TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Dropping SBC For a VoIP Solution -- Vonage or Packet8 ??

Re: Dropping SBC For a VoIP Solution -- Vonage or Packet8 ??

Ringo Langly (rlangly@gmail.com)
7 Dec 2004 11:20:21 -0800

Hi ... it might be the Google Groups screwing-up, not sure but I did
post a review last week yet it's not showing-up in the thread. Either
way here's another quick review after using the phone for a week.

Setting-up the Packet8 VoIP box was cake, and it was ready to go after
maybe 10 minutes. My first delimma was I had to enable DHCP on my
router, which I generally keep turned off. After checking online
there is no way to assign a static IP to the VoIP device they sent me.

Anyway, my first call went well, but there is a noticeable delay when
calling a landline -- and the more traffic going over your broadband
the more the delay. My roommate was running Bittorrent downloads, and
it wasn't until after I disconnected her computer that the delay was
low enough to actually carry on a conversation.

But with the broadband line opened-up (no downloads) it worked great!
The sound quality was excellent and though the delay was maybe 1/4-1/2
second at times it worked well. I even called the technical support,
which I got right through in like 2 rings, but they couldn't do
anything for the delay. I had update the firmware in the box before
calling them too.

One feature I tried that didn't work well was the call forwarding. I
forwarded the line to my work number, called my house, and within a
couple of rings my work phone rang. The delay was (no kidding) 2-3
seconds. Total pipe-organ effect, which makes this feature useless
for me.

But all and all it's good enough for what you pay -- which is about
$25/month. I'm paying $15 more then that for SBC, which doesn't work
when it rains due to a bad buried line they won't fix. Plus the
unlimited L/D is nice! Caller ID, callwaiting, etc all work good too
-- other then the person's name doesn't come over -- just the phone
number on caller ID.

So hope that helps someone. I might still try Vonage when they are in
my area, but for now Packet8 works good enough for me. If I can get
my roommate to limit her Bittorrent downloads I'll be pulling the plug
on SBC.

Take care, and I'll post anything new as it comes up.

Ringo

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