Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

DavidMcL

Apr 7, 2003, 2:21 PM

Post #1 of 9 (1282 views)

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A Long Distance alternative . . .

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I have waited until I have used this system for a month before commenting.

It is the Vonage system whereby you connect directly to your high-speed internet access with an adapter and then plug your telephone directly into that.
No computer needed.
You are assigned a telephone number in your choice of area code of the USA.
When you pick up the phone, you get dial tone out of that location. When someone calls the number, it rings your phone in your home, even though they are calling to your area code and number.
You also receive a voice-mail answering system.

Set-up Cost:
If you have a direct connection (DSL, Cable etc.)
Adapter about $80.00 USD

If you have wireless:
The adapter: about $80.00
A wireless access point: about $130.00 USD
A Router: range $120 to $300 USD (I chose a wireless router so that my home is also now wireless)
Total cost for wireless between $330 and $500.
The software set-up is not easy.

Monthly cost = $39.95

Thems are the basic facts.

Now.
How is it?

Great! There is a quality loss (wireless system) but not enough to be a deterrent. 90% of the time the connection is great. The other 10% - bad enough that I will call again later.
The major influence on the quality is time of day - bandwidth issues.

But here is the real pay-off.

For the $39.95, you receive unlimited LD in the US and Canada.
Calls into Mexico are between 50% to 75% less expensive than calling directly within Mexico (Shhhh)
For me, with LD charges of around $300.00 USD per month, I have amortized the capital outlay in one month.

I have no connection with the company.

Suerte!

David
David McL
WebJefe

Jeannie

Jul 14, 2003, 12:26 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1172 views)

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Re: [DavidMcL] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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Hi David,

I will be moving to Monterey area and I am interestedin hooking up a phone. I like the wireless. Where can I geta phone set-up like yours in Monterey. I will be calling the east coast of Canada and the USA. You said the software is hard to set-up. Can you recomment where I may hire someone to hook it up for me.

Thank you

Jeannie

(This post was edited by tonyburton on Jul 14, 2003, 4:10 PM)

DavidMcL

Jul 14, 2003, 12:52 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1167 views)

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Re: [Jeannie] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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Hola!
I do not know what hi-speed options you will have in Monterrey, but the simplest would be cable, then you won't need all the rest of the equipment that I had to get for my wireless setup.
The system is really simple that way.
Go to vonage.com and when you receive your package, you follow the instructions about plugging into the cable, then plug your telephone in and off you go!
The software issues I mentioned refer to the aditional wireless setup.

David
David McL
WebJefe

warhow

Jul 26, 2003, 11:39 AM

Post #4 of 9 (1134 views)

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Re: [DavidMcL] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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warhow

Jul 26, 2003, 11:48 AM

Post #5 of 9 (1133 views)

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Re: [DavidMcL] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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I second your recommendation, David. I too have Vonage installed although my initial expenses were considerably less than what you experienced, and, as far as Vonage is concerned there were no software installations. The minimum Vonage bandwidth requirement is a squeek higher than our maximum wireless bandwidth however folks who I have spoken with in the States who are familiar with VOIP services attest that the quality of our line was noticeably better than others. We have not noticed any degradation on our end.

I will say that during the week when my wireless link is otherwise quite busy the Vonage quality can suffer. This is not to say that it would be worse than a Telmex or callback line. And I have not experienced any line drops which were quite common on my callback service.

I recovered our initial investment in less than one month of usage.

It is sort of weird picking up the phone for the first time and hearing a Stateside-style dial tone.

The voicemail is also quite neat. Within a minute or so of someone leaving a message we receive an email with the message attached. No dialing to see if there are messages.

You also didn't mention that for someone with more modest calling requirements there is a $29.95 plan.

I plan on taking our Vonage box with us when we travel. The same box works anywhere as long as one can connect to a broadband network. I am anxious to see if I can make it work at the Holiday Inn in Saltillo which provides broadband connections in the rooms.

Warren

spiderwoman

Jul 28, 2003, 5:57 AM

Post #6 of 9 (1118 views)

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Re: [DavidMcL] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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David,

I have wireless hi-speed internet service via Laguna in Ajijic. Would I need all of the equipment you set yours up with? It may be worth considering switching ISP's to TelMex DSL.

Diana

spiderwoman

Jul 28, 2003, 12:19 PM

Post #7 of 9 (1110 views)

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Re: [DavidMcL] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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I contacted Vonage via email regarding their services and received a reply that they do not offer service outside the USA. Confused.

Brian

Jul 28, 2003, 3:22 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1104 views)

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Re: [spiderwoman] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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The service is not marketed here in Mexico but it does work here and anywhere else in the world where one has access to a broadband connection. What that means in practical terms is that 1) you need a mailing address somewhere in the US to where the apparatus can be sent and 2) a credit card in the US to which Vonage may automatically bill you on a monthly basis. That's it...it works great.

spiderwoman

Jul 28, 2003, 6:05 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1098 views)

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Re: [Brian] A Long Distance alternative . . .

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Thanks for the info Brian. I have all of the above, so I'll get started with it.

Diana