VOIP phone service

[blasted_saber]

Does anyone use one of the various VOIP phone services? What are your thoughts. I ditched my landline ($75 a month for not a whole lot was getting tiresome) but would like an alternative to my cell (poor service in the house)

[Snowwalker]

You have to have Internet access, which means a phone line(DSL) or Cable TV. Also the band width has to be wide enough or your calls will sound like two cans and a string. Some VOIP providers have low monthly rates because they only use a narrow band width for your call ( two cans and a string).

Have you looked into improving your cell service by an extender or external antenna?
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/...9133b2dbf6en02

just an idea. It uses an antenna outside and one in the house.

[blasted_saber]

Yes, but its about 5x times the xost

[Snowwalker]

Yes, but its about 5x times the xost

what the "Xost" of DSL/CABLE or the one time purchase of the extender?

Over one year the extender costs you about $36 a month or two that is $18. Most of these things last about four or more years.

I have a Wireless router that is ten years old. I only paid about $60 for it.

[topher]

Our phone bill landlines is around $20... what "plan" did you have for $75? Of course I have no call waiting call display.... voice mail. . Or anything.. just a good ol phone line...

[Bluebulldog]

I used to have Vonage. Since about 2006. It's a great service. It winds up being about $25 per month taxes in.

I switched a few years ago to Ooma, and its great. Taxes in i'm around $12 a month.

It's a fairly easy process to terminate the Bell cables where they come into the house, and then plug the Telecom router into an existing jack to liven up the entire house.

Bell will never again get a single cent of my money.

[mosquito]

There are many options, some like Magic Jack and OOma other small ones. The ones you can just plug into a router allow you to take it with you as long as there is an internet connection are kind of nice if you have internet at the cottage or want to take it with you on a business trip. I have a friend I call occasionally and usually have to ask where he is at, still a local call but he might be in Hong Kong or he might be at home.

There are a few I would outright avoid that have nasty contracts and terms.... I shouldn't say which one but there is one I see advertised on the TV all the time I have heard nothing good about.

I started using Tech Savvy as an experiment for the last couple months before giving Belll the boot and other than a slight loss of quality and it not working when the internet is out (Rogers has been doing work on our street) it has been OK.
https://teksavvy.com/en/residential/phone/tektalk

For $15 a month (or less for the basic) I can live with the phone that sounds like what I grew up with at home.

Features of TekTalk Premium

Use an existing number or a new one Caller ID Advanced Voicemail Visual Call Waiting Three-Way Calling Call Forwarding SimRing Caller ID Block Call Return

Selective Call Blocking Call Privacy Do Not Disturb Reminder Call Screening List Basic 911 Free calls between TekTalk customers TekTalk Portal to manage the service 100 Minutes of N. American Long Distance* *2.9¢/minute after 100 minutes

[blasted_saber]

Bell. Lite package + 0.40/minute long distance.

Our phone bill landlines is around $20... what "plan" did you have for $75? Of course I have no call waiting call display.... voice mail. . Or anything.. just a good ol phone line...

[topher]

Why not go no package and just basic phone line.. use a 1010100 or something for .10 a minute long distance..

[blasted_saber]

I already have DSL with more then enough bandwidth to handle VOIP.

what the "Xost" of DSL/CABLE or the one time purchase of the extender?

Over one year the extender costs you about $36 a month or two that is $18. Most of these things last about four or more years.

I have a Wireless router that is ten years old. I only paid about $60 for it.