 
dslwanter
Broadband blackhole no more
Premium
join:2002-12-16
Lowellville, OH | Ha. And people wonder why I stick with my landline. | |
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ColdFiltered
join:2005-01-25
Atlanta, GA
edit:
March 8th, @09:50AM
| Re: Ha. I don't wonder why you stick with landline. In fact, I don't know you.  | |
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ColdFiltered
join:2005-01-25
Atlanta, GA
| Re: Ha. My neighbor last week had a problem with his landline when the day-laborers installed an irregation system on a new property across the street and no one in planning bothered to have the ground marked for utilities.
That is a fiber they cut. Hope the landscaping company's insure covers the telco repair bill and justifies the skipping of traditional processes. Still, that landline solution did nothing for my neighbor. He was out three business days. | |
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UHF
Technical Difficulties - Please Stand By
Premium
join:2002-05-24
clubs: | Re: Ha. to bad he didn't have DSL and VOIP. Oh, never mind, his broadband would have been down to. Cable cuts happen, but other than that, my landline rarely goes down. | |
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Slidetbone
Mazin Go
Premium
join:2002-11-10
Land O Lakes, FL
| said by dslwanter  :And people wonder why I stick with my landline. Same here. When they can prove it's reliability AND use routers and switched dedicated to ONLY VoIP and not shared with internet traffic, then I may think about switching. | |
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CO_Chris
Premium
join:2001-08-28
Broomfield, CO
 ·Comcast
 ·Comcast Digital Vo..
| Re: Ha. said by Slidetbone :said by dslwanter :And people wonder why I stick with my landline. Same here. When they can prove it's reliability AND use routers and switched dedicated to ONLY VoIP and not shared with internet traffic, then I may think about switching. Time Warner don't share there DP with internet Traffic at all.There system works great | |
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dslwanter
Broadband blackhole no more
Premium
join:2002-12-16
Lowellville, OH
·Armstrong Zoom In..
 ·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Ha. said by CO_Chris :said by Slidetbone :said by dslwanter :And people wonder why I stick with my landline. Same here. When they can prove it's reliability AND use routers and switched dedicated to ONLY VoIP and not shared with internet traffic, then I may think about switching. Time Warner don't share there DP with internet Traffic at all.There system works great Yeah and every time your cable goes out, so will your VOIP. Those little generators they have to give you cable service will not last nearly as long as the ones in a Central Office. Oh I'm going to laugh at so many people God-forbid there is a nationwide emergency.
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"and he will raise you up, on eagles wings, there you are the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm, of his hands" | |
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fuffer
RF is Good For You
Premium
join:2001-06-21
Mukwonago, WI
clubs:
·CenturyTel Inc.
·RoadRunner Cable
| Re: Ha. said by dslwanter :said by CO_Chris :said by Slidetbone :said by dslwanter :And people wonder why I stick with my landline. Same here. When they can prove it's reliability AND use routers and switched dedicated to ONLY VoIP and not shared with internet traffic, then I may think about switching. Time Warner don't share there DP with internet Traffic at all.There system works great Yeah and every time your cable goes out, so will your VOIP. Those little generators they have to give you cable service will not last nearly as long as the ones in a Central Office. Oh I'm going to laugh at so many people God-forbid there is a nationwide emergency. If there is a national emergency, I will guarantee two things...people will be asked to stay off the phone, and you'll get lots of "All circuits are busy" because to one listened!
So go ahead and laugh. You won't be doing it over a land line.
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The goal of the broadcast engineer is to get all the meters on the transmitter to go as far to the right as possible!! | |
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join:2002-10-06
Signal Hill, CA
| The last laugh will be on you. It's the way telephone service is going and nothing will stop it. Along the way there will be hic-ups like with EVER single other technological advance and what will really be funny is how you will come along for the ride. We won't see it, we don't know you but even you will switch. | |
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dslwanter
Broadband blackhole no more
Premium
join:2002-12-16
Lowellville, OH
·Armstrong Zoom In..
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Ha. said by BoriQua_M :The last laugh will be on you. It's the way telephone service is going and nothing will stop it. My POTS has NEVER gone out for long periods of time. But how many times have we seen "multi-hour" outages with VOIP providers like Vonage already? So when you're with no phone service for 5 hours the LAUGH WILL BE ON YOU. Go ahead, keep getting sucked into this so called "new and great technology". I never said I wasn't willing to try, but I won't drop my landline for it. The only thing your phone line is made out of is copper and relies on far less electricity than VOIP. I highly doubt I'd want a phone service that relies on my broadband too, something about that makes me very uneasy.
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"and he will raise you up, on eagles wings, there you are the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm, of his hands" | |
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Derch
Premium
join:2004-10-16
Tulsa, OK | Even landlines are becoming troublesome, I just use my cell now. | |
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| raderator
join:2003-07-22
Conklin, NY | haha...p8 has been rock solid lately | |
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join:2003-07-22
Conklin, NY | Re: Ha. but we get zero junk calls cuz we got a new number.....nice  | |
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join:2003-07-22
Conklin, NY | Re: Ha. yeah but i don't trust the gub'ment | |
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dslwanter
Broadband blackhole no more
Premium
join:2002-12-16
Lowellville, OH
·Armstrong Zoom In..
·AT&T Midwest
| Re: Ha. said by raderator :yeah but i don't trust the gub'ment Well then FIND ANOTHER COUNTRY TO LIVE IN. | |
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CO_Chris
Premium
join:2001-08-28
Broomfield, CO | This is what i have TW This is why I have Time Warner for my Phone service.I don't have this problem.Also i don't care that i pay more for something that works better.Had vonage and MAN they sucked | |
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Camelot One
Premium,MVM
join:2001-11-21
Austin, TX
clubs: | Re: This is what i have TW I'll agree on the Vonage outages, but this is the first time my CallVantage has gone down for more than a few minutes. (and it was still only about an hour) | |
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rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | Bad things always make headlines... Technology isn't exempt. There's no crisis. This has happened before and it will happen again. | |
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ColdFiltered
join:2005-01-25
Atlanta, GA | Re: Bad things always make headlines... Well, as long as a) you were not solely dependent on VoIP and b) happen to need 911 service during an outage then your state makes some sense.  | |
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Tekkanano
Premium
join:2002-03-02
Alexandria, VA
| Re: Bad things always make headlines... said by ColdFiltered :Well, as long as a) you were not solely dependent on VoIP and b) happen to need 911 service during an outage then your state makes some sense. Yup, everyone should only join VoIP as long as A & B at least applies to you, it's not worth loosing your life over a few bucks.
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Cox gave me the speed I wanted, so no more dreaming of DSL. | |
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Monster Rain
Premium
join:2002-08-03
USA
edit:
March 8th, @10:49AM
| 911 is a joke in your town The changes of needing to dial 911 during a VOIP outage are probably about the same a winning the loto. Why people are so worried about 911 is beyond me. I've used 911 once in my life.
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STOP THE JAMSTER COMMERCIALS! | |
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ColdFiltered
join:2005-01-25
Atlanta, GA
| Re: 911 is a joke in your town Well, that is good. And hopefully it was a worthless call, or a successful call since you are still with us (thankfully) to debate. But, was it worthless to you?
My reply to the OP was to counter his assertion that no crisis was the case. My point is that this isn't necessarily so. Those buying into VoIP vs. landline or cellular probably are looking at the monthly costs and that's about it. They never consider what if, say, 911 service is down for several days.
All I am saying is that the crisis is ignorant people not doing sufficient research to justify a backup plan (like cellular). | |
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Monster Rain
Premium
join:2002-08-03
USA
| Re: 911 is a joke in your town said by ColdFiltered :... what if, say, 911 service is down for several days. Sounds like piss-poor network design. No redundancy? Sounds like people just need to ditch Vonage and Lingo networks. Any outage on a VOIP network that lasts more than a few ms is garbage. | |
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ColdFiltered
join:2005-01-25
Atlanta, GA | Re: 911 is a joke in your town There is no such thing as single-provider local-loop redundancy. Now, individual consumer redundancy can be in the form of a multi-platform arrangement, like cell phone and VoIP phone. | |
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| rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO | The VOIP network isn't designed by VOIP providers. Ditching VOIP means ditching your current HSI connection in favor of a line with an SLA, such as a T1. | |
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oliphant
I Have 8 Boobies
Premium
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA
| I tried abandoning POTS ...and couldn't because of Vonage outtages. And when there was an outtage I couldn't call tech support ('cause I had bad cell service then). But now I have a $17 POTS line and Broadvoice for making long calls and it's a pretty good combo...only 'cause their VoIP is dirt cheap. I couldn't imagine going back to spending nearly $30 a month for Vonage's sketch service.
As much as I despite all the junk fees and taxes (some of which Vonage also added)...I must say my POTS service had never gone down.
IMO VoIP is suitable for an add on for either POTS or cellular but hardly a replacement.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network www.theanimenetwork.com | |
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jansm38
Vn800-B
Premium
join:2003-05-19
Blackwood, NJ
| Re: I tried abandoning POTS I have 2 POTS lines, one of them I'll LNP to VOIP and let the kids use it. The other line is my "main" number and I'm keeping that on pots.
I like the idea of being able to dial 911 and know that emergency services will be on their way without even having to say a word. The ATA I use for VOIP routes 911 to my POTS line and outbound VOIP calls are routed to the POTS line in the event of a power or network outage.
VOIP is great and it's certainly the wave of the future, it's just not a total replacement for POTS. It's perfect as a 2nd line. | |
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cdngrl
@shawcable.net | Does that mean you have two lines? How would I do this? It seems like the best of both worlds - to have the POTS line for basic and then use VOIP for LD. Please explain to a newbie! | |
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oliphant
I Have 8 Boobies
Premium
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA
| Re: I tried abandoning POTS To those unfamiliar with VoIP, the VoIP provider typically supplies an ATA device that acts as a conventional phone jack (meaning you plug regular phones into it).
In my situation originally what I did with Vonage was cancelled POTS, then went to the NID (network interface device) at the side of my house where the telephone lines come in from the street and disconnected them. This basically totally disconnected my house phone wiring from Verizon which is required since even when you cancel POTS, there is still voltage in the like which can fry the VoIP ATA device. Disconnecting the lines cuts this voltage from the phone company. Then I plugged the Vonage ATA into a phone jack so that all phones plugged into other jacks in the house could use the ATA since the jacks all shared the same wiring. This I found was the best and cheapest way to share the VoIP service. However now I have a 2 line cordless phone system. Line 1 is POTS, line 2 is Broadvoice. It works really well. I have 9-1-1 should I need it and Broadvoice based on the area code of my business and my old 'hood where all my friends live for most of the calls I make.
I would guess most people who keep POTS and add VoIP do it by pluging in a cordless phone base into the VoIP adapter and using that phone when they want to make an LD call.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network www.theanimenetwork.com | |
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cdngrl
@shawcable.net
| Re: I tried abandoning POTS Thanks for your reply - but I still need more clarification. I know you said you originally disconnected your verizon completely -but I don't want to do that. I would be extremely grateful if you'd break it down step by step . .first off, I only have one phone jack in my house -can I use both POTS and VOIP on that jack (split it first, then plug a phone into one side of the split for POTS, then the VOIP adaptor into the second, and another phone into the adaptor)? Do I just keep my normal local calling plan and the number attached to that, and then get a new number for my VOIP? Will the phones ring seperately when their respective numbers are called? THANK YOU!!! | |
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oliphant
I Have 8 Boobies
Premium
join:2004-11-26
Corona, CA
edit:
March 20th, @08:09PM
| Re: I tried abandoning POTS Since you have only 1 jack there is no point. The only point in using the wall jack for VOIP is if you wanted VOIP service on other jacks. The VOIP device will be near your computer, not connected to the NID.
Depending on your budget you have a number of options.
Since you have only 1 phone jack you can simply buy a 2 line phone. Then into the line 1 jack on the phone would be the phone cord from the wallplate carrying the POTS. Then into line 2 on the phone would be a phone cord from the VoIP device (it has a generic line out phone jack just like the wallplate). Then when you pick up the phone you simply select your line and make a call. Incoming calls on either line will right the phone.
If you want to use separate phones that's even simpler. Just plug one phone into the walljack carrying the POTS service, the other phone into the VoIP device.
The thing to remember about VoIP is that the VoIP adapter, often referred to an analog telephone adapter (ATA) is a stand along box. It will have 2 possibly 3 jacks on it. One will be a computer network cable jack to connect the box to your router. The other 1 or 2 are generic phone jack outputs. The reason there can be two is that some ATA and VoIP services offer 2 line service.
In any event maybe this picture will clarify. You're looking at the back of a Cisco ATA device. Note on the left there are 2 phone jacks (in case you pay for 2 VOIP lines) and on the right there is a network cable port (which would be the line from your internet router connecting the ATA to the internet) and farthest right is the power plug. With most VOIP devices no POTS lines plug in or come out of this device. This device is similar to the one I had with Vonage and I used both phone ports. I use one VOIP line for voice, the other for a fax but both were VOIP.
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Don't get it, demand it! The Anime Network www.theanimenetwork.com | |
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Chodite
join:2003-08-21
| Comcast's Digital Voice Service I heard Comcast's Digital Voice Service isn't actually Voip. It runs through the actual phone lines, not a router or a cable outlet. Their network is also not run through the same network used to provide internet and TV, it's a seperate network that ONLY carries voice. And it also doesn't go down when the electricity and/or cable service is out. Because of these features, I don't see companies like Vonage lasting much longer. | |
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| nozzer
join:2004-06-25
Waltham, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Comcast's Digital Voice Service Comcast Digital Voice has been around in one form or another (at least for ATTBI customers) since 1998.
Vonage is *much* cheaper than Comcast digital voice. Comcast digital voice for unlimited calls is 39.95 + about 15 bucks in taxes and fees (and thats only if its bundled with cable TV). Vonage works out to 24.95 + 1.50 in fees.
Vonage is *not* under threat from Comcast (unless they start trying to block VOIP, but the FCC is going to come down real hard on Comcast if they try to pull that stunt)
noz | |
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digiblur
Got Sipura?
Premium
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana | VoicePulse I'm glad I have VoicePulse!!  | |
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jvigier
Premium
join:2002-01-17
Wells, ME | Re: VoicePulse makes two of us | |
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Transmaster
Don't Blame Me I Voted For Bill and Opus
join:2001-06-20
Cheyenne, WY
edit:
March 8th, @07:51PM
| Stop and think Let's put things in prospective. The Telephone system has been in existence for 132 years. 132 years to build the present infrastructure. You CAN NOT expect VoIP, which is just a few years old to do the same job. VoIP companies that try to tell you they can are feeding you a pile of BS. this argument of "well it hasn't happened to me" is foolish. It's like pissing on an electric fence as long as the power is off you are ok, Well I haven't been electrocuted so it must be ok, then somebody flips a switch.
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Low voltage Tech's are wimps, Real tech's use 45 pound filament transformers, plate voltages no less then 2400 volts with at least 10 amp's lighting 8877 triodes...BPL I'm coming to get you.
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jzibble
Premium
join:2004-03-12
Minneapolis, MN
| Re: Stop and think Yeah just like mail. I mean the US Postal service has been around since 1775 - they know how to deliver mail! If you need to send information, send it via mail not over this new fangled email system.
I've used Vonage as my only phone service provider for about a year. I've had about three outages in that time two were fixed with a VoIP router power cycle. While slightly inconvenient, it was a far cry from being electrocuted by pissing on electric fence (which I don't think is physically possible). | |
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shutupcrybaby
@comcast.net |  Re: Stop and think
bunch of winning old girlie men. | |
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xrobertcmx
Premium
join:2001-06-18
Sterling, VA
clubs: | Funny Vonage hasn't gone down for me. | |
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sirsloop
Premium
join:2004-02-18
New York, NY | Re: Funny probably didnt use the phone when they had an outage. | |
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| | ke4pym
join:2004-07-24
Charlotte, NC | I was using Vonage while folks were posting here that it was out. I did not see any outage this weekend, and I had a pretty high usage of it to boot. | |
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SNT
Premium
join:2002-07-17
Satellite Beach, FL | No problems for me either. Used it as normal. | |
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dabig25
join:2004-12-28
Antioch, CA | Outages......Landline?? Don't need a freakin landline........If you have a cell phone. ( Doesn't need power incase of power outage )
Have Vonage:D:D and have only had 1 outage in 3 months of service. Still was able to receive all my calls forwarded to cell phone.:D | |
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Air WAV
join:2000-09-16
Saint Louis, MO | Good thing I use Nuvio  | |
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flushls
join:2004-11-02
Joyce, WA | Landline Vs VOIP I have a QWEST landline and it averages 2-3 hours downtime per week so please spare us the landlines are better shit.
On the other had My Cell has worked at my home flawlessly for over 2 years without a minute of downtime. | |
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franknalco
join:2005-01-27
Englewood, CO
·ViaTalk
·Verizon VoiceWing
| Landline v. VOIP It is not even a close call yet. POTS is inherently more reliable a technology than VoIP. In fact, I can't name a utility that has been more reliable than my telephone. Sure, VoIP has an enhanced feature set, and would cost me a hundred dollars less per year (maybe), but that is little incentive to me to be involved in this still developing technology. I won't be the first one to try out the new Acme Co. parachute, either. I see nothing wrong with being a little risk averse when the upside is so limited. | |
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Boggy13
| Re: Landline v. VOIP I use Vonage and my service has been down for at least 48 hours - that's when I noticed it was down. This is my second outage in 4 weeks, with the first one lasting 1 week because of a shipping error on a replacement router.
During this outage, I have only been able to reach Vonage support twice. Once by phone when I was told they would restore my service in 30-60 minutes and just this morning I finally got an e-mail reply and I am waiting for a call back to resolve the issue. I tried holding twice yesterday, but after a 60 minute hold the first time and a 95 minute hold the second time I gave up.
Yesterday I called Verizon and ordered a landline. I am not ready to give up on VOIP, but as I am about to start a job search I need reliable service for both voice and faxing. Vonage hasn't been providing that lately.
What bothers me most is the inability to get help when you need it. I would pay $10 more a month just to make sure someone was there when I had a problem. That would still be cheaper than local phone service. Maybe Vonage could add a premium support package. Being in the dark while your phone is out and not getting responses to voice or e-mail is really infuriating.
In some ways this whole debate strikes me as funny. 25-50 years ago, a large percentage of homes still didn't have phones. Now it has become so integral to our lives that people can't walk or drive without a phone attached to their heads. People get bent out of shape when their phone service is down for 15-20 minutes. In any given day, what is so important to us that we can't go without a phone call? For most of us, our quality of life would probably improve without the phones. | |
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Doubledee32
join:2002-06-20
Charlotte, NC
| VoIP Yes Callvantage did go down last night-but I have a cellphone so for me it was no biggie. And considering I've had them since Aug2004. This was the first outage for me. And consider what I've been saving over the past seven months I can tolerate it because it still beats Bellsouth-HANDS DOWN! | |
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Sonic Cow
join:2005-02-21
San Bernardino, CA
| 911 concern If you are worried about VoIP going down an not being able to call in an emergency then you need to worry about 911 service on your POTS line going down also. 911 computer systems fail just like any other computer system. Yea you can still get a person but you will have to give them your address because the system won't show.
The chances of it happening are at the time you need them is like 1 in a billion but then again the chances on VoIP going down when you need 911 is like 1 in a million. There are always risks but that is inherent of technology growth
I would switch to VoIP but as a student I have Lifeline service through Verizon and it only costs $5.95 a month | |
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ryanmcv
join:2001-10-14
Lemont, IL
·AT&T CallVantage
·Comcast
| AT&T CallVantage I've had AT&T CallVantage service for about a month now, and last night was the first and only time I have experienced an outage (it lasted for less than an hour). My family has 3 cell phones as well and we use them to make most of our calls anyways (considering we are usually only home during the evening). VoIP is more than enough for my house and saves us almost $500 a year thanks to the unlimited local and long distance calling at one flat price. | |
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Phattieg
join:2001-04-29
Jacksonville, FL
 ·Verizon Wireless B..
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| Re: AT&T CallVantage These new ATA (Analog Telephone Adapters) are crappy. I have had an old Cisco ATA 186 model, with no new crappy firmware/software issues. I have had no downtime of svc thru all of this, and I use my phone like a crack head does crack. Don't tell me they ALL suck, because it's just these new companies that know jack about VoIP making adapters. It's like saying you have an RCA modem, and they are the best cable modem in the world, when everyone else knows that they are cheap, crappy modems, that are only popular for just that reason, they are cheap. My adapter still cost as much if not more than these new ones coming out, and from what I have read in these forums, they work best... | |
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voipuser1001
@rr.com
| RE First off, I have Vonage so I could be biased. I have had no problems except the voicemail notification light on my phone. That's due to my router and not the Vonage service.
My real point is about the comparisons to TWC digital phone. I'm pretty sure that the call is routed over the internet, the same as data traffic, from your house to the headends. It only has a quicker route to normal telco infrastructure than what Vonage, CallVantage, etc. has supplied. Most all the time this is insignificant lapse. The reason TWC can get phone numbers switched faster is that they operate through MCI which seems to be the biggest complaint about Vonage, etc. This is also why their costs are driven upwards from the lower level prices of other VOIP providers and the additional fact that they always charge a huge premium. | |
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voipuser1001
@rr.com
| RE First off, I have Vonage so I could be biased. I have had no problems except the voicemail notification light on my phone. That's due to my router and not the Vonage service.
My real point is about the comparisons to TWC digital phone. I'm pretty sure that the call is routed over the internet, the same as data traffic, from your house to the headends. It only has a quicker route to normal telco infrastructure than what Vonage, CallVantage, etc. has supplied. Most all the time this is insignificant lapse. The reason TWC can get phone numbers switched faster is that they operate through MCI which seems to be the biggest complaint about Vonage, etc. This is also why their costs are driven upwards from the lower level prices of other VOIP providers and the additional fact that they always charge a huge premium. | |
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voipuser1001
@rr.com | Re: RE This post was doubled from another reply if it can be deleted. | |
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BSvictim
@151.198.x.x
| Landline not reliable
I lose phone service at least once a month.
BS thinks both my phone lines are on Cable X. They really are on Cable Y.
BS thinks there are 2 "unused" lines on cable Y.
Every 4 -5 weeks, BS connects those "unused lines" on cable Y to someone else.
I lose BOTH landlines!
It takes a call with the cell phone (standing outside to get decent reception)
The recording tells me my service will be restored "within 3 days."
I have to go through push button hell to get a human and promise to mention them personally in the lawsuit if we need help for my disabled child while the phones are out.
It usually is restored within 12 hours.
How do I know about the Cable X / Cable Y thing?
The BS repair guy who came out to my house the first time it happened told me. Showed me the documentation. He was the guy who cut my lines 2 hours earlier and "gave" them to others. There is much new construction in our area and BS needs more lines.
Whenever someone uses the old documentation (or Xeroxes old documentation), the discover "2 unused lines on Cable Y" and I suffer again.
My cable internet service has gone out once in 2-1/2 years - and was restored within 4 hours.
BS's invoice every month has a flyer promising me huge savings if I add BS DSL as my IP.........
Sure!
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VoIP Outage Mania
