Using VoIP to replace a land line

[PhotoJim]

MagicJack is a low-end voice service and probably uses very aggressive compression. That's how it can include long distance for free.

Quality depends on what you pay. I find some VoIP services are indistinguishable from POTS (landlines) and others are awful.

Vonage is reasonably good if you want a prearranged solution. I created my own by getting a Linksys PAP2 box (unlocked) and getting accounts with les.net and voip.ms. That way I have full control over what hardware or software I use. I don't get unlimited calls but the per-minute rate is very low.

[FBlack_111]

PhotoJim'

Thanks for the info. I thought Linksys PAP2 boxes were locked to a provider? How do you unlock one?

How is the sound quality on voIP.ms?

[VladS]

I for one would not recommend a DYI provider such as les.net or voip.ms for a new user. Instead I would have them go with an integrated porvider such as Vonage or Lingo on the high end and VoIPo or Future-Nine on the low end.

[PhotoJim]

Originally Posted by FBlack_111

PhotoJim'

Thanks for the info. I thought Linksys PAP2 boxes were locked to a provider? How do you unlock one?

How is the sound quality on voIP.ms?

voip.ms has two quality levels, with differing rates. The cheaper is too low quality for me. The more expensive, which is still very inexpensive, is much better.

You can buy unlocked PAP2 boxes. I got mine from eBay.

There is a learning curve so I don't totally disagree with the idea of doing a prepackaged solution. However, I was a VoIP newbie when I got my PAP2 and I was able to figure it out. Still, if the configuration breaks, it's up to me to fix it.