[Hidden-tech] Recommendations: Inexpensive Fax Solution & ComcastDigital Voice

[Will Loving]

Hi Jami,

Drop-outs: I've not seen the kind of partial drop-out you are describing
where it drops off and then comes back on the same call. While I've had a
few complete drop-outs, I would say that it's on the order of once every 1-2
months, which I consider tolerable. It's more frequent than my previous
service with Verizon or Sprint, but the call clarity more than makes up for
it.

Stutter Tone: There was a specific region-wide problem with the stutter tone
what went on for many weeks over the summer. It appears to be fixed now and
they followed up with a message to let me know that it should worked as
expected.

Cost: It's true that you only get an additional $5 off by getting all three
services, but if you get a second line for $10 or $20, the deal gets much
better.

Will

Will Loving, President
Dedication Technologies, Inc.



on 9/13/05 4:18 PM, Jami Albro-Fisher at jami at fazzi.com wrote:
> 
> I've switched to Comcast's Digital Voice too.  The sound quality is
> excellent but I've had a few problems:
> 
> 1. Intermittently, the voice on our end cuts out leaving the person on the
> other end saying 'Are you there?    Hello??' for about a minute when it
> comes back on.  It only happens a few times a month.
> 
> 2. The voice mail system has let me in without any password when checking my
> voicemail remotely.
> 
> 3. The interrupted dial tone that indicates you have voicemail doesn't
> always work.
> 
> Overall, I like it and I like the savings of no long distance charges.  But
> the savings pretty much end there - if you get phone, web, and tv (at least
> standard for $30/month) you save just $5 per month.
> 
> I'd say wait six months or until they fix the above before making the
> switch.
> 
> - Jami
> __________________________
>  
> Jami Albro-Fisher
> Senior Systems Developer
>  
> Fazzi Associates, Inc.
> 243 King Street, Suite 246
> Northampton, MA 01060
> phone: (413) 584-5300
> fax: (413) 584-0220
> web: www.fazzi.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
> [mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf
> Of Will Loving
> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2005 7:16 PM
> To: Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> Subject: [Hidden-tech] Recommendations: Inexpensive Fax
> Solution & ComcastDigital Voice
> 
>    ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** Remember you must be counted to post .
> 
> I'd like to let Hidden-Tec members know about a couple of
> services that I have begun using recently that I am impressed
> with. Additional comments, impressions of these services and
> alternatives are also appreciated. I have no affiliation with
> either of the services mentioned below.
> 
> Inexpensive Faxing Receiving:
> 
> I've struggled for a long time with trying to find an
> inexpensive and trouble-free way to receive faxes. I can use my
> fax machine or computer to send faxes out, but since getting
> broadband (and canceling my modem line) I've not wanted to pay
> for a separate line just to receive a handful of faxes a month.
> 
> For the last year, we've paid a few dollars a month to Verizon
> for a separate number with "Distinctive Ring", a different ring
> tone which the fax machine can be set to listen for. However I
> was still getting lots of junk faxes and have recently found
> something much better, FaxAway.com. For a dollar a month
> (charged in $10 increments) FaxAway.com gives you a private fax
> number (in Seattle) and unlimited incoming faxes. The faxes are
> emailed to you as TIF or JPG files and can be printed,
> forwarded or trashed as need be.
> 
> FaxAway is associated with Kall8, an VOIP provider like Vonage,
> and outgoing faxes are handled very inexpensively. I don't need
> the outgoing service for the few faxes I send but it's there if
> you need it. You can upload various document types including
> Word, etc. and they will fax it for you. FaxAway also includes
> the option of VoiceMail at no charge though it was a little
> confusing at first to setup. VoiceMail messages left on the
> same number are also emailed to you as WAV files. I've been
> using the service for a couple of months now and have no complaints.
> 
> Comcast Digital Voice
> 
> For those of you with Comcast service, I highly recommend their
> Digital Voice Service. We converted first my business line and
> last week our house line and are very impressed  with the
> quality of the service. What you will notice immediately once
> you switch over is the improved quality and volume of the
> sound. It is SO much better than the traditional Verizon land
> lines that we had that I can't imagine going back.
> 
> The technician I spoke with said that most people have to
> reduce the volume on their phones because of the louder and
> clearer signal. I've found this to be true in that my headset,
> normally set between 4 and 5, now does very well between 1 and 2.
> 
> We have not experienced the "dropouts" and choppiness that is
> frequently observed with VOIP service and the apparent reason
> is that while standard VOIP such as Vonage converts voice to
> packets at the phone and sends them over the internet via your
> DSL or cable connection, Comcast actually sends the phone
> signal upstream over the coaxial cable and converts it to IP
> packets in a more central location.
> 
> We are very impressed and are saving money in the process. A
> single line with all features and unlimited local and LD
> calling costs us $40/month, but we only get internet service
> not "standard" cable. I think there is an additional discount
> if you get at least Standard cable TV. The second line is
> $20/month additional if you want all the features or just $10 a
> month for unlimited calling but no other features.
> 
> Will
> 
> Will Loving, President
> Dedication Technologies, Inc.
> 
> 


-- 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
DEDICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

- Developers of StudioSchool Pro -

Professional FileMaker Pro Database Development
For Non-Profits, Business, and Education
-----------------------------------
7 Coach Lane  Amherst, MA 01002-3304   USA
Tel:1 413 253-7223   Fax:1 206 202-0476
will at dedicationtechnologies.com   http://studioschoolpro.com
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-