Broadband Phone Service Opinions?

[DukeDiablo]

Dear Forum-

Verizon is charging me $30.00 per month just for local service. Recently I've been considering Vonage Broadband Phone service.

I just wanted to see if any of the forum users had opinions on broadband phone and any tips on hooking up the service to existing home wiring.

Yall have a good week.

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have a couple of friends with Vonage, and I'm seriously considering it. While Vonage doesn't recommend connecting directly to phone wiring, I think the only issue is making sure that you don't get the Cisco VOP box connected to a live telephone connection, since the voltages on a real telephone circuit will probably kill the box. Both of the people I mention disconnected the phone wiring at the telco demark and connected their VOP box directly to the wiring.

[DukeDiablo]

John-

Thanks for the reply. I didn't think it sounded too complicated to hook up. I too am very interested in this service...especially when I can have long distance for half the price of local only service!

Have a great week.

[doctorgonzo]

I have had Vonage for several months now. It is our only phone connection. We haven't had any problems at all with dropped calls or poor sound quality. It is definitely worth it.

Although I haven't hooked up my ATA to the hardwired phone jacks (I live in an apartment), I know many people have done so. As you need to do is disconnect the wiring at the outside access box so you don't have any current inside the house.

[DukeDiablo]

I know I sound like an idiot here; however, I would need to connect the main signal to the main line going in the house right? I mean, I can't just splice into an exisiting wall jack and expect to have a signal throughout the house...can I?

[doctorgonzo]

Originally posted by DukeDiablo I mean, I can't just splice into an exisiting wall jack and expect to have a signal throughout the house...can I?

Yes, you can. Once the interior wiring is disconnected from the telco, all you need to do is plug the ATA into one phone jack, and all the other jacks are powered. Phone jacks are wired in parallel, so once you energize one, you energize them all.

[DukeDiablo]

Well hot damn!

Vonage will probably be getting my business by the end of the week.

Thanks DoctorGonzo.

[doctorgonzo]

You may want to head over to the Vonage Forum at http://www.vonage-forum.com/forums.html to check things out. There are some clear and detailed instructions on how to set things up for use in a whole house.

[DukeDiablo]

Thanks Doc, I'm browsing as we speak...

[DukeDiablo]

I'm a new Vonage customer...hooray.