[geeks] Vonage alternative?

[Sandwich Maker]

" From: "Sheldon T. Hall" <shel at tandem.artell.net>
" 
" Quoth Dan Duncan ...
" >
" > Well, since the future of my Vonage line is in question I 
" > should start scoping out the alternatives.
" [snip]
" > I'm now on DSL without a voice line (naked DSL) so adding
" > voice service is an option that would probably stack up
" > decently against a VOIP service.
" 
" One of our winter storms took out my ISP for 72 hours this year, so I'm
" leery of an all-IP comms set-up.

my isp hasn't yet gone down but my power has, despite being on the
edge of an urban area.  it was only a short outage, probably for
maintenance somewhere.  i've just gotten a fresh battery to revive an
old stupid ups for the router.

" I've got DSL for the computers, a POTS line for the house, and a cellphone
" with "free" LD.  I could probably find lower-cost providers in each
" category, but the ones I have are as reliable as can be expected, and the
" prices are reasonable.
" 
" I also find having a POTS line to be a great comfort.  It doesn't garner
" many geek points, but it always works.  I can use any old phone anywhere in
" the house, so the SO can choose them for style.  If my DSL takes a dive, I
" can use dial-up over the POTS line. 

i put my dsl/voip router down by the demarc and plugged the house
phone wiring into it, and wired my [small] house for 100bt.  my phones
are western electric [;^>] 2500 and 2554.  i only recently upgraded
the kitchen from a 554...

for me cost was important, but i've had a few hitches and i may
rethink it if they don't clear up.

" So ... Were I you, I'd add a POTS line and take the hit on my geek points.

there's something to this, if you need dependable comms.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh at an.bradford.ma.us                       and think what none thought