I would go AT&T or Vonage VoIP instead
Posted By: sm on 2007-06-26
In Reply to: Help - ng
of hassling with unlimited long distance since ULD becomes an issue for MTs.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
- Help - ng
- I would go AT&T or Vonage VoIP instead - sm
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
Question for Vonage/VoIP users
If you are using Vonage for MT, do you use the residential or small business plan, and how many minutes a month do you use?
Thanks!
VOIP - If I am not mistaken VOIP requires a high speed connection.
:(
VOIP
I think I'm going to try Vonage/VOIP, too, as I'm paranoid about getting back charged by a regular company. I already have used Qwest ULD before and got a letter after a few months threatening to terminate (there was no 5000 minute limit when I originally signed on), but fortunately I just cancelled it and there were no back charges. I don't see any minute limit with Vonage, but I have noticed that both the residential and small business plans have the same limitations which say things like continuous call forwarding (not sure that that is). I know a lot of transcriptionists use it and seem to not have problems, so I'm going to give it a try. I don't really know what else to do unless pay by the minute, but it'd cost me a fortune, even with a low rate plan.
VOIP
I have been using Vonage and yes it is true that if your internet goes out you have no phone service but you can set it up quite easily to automatically forward any calls to a cell phone or any number you want if your internet or electricity goes out. My internet rarely goes out and I have had no problems with my Vonage service. It did require some tweaking at first but I love it and I am saving so much money over Bellsouth that I had previously.
VOIP and 911
If you are switching to VOIP for telephone service, whether it is Vonage or another company, please make sure your 911 dispatch center can find you should you need them. The location of a land line phone and more and more cell phones (eventually all because they will all have GPS) will come up on computer-aided dispatch systems. This is not always the case with VOIP. When you choose your provider, give 911 a call in the late evening/early morning when they are not so busy, tell them you have a new phone system and inquire if a location comes up for you on their computer. Actually, anyone who moves or otherwise changes their phone number can (and probably should) do this. The middle of an emergency is not the time to find that 911 thinks you are somewhere you aren't.
VoIP
I use Vonage and I have that same problem. Sometimes it depends on the time of day. Let me know if it gets any better and with what company. I was told that AT&T does not like to help with that.
I have VOIP s/m
And yes, if the power goes out, so does your phone. Power does not go out that often. I do have a cell that is a prepay phone for when I'm on the road, etc., so in case of power outage, I can use that as well if I need to. Just think about it, if the power is out, your not working anyways...
Now I do have a generator as well, so if and when the power does go out, I can get that set up and use that as well.
Voice quality is just like the regular landline for me although I know some people that have had problems with different services. It is normally because of a setting that you need to adjust on your end.
AT&T VOIP has been great! (nm)
nm
Lanier and VOIP
I use digital phone with Time Warner for my Lanier account. I also kept my unlimited LD with Verizon as a back up, but use the digital phone service for my Lanier because I'm afraid that Verizon will catch up with me. Therefore, I have TWO lines, one land one (Verizon), and one VOIP (Time Warner). Both are unlimited LD, but if the cable goes out, I still have my land line. Hope this helps.
VOIP and internet - sm
Yes, the Lanier is plugged into the phone line just like your C-phone. The phone line is connected to the cable modem, so the phone line and your internet connection come through the same modem (I think...not sure of the technicalities). The VOIP is half the price of my land line with Verizon, and VOIP is truly unlimited, while Verizon watches the minutes.
VoIP problems
I have had three different VoIP companies over the years, all at the request of my employer. I never lasted more than a week with any one of them and now I absolutely refuse to do that again. Had the same issues you have with the foot pedal and I was not using a C-phone nor a wave pedal. The audio quality would be choppy, there would be gaps where multiple words were missing, etc.
Out of those three different companies, not one could fix the problem, though they all acknowledged that the choppiness could be an issue "for some people". Lucky me!
Hope you fare better!
There is no way I would use any VOIP company
for dictation. I used Skype, and I used Packet 8 for home service. I have known people who have used Vonage. They are entirely too unpredictable and the sound most times is horrid. It might be okay for home use if you didn't call much, but there is no way I would use VOIP for something as important as dictation.
Anyone using VoIP (internet phone) with a
DVI or C-phone to transcribe, and does it work well? If so, what company do you use? Are those companies cracking down on transcription like the regular LD carriers?
My employers forbids us to have VoIP because...
it fouls up lots of things. Also, I have a friend with Vonage and we are constantly cut off, or it sounds like she is talking from the bottom of a fish tank. She hates it.
VoIP plans are the only ones without restrictions
x
Anyone use VoIP phone system
and are you having problems with connectivity? We switched to internet-based phone service a few weeks ago and recently I started having problems with downloading the voice. I get the report but without any voice. If you have had this problem, how did you remedy it? I'm about at my wit's end. Thanks!
VOIP and internet connection - sm
I have VOIP with my cable provider, Roadrunner, and I can use my Lanier at the same time as I am on the Internet, no problems. In my area, this is much cheaper than unlimited long distance phone service with my land line provider (which I kept, by the way, as you have NO phone if your cable goes out). I have not had any problems at all. Hope this helps.
VOIP as second phone line
Is it possible to use VOIP as an extra phone line instead of investing in a second land phone line? I'm going to be working at my mom's a couple days a week. She has one phone line and DSL. At my house I only have dial-up. I have an account that requires two phone lines with no DSL, one for dictaphone, one for Meditech. I really hate to ask her to pay for another land phone line and was wondering if I could use VOIP. Thanks for any input.
my concern with VOIP with a C-phone is
how is the voice quality? I would be interested in something like Vonage as I can take that with me and travel.
voip.com has true unlimited
I called this morning and questioned her extensively on whether it was truly unlimited, and she assured me it was. www.voip.com - not to be confused with the generic voip service like Vonage. She did say that satellite internet users would probably not be happy with the connection, but I have DSL and it works perfectly. One warning - it disconnects at exactly 5 hours, so you have to remember to hang up and re-dial in prior to that.
VoIP in lieu of landline phones?
I read a little article in one of those free local trade publications which discussed ways of saving money on everyday household costs. VoIP was listed as a way to save a ton of money by using your Net connection for your phone service.
The article didn't explain how it all works. Is anyone doing this? Do you hook up your phone to your cable connection or are you using some speaker system/software on your PC to make calls? I just don't get it. All I know is that they said you can call anywhere in the world and it doesn't matter, it's a fixed inexpensive monthly cost. I also don't know if you trade your landline telephone number for something through thte VoIP service.
So, I'm intrigued but totally in the dark about this concept. TIA!
I had VoIP back in Nov with my cable provider and then went with another IP and just used..sm
my landline because they did not offer VoIP. Now my IP offers it and it works great other than the pedal. Thanks for your help!
VoIP and foot pedal issues
For anyone using VoIP, do you find that your foot pedal does not always respond? IOW, you lift your foot from the foot pedal and the dictation continues along? Or, you have to press the foot pedal twice to get the system to respond. Sometimes, I'll press the rewind pedal for a second and I'm thrown back to the beginning of the report. --- My C-phone and foot pedal are both new, so it's not with my equipment. And AT&T says they don't support my equipment (although they were helpful once before).
Any suggestions to resolve the problem?
Lingo that is who we use...VOiP, $22.95/month, six months already, no probs.
You might want to investigate further the post someone made about 2007 and VOiP. Seems the government is all hot and bothered because they need to tap phones and cannot do so with VOiP. They probably will end up taxing and surcharging eventually, as well, but for a while it can save you a lot of money...
Has anyone used Sun Rocket VOIP? If so, how is the voice quality and service? nm
I've heard C-phone with VOIP works well (sm)
and a lot cheaper, too. Forget the costly unlimited long distance and business plans! It may be a good idea to have another phone-line as a backup for your C-phone in case DSL/cable goes down.
cable phone and VoIP are the only TRUE unlimited
I can't find a single phone company that has TRUE unlimited. I've used VOiP in the past through Vonage with no problems. I got rid of it only because I didn't need ULD anymore, and they when I started needing ULD again I decided to switch to cable phone and internet. I bundle my cable, internet, and phone all together at a pretty reasonable price. Cable phone works great and no problems with heavy daily use.
Vonage
Any of you out there using Vonage? It seems like a really good deal, 25.00 a month for unlimited (opposed to the 110. we pay for Verizon). Anyone using it to connect to hospitals? and do they say anything if you are using 8 hours solid for work? I see they have a small business plan for around 50. If any of you have it, how is the connection and the sound quality.
I have been using Vonage for almost
a year now. I didn't get the business plan and I didn't tell them what I was using it for, and they have never said anything about it. I do dial into a hospital and have used it on a personal basis. The sound quality is good. I have been disconnected a few tiimes in bad weather but not for very long and only maybe twice since having it. Go for it, I think you'd like it. Good luck!
Vonage
I would like to get Vonage but I have two extension phones in my house and they told me it would only ring on one phone and not on the extensions. Any suggestions?
It is not against the law for Vonage as they are
However, for the other LD companies i.e., Sprint, Verizon, etc., it is not allowed. I also used my local carrier only to be notified several times that I could not use it for this type of work and if I continued they would disconnect my service! I know use Vonage and have had no problems.
I use Vonage
Only VoIP plans don't put a minute limitation on "unlimited" long distance, i.e, 5000 minutes a month or whatever. So far no problems. I still get nervous about it though because they could crack down at any time like the other traditional LD companies started doing.
Vonage
I use Vonage.
I am using Vonage
My husband and I are using Vonage. It was a handle to get going but now seems to be smooth sailing. The only problem is if we loose our cable modem then our phones go down as well. Also if you have problems more than likely you will be speaking to someone in India, so I do not know if it is based out of India or what.
Vonage here
Vonage has worked well for me. I pay about $27 a month on the residential plan and have had it for about 4 months. I know some people have had problems with getting disconnected a lot, but I haven't. It must depend on where you live. I use a high volume of LD for MT and haven't had any troubles (so far).
Vonage
I have had such little trouble with Vonage that I sometimes forget that is what I am using. They are great, no problems.
Vonage is
works great! love it...and hubby likes the bill ;-)
Vonage
I had problems from the beginning with Vonage and working on the internet. I finally had to take a loss and switch - went over to MCI. The rate is ok - and your first month is free (26.99) and then every 6 months you get a coupon to send in with your bill for $26.99 - so I guess it is like getting two months a few for free - anything as long as my phone works.
Vonage
Mine used to just keep going when I hit the rewind pedal and would rewind all the way to be beginning of the report. Try changing the bandwidth on the Vonage website under your account. Change it to the lowest setting if it is not already there and see if this helps.
Yes,that is what Vonage is...
I have used it for four years and haven't had a problem. See the messages below about Vonage. Actually Vonage is only in the US and Canada though. You can call other countries but they charge you, but from what I hear, they are very good rates.
Vonage sm
I see a lot of ads for Vonage locally but have heard negative reports on this board. Does anyone have this service and is it a good one? I am in search of a good low-cost long distance and direct cable service. I am currently on AOL and they are pushing broadband either through Verizon or Cox in my area. Someone in my family just went through a terrible business venture with Verizon for weeks and their computers were "totally down" and were unable to transmit important information, so I am being overly cautious.
Vonage
That terrible business venture .... did you mean "Vonage" versus "Verizon"? Okay, if you did then you should know that is a realistic gamble you will always have to take with Vonage and computer down-time. That is just how it is. Computer is down, work does not get done. Second, check the archives on this board for negative Vonage comments. I, for one, have had nothing but a big fat negative experience with Vonage. Spent 6 hours -- HOURS! -- in total over the telephone with every "rep" that Vonage seemed to have, most of them The Patels from India type reps (all called Jason or Tom, yeah right), and even the American sounding reps could just not get there stuff together.
I was a residential user with a single phone line and NOTHING fancy involved, but they just could not get us hooked up. Oy veh!, the frustration. And that was just getting us SET UP? We canceled before going any further. The money savings is substantial, so we gave them every chance to prove themselves, but it just did not work out. Good luck to you. Not a lot of fantastic options, unfortunately. 
vonage
Comes with practically everything. Only $24.99 a month and unlimited long distance. You have to have Cable or DSL for it to work though.
Vonage
Yes and at $24.99 remember you are getting what you pay for. I tried it and it interfered with my broadband and I had to cancel. I could not get an answer from them in the 1st 30 days - so I had to pay a penalty to cancel. Just another untrustworthy company in my opinion.
Vonage
Didn't work for me - what a waste of time and money.
Vonage
I am thinking of getting Vonage phone service. Does it really work that well and how easy is it to set up? I know the ads say that it is 24.95/month, is this really accurate? Has anyone experienced any hidden costs.
Just trying to test the waters before jumping in. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!
Vonage
When I first got vonage everytime I picked up the line my whole wireless network would go down. No help at all from vonage or my ISP. Since I was using a wireless phone with vonage I thought it might be the phone, so 3 phones later the problem stopped. I am currently using an old ATT 900ghz unit. Now, from a quality standpoint it is not like a regular phone. The thing stops when you stop talking and starts when you start talking. This results in the first part of each sentence being cutoff a bit and the last part ends abruptly so the listener has a hard time hearing the last word. Also, unlike a phone where both parties can talk at the same time, vonage has a hard time dealing with this. If you are on the phone a lot, I would not recommend it. I use it for my home phone, but for my business I still have a land line.
Vonage. nm
Vonage???
ANybody else having problems with Vonage last night this morning????
Thanks
Vonage???
Not that kind of problem. I am getting circuit is busy messages and when I cannot connect to my account I am getting dropped every couple of minutes and then have to try multiple times to get a connection. Oh well it seems to be getting better have actually been able to type five reports so far without getting dropped. Thanks
RE: Vonage
People I know on CenturyTel are getting satellites for typing. They work wonderful and they say they are faster than DSL.
|
