[Hidden-tech] Seeking Less Expensive Phone Options

[Matt Lampiasi]

This has been covered in this list, but I thought I'd mention my recent 
experience: To get the best quality from VOIP services like vonage it's 
a good idea to have a firewall/router that has QOS=quality of service. I 
was trying out a high end firewall (without QOS) recently and voice 
quality was worse than the previous cheap linksys model I had, for voice 
quality. The unit I'm using now is a business class Linksys (not exactly 
high end, but affordable) that has really made a difference in the 
quality of our conversations.

Lynn Benander wrote:
>    ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee.
>    ** You too can help the group
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> We weren't able to make Vonage work. Reception just wasn't clear enough with
> Vonage and a Comcast cable service.
> We ended up switching back to Verizon for phone and internet and we have
> better service on both.
> It's possible Vonage could have worked better with the DSL service than it
> did with the cable service we had.
>
> Lynn Benander
> Co-op Power
> 324 Wells Street
> Greenfield MA 01301
> 413-772-8898
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Adams / Reelife [mailto:reelifeproductions at mac.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 12:32 PM
> To: Centennial House
> Cc: 'Hidden Tech'
> Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Seeking Less Expensive Phone Options
>
>
>    ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee.
>    ** You too can help the group
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> Joan & Steve,
>
> I know you said that newer technologies don't work as well since you're in
> Northfield, but "Vonage" might be something to look into since it's based on
> your internet connection and you're happy with that service.  I've been
> tempted by Vonage for some time now, but haven't made the switch quite yet.
> not sure what others experience has been using Vonage...
>
>
>  Regards,
>
> Tom Adams
>
> Director/Owner
> Reelife Documentary Productions
> using today's technology to educate, entertain and enlighten
>
> "cool digital audio/video stuff...not boring or dumb"
> 413.575.9707
> reelifeproductions at mac.com, www.reelifeproductions.com
> http://web.mac.com/reelifeproductions
> Williamsburg, MA, USA
> (I'm currently out of the Reelife Office...emailing remotely)
>
>
> On Wednesday, January 31, 2007, at 12:21PM, "Centennial House"
> <cenhouse at valinet.com> wrote:
>   
>> Dear HT-ers, Our 1 year business package (all phone) from Verizon will end
>> soon, thankfully, and we are seeking less expensive alternatives.  A
>>     
> company
>   
>> called DC Communications from Rhode Island is offering .039/minute for long
>> distance and toll free with supposedly none of the added fees or surcharges
>> that Verizon adds to your bill.  Has anyone ever heard of them?  They are
>> persistent.
>>
>>
>>
>> We live in Northfield where cell phone and other newer technologies tend
>>     
> not
>   
>> to perform as reliably as necessary.  We currently use Comcast, which we
>>     
> are
>   
>> very happy with, for cable TV and high speed Internet access (versus a
>> horrible experience with Verizon) but they don't offer 800 numbers, which
>>     
> we
>   
>> rely on too.  We have T-Mobile for our cell phone, which is acceptable, and
>> a huge improvement over Cingular.  As a lodging establishment, the phone
>>     
> and
>   
>> computer are our lifelines to customers, so we can't afford to experiment.
>> However, all this is expensive and we feel there must be a better way.
>> Advice?  Joan and Steve Stoia
>>
>>
>>
>> Centennial House B&B and Conference Center
>>
>> 94 Main St., Northfield, MA 01360
>>
>> On the web:  <http://www.thecentennialhouse.com/>
>>     
> www.thecentennialhouse.com
>   
>> Email:  <mailto:info at thecentennialhouse.com> info at thecentennialhouse.com
>>
>> Tel: 413.498.5921, 877.977.5950
>>
>> Fax: 413.498.2525
>>
>>
>>
>> Carriage Towne Commons
>>
>> Distinctive Professional Office Rentals
>>
>> 17 Main St., Belchertown MA 01007
>>
>> Tel: 413.323.0289
>>
>> Fax: 413.498.2525
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>     
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-- 
Thanks,

Matt Lampiasi, President
413-303-9167 or http://florenceit.net
Florence I.T. - A Community I.T. shop.


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