[geeks] Phone system (voip) question?

[James Fogg]

> While we're discussing phones, I'm curious, I have Skype, and
> I use it with my PowerMac G4 dual 500mhz machine running
> 10.4.2 and to say that the sound quality of a connection
> using Skype is lacking would be an understatement! Lots of
> echos, lag, etc. My question is: Do the hardware devices that
> do VoIP such as the Linksys router that has VoIP capabilities
> (and a POTS jack) sound any better? If so, how close to
> sounding like a regular wired phone do they come? BTW, I'm
> using Skype with a headset, so it's not a matter of trying to
> use it like a speakerphone (but it does sound like the older cheap
> speakerphones) Thanks!

I use Vonage (with a Vonage-provided Linksys router/ATA) and unless I
have a link with echo nobody can tell the difference.