Product Description
Linksys PAP2 2-Port Voice Over IP Adapter allows you to get telephone service through your high-speed Internet connection via Vonage: The Broadband Phone Company. It provides two standard independently numbered phone jacks that deliver voice and fax service over your cable or DSL Internet connection, so you can enjoy clear-sounding voice service while simultaneously navigating the Web. When you use your high-speed Internet connection to make phone calls, you'll lower your monthly phone bills and add services and features not available with traditional phone service: Small Buisness Unlimited Plan (with free fax line) - Unlimited calls to the United States & Canada, plus free long distance, for $49.99 a month Small Buisness Basic Plan (with free fax line) - 1,500 minutes to call anywhere in the United State & Canada FREE Caller ID FREE Call Waiting FREE Voicemail FREE 3-Way Calling FREE Call Return (*69) FREE Call Forwarding
Amazon.com Product Description
With Vonage, you can make calls through the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of call features. Plans start as low as $14.99 per month, and the Premium Unlimited plan offers unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada for only $24.99 per month. And it's easy to use: For making and receiving calls, Vonage works just like a traditional phone service; no special access codes or account numbers are required.
Easy Hardware Setup
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All Vonage plans let you enjoy the call features you've become accustomed to—call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, three-way calling, call return, repeat dialing, and reliable long distance—plus other features that may be new to you. For example, you can receive your voicemail as an email attachment, and you'll have a phone number that travels with you. Visit http://www.vonage.com/amazon to see which plan is best suited to your lifestyle and budget. The low monthly rates are quite reasonably priced, in our opinion, and with them you may save considerably compared to traditional phone service. International calls are available for additional low fees, with one economical exception: calls from the U.S. to Canada are treated like domestic long distance calls, rather than international. Vonage also supports short-form emergency 911 services, where available. (Dialing 911 requires activation and operates differently than traditional 911. See Vonage's website for details.)
This Vonage Internet Phone Service Starter Kit is quick and easy to install in your home or business. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection (cable or DSL modem) and a touchtone phone. Setup is simple: Just connect one end of the included Vonage-certified Linksys PAP2 phone adapter to your Ethernet router or gateway and the other end to your telephone. Then sign up for Vonage phone service. An extra port on the adapter allows you to attach an additional phone or fax machine. You'll have instant access to both phone lines, each with a separate number, and you can even assign them different area codes (subject to availability). You can still surf the web while talking on the phone or receiving faxes. The phone adapter includes a generous three-year warranty from the manufacturer.
What's in the Box
Linksys phone adapter, power adapter, user's guide on CD-ROM, network cable, quick installation card, Vonage Internet Phone Service Starter plan, support information and promotional offers, registration card
Customer Reviews:
Expect this to fail eventually.......2007-08-10
And Vonage will not give you a new one, no matter how long you have been a customer. To make it worse, these VOIP routers are a ripoff compared to the price of a decent, unlocked router. I had one of these for a couple years and it drops packets constantly now. It can't even route.
Great so far.......2007-06-15
I got this adapter about a week ago and so far absolutely no problems using this device and the Vonage service from Trinidad, which is in the Caribbean. Setup was a breeze and audio quality is crystal clear despite opting to use the lowest bandwidth option of the Vonage bandwidth saver feature.
I haven't awarded 5 stars because of the shortness of the evaluation period.
Important setup tip:
Make sure your firewalls (ISP and/or LAN) are configured to allow connection to the Vonage server.
Karl W.
Small and easy to use........2007-05-12
I just arrived in Colombia. Bought this before I left so I can call back home. It's compact and perfect. I plugged it in to the router and brought a telephone which I plugged in. Immediate dial tone. I'm thinking I'll maybe carry it back and forth to work so I can have a phone all day.
Awesome technology! .......2007-05-04
I'm amazed at the sound quality and features of this device. At first I was skeptical but after calling London, the Bahamas, New York, Grand Cayman Island, Seattle, and various U.S. stations, I'm convinced that Cisco / Linksys knows what the heck they are doing. Vonage has a pretty clear voice quality on their network. I'm not going to knock anybody here. If you don't like Vonage then use another service. Hey! It's a free country. Nobody forces you to use Vonage. We are not under Taliban rule yet... Heeeeeee!
It's locked to Vonage Service.......2007-03-22
Be aware that the device is locked and is possible to use only the Vonage Service. Since the device has 2 ports, I was planning to buy Vonage (since I like the idea) and use it on one port. On the other port, I planned to use another service, which I have available in my country of origin (just so that relatives and parents could easily call me with a local phone number) and it is cheaper than the Vonage solution. I can't do it. Vonage locked the device, both ports. That's a bit too much, an infringement of my freedom. Also because in principle you could buy the item without asking for Vonage service!
I was so upset that I was about to cancel my brand new Vonage subscription. I don't wanna have anything to do with people that undermine my freedom for their commercial purposes. At the end, I just bought another cheap device to use with my overseas number and I'll probably keep (but hate) the Vonage. I'll have what I wanted, but I had to spend more, and I will remain with some clutter on my desk and a potential future paperweight dsl adapter. What a deal!!
Average customer rating:
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AT&T CallVantage Phone Service VoIP Telephone Adapter for Broadband
Manufacturer: AT&T
ProductGroup: CE
 Handsets
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Adapters
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Product Features:
- Unlimited local and nationwide calls, including, Canada and Puerto Rico
- Can be used with existing phones throughout your home
- Domestic and international calling from home or away
- Powerful features included in low monthly rate (see www.att.com/callvantage to learn more)
- Choice of plans, including 2-line offer; keep your current phone number or pick an area code you prefer
ASIN: B000TEYROM |
Product Description
AT&T CallVantage Service from AT&T is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service that utilizes the latest in Internet technology to deliver features that are beyond the means of traditional phone companies. With VoIP, calls are transmitted over the Internet, allowing you to communicate nationwide for a single monthly fee. You pay additional charges only for international calls, which are billed at competitive prices. (AT&T CallVantage Service treats calls to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada as domestic calls.) Plus, AT&T's Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) provides high voice quality.
Average customer rating:
- DO NOT SIGN UP WITH PACKET 8
- Excellent
- You can fax...and other info
- Good service, great price.
- Feedback on the line and static
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8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter
Manufacturer: 8X8 INC
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics
Office Electronics
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Phones
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Adapters
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Product Features:
- Unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada for a low monthly fee
- Unlimited worldwide calling to other Packet8 subscribers at no extra charge
- Compatible with any high-speed DSL or cable modem with Ethernet
- Adapter connects easily to any regular corded or cordless phone
- Caller ID, call waiting, personalized voicemail, 3-way calling, online management
ASIN: B0002JUHJ8 |
Product Description
8x8 Packet8 Broadband Phone Adapter VoIP - VOIP, or Voice Over IP, is a new technology that lets you make phone calls over the Internet for a flat monthly fee! All you need is a broadband Internet connection, either DSL or Cable, a router and this adapter. After you sign up for the monthly service you plug this adapter into a free Ethernet port on your router, then plug in your regular phone to the adapter. You'll get a new phone number and your phone will work the same as always - but calls will travel through your modem instead!
Amazon.com Product Description
The 8x8 Packet8 adapter is a VoIP (voice over-internet protocol) device that allows you to use your phone to place calls over the internet (requires an 8x8 VoIP service plan). All you need is a broadband internet connection, a router, and this adapter. It's easy to set up and works with any high-speed DSL or cable internet connection. Simply plug your phone into the adapter, plug in the power cable, and connect the adapter to your network with the included Ethernet cable.
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8x8 routes all Packet8 calls over the Internet, allowing you to call standard phones, cell phones, and other Packet8 phones with equal ease. |
The Packet8 service and adapter allow you to enjoy all the features that you have come to expect from traditional phones, such as call waiting, caller ID, personalized voicemail, and three-way calling, while also taking advantage of features only possible by utilizing the latest in internet technology.
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Easy setup: connect the adapter between your router and telepone. |
Anyone with broadband (high-speed) internet access can use their regular phone to make unlimited calls from anywhere to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, for one low monthly rate. All Packet8 subscribers also get unlimited worldwide calling to other Packet8 subscribers at no extra charge. Manage you account online, forward voicemail to your email as an attachment, and more. You also have the advantage of taking your home area code with you when you travel, so your home or office can reach you without paying long distance rates.
The Packet8 phone adapter has a small 5.5-by-4.0-inch footprint and weighs just 8 ounces. It also comes backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Adapter, Ethernet cable, AC power adapter, user's guide, service and promotional information
Terms and Conditions
Buying this item signifies agreement to sign up for service with 8x8 and to pay a monthly subscription fee. For details about how the service works and for complete terms and conditions, visit www.packet8.net. For technical assistance, call 1-888-898-8733.
Customer Reviews:
DO NOT SIGN UP WITH PACKET 8.......2007-09-24
I have been with Vonage for 2 years and Sun Rocket for 9 months. Recently I signed up with Packet 8. There website is pretty bad. If you change any features eg call forwarding or caller ID, nothing happens. Email notification does not carry voice mail. Some of the numbers can not be dialed with Packet 8. If you complain there is no response or no action. I am surprised that they are still in business.
Excellent .......2007-07-04
I was surprised by some of the negative feedback. I've been using Packet 8 since Nov 06 and it has been nothing short of excellent. It was very easy to hook up and has worked flawlessly. The sound quality is great. It's very cheap at $20 / month. I liked it so much I don't have a land line anymore.
You can fax...and other info.......2007-01-06
I heard all these horror stories on faxing over VOIP so I never tried it. Well to my amazement Packet 8 sent so far 2 for 2 faxes....1st time 100% ok. Now these are SENT faxes. I'm not concerned with receiving faxes as there are other alternatives that are even better. For example one can get a dedicated free incoming fax from EFAX which deposits it into your e-mail. In my opinion this is much better anyway as now a permanent record exists of the original.
The other advantage of Packet 8 over VOnage is no annoying clicks of 1 sec drops. I have 2 friends who have Vonage and each time I talk to them there is an annoying drop-out of about 1 to 2 secs evey say 2 minutes. Not so with Packet 8.
Others have reported dropped calls with Packet 8. Only occasionlly do I experience this...but its only after say a 3 hour call. Most time no sweat. I use the 3 way calling a lot too.
Packet 8 line is ALWAYS UP. Its more reliable than my cell phone. As long as the cable is up so is Packet 8. In fact it has become the defacto way to tell if I have data service. If I got PAcket 8 dial tone its up.
Its easy to set up. Plug in an eternet connection. Plug in the phone connection. Answer the e-mail you get. BINGO...You got dial tone! Easier than a land line setup. The phone companies should be running real scared.
THe only downfall of Packet 8 is the box will not support multiple extentions. So you can't have two phones plugged into same box. THis was stupid of PAcket 8. But the work around is easy: Go to Sams Hohouse CLub and get a cordless 4 wireless phone...you know...the ones with 4 handsets. Now you got it covered. Works great.
Good service, great price........2006-12-15
I have been a Packet8 subscriber for over three years. Packet8 provides terrific value, and I never had any problems that their technical support staff wasn't willing and able to quickly address.
Note that many complaints with VoIP providers--and Packet8 is no exception--are due to the the customer's ISP, broadband speed, etc.
Packet8 just started hitting customers with a lot of extra fees, taxes, etc., bringing that nice $20 monthly plan up to almost $30.
Disclosure: Just this month switched to Sunrocket for their annual plan at $199 (which Packet8 matches), but more so to get a free hardware upgrade. (Sunrocket offers a phone adapter with built-in router.)
Feedback on the line and static.......2006-01-23
I've used this service for almost 8 months now. A lot of times, there's a feedback on the line (I can hear my own voice). My friends and family also tell me that they can hear static on the line when they're talking to me - at first I dismissed it as their phones but given enough complaints and that when I'm on my cell phone that doesn't happen I'm convinced it's the service.
I also think they deserve a low score because when compared to their competitors they don't have the same number of features even though they cost about the same.
Average customer rating:
- Packet 8 Rocks!
- Virtual Office is EXCELLENT value
- Horrible service and company
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8x8 Packet8 VoIP Business Phone Service (VOP001)
Manufacturer: Packet8
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics
Office Electronics
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Phones
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Adapters
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Product Features:
- Virtual Office is a feature-rich broadband VoIP based hosted PBX service for small and mid-sized organizations
- Unlimited Calling – using the Internet backbone for routing telephone calls substantially reduces phone bills including extension to extension dialing
- "Auto-Attendant – a powerful automated system that replaces the need for a receptionist
- "Full Featured Conference Bridge – an audio conferencing system that provides a way to hold meetings involving participants at multiple sites, saving travel time and expense for all involved
- "Business-class Voicemail - a powerful tool when you cannot answer the phone
ASIN: B0006IJ15Q
Release Date: 2005-12-01 |
Product Description
Fanstel phone and phone adapter, connection cables, installation instructions
Customer Reviews:
Packet 8 Rocks!.......2007-06-13
Virtual Office is amazing. We have employees in 5 locations and this phone system makes us feel like we're all in one office. There's hardly any up front cost and set up is a cinch. Voice quality and dependability are both excellent.
Virtual Office is EXCELLENT value.......2007-06-07
I rely on Virtual Office every day for my business and continue to be amazed by the versatility and programmability. Features other providers charge for are simply included. I've read other reviews on here comparing Virtual Office poorly against another service, but that's a residential service, I'm not sure that makes sense. We have a rock-solid DSL connection through Earthlink and 5 people can be on the phone and on the net and we've never had any problems with quality. In dealing with customer service I find I pretty much get the kind of treatment I give out, but then I've never really had any serious problems and haven't needed to contact them after the initial installation phase. This is definitely worth giving a try for a small business that wants the image and features a zillion dollar corporate phone system offers, but at a fraction of the price.
Horrible service and company.......2007-05-04
This phone's nice and Packet8, at first glance, appears to be a good choice for VoIP. WRONG! When I actually experienced their "service" I found first impressions can be deceiving. At first it was OK, but after a few months the voice quality became consistently unusable - voices were badly distorted and difficult to understand. Calls were intermittently dropped.
Calls to technical support resulted in immediate and repeated blame placed on everything outside their company. I received pages of instructions telling me to change all the cords, change my router configuration, change my phone, change my network configuration, run network tests and on and on. They blamed available bandwidth on my cable line without testing it, told me that having another VoIP service provider on the same network connection would cause a problem because the IP addresses would be "confused." The one thing they did seem good at was finding someone else to blame. They were NOT good at resolving a problem that, in the end, was clearly their own.
I've moved to another provider and have found that Packet8 continued to cause problems because I was forwarding calls from Packet8 to the new provider. Packet8 simply drops all forwarded calls after 16 minutes, something they don't disclose anywhere I can find. Outside the Packet8 caused problems, my new service provider (VoipYourLife) works great.
Packet8 makes it very easy to sign up. They never mention a cancellation fee if you sign up over the phone and bury notice of the fee in a multi-page service agreement online. Discussions with their management made it clear that they didn't care if their service worked or not, they were going to charge their customers to cancel.
Stay away from this one.
Average customer rating:
- Flexible features, and a small UPS makes all the difference
- just gave up
- Reliable, good voice quality, nice features and web site
- Does not work well with others!
- Comment on routers and the telephone adapter
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AT&T CallVantage Service VoIP Telephone Adapter
Manufacturer: AT&T
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics
Telephone Accessories
| Accessories & Supplies
| Categories
| Electronics
| Batteries
| Caller ID Displays
| Cords
| Headsets
| Phone Cards
| Wireless Jack Systems
Adapters
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Office Electronics
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Phones
| Refurbished & Used
| Special Features
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
AT&T
| Brands
| Electronics Features
| Electronics
Telephones & Accessories
| by Type
| Gifts
| Specialty Stores
| Computers Features
| Electronics
Accessories:
-
Linksys BEFVP41 EtherFast Cable/DSL VPN Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch
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Netgear MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router
-
Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
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Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster
Product Features:
- Unlimited local and nationwide calls, including, Canada, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands; low monthly rate
- Caller ID, call waiting, 3-way calling
- 250-number phone directory, 9 speed dials
- Talking voicemail-to-email call forwarding; 60-day call log
- Competitive international rates, web-based directory assistance, reverse lookup
ASIN: B0002OQVWU |
Amazon.com Product Description
AT&T CallVantage
sm Service from AT&T is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service that utilizes the latest in Internet technology to deliver features that are beyond the means of traditional phone companies. With VoIP, calls are transmitted over the Internet, allowing you to communicate nationwide for a single monthly fee. You pay additional charges only for international calls, which are billed at competitive prices. (AT&T CallVantage Service treats calls to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Canada as domestic calls.) Plus, AT&T's Advanced Quality of Service (QoS) provides high voice quality.
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AT&T CallVantage Service offers easy 1-2-3 hardware setup:
1. Plug phone cord and computer cable into adapter.
2. Plug adapter into broadband modem.
3. Log onto Personal Call Manager and open your account. |
AT&T CallVantage Service is easy to set up. To establish an account, just follow the instructions on the welcome letter, included in the box. Setting up the hardware is also very simple: just plug the telephone adapter into your existing phone and plug the other end into your cable or DSL modem. All DSL and cable modems with an Ethernet port and at least 90 Kbps upstream and downstream speed are supported, as well as both Windows computers and Macs.
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In addition to the standard features you expect from your traditional phone company, like caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, and call forwarding, AT&T CallVantage Service provides a number of features made possible only by use of Internet Protocol technology. You can have voice mail forwarded to your e-mail inbox as an attachment, and then forward that attachment to relevant third parties. You can take your home area code with you when you travel, so your family or work can reach you without paying long-distance rates. And, with an elaborate variation of call forwarding known as "Locate Me," you can maintain a list of places you'll be visiting; when you're out, AT&T CallVantage Service will ring them in sequence (or all at once) until it finds you.
Accessible either by phone or the Internet, the Phone Feature Manager provides access to a phone directory that can store up to 250 numbers, to call logs (incoming and outgoing for the last 60 days), and to many of your other phone settings. A reverse lookup feature lets you access the name and address information of an incoming caller, while the add-to-Phone Book feature lets you move any number from your call log to your Phone Book with the touch of a single button. A display-and-dial feature lets you easily call any number displayed in either your call log or Phone Book, and you can set up to nine speed dial entries. Taken together, that's a lot for a phone service to do. With all the features that AT&T's CallVantage Service makes possible, you can simplify and organize your communications like never before.
What's in the Box
A telephone adapter for use with AT&T CallVantage Service, a 12-volt, 1-amp DC power adapter, a telephone line cord, an Ethernet cable, manuals, and service and promotional information
Terms and Conditions
Buying this item signifies your intention to sign up for AT&T CallVantage Service and to pay a monthly subscription fee. For details about how the Service works and for complete terms and conditions, visit www.att.com/amazon.
Customer Reviews:
Flexible features, and a small UPS makes all the difference.......2006-09-06
We've had model DVG-1120M for over a year. CallVantage is a very full-featured service with many options. For example, if the electrical power goes out at your house, you can set up CallVantage so that house calls are automatically routed to a cell phone or to voice mail. There are also many other great features we use.
The VOIP box has been reliable though there are a couple of irritations.
- The documentation that comes with it is quite sufficient for basic plug-it-in-and-make-a-call. But for users who have a home network and want to set up networking features, the documentation is scanty to say the very least.
- The model we have has a few bugs and we (so far) haven't received a firmware update for it. (Maybe customers have to *ask* for bug fixes?). The biggest bug-a-boo on our model is we can't enable MAC filtering. The VOIP box stops responding the internal network whenever MAC address filtering is enabled. To re-enable the internet requires a hard reset and then reconfiguration. As another user suggested, it may be better to let the VOIP box act as a pass-through and use another more sophisticated piece of equipment to control the networking.
- We have a cable modem. After a power interruption the VOIP will usually not work right away if all the attached equipment - cable modem, voip, router, and computer - powers up simultaneously. The VOIP box is quite picky about the reset sequence of all attached equipment. Even a sub-second mains power outage may affect the cable modem and VOIP box.
- After a power outage the reset sequence of the VOIP box and attached equipment is painful. The documentation says to power off all the attached equipment and power them up, in sequence, with a couple of minutes in between. We get frequent power interruptions, often just 1-to-5 second outage blips, sometimes a few times a day. Resets were a major burden until we got a UPS.
To avoid burdensome resets due to brief mains power outages, buy a small UPS at a computer store or office supply store. It resembles a large heavy power strip and it will eliminate the seemingly-endless hours of hassle if your power is as unreliable as ours. (A UPS will not, however, last through a power outage lasting more than couple of minutes - exact time depends upon the size of the UPS and the power draw on it).
We enjoy the flexible, custom features of CallVantage and the VOIP box is fairly easy to use with the addition of a UPS.
just gave up.......2006-01-06
i had callvantage for about 10 months and it was always spotty. set up was a cinch, and the website they provide is excellent. however, from the moment i plugged the telephone adapter in, i had problems. i can't recall the model number of the TA, off-hand. but it was one of their earlier linksys models. the installation instructions stressed that the TA needed to sit between my cable modem and wireless router.
my first issue became apparent immediately after installation. my phone worked just fine and i made a number of calls. my wireless router, unfortunately, was totally neutralized. i could connect to it directly. dhcp still worked. i could log in and play with my administrator settings (to no avail). i just couldn't access the internet. as best i could tell, the Telephone Adapter was totally and completely blocking traffic that was coming from the wireless router.
this problem was eventually resolved by their tech support. i believe what they did was open up the TA to all traffic coming from my router's IP. i didn't question the safety of this solution... i was just happy to have my internet working. it was at this time that i was made aware of an interesting feature of this (and perhaps other) telephone adapters. the TA tests and maintains a minimum amount of bandwidth with the outside world. if the TA detects too much non-VOIP traffic passing through it from the internet to devices inside its network (or vice versa), it resets itself and/or blocks the traffic.
that bears repeating. if the TA determines its not getting enough bandwidth, it claims it all for itself... this has nothing to do with whether or not you're using the phone at the time -- an incoming call could come at any moment. but when the TA does this, and i never figured out how to adjust that cutoff threshold, you've got no internet.
at times, it took 10 or 15 minutes before i could connect to the outside world again. for someone who works in IT from his home, this is unacceptable. worse, for those 10 or 15 minutes, all the cost advantages of using this service evaporate. i'm paying $40/month for broadband internet access that i can't use. in my mind, callvantage just got $40/month more expensive... because that's all i can use my cable modem for.
other issues abounded, but they all seemed to trace back to the fact that my TA was bunk and seriously hogging my connection. i had a desktop computer connected directly to the TA and it exhibited every symptom of this problem you could imagine. slow downloads. pages not loading. strange browser errors about not being able to access a domain (blocking traffic to/from my DNS servers?) and web pages that would only load if i typed "http://" before the "google.com".
i called callvantage customer service at least a dozen times, but not with great regularity. regardless of what the other reviewers have said about customer service, with the myriad problems i had with callvantage, not once did their customer service line keep me on hold for less than 10 minutes. these customer service representatives are trained to guide you through exactly two procedures: 1) resetting all of your hardware by powering down, then powering it all back up in order and 2) testing the speed of your internet connection using speakeasy.net's online tool. most of the problems i had with the service required multiple calls to reach resolution (or reach kludge, depending on your POV). however, these first line customer service reps ALWAYS insist on you doing these two things first... carefully and calmly explaining that you called an hour prior and 1) reset everything and 2) tested your speed is useless.... say it to the wall before you call them... that might ease the frustration.
there were a couple times where it appeared that resetting everything solved the problem... but the solution was never permanent. and not once while doing the speedtest did a customer service rep tell me that i did not have a fast enough connection to continue using (and paying for) their services.
the final straws for me came when i suggested that perhaps they should send me a new telephone adapter, perhaps a more sophisticated model. the customer service rep explained, without a hint of irony in her voice, that it was company policy not to replace hardware until the customer had called 5 times about the same problem. the catch there is that, even if you call up every tuesday and friday to complain about the same problem, if you wait more than 24 hours between calls, they kick you out of the ticketing system and the next time you call it's a "new problem".
i explained that this was my 6th or 7th time calling in the course of a month about web pages not loading on my computer connected to the TA and she told me that i would be bumped up to the "next tier" of technical support. that pretty much did it... who the hell had i been talking to all along? the "next tier" conferenced into my call and there was some jabber about whether or not i reset the cable modem and TA properly (hilarious)... then they told me someone would get in touch with soon. two days later, at around 10pm, i received a call on my cell phone from a technical support person. i explained that i was miles away from my computer, and that it was friday night. he asked me to call him back at a certain 800 number which, now, i wish i could share with the world. unfortunately the piece of paper it was written on was torn to shreds when i called the number that saturday and was told that my "problem ticket" had been "resolved". i would have to go back to "first tier" customer support, reset my adapter and test my speed a half-dozen times, and then maybe someone technical would be willing to hear my case.
that was when i gave up.... problems with loading web pages in my browser were clearly not going to be resolved by these people. what's more, the phone itself started cutting out in the middle of calls. i'd pick it up and hear no dial tone. i'd call someone and get an operator explaining the number was not in service. simply deplorable.
when i called to cancel, the fellow i spoke to asked if he could entice me to stay by offering me a free month's worth of service. i explained that my service had been near-useless for the last month and pretty damned spotty for the 9 that preceeded that. i'm rolling it back to a regular land-line. there isn't enough "UNLIMITED CALLING!!!" advertising in the world that's going to make me consider using this again.
Reliable, good voice quality, nice features and web site.......2005-12-02
I've tried Lingo and Verizon VoIP services, and they were wretched. In contrast, after almost a year of CallVantage usage, I'm quite satisfied. The voice quality is rarely less than excellent, and the system has been down just three times since I've been a user. (It will automatically forward calls to an alternate line if you have one.) One of the best CA features is the web site. It is richly featured and almost instantly updated. (Verizon would take days to update call logs and usage minutes.) CA has an especially nice way of handling call forwarding. Unfortunately, unlike Lingo, CA only offers the choice of a U.S. number. (In other words, with Lingo, you can have a "local" number in, say, Mexico.}
After going through the VoIP set-up process 4 times, I can attest that it's far from a cinch. If you want plug-and-play VoIP is not yet for you. If you are willing to put up with some assisted trouble-shooting, you will get a quality bargain after the set-up pains are past.
Does not work well with others!.......2005-03-13
My initial experience was very good, until I added a wireless internet video camera to my HOME LAN. Evidently, remote access to your HOME LAN is impossible with the D-Link DVG-1120M connected between your Cable/DSL modem and your router.
Despite the information obtained from the AT&T Call Vantage Support Web site(see "Full Installation Guide" identifying an option for connecting the D-Link DVG-1120M off of a router connected to your cable modem), you will get no support. My request to activate the AT&T CallVantage D-Link DVG-1120M T/A in this configuration was refused, since it is "not supported" by AT&T CallVantage.
If you have no additional plans to take advantage of the many applications available for broadband internet access, then this should work fine. Otherwise, go with Linksys.
Comment on routers and the telephone adapter.......2005-03-05
Just a couple of quick note about using the Telephone Adapter (TA) with routers. This is going to be of more interest to people who do advanced configuration with their network setup. If you just want to plug it in and go, then everything will work just fine with the instructions in the box.
1. I have seen some comments here about not being able to put the telephone adapter behind a router. It is true that AT&T strongly recommends you put the adapter in front of the router (between your router and your cable/DSL modem), so it can reserve the bandwidth it needs for phone calls. But, at least with the model that they sent me, you CAN put it behind a router if you'd rather do so. You're just risking lesser sound quality if you try to do heavy internet access while using the phone.
2. The telephone adapter has NAT functionality, but is not as configurable as most dedicated routers. If you are already using a router and don't want to yield that kind of control to another device, then you can still hook up the TA as AT&T recommends (in front of the router), because it allows you to set up your router as a DMZ client. That means all traffic gets forwarded to the router just like it always did. You won't have to worry about copying your port forwarding settings to the TA or anything like that. This stuff is only of concern to people who have done advanced configuration on their router, but for those people it is quite important so I thought it worth mentioning.
I've only had the service for a few days now, so I can't comment on the quality other than to say it's working well so far.
Giving 4 out of 5 stars because there does not seem to be a software interface to make phone calls at this time. I sure hope they add one.
Average customer rating:
- Worst service I've used ever
|
8X8 Voice Over IP (VOIP) Adapter for Packet 8 Service
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics
Handsets
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Adapters
| VoIP
| Telephones
| Office Electronics
| Categories
| Electronics
Product Features:
- Activation and first 2 Months are FREE!
- Unlimited Calling anywhere inside the United States of America and Canada
- Unlimited Calling world wide to any other Packet 8 subscriber
- Residential, Business, International & Videophone Service Plans are available (monthly fees will vary)
- All plans feature - Voicemail, Caller ID, Call Waiting, 3-Way Calling, Call Forwarding, Caller ID Blocking, and Online Account Management
ASIN: B0002FGEYO |
Customer Reviews:
Worst service I've used ever.......2005-06-23
I started using Packet8 recently and the call quality
is the absolute worst - there would be long hold ups, busy tones, etc. I spoke to their tech support who
tried to fix it but the didn't.
I was recommended this service by my sister in a different
area using different equipment, with the same lousy service.
When I called to cancel the service, they charged me $60 to get rid of the service because I exceeded the 30-day return-limit.
I pointed out that I tried to get the problem fixed with their
support and hence had passed the 30-day limit, but 2 different customer service reps could do nothing about it. When I
tried asking for their supervisor, they basically said the
supervisor is busy and might or might not call me back.
After several futile tries on different days with the same response each time, I basically
got sick of it and just paid the $60 to get rid of this.
Absolutely WORST customer service which you need because
of VERY bad call quality makes this something you should
stay CLEAR of.
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