tlhIngan
join:2002-07-08
Richmond, BC
| reply to dailyplanet
Re: [Digital Phone] - Anybody else in Winnipeg with no phone?
Shaw isn't VoIP though.
It's technically VoIP, but the voice data doesn't go over the public internet, and thus isn't affected by outages to your broadband internet connection. Your internet connection can go out, but Shaw Digital Phone can't.
Shaw Digital Phone is a replacement for your phone service - you cannot take the terminal and move it to another house because it's provisioned to a specific node. That's why 911 works by default.
Shaw Digital Phone is a completely reliable replacement for Telus or the phone company, and is designed to provide carrier grade service. It's partly why during extended power outages Shaw has to roll trucks to keep changing batteries to your terminal - SDP service cannot be disrupted.
VoIP providers like Vonage don't provide reliability guarantees, and thus aren't a complete replacement for a landline phone. They're limited to the relative unreliability of your internet connection. SDP is a competitor to the local phone company the provides reliability.
If your phone isn't working at all, contact Shaw immediately. They may know about the outage, but it never hurts to ask because it is a critical service (and Shaw will provide service levels to that effect). You might also want to bring in the old phone line from the phone company into the house as an emergency backup - a line that used to carry phone service must still carry a valid dialtone to call 911 even if the service is no longer provided. |
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richmondguy
@acanac.com
| said by tlhIngan  :Shaw isn't VoIP though. It's technically VoIP, but the voice data doesn't go over the public internet, and thus isn't affected by outages to your broadband internet connection. Your internet connection can go out, but Shaw Digital Phone can't. Shaw Digital Phone is a replacement for your phone service - you cannot take the terminal and move it to another house because it's provisioned to a specific node. That's why 911 works by default. Shaw Digital Phone is a completely reliable replacement for Telus or the phone company, and is designed to provide carrier grade service. It's partly why during extended power outages Shaw has to roll trucks to keep changing batteries to your terminal - SDP service cannot be disrupted. VoIP providers like Vonage don't provide reliability guarantees, and thus aren't a complete replacement for a landline phone. They're limited to the relative unreliability of your internet connection. SDP is a competitor to the local phone company the provides reliability. If your phone isn't working at all, contact Shaw immediately. They may know about the outage, but it never hurts to ask because it is a critical service (and Shaw will provide service levels to that effect). You might also want to bring in the old phone line from the phone company into the house as an emergency backup - a line that used to carry phone service must still carry a valid dialtone to call 911 even if the service is no longer provided. What a load of garbage. We had no phone service for 2 days once due to a power outage. No shaw guy came to my Alpha box and changed the batteries. At least Telus has generators to run their service 24/7. If you really need to depend on your phone line don't risk your life by using a voip service even if it is on a "managed network" It is still voip and has way more points of failure than Telus. |
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ErikRP
join:2004-11-06
Winnipeg, MB
| reply to tlhIngan
said by tlhIngan :Shaw isn't VoIP though. Sorry if I gave the impression that I was referring to Shaw Digital Phone as a VoIP. I know it's not, although it does share many of the same similarities as a VoIP and is arguably closer in its characteristics to a VoIP than to normal PSTN phone systems.
said by tlhIngan :It's technically VoIP, but the voice data doesn't go over the public internet, and thus isn't affected by outages to your broadband internet connection. Your internet connection can go out, but Shaw Digital Phone can't. No one ever said that if your internet goes down your SDP goes down. On the other hand, your SDP can go down without your internet going down. And either goes down more often than "regular" phone service.
said by tlhIngan :Shaw Digital Phone is a completely reliable replacement for Telus or the phone company, and is designed to provide carrier grade service. It's partly why during extended power outages Shaw has to roll trucks to keep changing batteries to your terminal - SDP service cannot be disrupted. VoIP providers like Vonage don't provide reliability guarantees, and thus aren't a complete replacement for a landline phone. They're limited to the relative unreliability of your internet connection. SDP is a competitor to the local phone company the provides reliability. And yet the OP said his mother's SDP was down almost 24 hours. I can't recall ever losing "regular" phone service for even an hour unless there was some sort of severe weather issue and/or other disaster situation.
True, VoIP companies such as Vonage do not offer reliability guarantees regarding their service. And while I admit SDP may have a better reliability record than a VoIP company, you should be upfront and admit that Shaw also does not offer any sort of guarantee about its service.
From its own Acceptable Use Policy:
Service Interruptions
Shaw does not warrant uninterrupted use of the Service. You understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that the telephone(s) you use with the Service are compatible with the Equipment. Most importantly, some telephone(s) may not operate if there is a power failure and if you are using a telephone that requires power to operate you would lose your ability to use the Service, including access to 9-1-1 emergency services until the power is restored. In addition, and in accordance with the Terms of Service, a power failure or disruption in the Service may require Shaw to reset or reconfigure the Equipment prior to you utilizing the Service. (Emphasis mine)
Bottom line, you end with the same advice that I do: have a backup in case the SDP is out. |
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pfak
Premium
join:2002-12-29
Canada
 ·Shaw
 ·Novus Entertainmen..
| reply to tlhIngan
said by tlhIngan :Shaw Digital Phone is a completely reliable replacement for Telus or the phone company, and is designed to provide carrier grade service. It's partly why during extended power outages Shaw has to roll trucks to keep changing batteries to your terminal - SDP service cannot be disrupted. I call BS, Shaw does not guarantee you any sort of uptime on their digital phone service read their AUP. My cable internet is always out, and I doubt their SDP is any better.
When was the last time you remember picking up a Telus land line phone and not getting a dial tone? |
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cableguy84
join:2006-09-12
Alberta
| While i find Shaws service pretty reliable, being a former service tech i can tell you there are limitations to how reliable Shaw is compared to telus. As for the person that said you cant move the Shaw terminal from house to house... that's a lie... you can... as there is more then 1 home per node... if i moved my DPT down the street Shaw would never know.
It comes down to personal preference... i dont care about my LAN line i have a cell and Shaw works just fine for me, but if i had a heart condition and needed 99% up time(shaw has met that for me btw) i would go with telus, but LAN lines are not always 100% my parents had no phone on Sasktel for 2 days last month... so technology fails always have an alternative if you need it. |
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