With Vonage, you can make phone calls over the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of calling features. Plans start as low as $14.99 per month, and the Premium Unlimited plan offers unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada for only $24.99. And it's easy to use--for making and receiving calls, Vonage works just like traditional phone service, with no special access codes or account numbers required.
Easy Hardware Connections
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All Vonage plans let you enjoy the call features you've become accustomed to: call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, three-way calling, call return, repeat dialing, and reliable long distance... plus other features that may be new to you. For example, you can receive your voice mail as an e-mail attachment, and you'll have a phone number that travels with you. Visit www.vonage.com/amazon to see which plan is best suited to your lifestyle and budget. The low monthly rates are quite reasonably priced, in our opinion, and with them you may save considerably compared to traditional phone service. International calls are available for additional low fees, with one economical exception: calls from the U.S. to Canada are treated as domestic long-distance calls, rather than international ones. Vonage also supports short-form emergency 911 service, where available. (Dialing 911 requires activation and operates differently than traditional 911. See Vonage's website for details.)
The starter kit comes with a Vonage-certified Linksys RT31P2 router, avoiding the need for a separate phone adapter. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection (cable or DSL) and a touchtone phone. After setting up your Vonage account, you'll have instant access to two lines, each with a separate phone number--you can even assign them different area codes, subject to availability. You'll still be able to surf the Web while talking on the phone or receiving faxes.
The router allows you to connect up to three PCs and two telephones or fax machines, and they'll all share a single Internet connection through which you can smoothly transfer data of all kinds. While talking on the phone, you can still share a printer, make backups, or simply move your latest presentation notes over to your laptop. With easy Web-based configuration, all these options are available at the click of a mouse. Linksys backs the router with a generous three-year warranty.
What's in the Box
The Linksys RT31P2 broadband router with two phone ports and three switched Ethernet ports, a power adapter, a setup CD with user's guide, a network cable, Vonage plan and support information, a Quick Installation card, and a registration card
Feature-rich Telephone Service and Internet Sharing in One Box! Think of the Linksys Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports as a kind of "splitter" for your Internet connection. Just connect your DSL or Cable Modem to the Router, and all the computers in your home or office can share the Internet -- all at the same time. The built-in 3-port switch lets you attach three local PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches as your network grows. Once your computers are connected to the Internet through the Router, they can communicate with each other too, sharing resources and files. All your computers can print on a shared printer connected anywhere in the home. And you can share all kinds of files between computers -- music, digital pictures, and other documents. The two standard telephone jacks on the Router enable high-quality feature-rich telephone service through your high-speed connection even while you're surfing the Internet. Each phone jack operates independently -- like having two phone lines. With an appropriate Internet telephone service provider, you'll get low domestic and international phone rates, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, Call Forwarding, Distinctive Ring, and lots of other available special phone features. Choose any free local dialing US area code, regardless of where you live. Add a virtual phone number in any area code, or even a US-wide toll-free number. It's all easier than you think -- the included Setup Wizard takes you
1 Vonage???
I had to try it out. I hear so much advertising and hype about Vonage. So, I went down to the local computer store and bought it took it home to set it up and problems right off the back. I have a 3mb DSL connection that is great. I used the temp number and started to make calls, the quality was poor. There was a echo and a delay that was very annoying, I would often talk over people. I tried it for the trial period and then returned it. I called their support and if I have to wait 20 miniutes forget it! I tried 3 times and they lost a customer.
I looked at other companies and found a smaller VoIP provider that is working great for me OurDigitalVoice. I called their tech support a 2 min wait and the people are friendly and informed. Vonage is just too big for their britches if you ask me!
2 Shoud be called VONAGE PHONE ADAPTOR WITH ROUTER
Very disapointed that it is not clearly stated by Amazon that this product is to be used only by Vonage (very expensive compared to other providers like Inphonex which is now my provider). I bought two routers RT31P2 and two PAP2 phone adapters all with Phone ports hoping I would be able to connect all my family (spread around the world). I got a Huge surprise when I noticed that they are locked only for use with Vonage. It says there is a Mail in Rebate worth 50 bucks, anyway it will only last less than two months. Other providers don't even charge monthly fees.
I had already sent all the units to various countries and after finding out that they are to be used EXCLUSIVELY with Vonage I just had to let them die where they were sent. It is not worth the shipping to bring them back.
As disappointing as this, was that I supposed this was going to happen so I contacted customer support from Amazon and asked them (before buying) if they were a "with Vonage telephony system" or if they were a "exclusively for Vonage telephony system". They didn't know so I just assumed they wouldn't be so distracted to not mention this. Specially for starters like us it may have been the most important thing to advertise: EXCLUSIVELY FOR VONAGE
I have always been a fan of Linksys products, my house is full of their products and never had trouble with the hardware. For sure I will continue to buy Linksys products, for sure I will never use vonage (eventhough I am sure it provides excellent clear voice communication; don't get cofussed, there are others that will give you more for a lot less go to yahoo and spend 30 seconds making a quick search and you will see), and for sure I had to tell other people what they are doing so nobody else will loose the money I lost, and what is most valuable, my time.
Make sure that when you buy a PAP2 it says: Model PAP2-NA
Conclussion: I just lost 260 bucks plus shipping and handling (internationally)
3 Vonage - Very Poor Customer Services and Billing
Vonage - Very Poor Customer Services and Billing
We signed up for vonage servicve with number transfer from verizon. Within over 20 days phone number was not transferred. I faxed authorization form and verizon phone bill 3 times to Vonage. I believe, they purposely delay so trial period is over and then you have to pay cancellation fee if you want to cancel. I figured it out when I cancelled my service after 20 days, I was on hold for over 30 minutes though. I was charged $87.73 plus $1.29 plus $43.59 cancellation (even the equipment was shipped day after cancellation and I have proof USPS tracking they received it within 3 days) plus setup fee. Their office is in Edison NJ and I am in North Brunswick, NJ. I was on promotion for 1st month free but this trial for 20 days cost me about $140 even I did not use phone that much (1 or 2 local calls only for test purpose) so I cannot say anything about the quality of their phone service. I have been calling them and CS tranfer me to billing which automatically disconnects me after 8-10 minutes of waiting, it happend 4 times. No reply of any emails it has been over a month now.
Their equipment installation was easy and temp number was up as soon as I plugged it in after activation. So if you are not transferring a number, do not need their customer support and want to stay with them for a long time then it might be a good provider for you, you may want to consider AT&T Callvantage.
After this horrible experience with Vonage, I sgined up for AT&T Callvantage, though a little expensive but I am very happy. They tanferred my number within 10 days and excellant customer service. Phone dialtone is exactly as land-phone and no background noise. I made international calls also and have not any problem with AT&T Callvantage so far.
4 could not make it work with my Vonage
I purchased this to combine a router and phone adapter (to get rid of the Motorola PA that I got when I signed up for Vonage in July 2004). I wrestled with getting it set up correctly and went through the usual HEL* with Vonage support (their support is horrible, horrible, and more horrible). After 3 weeks I got the case escalated to their tier 3 team (the only ones who know anything at all) and with careful troubleshooting he saw that the MTU size is what was causing me to not be able to connect outgoing calls. (I could receive calls, not not place calls - dial tone was ok). After wrestling with my ISP thinking it was their fault, we re-registered my old phone adapter with Vonage, removed this router and all was working again.
5 TERRIBLE
I would love to be able to give a review of my router, but I have yet to receive it. I ordered it, and paid for overnight shipping over 5 days ago. I still have not received my order. Also, I have emailed Vonage's CEO, CFO, and Customer Service Vice President and I still have not received my adapter device. The Customer Service Reps are also VERY rude. I have spoken to over 5 of them, and I have only spoken to one that was kind and understanding. THINK TWICE before signing up for Vonage.
6 Vonage Rocks
Power cycle the modem a couple of time after signing up for Vonage,thats it, it works and Vonage is crystal with no lag. Highly recommend to those who have a reliable broadband connection.
7 Compelling Technology
Vonage is on the tip of the iceberg of the future of telephone. Its time to tear down all those phone poles; they're ugly anyways. Using my cable internet connection, Vonage has now stolen my business away from their competition. I faxed Vonage an authorization letter to keep my old phone number and they took care of the rest. For $25 per month I get unlimited calling throughout the USA! I will never go back to using a standard phone line. This technology is truly incredible and they offer an enormous array of features. While I am mostly thrilled with the technology itself, I have found the Vonage company to be questionable. After emailing them 4 times I have heard nothing back from them! They may think that non-existent customer service is acceptable, after all they continue to ignore me, and I continue to use their service. This will only sustain them for a short time. All their competition has to do is actually communicate with customers, and the world will drop Vonage like a brick. I am very tired of businesses thinking they can get away with ignoring their customers service requests. I do love the technology, and I will stick to VOIP going forward, but I will be dropping Vonage as soon as their VOIP competition catches up.
8 a lot clearer than my landline
I had a land line phone before I tried out vonage. as long as you hook up the adapter to the modem first,then your other routers and equip,you are going to have a great clear voice call. my roomate made a call to his mom the other night.had to turn down volume on phone because call was to loud!!Before had to have volume on high to barely hear other caller. Way clearer than prev land line phone.I have the unlimited plan,don't really make that many calls but at 25 dollars.....thats what i was paying for voicemail,cid and basic service,why not go the whole 9 yards.
9 Great product, not so good service
Service is great, and I am operating with my adapter pluged into a SCM router, still works great. Getting to talk to Vonage on the phone is still a long wait, I usually call them about midnight, Pacific Coast time and get through. When I added the Fax line, did not work, Called and got someone, lucky I guess, who downloaded a software fix to my adapter and all works great.
Using the business plan, and have been on it for about a month and am very happy with the service. I think I will add another line, but might try Lego for the additionl line.
10 Stay away!
I feel the need to tell how very unhappy I am with Vonage's lack of customer service and policies. Because of them they lost a potential new customer, permanently. My husband and I spent two weeks reseraching the feasibility of voip for our home to replace our current phone service which is costing us nearly $50 a month. Vonage looks great "on paper" (or rather, on the computer screen), and we decided to give them a try over others such as Packet8 and AT&T CallVantage. However, I was sorely disappointed when I finally did call to try to speak with someone about the few remaining questions I had. Answered through their site or other sources were questions about fees and charges and reliability of service. A stumbling block still, in all of that, was the overwhelming number of people who report a problem with the phone adapter and the lack of support. But, we figured we'd risk it since we have a good broadband connection, and we would cancel if we felt the service was bad. My remaining questions to customer service were: did they have any numbers in our area, and could we use a fax machine once or twice a year on our line, and NOT have to pay an additional $10/month for the privilege?
The Vonage customer service agent was about as clueless as they come. First he wants all my information up front before he will even TALK to me about ANYTHING, then he tries his first attempt to sign me up without answering my questions. He then tells me that no numbers are available in our area, only numbers which would be long distance for our friends and relatives to call. This wasn't acceptable, so I asked about porting of our current number. This wasn't an option we had wanted to pursue, because of the nightmare wait time. It wasn't acceptable for us to have to hold on to our current phone service at $50 a month for the privilege of keeping our number. We didn't want to pay it, but they had nothing else available. He said they could port the number, but there was no way to speed up the process, and we'd have to keep paying our current phone bill for as long as they decided to take to port the number. At $50 a month, no way! And by the way, AT&T CallVantage only takes 8-10 days to port a number. What's the deal with Vonage's horrendous wait times???
And so, after that one question was answered to HIS satisfaction, not mine, he decided to try to sign me up again. NO! Hello? I told you I had another question, and I'm not too happy with you right now. So I asked about the fax option. We have a fax machine that we use only a couple of times a year at most, and I asked if we could use it on our regular phone line. Then the customer service agent was downright rude with me. He said no, absolutely not, if we did not pay for an additional line we would not be allowed to use our fax machine, don't even try it. Wow! Why did he have to be so rude? Then he tries to sign me up again, this time with an additional line. I said that this was absurd, we only used it a couple of times a year, and no, I didn't want another line. He then gets snotty and tells me that if we only use it that much we should go to the local copy store instead. Well, that was it for me. He tries a third time to sign me up, and I said I was no longer interested. He askes why, and I laugh as I tell him back the two issues we just talked about. He acts like he doesn't even remember them! Then he puts me on hold for I don't know what reason. Probably to put us into some database, I'm sure. At this time I am REALLY sorry I ever bothered with Vonage. Then he comes back, tries to sign me up again, I said no, and hung up.
If this is what Vonage calls customer service, it's a joke. By the end of it I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. Every time the customer service agent didn't want to respond to a question I was met with silence, then another attempt to sign me up, like he hoped that if he didn't acknowledge my question it would just go away and I would magically change my mind. After this, if we ever decide to think about voip again, it WON'T be Vonage we call.
And, but the way, I wouldn't even bother with AT&T either. Though their customer service agent was better informed and nicer that Vonage's, she was really, really pushy about signing me up. I don't like agent who won't take no for an answer. It's our policy in our family that we don't make split-second decisions, we talk to one another before making a final decision. And so, when I called AT&T for information only, she tried to sign me up, I said no, we went through this three times, then she asks me if I need permission from my husband. That was very insulting. Why I even bothered to stay on the
phone with her after that I'm not sure, but I DID give her a piece of my mind about that particular comment.
The bottom line for us is we've decided not to bother with any of them. Between questionable quality of service, nonexistent customer service, and very pushy business practices, I'm staying FAR, FAR AWAY.
11 Good router if you have the latest one.
I recieved this router through Vonage and not Amazon, but it is the same one.
Just beware that there is a problem with certain versions of this router that cause excessive line noise which sound like a phaser. The problem is a bad resistor causes the noise and to make it go away, you have to short out port 2, if your phone is plugged into port 1. The easiest way to do this is plug in a old phone and leave it off hook. This does work as I have had the noise problem.
Vonage knows of the problem and will send you a new router (if you got it through them), but you have to document the problem first. I contacted them and within a week had a new router and no noise.
Other than that, I have had no problems with this router. I have it in front of Netgear wireless router(with DHCP turned off) and everything works great.
If you have a broadband connection, I would highly recommend Vonage. For the price and features, you cant beat it.
12 Good phone adapter - horrible router
I had the Motorola ATA (analog telephone adapter). The voice quality was fine unless other people were downloading. Then I would have dropouts. I bought this product specifically because it support Quality of Service, reserving bandwidth when using the phone to maintain voice quality.
In order to take advantage of QoS, all traffic has to go through this router. No problem, I did my homework and ensured that it had all the features I needed; port forwarding, a DMZ setting, and IPSec and PPTP passthrough. I installed this in front of my current firewall, assigned my current firewall to the DMZ address, forwarded all ports, enabled IPSec and PPTP passthrough and I was all set - I thought.
My current firewall is also a VPN device - it establishes an IPSec tunnel to a matching firewall to another location. This works fine, the RT31P2's IPSec passthrough works well. All servers behined the RT31P2 are also functional, Web, mail, ftp, etc. Great!
But for 2 weeks I could not understand why no one could complete a VPN conection PPTP) to our Microsoft remote access server. Turns out the the "PPTP Passthrough" setting on the configuration menu (and in the manual) is for show only - it doesn't work. A search on the Vonage forums and a Vonage tech representative confirmed this. So even though I did my homework, downloaded the manual ahead of time, etc, I still have a paperweight - I have to go back to my Motorola ATA. Worse, Linksys says it's a Vonage problem, and Vonage has no plans to fix this issue.
As an aside, I bought the RT31P2 about 5 weeks ago (I can't return it for an RMA). Back then I found a number of sources that sold it. I just did another search and most have taken it off their web sites. Is the word getting around that this is a Mickey Mouse device? (No offense to Micket).
13 Set Free at Last!
Vonage has set me free from the domination of landline phone companies! I've only had Vonage for about a week, but I'm so pleased that I'm already considering adding a line and a fax line in the very near future.
I really didn't experience any of the problems that the negative reviewers are writing about. The router was delivered in 7 days, out of the box it was up and running with dial tone and all literally within 10 mins. The instructions encourage using the installation disk, but I just plugged the adapter in, waited the 5 minutes for any possible firmware downloads, and everything worked.
One thing that is critical however. If you already have a router, you need to install the phone adapter/router first in line after your cable modem. In other words, plug your cable modem into the phone adapter, then if you have a wireless router, as I do, plug the wireless router into the phone adapter. In my case all of my computers and laptop have wireless connections. If you are using ethernet, just plug your computers back into your original router. In order to give bandwith priority to your phone calls the signal must go through the phone adapter first. My dial tone comes up instantly, and conversations are clear and crisp. There is no difference in sound from a landline phone. As a matter of fact, the 5.8ghz phone that I am using as my test phone, has no static as compared to when it was connected to my landline. The static may have been generated by the landline.
The other thing that I think is great, is that you can add or change products, services, payment options, all online...you are in total control. Yes there are charges for changing and activating second lines, etc, but when one considers what you've been paying to the regular phone company, Vonage is such a savings! All of the features, such as caller ID, 3-way calling, forwarding, etc, etc, are ALL FREE. I have two lines, and one line shares a fax line (for a small business) in my house and I'm paying over $150.00 p/month with only caller ID and voicemail.
The next thing I'll be doing is disconnecting the phone line from the street to my house so that I can plug the adapter directly into my house phone wiring. All that's required is the simple unplugging of wires from the jacks in the network interface box that is located on the side of the house. This way I'll be able to use any jack in my house through the Vonage phone adapter...bye bye landline!!
All I can say, is give it a try, I started with the $14.99, just to experiment, now I'll be looking more seriously at how to configure my home/office needs.
14 Fantastic Service
I've been using this product with Vonage for over 3 months now. It is fantastic and extremely cost effective. Free three way calling alone is worth Vonage's $24.99 monthly fee for unlimited service. (3-way calling is also available on the $14.99 500 minute monthly service) Call two friends/relatives in different states, confrence them together, and talk for hours for free!
When using VOIP, traffic prioritization on your internet connection is very important. When properly installed, the RT31P2 provides the required prioritization of voice traffic to insure high voice quality. This router must be directly attached to your broadband connection. Use this router's switch ports or USB port to attach computers and other devices to your broadband connection.
If all of your internet traffic does not travel through this router, than voice traffic can not be properly prioritized yielding sporadically poor results. The reviewers indicating voice quality problems with Vonage and this product are probably not installing the router correctly in their networks.
I prefer this product over the Linksys PAP2 voice adapter, because it is easier to prioritize voice traffic with this router. If you select the PAP2 be sure to prioritize the switch/router port the adapter is connnected to. Not all switches/routers permit prioritization of a port, but Linksys routers/switches do.
Your broadband connection should support at least 128K in each direction to successfully use this product with Vonage.
15 Continuous humming sound
Voice quality is very poor, hear continuous background noise. Called Vonage customer service, the rep picked up after 30 min and told me to connect the phone to port 2 on the router and hung up stating that he will call back. Nobody called, I called back and was agian on the the phone waiting ... waiting .. waiting...
16 Overall, it's not worth the hassle
I was attracted by the price and the features of the Vonage service. The features are useless if I cannot successfully log in to the Web site. About half the time I try (throughout the morning, day, and night), I get: Error -- Sorry, an error has occurred. Please try again later.
The price is not worth the hassle of spending days trying to access the features.
17 The future of the telephone
I ordered Vonage's $14.95/month service.
A $60 setup charge produced a UPS box with the RT31P2 inside.
I plugged an ordinary phone into one RT31P2 port and plugged another into my existing Internet router and I instantly had perfectly clear "land line" quality telephone service.
(If I hadn't already had a wireless router in place, I would have plugged this directly into the cable modem).
No software to install, no help desk calls to make. Nothing. This was the easiest installation I have ever done.
And to top it all off, for $15/month I get
-500 free minutes to the US and Canada
-Competitive international rates
-Voice mail (with email notification)
-Call waiting
-Caller ID
A final upgrade is the replacement of existing telephones with 5.8 GHz digital cordless so that one phone jack (at the router) can serve the entire house. This is absolutely the future of everyone's telephone service.
18 Much better than the Motorola
I got this modem to replace the motorola one that I was having problems with,and I must say that it is much better. The motorolla would always have to be rebooted and reconfigured and I had problems getting it to work with my linksys wireless router. I was able to daisy chaim this box to my wireless router, and it worked without any problem. I would definately recommend this bix.
19 DON'T DO IT!
Please, I beg of you, do not get involved with Vonage. I must have spent 4 hours waiting on hold to reach customer service, billing, and number transfer. The only person I was able to speak to after 2 months was someone in the cancelation department! Get this, there is a $40 chage for canceling the service hidden in the contract!! While the device itself works, everything about Vonage is underhanded. All I can say is don't do it....
20 Significantly worse audio quality
I had the Motorola adaptor and then got this Linksys Vonage adaptor. This model Linksys unit has a terrible background noise that is always present, which sounds like a fax coming on on another telephone line that is bleeding through to the voice line. I've tried two, both with the same result, using multiple telephones. I don't have the problem at all with the Motorola device.
I've not tried the newer Linksys device (which doesn't include a router).
21 INCREDIBLE improvement in Voice Quality
I upgraded from the Motorola MTU to the Linksys RT31P2. The voice quality is significantly better -- especially the incoming voice quality. The new device also allows placement of a small server as part of the network with appropriate port-forwarding. I believe the port prioritization within the Linksys device, and its ability to prioritize voice traffic over other traffic makes the improvement. The router is missing some features like a listing of attached devices, but makes up for it with other enhancements.
