What good is this Free World Dialup thing you could put on the second line?
Would I need 2 phones by the computer then, and another Caller ID? I think
Free World Dialup is computer to computer, don't know anyone on that system.
I am definitely paying Time Warner too much for phone service with almost no
features. Will this thing need another IP from Roadrunner when I plug it
into my 5-port switch in adition to my two other systems? I only have the
other one on the network so I can transfer files that I forgot about to
here, after which I will probably turn it into a linux box.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Buddy Brannan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: phone service


> Hi Bob,
>
> No, it actually is true, with some caveats. And actually, I'd
> appreciate it if you'd use this service instead (affiliate link):
> http://clickit.url123.com/viatalk
>
> A couple reasons:
>
> 1) It's $2/month cheaper month to month, lots more cheaper if you
> prepay;
> 2) Cheap, cheap, cheap international rates;
> 3) You can take the second line on your adapter and use it for
> another VOIP service, such as Free World Dialup. (Vonage locks down
> their adapter and you can't do anything with it.)
>
> The page is accessible, as is the configuration page on the adapter
> Viatalk sends. I don't know much about Vonage.
>
> Anyway, I said there are caveats to the VOIP service. Any VOIP
> service such as Vonage, Viatalk, Packet8, or whichever:
>
> 1) If your Internet service goes down, so does your phone line.
>
> 2) If you lose power (and if your cable/DSL modem and phone adapter
> aren't on a UPS), you'll lose your phone service. If you're on a UPS,
> you can still lose phone service if your Internet service goes down.
>
> 3) E911 is probably not routed to the real 911 operator, but rather,
> to some other emergency dispatch center.
>
> For these resaons, I wouldn't have a VOIP phone as my only phone
> line. If you have DSL, this is a non-issue, because you need a phone
> line anyway. But if you have cable and want to cut your ties to the
> telco, or if you want cheap long distance (unlimited to the US and
> Canada), or if you need a phone number in an area code in which you
> don't live, a VOIP phone is a great thing. If your VOIP phone is your
> only home phone, I'd suggest also having a cellphone for emergencies.
> They're justd arned handy, anyway.
>
> All that said, I've had a VOIP line for a couple years now...I was a
> Packet8 subscriber for a long time and recently switched to Viatalk.
> The sound quality on Viatalk is better, and I've only had one outage.
>
> Buddy, KB5ELV
>