VOIP - worthwhile or stick with landline in semi-rural area

As a member of an emergency service (CFS in SA) my only concern is people who rely on VOIP and live in area that does not have a reliable mobile service.

Remember that VOIP relies on the mains power, which can be cut during extreme weather (either as a result of the weather or by the supply authority as a precautionary measure). If your mobile doesn't work reliably this can leave you in a compromised position.

Of course, the same thing applies to those that have a wireless hands free telephone, if the power fails these devices won't work either.

So, we keep a landline but use VOIP for interstate and international calls...

HTH

i would not have voip in a blue fit :mad: nothing worse then having a conversation with someone and only hearing every second word . i have telstra nextg $20 per month and an hour free per day to any number in oz and that includes video calls . internet is also wireless nextg with the ultimate modem and i use a 6dbh? aerial , i am not a big internet user there is more to life then downloading movies

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Originally Posted by dk09

With respect to speed, if you would like to pm me your client number I can have this investigated for you.

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Thanks DK but it's only slow because of the plan I'm on (512k). The only option for the area is ADSL2 so I guess that means no 'naked' service but it also seems that I can't stick to the 'slow' plan I'm now on. The current (now disconnected) phone number for the new house is 02 4632 7636 if that helps.

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Originally Posted by abaddonxi

I think you need to add up all you spend on internet + phonecalls + line rental + mobile and then start looking at options.

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Internet is $40/month, phone calls $50/month, line rental $30/month. Mobile calls are neglible - maybe $90 max/year for both our phones.

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Originally Posted by incisor

i get sick to death of speaking to people on crap voip lines

as an aside

it amazes me that people in business think so little of the customers and so much of their own wallets that they subject potential customers to it. i find it hard to believe it doesn't cost them more in lost custom than it did for the phone line in the first place.

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Our work went that way a couple of years ago. Quality is down the drain with drop outs, poor line quality & missed words but the upside is that they record our calls for disciplinary training purposes.

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Originally Posted by Scouse

the upside is that they record our calls for disciplinary training purposes.

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Can I get a job there? :twisted:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...011/06/523.jpg

Sure, my chair is empty for 10 weeks :).

Is that why you're not answering your work phone?

Another option...

We have naked DSL and bought(rent?) a telephone number from skype.

Quality is the same as skype (generally good) and price is cheap. The only downside is people can only call you when you have the comnputer on.

The upside is, that most of the people who want to call us on a landline are in Brisbane (and we are in Perth). So we bought an 07 number, and people in brisbane only pay local call costs to call us.

The only outgoing calls we make to landlines on skype are usually brisbane numbers as well.

Works for us.

I have had VOIP for about 5 years through iinet with an ADSL2+ connection. I use an oldish Belkin wireless modem which over the last year, seems to need rebooting about every 6 weeks. I cannot recall any drop-outs while using the phone. It has been very reliable and of high quality. It is much better than the standard Telstra connection that I also maintain for 'emergencies' but have never needed for that purpose.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

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Originally Posted by richard4u2

i would not have voip in a blue fit :mad: nothing worse then having a conversation with someone and only hearing every second word .

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If that is the quality of VOIP, - like all technology there is a reason, get it fixed. My connection is perfectly clear.

it's always interesting hearing how a line for pstn or adsl with one isp is better or worse than another. They all travel on the same medium.... telstra's. The only time you are on an isp's "gear" is for naked dsl because telstra is required to allow the isp to install there equipment in the exchange. But the transmission from exchange to your house will be over the same old copper. providing voip on copper is a joke, it was never designed for it and for a company to provide it to you at the expense of your fixed line service is a joke. Your adsl/voip is all dependant on distance from exchange, line condition, your equipment and congestion. One not so well know fact is adsl was designed for 1 adsl service per 10 pstn lines in the cable. Now with higher speeds and a poor copper line you can be bumped off (dropouts) because another line's frequency clashed with yours. That's a reasoning to get point across, not exact technical explanation.