vonage.co.uk/index.php?lid=nav_index

Looks too good.

P

[rushdriver]

I use Vonage. The quality of the call can sometimes be a lttle poor especially if you are on the net at the sametime.

WHat B/Band speed do you have?

[Plotloss]

Biggest in the US

Well regarded.

[omohat]

My brother uses their service in Canada. He's delighted with it as it means he doesn't need a landline (he's got cable)

[sprintmp]

Currently I'm on Pipex 1mb through a Netgear 834GT 4 port router and 8 port switch. 2 or 3 PCs usually connected - 1 via wireless.

I use MS Messenger with Video to keep in touch with my family. Voice is fine, though the picture can be a bit iffy at times. I'm considering going to 2mb if it's possible from my exchange (we are at the line length limit I'm told)

[JonRB]

sprintmp said:

Currently I'm on Pipex 1mb [...] considering going to 2mb

I'm on Pipex Home Office 1000 and notice that it isn't listed as a current product as HO is 2000 at the same price. Perhaps they're about to upgrade us all. Or maybe I'm going to have to have a grumble at being charged for 2Mb and provided for 1Mb.

[sprintmp]

Thanks for help so far.

Yes, I'm not sure where Pipex are going at the moment. They upgraded to 1mb during the summer, but as most ISPs are going 2Mb it can't be long.
P

[bogie]

I use Sipgate www.sipgate.co.uk - you get a real phone number in your area code...and the tariff is better for my purposes.....Netgear TA612V connected to a DG834G modem/router...works a treat

[Kinky]

VOIP Buster user here ...... www.voipbuster.com

Nice clear line on a 1MB BT line via Netgear and Voyager .

[sprintmp]

VOIP Buster looks even more interesting - but what is the catch? How can they offer free calls to landlines in the US? Someone must pay somewhere...

[jgmadkit]

If changing broadband providers and intend on using VoIP don't forget to ask what the upload speed is. No point having 8Mb, 10Mb if upload is 128k as you will suffer poor sound quality if using VoIP and uploading at the same time (such as FTP) or file sharing.

John (www.voipfaq.net is one of my sites - work in progress)

[Kinky]

sprintmp said:

VOIP Buster looks even more interesting - but what is the catch? How can they offer free calls to landlines in the US? Someone must pay somewhere...

Well, I can assure you that there's no catch (yet). Not saying there will be one - but I've not come across it.

Works an absolute treat - nice clear line.

I would expect that it will probably only last for a few months and then they'll start charging for it or something. But whilst it's free I'm making the most of it

K

[catso]

I have Vonage, Phone and Fax service had it for a few months now, audio quality of call is not always perfect but is good enough (like a mobile) and it has been reliable.

I have been having a few problems sending faxes recently though but their tech help is fairly good even though they told me I need to drop the baud rate on my fax machine but since it can not be done on that machine, I may need to get a new machine , at the moment I am sometimes having to connect to a landline to send faxes, I have no problems receiving though.

It does save me a lot of money over 2 land lines and I can have it simultaneously ring or divert to my mobile (or any number) so that I don't miss any calls if I'm out of the office and it has many features (caller ID, divert, voicemail etc) that are all included in the cost.

overall (fax problems aside) I rate it as good.

[sprintmp]

Thanks again for all the info. My upload speed is 256k - which is the same for most I think - roll on SDSL at a reasonable price.

99.9% of the calls on the line I'm thinking of using are in the UK, and I do not use a fax at the moment.

I'm always weary of Beta software as per VoipBuster, and as you say Kinky, a charge may be imposed later - probably when they go 'live'.

Still drawn to Vonage though....

[bogie]

do you get a real phone number with Vonage?...and do you have to sign up for a monthly charge?

[rushdriver]

bogie said:

do you get a real phone number with Vonage?...and do you have to sign up for a monthly charge?

Yep, you get a router that you plug your phone into (cordless is best for obviuos reasons), you get a normal phone number and you make calls like a normal phone.

It costs £9.99 per month but that includes free calls to landlines 24/7 but you don't sign up for a contract as they take the charges off your credit card

[catso]

rushdriver said:

It costs £9.99 per month but that includes free calls to landlines 24/7 but you don't sign up for a contract as they take the charges off your credit card

You can also have any area code (well some are not available) so if for example you are a business based in London but all your customers are in Manchester, you can have a Manc phone no. so that your customers only need dial a local no. And calls to other Vonage numbers are free, anywhere in the world.