School me on VOIP - voice over IP

hazmat · Dec 7, 2004

if you install it in the basement, every phone can have access. Vonage recommends that you install their box right after your Cable/DSL modem and before your home network 

I don't have a "home network" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Let me make sure I've got this right. In order to use all phones in the house, I need to move my cable modem to the basement, plug the VOIP box into it, and run RJ45 to my computer (computer is on second floor).

Can I "tie into" my house phone lines by wiring the VOIP box into the phone jack in my office (second floor)?

ducati996 · Dec 7, 2004

(
Request the Linksys router, not the Motorolla!!
I have the Motorola and have not had any problems with it.
)

The Motorolla wasnt updating and failed in providing caller ID info out of the box. Its was acknowledged by the support team, that they are problematic. The Linksys is the better of the two, and matches the rest of my network....again this is only my experience...

Ducati

MikePA · Dec 7, 2004

Let me make sure I've got this right. In order to use all phones in the house, I need to move my cable modem to the basement, plug the VOIP box into it, and run RJ45 to my computer (computer is on second floor). 
Check out this link at the Vonage site for home wiring instructions.

Cable/DSL comes into the VOIP box. The VOIP box has 2 kinds of output. Output that provides a dial tone and output that provides Internet access.

 Can I "tie into" my house phone lines by wiring the VOIP box into the phone jack in my office (second floor)? 
I assume the jack in your office is 'live' to the public telephone network, right? IOW, if you plug a phone into it, you get a dial tone? If so, you can't wire the VOIP box into it, too.

hazmat · Dec 7, 2004

I assume the jack in your office is 'live' to the public telephone network, right? IOW, if you plug a phone into it, you get a dial tone? If so, you can't wire the VOIP box into it, too. 

It is 'live' now, What I'm thinking is to disconnect it at the basement entrance. If I'm remembering right, all the phone lines are wired in parallel - ie all the red wires together, all the green ones etc..; Shouldn't make any difference where the point of entry is right? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks for all your help - very informative.

California · Dec 7, 2004

Vonage may well be what phone service will evolve into, but I'm not sure it is cost effective for everyone at present.

DSL is carried over a conventional phone line so I think it is impossible to transfer that phone number to Vonage. In a residence with one phone line if you abandon your existing phone service there is nothing to transport the DSL signal over. So you can't avoid the cost of primary phone service to host Vonage.

Vonage over cable TV might have better prices but I'm not pleased with the reliability of cable here. Has anyone experienced significant down time with Vonage over cable?

RobS, this might work for you:
After some unreasonable ATT charges we cancelled all long distance service and now rely on phone cards. We renew the same cards to maintain the same access number. Each handset here has the access/password codes programmed on an autodial button to make it simple. We are paying less than $20 to renew 600 minutes on the cards.

gsxr1100 · Dec 7, 2004

My parents had vonage and finally dropped it. Too many issues with CS and outages in our area. If power goes out you need to reboot PC. He was using his cell to call in "no phone service", nice ha.

MikePA · Dec 7, 2004

so I think it is impossible to transfer that phone number to Vonage. 
Two people who sit within 10 feet of me have done this with DSL broadband service. It is NOT impossible.

 So you can't avoid the cost of primary phone service to host Vonage. 
Also not true.

neilly2 · Dec 7, 2004

I'm not a computer guru at all and I was able to do it. I had not clue about networks either.

I bought a router through them and of course the phone adapter that converts from the data line to a phone jack. The CNET write up for the Netgear router they sold me was that it was the most user friendly.

You don't need to go into the basement at all. I did exactly what you describe. I ran a phone cord from the adapter to my wall jack and it backfed and energized all the other jacks in my house. You just have to make sure you disconnect the incoming phone service.

I kept my land line for a couple of months since I was concerned, but the best day of my life was calling Verizon and cancelling my phone.

It's been trouble free for two years, and this is the only utility that has lowered my bills since I've had it. I also added a separate fax line for $10/month.

MikePA · Dec 7, 2004

Shouldn't make any difference where the point of entry is right? 
Correct, just disconnect at the basement entrance as you mentioned.

hazmat · Dec 7, 2004

Y'all have me convinced. I'm going to give myself an early Christmas present & cut my phone bill in half woo-hoo /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks for all the help - I knew tbn would have my answer. I wonder if the boss will let me spend the savings on the tractor... See it's a related topic /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif