What other people think about 8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter?
You can fax...and other info
I heard all these horror stories on faxing over VOIP so I never tried it. Well to my amazement Packet 8 sent so far 2 for 2 faxes....1st time 100% ok. Now these are SENT faxes. I'm not concerned with receiving faxes as there are other alternatives that are even better. For example one can get a dedicated free incoming fax from EFAX which deposits it into your e-mail. In my opinion this is much better anyway as now a permanent record exists of the original.
The other advantage of Packet 8 over VOnage is no annoying clicks of 1 sec drops. I have 2 friends who have Vonage and each time I talk to them there is an annoying drop-out of about 1 to 2 secs evey say 2 minutes. Not so with Packet 8.
Others have reported dropped calls with Packet 8. Only occasionlly do I experience this...but its only after say a 3 hour call. Most time no sweat. I use the 3 way calling a lot too.
Packet 8 line is ALWAYS UP. Its more reliable than my cell phone. As long as the cable is up so is Packet 8. In fact it has become the defacto way to tell if I have data service. If I got PAcket 8 dial tone its up.
Its easy to set up. Plug in an eternet connection. Plug in the phone connection. Answer the e-mail you get. BINGO...You got dial tone! Easier than a land line setup. The phone companies should be running real scared.
THe only downfall of Packet 8 is the box will not support multiple extentions. So you can't have two phones plugged into same box. THis was stupid of PAcket 8. But the work around is easy: Go to Sams Hohouse CLub and get a cordless 4 wireless phone...you know...the ones with 4 handsets. Now you got it covered. Works great.
Good service, great price.
I have been a Packet8 subscriber for over three years. Packet8 provides terrific value, and I never had any problems that their technical support staff wasn't willing and able to quickly address.
Note that many complaints with VoIP providers--and Packet8 is no exception--are due to the the customer's ISP, broadband speed, etc.
Packet8 just started hitting customers with a lot of extra fees, taxes, etc., bringing that nice $20 monthly plan up to almost $30.
Disclosure: Just this month switched to Sunrocket for their annual plan at $199 (which Packet8 matches), but more so to get a free hardware upgrade. (Sunrocket offers a phone adapter with built-in router.)
Feedback on the line and static
I've used this service for almost 8 months now. A lot of times, there's a feedback on the line (I can hear my own voice). My friends and family also tell me that they can hear static on the line when they're talking to me - at first I dismissed it as their phones but given enough complaints and that when I'm on my cell phone that doesn't happen I'm convinced it's the service.
I also think they deserve a low score because when compared to their competitors they don't have the same number of features even though they cost about the same.
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What other people think about 8x8 Packet8 Broadband VoIP Service with DTA-310 Phone Adapter?
You can fax...and other info
I heard all these horror stories on faxing over VOIP so I never tried it. Well to my amazement Packet 8 sent so far 2 for 2 faxes....1st time 100% ok. Now these are SENT faxes. I'm not concerned with receiving faxes as there are other alternatives that are even better. For example one can get a dedicated free incoming fax from EFAX which deposits it into your e-mail. In my opinion this is much better anyway as now a permanent record exists of the original.
The other advantage of Packet 8 over VOnage is no annoying clicks of 1 sec drops. I have 2 friends who have Vonage and each time I talk to them there is an annoying drop-out of about 1 to 2 secs evey say 2 minutes. Not so with Packet 8.
Others have reported dropped calls with Packet 8. Only occasionlly do I experience this...but its only after say a 3 hour call. Most time no sweat. I use the 3 way calling a lot too.
Packet 8 line is ALWAYS UP. Its more reliable than my cell phone. As long as the cable is up so is Packet 8. In fact it has become the defacto way to tell if I have data service. If I got PAcket 8 dial tone its up.
Its easy to set up. Plug in an eternet connection. Plug in the phone connection. Answer the e-mail you get. BINGO...You got dial tone! Easier than a land line setup. The phone companies should be running real scared.
THe only downfall of Packet 8 is the box will not support multiple extentions. So you can't have two phones plugged into same box. THis was stupid of PAcket 8. But the work around is easy: Go to Sams Hohouse CLub and get a cordless 4 wireless phone...you know...the ones with 4 handsets. Now you got it covered. Works great.
Good service, great price.
I have been a Packet8 subscriber for over three years. Packet8 provides terrific value, and I never had any problems that their technical support staff wasn't willing and able to quickly address.
Note that many complaints with VoIP providers--and Packet8 is no exception--are due to the the customer's ISP, broadband speed, etc.
Packet8 just started hitting customers with a lot of extra fees, taxes, etc., bringing that nice $20 monthly plan up to almost $30.
Disclosure: Just this month switched to Sunrocket for their annual plan at $199 (which Packet8 matches), but more so to get a free hardware upgrade. (Sunrocket offers a phone adapter with built-in router.)
Feedback on the line and static
I've used this service for almost 8 months now. A lot of times, there's a feedback on the line (I can hear my own voice). My friends and family also tell me that they can hear static on the line when they're talking to me - at first I dismissed it as their phones but given enough complaints and that when I'm on my cell phone that doesn't happen I'm convinced it's the service.
I also think they deserve a low score because when compared to their competitors they don't have the same number of features even though they cost about the same.