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Compare Broadband Phone Providers
Today's Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Technology makes it possible for you to place calls over the Internet for pennies on the dollar. The days of the chopped speech and echoed voices that we used to associate with voice over Internet (VoIP) are a thing of the past. The quality has improved to the point where people won't even know you're calling them over the Internet unless you tell them.
Broadband phone services use your existing broadband Internet connection plus a special digital to analog phone adapter (DTA) to convert your regular phone signal into a digital signal that can be carried over the Internet.
All the broadband phone services we review provide the DTA devise at no charge. Most require that you own your own router in order to keep your phone and your computer connected to the Internet at the same time. See the diagram below for details on how to easily install your broadband phone.
How it all Connects
- Connect your Cable or DSL modem to a router using an ethernet cable
- Connect your Computer(s) to the Router using an ethernet cable(s)
- Connect the Phone Adapter to the Router with an ethernet cable
- Connect a regular phone (corded or cordless) to the Phone Adapter with a regular phone cord
- Plug the Phone Adapter into a power outlet
- Begin making calls!
Things to consider when you compare broadband phone services:
- You can use any of these broadband phone services with your exisiting phone. All these providers supply an DTA adapter to convert the signal from analog to digital.
- Most broadband phones do NOT support traditional 911 or E911 access to emergency services. You should always have an alternative means of accessing traditional E911 services. Packet8 is now supporting optional E911 service in select areas for an extra monthly fee.
- Your broadband phone will not operate in the event of a power outage or an outage of your broadband cable or DSL service.
- You can take your broadband phone ATA device on trips and continue to use it to make phone calls whenever you are able to connect to a broadband connection.
- If your DTA device is stolen, the thief can use it to make expensive international calls that you would be responsible for. In the event of theft, notify your provider immediately to terminate service to the device.
- Service for your broadband phone is dependent on the DTA device provided by your service provider. This means any telephones you want to operate on the service must be hardwired to that devise, so it is not very convenient for users who want multiple extensions around their home or office. To solve this problem, consider a multi-handset Cordless Phone that is ideal for broadband phone service.
- You can run multiple lines through your cable or DSL connection, but each line will need it's own account and you'll need a DTA devise for each line.
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