8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had Packet8 service for a year and a half now. I know many folks want to know how does this thing last over the long run. Well for me, its nearly perfect.
First thing you need to know is that this phone is dependant on electricity reaching this device as well as an internet connection. That means if you have a power outage, you have no phoneline. Something to consider. Also if your internet connection goes out frequently, so will your phone. If you have a power outage, you need to power cycle this device along with your modem and router in order to get back on the phone. I've learned this the hard way over time.
Also, if you're looking to totally dump MaBell and $30+ monthly fees for voicemail, 3 way calling, caller ID, call waiting, etc (in my area, those basic features ran me 50+ a month) I highly recommend a CABLE internet connection. Reason being is that most times if you disconnect your phone line completely from MaBell, you'll lose your DSL. Least in this area thats the way it goes. To go totally without MaBell, use a cable internet connection. And now they're offering a 2nd number or "virtual number" for 4.95 a month with no setup fee until January. Good deal for college parents or people with family in another state. Just get a packet8 virtual number in their hometown and have them enjoy calling you as a local number. Easy!
Another thing, this service does NOT support 411 or 311 calling AT ALL yet. They promise to have the feature in the future, but how long is unknown. This means to most people keeping a list of local non emergency direct switchboard numbers and using the internet as a phone book. Tedious, yes. But I havent found 311 and 411 access to be worth over 40 dollars a month to me just for the right to use them.
Unlike other broadband phones, Packet8 offers true 911 access. Your home is connected by address to the dispatch. Most other companies only offer a pseudo 911 that you have to tell the police or hospital or fire department your exact address. If its an emergency, do you really want to be hanging around your house to give and verify all of this information?
Another thing is system stability. MOST times their network is stable. I get one outage for about 4 hours a month. NOT the end of the world for most, but it can be annoying. Sound quality is good unless you're downloading 15 movies online and chewing up your bandwidth then you'll experience echoing and periods where you cannot hear the other person. Stop the download and you'll be fine. Just dont tear up the pipe and you'll be fine. For most this is not an issue.
Updates are rather simple, you go to their website, you download an application and it patches the device, simple! A manual install is also available that includes a diagnosis mode.
I've been nothing short of thrilled with their service and the price is definitely right!

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The 8x8 Packet8 adapter is a VoIP (voice over-internet protocol) device that allows you to use your phone to place calls over the internet (requires an 8x8 VoIP service plan). All you need is a broadband internet connection, a router, and this adapter. It's easy to set up and works with any high-speed DSL or cable internet connection. Simply plug your phone into the adapter, plug in the power cable, and connect the adapter to your network with the included Ethernet cable.

The Packet8 service and adapter allow you to enjoy all the features that you have come to expect from traditional phones, such as call waiting, caller ID, personalized voicemail, and three-way calling, while also taking advantage of features only possible by utilizing the latest in internet technology.

Anyone with broadband (high-speed) internet access can use their regular phone to make unlimited calls from anywhere to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, for one low monthly rate. All Packet8 subscribers also get unlimited worldwide calling to other Packet8 subscribers at no extra charge. Manage you account online, forward voicemail to your email as an attachment, and more. You also have the advantage of taking your home area code with you when you travel, so your home or office can reach you without paying long distance rates.
The Packet8 phone adapter has a small 5.5-by-4.0-inch footprint and weighs just 8 ounces. It also comes backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Adapter, Ethernet cable, AC power adapter, user's guide, service and promotional information
Terms and Conditions Buying this item signifies agreement to sign up for service with 8x8 and to pay a monthly subscription fee. For details about how the service works and for complete terms and conditions, visit www.packet8.net. For technical assistance, call 1-888-898-8733.

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D-Link SIP VOICE TERMINAL ADAPTER ( DVG-2001S ) Review

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(More customer reviews)This ATA just isn't very good. The web interface is incredibly clumsy and the features are limited. For the price, you can get Linksys (Sipura) ATAs that have both FXO and FXS ports and are far more capable and convenient to use, although Amazon for some reason chooses not to sell them directly.

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Item #: 63225B. D-Link, an industry leader in networking, introduces DVG-2001S VoIP Phone Adapter for the home environment. The DVG-2001S converts any existing analog (cord or cordless) telephone into an IP Phone. Also by plugging in a FAX machine, the DVG-2001S will enable users to send and receive fax the same way as a traditional analog telephone line.The DVG-2001S supports the SIP protocol, which is widely deployed by VoIP providers on the market. It also supports the most popular audio CODECs to ensure compatibility and voice quality.The DVG-2001S VoIP Phone Adapter comes with one FXS port to connect to the existing analog telephone and one Fast Ethernet port to connect to the broadband router.With a built-in secured provisioning feature, VoIP service providers can configure service settings such as a server address, CODEC and STUN settings via HTTPS/TFTP directly to the DVG-2001S.For additional security, all of the configuration settings are encrypted. Only the VoIP service providers/resellers with the authenticated password and user name can access it.The DVG-2001S features both the VAD (Voice Activity Detection) and CNG (Comfort Noise Consumption) to reduce the bandwidth consumption and to sustain voice quality.The DVG-2001S VoIP Phone Adapter has a built-in QoS setting to provide voice priority in IP networks and prevent dropped calls. By delivering a consistent quality of service, resellers will avoid having frustrated customers from switching to another VoIP service provider.The DVG-2001S is the ideal VoIP telephone adapter solution that will help VoIP service providers or resellers with all of the required attributes to grow and retain customers by delivering a robust and consistent VoIP solution.
Product DescriptionD-Link DVG-2001S VoIP Telephone Terminal Adapter - VoIP phone adapterDevice Type: VoIP phone adapterEnclosure Type: ExternalDimensions (WxDxH): 3.5 in x 3.2 in x 1.2 inData Link Protocol: Ethernet, Fast

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NETGEAR SPH200D - Cordless phone / VoIP phone - DECT - Skype Review

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(More customer reviews)I've always wanted one of these because I really wanted to give the voip thing a shot and save some cash too, but the initial price tag of these things were crazy, $700 all the way up to nearly $1,000 when availability got tight, NUTS! Now you can get them at about 60% to 70% off those prices and at that, while still not next to nothing, is still much more of a viable option for the masses. The thing to remember is that this is a dated phone, although it still does its job fine, it just doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the newer models. While you can hook it up to your standard phone line and your modem line I prefer to leave it just hooked up to the modem and use it as my Long Distance phone. Some say why bother with it when you can get skype via your cpu for free regardless but just call me old fashioned, I like using the phone. Also I'm on the cpu way to much in my life already, whatever I can do to get away from it I've decided is worth doing. It's really just a phone and that's what I wanted. I would 100% recommend using the setup disk or simply setting up your account online with Skype instead of doing all the stuff through the handset. Once set up the program really does transition flawlessly from your online settings and contacts right to the handset.
I do have one technical recommendation and fix I'll detail here. For the record I found this fix on one of the other reviews on this site but expanded upon it so the very basic cpu user can do it, and this fix is only needed if you have a cpu in conjunction with the phone, because as stated this phone only needs a modem you technically don't have to have a cpu to use it, all the setup can be done right on the handset. But of course if you're on this site I'll just assume you have a cpu. Now you will need a pencil and paper:
1st- On the handset hit the menu button, scroll to the settings tab and press select.
2nd- Scroll to the Network tab and press select
3rd- Press select on the DHCP, write down the IP address (all numbers and dots in exact sequence)
4th- On your CPUs address bar type in the exact IP address you wrote down, NO http or WWW (all numbers and dots in exact sequence)
5th- When prompted use the user name - admin and the password - password.
6th- On the left side of the Blue and White Netgear page select the Network option.
7th- there are two selections, the 2nd, Link Speed, should be set to Auto. It comes factory set to 10M, which is a low quality link compatible for older systems. Even if you have an older system in most cases you pull more than 10M and being in auto means your system won't be held slave to a set point.
Also you should save the IP address for future reference and system tweaks along with status info.
Thanks and hoped that helped.


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Simply plug the Dual-mode Cordless Phone Station into your Internet router (Ethernet port) to enjoy making Skype calls. In addition, you can plug the base station into your phone line (PSTN) wall jack to make landline calls - from the same cordless phone. Up to 3 additional phones can be added - so you can replace your current cordless phones throughout your home with NETGEAR's Dual-mode Cordless Phone with Skype.

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Linksys SPA3000 Analog Telephone Adapter 1 Port FXO + 1 Port FXS Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a powerful product, but with lots of settings, no manual, and some complexity to configure. Once configured, it works beautifully. I've configured it so that our local calls go out through our regular local phone company on the regular local phone line, but our long distance calls seamlessly go out via SIP on our VOIP provider. My non-technical wife just picks up the phone and dials any number, and it automatically figures out how to place the call for a good rate. Incoming calls just come in seamlessly. Caller ID works fine. It took about five evenings to get it set up properly, and I have a degree in computer science and lots of computer networking experience.
There's no manual provided with the product, and Sipura has not made the manuals easily visible on their website. If you're thinking about this product, do a web search for help in figuring out how to configure it. This is NOT something you'll just figure out without documentation.
Some embedded documentation would help this product tremendously. It's mostly configured via a web browser; while configuring, I should be able to click a "help" button for an explanation of what the various fields do. Even a well-written paper manual would help (the .pdf file I found wasn't so great). If this product were documented properly, it'd almost certainly rate 5 stars.

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The SPA-3000 continues to deliver on Sipura Technology's mission to provide market leading, best-in-class VoIP end points providing freedom and opportunity to service providers and end users.The SPA-3000 features VoIP adapter functionality found in the SPA-2000 and SPA-1000/1 with the additional benefit of an integral connection for legacy telephone network "hop-on, hop-off" applications. SPA-3000 users will be able to leverage their broadband phone service connections more than ever by automatically routing local calls from cell phones and land lines to a VoIP service provider and vice versa.A typical user calling from a land line or mobile phone will be able to reduce and even eliminate international and long distance telephone charges by first calling their SPA-3000 via a local phone number or by using a telephone connected directly to the unit. The advanced authentication and call routing intelligence programmed into the SPA-3000 will connect the caller via the Internet to the far end destination with security and ease. Using the SPA-3000 at the far end, calls can be answered immediately or further processed as a local call to any legacy landline or mobile phone allowed by the SPA-3000 dial plan.

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Uniden UIP1868P 5.8 GHz DSS Expandable Cordless Phone with Whole-House VoIP System and Corded Base (8x8 Packet8 Service) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this working in my home for about 6 months now and it works flawlessly. The setup is really easy - just plug it into your dsl/cable modem/router and the electric supply and that's all there is to it! Absolutely no complaints whatsoever. Great value for money especially now with the rebate..


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8x8 Inc. Network AC Uniden VoIP Phone w/One Cordless Phone Built In Router Expend Up 10 5.8GHz.

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Linksys by Cisco SRW208P 8-port 10/100 Ethernet Switch - WebView/PoE Review

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(More customer reviews)There was one setting I had to change to get them to work. It was under multicast. I had to set all of the ethernet ports to static. Other then that it worked perfect. Also this switch comes with 3 years hardware and 5 years of phone support from Cisco. They have people on the phones 24x7 which is awesome. And to top it off, the people you speak with are American!

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Growing businesses require cost effective, networking solutions that can scale with ever changing business needs. The Linksys SRW208P WebView managed switch brings a whole new level of intelligence and security to the network infrastructure. The combination of its intelligence and small size make it ideal for a conference room or training room where security and uptime are important. It offers a two Gigabit copper or optical interfaces for connection to a core switch. For Wireless or VoIP deployments, the SRW208P supports IEEE802.3af standard for Power over Ethernet. With automatic load sensing, the power control circuitry automatically detects Power over Ethernet on end-device before providing power. Power feeding of Ethernet limited for fixed 10/100 Base-T/TX ports. The solution can provide maximum output power per PoE port up to 15.4W on 4 ports or 7.5W per PoE port on 8 ports simultaneously.

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Internet Phone System Review

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(More customer reviews)Purchased and installed about 6 months ago. Stationed overseas so Vonage keeps us sane. The service has been great but the phone died. After troubleshooting with Vonage over the landline phone, they determined the power supply was bad (the plug that goes into the wall). They said they would replace it. 1 month later, no plug. Called and they said they didn't show it was ever mailed. Said they would mail (again). After another month, no show. Took plug to electrician friend, said plug was fine. We took the box apart and the circuit cards were corroded with a white powder which he said was an indicator it got wet or was in a very humid environment for some time. Probably sat in warehouse months before shipping out to us. Ordered Linksys Phone Adapter which uses regular house phone and been gravy ever since. Should have known better, and linksys was cheaper.

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8100-1 Vtech/Vonage Telephone System 1 Base Unit Router 1 Cordless Handset / Charger 5.8GHz Cordless Phone Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Caller ID / Call Waiting Expandable Up To 4 Handsets Handset Speakerphone Voicemail Message Waiting Indicator 50 Station Name / Number Caller ID Memory 50 Station Phone Directory / Dialer 5 Station Redial Memory Intercom Call Transfer 3-Way Conferencing 10 Selectable Ring Tones 3-Line Backlit LCD Display Illuminated Keypad Mute / Pause / Redial / Flash Adjustable Ringer / Volume Control Low Battery Indicator 2.5mm Headset Jack Belt Clip Wall Mountable Color: Gray / Silver VoIP Router Features: Built-In LAN / WAN Ports Auto-Configuration Firewall / Security Web-Based Browser **IP8100 requires a broadband internet connection w/ a Vonage service plan & does not operate on a regular (analog) phone line**

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Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Being someone who uses Skype constantly for both business and personal long distance and PC-to-PC phone calls, I got a Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype as a Christmas gift from a loved one who knows just how nerdy I am when it comes to new gadgets. I love them!
Unfortunately, I can only say that I *like* the new wi-fi phone from Belkin. Appearance-wise, it's terrific with a sleek black case, color screen and attractive key layout. It's a good, comfortable size and feels about like a stylish mobile phone. It comes with a USB cable for charging and software updates, as well as a regular power cord for charging. You can use the phone while it's connected to the charger, which is what I find myself doing a lot.
The sound quality is good and it connected right to my household wi-fi system once I punched in the security code. The controls are easy to access and use. I was quite excited to get going with it and used it for several days without incident.
Then it froze. No matter what I did, the buttons made no difference and the screen stubbornly stuck on 11:38 a.m. and no amount of prodding would break it free. I looked for some sort of reset button like you get with a Palm or other PDA-like device, but there isn't one. I finally decided that the only way to get the baby to reset would be to take out the battery and put it back in.
Thus, my next problem. The battery cover refused to budge. It was as if it had been super-glued shut. I pulled, pushed, yanked but it held firm. I had no other choice than to resort to the proverbial waste of time - support.
Yep, total waste of time. I tracked down Belkin support, filled out the form to inform them of my problem (frozen screen, stuck battery case) and got an answer from some clueless girl telling me I should go into the menu and use the "reset" function. Duh? The SCREEN IS FROZEN, honey! How the heck am I supposed to do that!
So, back to pulling, tugging and yanking on the battery cover. I finally managed to pry one corner up and get enough leverage to get the darned thing open without breaking it. I pulled the battery out, the phone reset and I was up and running again.
My next disappointment came when I stayed at a hotel that offered free wi-fi. I had hoped to use the phone to make some calls, but, alas, the hotel requires you to open their web page in a browser before you can connect to their access. That's all, just open their page in a browser - no inputting codes or anything. Just an open browser.
The Belkin phone has no Internet browser, a terrible oversight for a product that people will want to use at Internet cafes and the like. Not a smart move, Belkin.
Yes, the phone is supported by Boingo, which has hotspots here and there. In my area, my choices are a UPS Store or an RV park. Somehow I can't see myself hanging around those to make phone calls. I'm out of luck at Starbucks, hotels and anywhere without completely open wi-fi access.
Another minor peave is the lack of Skype chat support. My company uses Skype chat a lot during the business day, so I can't plan on using the Belkin Skype phone exclusively for business because there's no chat support. I understand that trying to do chat on that itsy bitsy keyboard is difficult, but people send text messages all the time on cell phones, so there should be support for chat. If nothing else, I'd like to be able to set the phone up to let people know that I don't have Skype chat, try me on AIM or whatever.
Anyway, don't think I'm totally unhappy with the Belkin Wi-Fi-Phone for Skype. I'm not. It's great to carry around the house with me when I'm not on the computer. It just means I have to switch back and forth between it and a Skype-enabled computer quite a bit. I guess my suggestion for those considering one is to say that it's great if you just want a wireless Skype phone for home, have no need for Skype chat and don't plan on trying to use it too many places outside your home network. It's a shame, but it probably won't work for you on the road or in your neighborhood Starbucks.

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Pre-loaded with Skype software and featuring the same Skype interface, the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone is ready to use with any wireless network. To make a call, simply use the intuitive on-screen color menu to locate your contact and view their online availability—exactly like you use Skype today. The Wi-Fi Phone is Skype-certified, which means that it adheres to all Skype's requirements to ensure that your Wi-Fi Phone experience is just like it is on your PC.

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Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset ( VOIP3211G/37 ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Great sound quality and even better range this phone works much better than I imagined. The phone has a feel of quality. I agree with the comments made by grn4jd and I should add that grn4jd's comments made me realize how to dial directly from the handset. The fault that people are making about dialing directly is because of the bad documentation, also Philips tech support is not great about how to configure the phone not to disable the computer speakers. I actually found the fix to this at Philips online Knowledge base. I won't go in the details but it has something to do with going into Control Panel>Sounds and also you need to go into Skype>tools>options>sound devices and choose "Audio in, Audio out & Windows default device" then reboot. As far as dialing out directly from the phone, it's simple, dial the prefix 001 then the 10 digit number then press the red Skype button. The only thing wrong with this phone is that the computer needs to be on for it to run Skype and there are phones out there than run independent of the computer but their not for me because they make Skype the default connection over the landline phone.
EDIT: I am editing my review to add a comment. The reviews of this phone are interesting, this phone seems to get either 5 stars or 1 star and I chalk that up to people figuring out how to dial directly out and also to those that didn't figure out how to fix any conflict with the phone and sound cards. Definitely this phone easily dials out using Skype directly. I posted my solution to dial the prefix 001 and the reviewer Matt B. posted another solution that looks even easier than my solution. Also with some aggravation, I believe the sound card conflict can always be solved. The solution lies within ControlPanel>Sounds and the Skype Toolbar.

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Philips VOIP3211G/37 DECT 6.0 VOIP PHONE SYSTEM (1-PHONE BUNDLE) 1-PHONE BUNDLE; MAKES & RECEIVES SKYPE VOIP CALLS; MAKES INTERNET OR STANDARD PHONE CALLS; 50-CONTACT ADDRESS BOOK; AMBER DISPLAY & BACKLIGHTING; SPEAKERPHONE; UP TO 100-HOUR STANDBY TIME & 10-HOUR TALK TIME; ACCESS TO YOUR SKYPE CONTACT LIST FROM ANYWHERE IN THE HOME; CALL MANAGEMENT FEATURES INCLUDE CALL WAITING CALLER ID, CALL ON HOLD, MESSAGE WAITING & CALL TRANSFER;HANDSET KEYS INCLUDE LINE, DIALING KEYPAD, PHONEBOOK, CALL LOG, REDIAL, SKYPE & LOUDSPEAKER;AMBER BACKLIT;10-CALLS REDIAL LIST CAPACITY;10 MELODY RINGERS WITH LANDLINE OR INTERNET CALL DISTINCTION

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D-Link i2Eye DVC-1000 10/100TX Broadband VideoPhone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The video quality is a big issue with us since it is video conferencing and the whole point is to see the other person in good quality and full motion. This product was very easy to setup because of the setup wizard and the documentaion that comes with it. After the couple minutes of setup I was ready to make a call to my friend who has one as well. The first call was a complete eye opener.
I was able to see and hear him so very clearly (with cordless phone attached to the unit) and it was almost too good to be true. I could see him so well it was almost like I was there in his living room. well not exactly, but it was like there was a TV camera in his living room and I was watching him talk to me. One of the best parts about this whole thing was that this call was totally free to make. Except for of course the initial cost of the unit and the monthy broadband bill, but I was paying that bill every month anyways.
When friends/company would come over they would see this little box on top of my 26 inch TV and ask what it was. So I'd call my friend and show them. They would instantly want one once they saw it in action. I've probably influenced about 3-4 people who eventually bought one of these and now we have a little network of people who we know that we can call and who can call us.
This little box that sits on our TV and only needs a remote to use it a beautiful thing. Once everyone gets one, or at least all the people I call, I believe that this will replace our regular phones (at least when calling each other), long distance, or local, its all the same.

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The D-Link DVC-1000 i2eye videophone introduces the world of videoconferencing over the Internet, bringing you and your family, friends, and colleagues together. Because the DVC-1000 i2eye videophone is a standalone device, you do not need a computer to videoconference over the Internet.
The previously complicated process of conducting a videoconference is simplified with the DVC-1000. Connect a standard telephone and a television to the DVC-1000, plug in a standard Ethernet network cable connected to your broadband Internet connection, and you are ready to conduct real-time videoconferencing.
Using advanced video compression technology, the DVC-1000 videophone maximizes image and audio quality within the available bandwidth. The DVC-1000 can send and receive video at up to a full 30 frames per second. It is an ideal solution for consumers and small businesses with high-speed Internet access.
Easy-to-use setup wizards guide you step-by-step through the setup of the DVC-1000 videophone. You can be up and working in minutes. With the DVC-1000 it is easy to make changes to personalize your videoconferencing display.
The remote control that is included with the DVC-1000 allows you to easily answer an incoming videophone call or initiate a new one. The built-in caller ID provides privacy protection. You can know who is calling before you answer.
Be there real-time, anytime. You won't miss important communication with your friends, family, and colleagues with the i2eye DVC-1000 videophone.

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NETGEAR SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review concerns only the SPH200W; I don't know anything about the earlier SPH101.
I was hesitant to buy this product based on reviews, but I went ahead and got it, expecting to have to do some troubleshooting.
The product has been completely satisfactory to me. The phone is adequately sturdy, battery life is quite long long (I power the phone down when I'm on the move to keep it from searching for networks, and I get 3-5 workdays of standby out of one charge), and call quality is fine. Incoming call clarity is superb; outgoing clarity isn't always great because of the mic placement and quality on this phone. Setting up the phone is easy and intuitive. The phone connects quickly and reliably to networks, and options for preferred networks, entering passphrases, etc., are many and easy. Making calls is very easy. As is clearly indicated on this product's box, there's no onboard web browser, so you can't authenticate on a network using a browser. If you just have to register hardware on a network you use (like I do at work), that's easy - use your computer to register, or just tell your IT person the MAC address of your phone, which is under the battery.
You can charge the phone using the included cradle which receives a male USB mini-A plug, or you can plug a USB mini-A cable directly into the phone. Netgear supplies you with an AC adapter which plugs into the wall and terminates with mini-A, so you can charge this phone like you would any mobile phone. There's also an A- to mini-A USB cable in the box, so you can charge from your computer if you need to. Both methods work with either the cradle or without it. Very versatile charging options.
Here's what I think will be useful to potential buyers -
Netgear's support is mediocre at best, and I couldn't get any info. from them about compatible headsets or batteries. Don't buy this phone expecting excellent support from the manufacturer. I did some legwork, and much research later, I have answers:
"Standard" headsets don't work with the SPH200W. You need a 4-pole plug, to start, and then not all headsets of this description will work. Nokia headsets have worked for me - I bought an HS-47 for peanuts, and it works great. This significantly improved outgoing call quality.
Batteries. No help from Netgear on this one, I'm sad to say. The battery for the SPH200W is lithium, 3.7V, and has 900mAh capacity. If you search for batteries which are interchangeable with Nokia BL-5C, you'll find one which will work. The Netgear battery is the shape of the BL-5C, and many BL-5C replacements are 3.7V (vs. 3.6) and some are higher capacity than the stock one (Lenmar makes one which is readily available and works very well with this phone). If you absolutely must have tons of battery life out of this appliance, get an extra battery and you'll be good to go for a long long time.
Other complaints of others:
1) "the speakerphone isn't hi-fi." It's true. Have you heard high-quality sound from a mobile phone's speaker? I never have. This works just fine; I can understand what callers are saying when I use the speaker. I don't listen to lossless audio playback on my phone.
2) "outgoing call quality is poor." Not quite true, though this is the SPH200W's weak point. It's often just as clear as a digital/cell connection, but sometimes it's obscured enough to be annoying. If you want to upgrade, spend a few bucks and get a good headset. If this still doesn't satisfy you, wait for the next generation of wi-fi phone technology.
3) "battery life is terrible." Not true. If "less than 9 days of standby" is "terrible," then I guess I can see what folks are saying here. You get plenty of talk/standby time out of this battery, and it's very easy to keep it charged up with all the options you have. Extra batteries are also easy to come by.
I'm glad Netgear is producing VoIP equipment. This is a good piece, and I recommend it to anyone who is weaning him/herself from a 2-year wireless contract.

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Unlimited Free Wireless Calls to Skype Users, Without a PC. Make and receives Skype phone calls wherever you have Wi-Fi access. Works with most leading Wi-Fi hotspot providers including T-Mobile USA. Lets you talk for free to other Skype users without a PC. Calls any phone worldwide at low SkypeOut rates and NO MONTHLY FEES. Works with security protected home WiFi networks. The SPH200W is compatible with leading hotspot providers that support the WISPr (Wireless Internet Service Provider Roaming) protocol, including T-Mobile USA. A list of WISPr hotspots can be found at www.netgear.com/hotspots. NETGEAR neither operates nor guarantees the continual availability or compatibility of Wi-Fi hotspots. Subscription or usage fees may apply for Wi-Fi hotspot usage. Wi-Fi hot-spots requiring browser-based authentication are not supported. For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited. The Skype service is offered and operated solely by Skype, and NETGEAR does not guarantee Skype service availability, quality or pricing. No emergency callingemergency calls will need to be made by alternative methods. This phone will not function during a power failure or broadband outage. Use of Skype software, SkypeOut and/or SkypeIn is subject to Skypes terms of service and end user license agreement.

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Uniden UIP165P Packet8 Compatible 5.8 GHz Digital VoIP Internet Telephone with Speaker Phone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I started with packet8 2 years ago. I have been very heppy with the service and have saved a minimum of about $10/month for the last 2 years over other Vendors.
About 6 months ago, I started having some line problems. I started a case on the website and was emailed the next day by a technician that told me I should check the software version of my packet8 "box". I followed the directions and updated the firmware, which cleared up the problem.
Lastly Packet8 recently sent to their customersout a "VOIP Quality & Connectivity Speed Test". What I found out is that voice quality is directly proportional to total line speed and amount of throughput available during the call. Meaning if I am downloading a big file, streaming music and talking on the packet8 line, I better have a big "pipe" of internet connectivity or my call will not sound very good.
I recommend that everyone consider that VOIP (no matter what company you deal with) is dependant to your internet connection. If you are paying for the cheapest, lowest DSL connection available, don't blame Packet8 for spotty calls while you surf/download/stream.

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Packet8 compatible 5.8 GHZ digital VoIP Internet telephone with dual keypad and speaker phone.Built in Router and firewall, easy web-based configuration for advanced features, 100-number shared Caller ID/phonebook memory, dual keypad, base and handset speakerphone, backlit display, trilingual menus, Caller ID display, 20 ring tone options, personal ring feature, lighted keypad, last 3 number redial, mute/hold features, supports and external analog telephone

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Linksys Network Optimizer for Gaming and VoIP Review

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(More customer reviews)I was having some issues with VOIP quality dropping if our PC's were in heavy use on the internet. So I picked up this device hoping to fix the issues, and sure enough, it worked!
Setup was PAINLESS beyond belief! I plugged it in, waited 3 mintues, and it was done, completely automatic exactly as described.. A 5 year old could hook this thing up!
In testing, it works perfect.. I saturated my internet connection with downloads and video streaming, then tried to make a VOIP call, and the call was crystal clear. This device squeezed down the other things, and allocated more space for the VOIP, and once the call completed, it increased back up the other items.

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The SPA400 features the ability to connect up to four (4) standard analog telephones lines to a Linksys Voice System (LVS) VoIP network and includes the additional benefit of an integrated voicemail application. The SPA400 utilizes multiple analog phone lines and automatically routes calls to and from your existing PSTN telephone service. Designed to be implemented with the LVS IP Telephony System, the SPA400 enables cost-conscience business users to leverage the high value features generally found only on more expensive PBX equipment. The SPA400 also includes an integrated voicemailapplication supporting up to 32 voicemail accounts or boxes with customized greetings, providing LVS users the ability to receive and playback voicemail messages from their Linksys IP Phones. The SPA400 supports four (4) RJ-11 FXO ports to connect to the PSTN and also includes one 10/100 BaseT RJ-45 Ethernet interface that is used to connect to the local IP network. Compact in design, the SPA400 is perfectly suited for a small business in providing reliable operation for both VoIP and PSTN voice communication service.

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Linksys WIP320 Linksys Wireless-G Skype iPhone Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The prices of Skype-certified phones or other VoIP phones are expensive. This is one of the lower-priced phone you can get your hands on.
The convenient feature about this stand-alone wireless Skype phone is that you don't have to be tied to your computer to make calls. In fact I use it as my house phone for outgoing calls and it works just fine. The sound quality is more than okay as expected from internet calls.
Set up is straightforward. No need to read the manual as the screen will guide you sign in, if you already have a Skype account, or sign up, if you are new.
If you are an existing user, it just carries over all the contacts to the phone. Give it time to update from the internet and your contacts will appear. No need to type all over again.
However, if you are a new user I strongly suggest signing up and entering or importing your contact from your computer. That way you have your contacts from your address book or email account ready to be imported. If not, it's easier typing from a full keyboard. Once updated, this will also carry over to the phone.
Pros:
1. Free up your computer resources and electricity by using a stand-alone Skype phone.
2. Good design in a light-weight package loaded with user-friendly controls. Normal and advanced features are readily accessible on the phone menu. Just read thru the display and navigation will be straight-forward.
3. Relatively cheap compared to other Skype-certified wireless phones.
Cons:
1. Battery life is horrible. A few hours of use and it will need charging. If mobile phones can last more than a day of normal use, this should be able to as well. Linksys will need to investigate and release a firmware update on this issue.
2. NO SPEAKERPHONE! Despite the iPhone having a loud speaker that announces it's own boot up, this phone surprisingly does not have a speakerphone. This is definitely a design flaw and needs a software update.
3. The time and date resets itself to 01-01-2006 and 00:00am whenever the phone is shut off. While all other settings are saved. That's plain stupid. Furthermore, you have to manually set the correct time. While all internet devices are able to connect to the...umm...internet and sync with any server for correct date and time. This phone - that depends on the internet for functionality - is not able to sync with any time server at all. Mwahahaha! Seriously, Linksys has got to do something about this feature. In fact I have to set my own Daylight Saving Time whenever it is in effect. This has got to be updated.
4. Relatively slow response time. A few milliseconds of lag when won't hurt. But it is there and regular users will notice it. And I don't know if this is due to the nature of internet calls, Skype structure or the device itself having a slow processor.
All in all it serves its purpose of making wireless internet calls without the dependency for a computer. But it is an apparent version 1 product that seriously needs firmware and software updating if it wants to be known as THE iPhone rather than be trumped in name by Apple's iPhone.
By the way, my household is all Mac and this phone connects flawlessly to my Apple Airport Extreme Base Station (b/g device, not the latest n model) without any wireless disconnection at all or interference from other wireless base station in my apartment building. I have been on calls for as long as 30 minutes and I have not encountered intermittent audio quality or drop signals. I am using WPA authentication and this phone was able to detect and join to the router without any problems.
So despite it's shortcoming, it's still a respectable phone and enables me to make free and cheap calls.
UPDATE:
Feb 23, 2007 - The phone has twice been returned and I just asked for a refund. I haven't patronized a Linksys product in a long time and I was hedging on the fact that any kinks on the phone and further customer feature request would be quickly incorporated into the phone. As it stands, the phone hasn't received any software revision AT ALL. The phone is still at hardware version 1.0 despite numerous flaws mentioned here and especially at Linksys' own customer feedback forum.
I have spoken to their customer and technical support with great disappointment. I was on hold for most of the time for issues they are aware of, but have no solution. In fact when I complained about the lack of speakerphone function despite pointing out that this has been explicitly mentioned on their website the solution was the easy fix - REMOVE ALL MENTION OF SPEAKERPHONE FUNCTION FOR THE PRODUCT. Good thing I saved the web pages mentioned about it so I could show the Tech what I'm talking about. She did see it herself in her own documentation. Then a few days later Linksys' position is "what speakerphone?" This is what ultimately turned me off. They were releasing a first generation product, but providing no future support and cheap-shot fixes to customers. If this was how the company is monkeying with the patrons, I don't want to even be their customer. So product has been returned.
UPDATE 2: MAY 26, 2007
Linksys has FINALLY issued a firmware upgrade as of May 24, 2007 which is version 1.1.0.16 (from the only existing previous version of 1.0.0.0). Among the long list of new feature, bug fixes and enhancements - A SPEAKERPHONE. After months of silence they only decided to provide their first ever firmware upgrade. This may come a little too late as lots of customers have jumped ship by now to other brands. Damage to phone reputation has already been done. Evidence is the drop in price.
I'm surprised Linksys/Cisco has allowed this to happen to them. Hopefully they have learned their lesson and will focus their attention back to the customer.

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The iPhone WIP320 is part of the iPhone family of handheld devices which harness the power of the Internet to deliver more than talk, uniting the familiarity of the telephone with compelling Internet services, access to personal content, and integration with the home to create complete communications solutions. iPhone - More than Talk

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D-Link DVG-1402SL Broadband Voice Service VoIP Router, Lingo Service Plan Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the D-Link DVG-1402 S/L to try cheap overseas calls to Western Europe; that's where our families are. My first router didn't work so well - poor voice quality, it got really hot to the touch, and after a day or so I couldn't even connect to the internet through it. A week and a RMA later, the new router is working very well. I also learned that the poor voice quality was partly due to the cheap V-Tech 2.4 GHz cordless I was using with it. When I used a corded phone, everyone was impressed that the service sounded fine. Liking the cordless idea, though, I switched to a Panasonic 900 MHz DSS phone and that works great.
When not using the VoIP feature the speed is fine, 4Mb down, 400Kb up, on average. With VoIP in use, however, (making a live call) the down speed is about 2Mb but the uplink drops off to around 24Kb! You can get better internet speed by putting the DVG-1402 behind another router (in my case a Netgear RP-614) and just use the D-Link box for the VoIP feature - but that wasn't the point of buying it!
I like Lingo as a VoIP service. It works fine for me. But don't buy the DVG-1402 as a replacement router just because it has the VoIP feature. Just get the regular Lingo inerface and put it behind the good router you already have.

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link DVG-1402SL Broadband Voice Service VoIP Router, Lingo Service Plan

The DVG-1402S is designed for businesses or homes that want to take advantage of Internet connectivity and Voice Over IP using a single gateway. The DVG-1402S enables standard phones to be used for voice calls over the Internet. Telephone calls made over the Internet (VoIP) maximizes your broadband investment and is a cost-effective way to make phone calls. Enjoy low-cost long-distance calling and faxing with the DVG-1402S. Using your existing broadband connection, the DVG-1402S connects to your cable or DSL modem. Connect up to two regular phones to the DVG-1402S, and you are ready to make VoIP calls. Choose a Lingo phone service plan and receive your first month FREE! Unlimited plans start at $19.95 and include Unlimited calling to anywhere in the US including HI, AK, USVI and PR, Canada and Western Europe and Unlimited calling to other in-Network Lingo subscribers.

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IPEVO S0-20 WiFi Phone for Skype Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have been using the Ipevo So-20 Skypephone for over a week now (mine came directly from Taiwan) and I am amazed at how well it works.
Previously I had tried and returned both the Belkin and Netgear Wi-Fi phones because they were full of bugs, the battery life was ridiculous and call quality inferior to Skype calls from a PC. I eventually settled for the now discontinued Linksys CIT-400 and I am quite satisfied with it except that battery life is also poor and it requires an interface (access point)to be connected to your modem/router.
The Ipevo SO-20 is a totally autonomous Wi-Fi Skypephone, all you need is a wireless network (B or G). Compared to its predecessors the Ipevo has the following advantages:
-Li-ion battery: the SO-20 can last up to 3 days off the charger on stand-by, but count on a couple of days between charges in normal use.
-Wi-Fi connection manager: the Ipevo allows you to manage your wireless access by storing favorite networks and their access keys. You can also decide whether it can connect to non-saved networks or only to preferred ones. It supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption (I just think you cannot use it when you have to log-in on a network through a web page, but check the Skype site, I think they have a flat-rate package to access all Boingo hot-spots worldwide).
Wireless range is pretty decent, I never went below 3 bars (out of 5) inside my home.
-Very modern and clean design and the feel is not that of cheap plastic. The screen is very legible, the keypad is backlit, you can adjust the volume with 2 dedicated keys on the side, like on a regular cell phone and there is a headset jack. You can charge the Ipevo either directly from the charger via a mini-USB connection (handy if you need to use it while charging), or by dropping it on the supplied cradle.
Overall the Ipevo SO-20 is an amazing Wi-Fi Skypephone and I highly recommend it.

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Operate via a Wi-Fi wireless Internet connection. This gives you the freedom to make Skype calls when you connect to a secure or open Wi-Fi network (that does not require browser-based login or authentication).No computer required. It is a much simpler and comfortable way to make and receive Skype calls, without having to sacrifice the benefits of Skype's free and low-cost services.

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Cisco-Linksys CIT400 Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit with Integrated Skype Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)With the CIT400 Linksys comes very close to having a 5 star gadget. I'll break my review into several parts.
Setup: 5 stars - it couldn't have been easier. I plugged the base station into my home network and turned the power on. It was that simple within a few minutes I was making calls. I already had a Skype account so I'm not sure how simple it is the sign-up via the phone.
Design: 3 stars - the phone feels like it was designed by a router company. Nothing really stands out in the design of the phone or the software interface. It's pretty functional but pales in comparison to the UI on most cell phones. Several things that could be better with the UI (and are probably fixable with a firmware upgrade): CallerID doesn't reference your contacts (like most cell phones). When phone numbers in the call log don't fit on the screen they go into a scroll mode, making them impossible to read. The phone doesn't register when another phone in the house has answered a call thus placing them under 'missed calls', my 15 year old at&t cordless phone somehow manages to do this. There is no browser interface to the phone - it would be nice to configure it this way since it is a network device. It's difficult to change Skype accounts quickly. Don't get me wrong the phone is quite functional, but many aspects of it could have been executed better.
Quality: 4 stars - overall I've been quite pleased with the quality of the Skype calls. They sometimes suffer from a delay (thus not 5star) but are good enough to replace my long distance company.
Service: 1 star - I'm probably being harsh but in today's connected world I consider it very bad form for high tech companies to not have employees that care enough to read and respond to their own online forums. I own other gadgets, like a Tivo and Roku Soundbridge, where I can find pretty much the answer to anything by reading the product forum hosted on the company web site. This is mainly because those companies have employees who seem to want to connect with their customers. It makes sense - it's an inexpensive way to support a product. In the case of the CIT400 (and other Linksys phones) the forum stinks. I have yet to see a knowledgable representative of Linksys post there. It wouldn't take a lot of effort and to me shows a lack of pride in the product.
Skype service isn't any better. When I tried to see if anything could be done to improve the delay issues I was having on some calls, I exchanged a frustrating set of emails with Skype service asking me to replace the drivers on my sound card and making sure the microphone on my PC wasn't as fault. In other words they kept sending me pre-formulated canned repsonses.


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The Linksys CIT400 Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype is part of the iPhone family of products that use the Internet to enhance the way you communicate. The CIT400 is a full-featured cordless phone that provides an easy way to take advantage of Skype Internet calling as well as place calls over your normal phone line (PSTN) from a single device. No PC required! Just sign into your Skype account from the handset, and your contacts and their availability are displayed on your color screen. Advanced DECT cordless technology won’t interfere with 802.11 wireless networks. Dual-Mode capability lets you choose whether to make calls over a standard telephone line or with Skype. Just select who you want to talk to from your contact list on your handset and get ready to talk.
Of course, the handset supports SkypeOut dialing as well as your Skype contact list display. It rings when you have a Skype or SkypeIn or standard telephone call coming in, and shows the caller's ID on the screen. The handset also supports call waiting and Skype's optional voicemail service. When you're on a call, you can hit the mute button for privacy, or use the speakerphone function to let everyone join in. Other features include polyphonic MIDI ringer melodies on the handset and voice encryption for maximum security. You'll also enjoy 120 hours of standby time and six hours talk time on the handset's rechargeable battery.
The Linksys CIT400 also allows you to choose to make calls to other Skype users or over your existing standard telephone line. You'll get the convenience of a cordless phone and all its features, plus the high-quality voice reception integrated right into your Skype handset--no computer is required.
Long Range, Clear Sound, and Minimal Interference Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication (DECT) technology enables long range, great security, and incredible call clarity. Operating at 1900MHz, the CIT400 uses a different wavelength than the crowded 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequencies used by most cordless phones. So it won’t interfere with wireless networks such as 802.11b or 802.11g Wi-Fi.
Easy Setup The included Quick Start Guide walks you through the easy steps to setup your new dual-mode phone. Skype is already installed on the base station. Plug in the cables and sign into your account.
What is Skype? Skype is a little piece of software that lets you make free calls to your friends all over the world. With an Internet connection and Skype in use at both ends, you can call anyone, anywhere in the world, for free! And with the optional SkypeOut service, you can make low cost calls to traditional landline or mobile phones worldwide at local rates.
The CIT400 has Skype software embedded in its cordless base station. Plug the integrated Ethernet port into your home network and use Skype without needing to ever turn on your computer.
What's in the Box Handset, 2 AA NiMH batteries, charger, base station, 2 power adapters, RJ-11 cable, RJ-45 cable, quick installation, and user guide on CD.

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