VOIP SunRocket Internet Phone Service $199 for 15months = $13.27/month

[Robor]

Hey there George. That's right - I'm back! As of today I am officially back on Sunrocket.

Get this... I got 15 months for $199 *and* free overnight shipping of my free equipment. The Sunrocket CSR said if you signup online you don't get free overnight shipping. Now there's no free 2.4Ghz phones in this deal but that's okay. I've got a pair of 5.8Ghz Unidens I prefer anyway.

BTW - the Sunrocket CSR couldn't have been more helpful. I don't know where she was from but I suspect Canada as it was obvious her native language was English. It took a while because she had to reactivate my old account but she was patient, polite, and even friendly. I'm still waiting for my account to become active online but hopefully I'll be back in business sometime tomorrow night. Last time I was up and making outbound calls in 5 minutes and my inbound Sunrocket numbers worked as well.

BTW2 - What firmware do you recommend for a Linksys WRT54G? I've got a v2 (I think) but it will definitely handle the 3rd party Linux firmware. I'm running a Sveasoft (Satori?) version right now.

Here's my experience when trying to cancel Vonage

Me: I call Vonage on Sunday requesting cancellation. Wait in queue. When CSR answers I explain I want to cancel my service.
Vonage CSR: Oh, you want to cancel? That office is closed - please call back during the week.
Me: What do you mean that dept is closed? I can't cancel my service on a weekend?
Vonage CSR: No sir. I'm sorry
Me: Why is there a different department to handle cancellation of service and why don't they work on the weekends?
Vonage CSR: (something about not being the person in charge of those decisions)
Me: Call back this morning and wait in queue. CSR answers and I explain I want to cancel.
Vonage CSR: Asks why I want to cancel. Tries to send me to tech support.
Me: Already gone through the issues with tech support. I just want to cancel.
Vonage CSR: You know we'll hit you with a cancellation fee. Still want to cancel?
Me: Why will I get hit with a cancelation fee when the service didn't work as advertised?
Vonage CSR: It's in the TOS, blah, blah, blah.
Me: Fine. I'll pay the cancelation fee. Just include it in my final bill.
Vonage CSR: We're sorry to lose you as a customer, blah, blah, blah. I'll connect you with our cancelation dept.
Me: Um, I thought that's who I'm talking to. That's what I selected from the menu options.
Vonage CSR: Sorry, I'm just regular customer support.
Me: But I chose the terminate service option.
Vonage CSR: Oh, the phone system transfers you here first so we can troubleshoot before canceling.
Me: If I wanted support I would've selected support. I want to cancel.
Vonage CSR: I understand, let me connect you.
Me: No, you don't understand. I'm not going to sit in another queue for 15 minutes (probably longer for cancelations) waiting for the cancelation dept. Just notify them for me.
Vonage CSR: I can't do that.
Me: Why not?
Vonage CSR: Because they need to be notified by you that you want to cancel.
Me: And they would have if the phone system had routed me to the correct dept. Since it didn't I'm speaking to you and notifying you that I want my account terminated.
Vonage CSR: But I can not close the account - only they can.
Me: That's fine. I know it's not your fault but I feel this process is poorly designed and deliberately difficult. As I consider my account closed as of today. Any charges for service after today will be disputed with my credit card.

Woohoo woo hoo hoo... More like, "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leeeeave!"

 

[Kelemvor]

For the Linksys Firmware, I was told that the HyperWRT or wahtever it is is good for the QoS support which is what most people want when using it with VoIP. That's what I'm planning to try first when I get my router.

Here's a Comparison Page:
http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=31

 

[daweeze02]

I have all my wrt's running dd-wrt and my sunrocket never drops calls even while downloading at 1800 kb/s through my fios.

 

[agrall]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
For the Linksys Firmware, I was told that the HyperWRT or wahtever it is is good for the QoS support which is what most people want when using it with VoIP. That's what I'm planning to try first when I get my router.

Here's a Comparison Page:
http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=31

Franky,

What kind of settings are typically used on the QoS?

 

[Jlensbo]

Originally posted by: georgepa
daweeze-

What is your actual renewal date? I just renewed a few days ago, but my CC has not been charged and in the web portal it still shows "Your SunRocket Annual Edition is up for renewal..." I called them and everything looks good. The way I understand it is that they won't actually charge your credit card until the day the renewal has to go in. I guess that is better, no need to be charged until it actually is "due." Why charge your card if you still have 3 weeks left-over on your account? I won't worry about it until the actual upcoming renewal date, on which I expect my credit card to be charged.

My 1st year was up on March 11 but I renewed a few days before that (and got two more phones overnighted to me!). I received a confirmation email thanking me, but the website tells me that since I didn't renew I've been switched to the monthly plan. I also received an email today ("2nd request") asking if I wanted to renew... I suspect that I will be charged a monthly AND an annual fee and will have to call to get the month credited back to my account... this is what I had to do last year. No big deal (but it would have been if I didn't have some spare change on my credit/debit card).

I still love 'em... and now I have two MORE phones. Now I'll have one in the bathroom AND the back yard!

 

[Kelemvor]

Is there any use at all for the Phone 2 port on the Gizmo? I'd like to be able to route the signature link through that port or something but is that even possible or is it just totally useless?

 

[georgepa]

Follow up on renewal:

I did receive 4 phones yesterday. If you recall, after reading daweeze's post about asking for extra phones when renewing I tried the same. I was surprised to have no problems when I asked, instead "Sure, we can do that." I called the sales line back 5 minutes later just to confirm that the renewal indeed included the 2 phones. The guy who answered said "Sure, no problem. Let me get those 2 phones out to you. Ok, done."

Lo and behold, yesterday afternoon two boxes arrived, each with a 2-phone set (base unit and extra handset. ) A total value of about $110 to $120.

Again, thanks, daweeze. I would have never thought of asking for this. Great way to start year 2.

 

[ys]

Can I use the Gizmo abroad like in Australia. This way people in the US can call me via a US phone number for a year or two.

 

[daweeze02]

Originally posted by: georgepa
Follow up on renewal:

I did receive 4 phones yesterday. If you recall, after reading daweeze's post about asking for extra phones when renewing I tried the same. I was surprised to have no problems when I asked, instead "Sure, we can do that." I called the sales line back 5 minutes later just to confirm that the renewal indeed included the 2 phones. The guy who answered said "Sure, no problem. Let me get those 2 phones out to you. Ok, done."

Lo and behold, yesterday afternoon two boxes arrived, each with a 2-phone set (base unit and extra handset. ) A total value of about $110 to $120.

Again, thanks, daweeze. I would have never thought of asking for this. Great way to start year 2.

Sweet glad you got in on it

 

[azoomee]

With the dropped calls (inbound / outbound) -- I contacted service.

They asked me to do the following:
"a) Go to http://myspeed.visualware.com/voip
b) Click on the button labeled "Click to start MySpeed"
c) There are five metrics measured by this test:
1) Download ? SunRocket advises at least 120 kbps
2) Upload ? SunRocket advises at least 120 kbps
3) QOS (Quality of Service) ? at least 70%
4) RTT (Round Trip Time) ? Not important
5) MaxPause ? less than 100 ms "

Interesting that the sunrocket service doesn't ask you to do this first before you sign up.

 

[agrall]

Originally posted by: georgepa
Follow up on renewal:

I did receive 4 phones yesterday. If you recall, after reading daweeze's post about asking for extra phones when renewing I tried the same. I was surprised to have no problems when I asked, instead "Sure, we can do that." I called the sales line back 5 minutes later just to confirm that the renewal indeed included the 2 phones. The guy who answered said "Sure, no problem. Let me get those 2 phones out to you. Ok, done."

Lo and behold, yesterday afternoon two boxes arrived, each with a 2-phone set (base unit and extra handset. ) A total value of about $110 to $120.

Again, thanks, daweeze. I would have never thought of asking for this. Great way to start year 2.

Since things are going well so far on the $19.95 month-to-month service, I am thinking of calling to switch over to the annual $199 plan. Do you think they would send me 2 more phones for doing that?

 

[laketrout]

Originally posted by: ys
Can I use the Gizmo abroad like in Australia. This way people in the US can call me via a US phone number for a year or two.

This should work unless the country you are in censors the net, which I doubt Australia is doing. However, SunRocket won't support you if you have the gizmo abroad. So if you need support, try not to explicitly mention that you are in Australia.

It would be interesting to get a list of confirmed countries that allowed this setup... hmm...

 

[georgepa]

agrell-

Call SALES in Canada, as described above. I would imagine they'll send extra phones to you as well. Just phrase it that you are unsure whether you should continue with SR and that you heard that it can be done. See what they say. They seem very forthcoming. Someone in another forum renewed and then found out about this method. So, he called them yesterday to see if he can get free phones post-signup. They could not do it, but instead they put 50 points on his account, enough to get the phones or anything else in the rewards section. Worth a try for anyone who either is ready to renew, already renewed or just converts from one type of account to another.

Let us know if they give you a goodie, agrall. Sure hope so. At least us "oldtimers" know that they'll take care good care of us a year after starting with them. I was afraid when I first signed up with SR last year that after the initially great deal they'll go up in price with lame excuses (increased cost, 911 cost, federal fees, etc.) Not so.

 

[agrall]

Originally posted by: georgepa
agrell-

Call SALES in Canada, as described above. I would imagine they'll send extra phones to you as well. Just phrase it that you are unsure whether you should continue with SR and that you heard that it can be done. See what they say. They seem very forthcoming. Someone in another forum renewed and then found out about this method. So, he called them yesterday to see if he can get free phones post-signup. They could not do it, but instead they put 50 points on his account, enough to get the phones or anything else in the rewards section. Worth a try for anyone who either is ready to renew, already renewed or just converts from one type of account to another.

Let us know if they give you a goodie, agrall. Sure hope so. At least us "oldtimers" know that they'll take care good care of us a year after starting with them. I was afraid when I first signed up with SR last year that after the initially great deal they'll go up in price with lame excuses (increased cost, 911 cost, federal fees, etc.) Not so.

I know there is probably mention of this somewhere in the thread already, but is there a separate phone number to get sales in Canada?

 

[georgepa]

agrall-

The way to call SALES is to call SR (1-800-786-0132) from a phone OTHER than your SR phone. Then select "Learn more" (pretend you are a new customer.) That gets you to SALES.

 

[Cocytus]

Signed up in late Jan, equipment arrived early Feb. Installation was a snap, service was good, call quality was good.

Noticed after a few days noticed that my "9 MB" download speeds had been reduced to 2mb. Called cable company, they sent a tech out, checked my setup, confirmed the gizmo was at fault. (Simply removing the gizmo returned speed to advertised rate, adding it back on reduced it again).

Called SR with the hope of getting a real tech to examine the problem, the CS rep started in on the CS script and told me that the gizmo only ate up 160-180KB and that I needed to upgrade my connection. Diplomatically explained that my connection was not the problem, twice, to different reps on 2 seperate calls. They never left script and always ended at the "you need to upgrade your ISP" line. I never had the opportunity to talk to a tech rep.

Boxed it up, sent it back with the pre-paid return UPS tag that was included in the original packaging. My full refund should arrive any day now.

They were polite at every turn, and the entire transaction cost me nothing.

 

[ZeroBlank010]

Just received my equipment on Friday. So far so good but had a couple of choppy/echo calls over the weekend. I put the gizmo behind my router and so far haven't noticed any degraded network performance. I'll keep trying it for the next couple of weeks before making a final decision...but so far so good.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Cocytus
Signed up in late Jan, equipment arrived early Feb. Installation was a snap, service was good, call quality was good.

Noticed after a few days noticed that my "9 MB" download speeds had been reduced to 2mb. Called cable company, they sent a tech out, checked my setup, confirmed the gizmo was at fault. (Simply removing the gizmo returned speed to advertised rate, adding it back on reduced it again).

Called SR with the hope of getting a real tech to examine the problem, the CS rep started in on the CS script and told me that the gizmo only ate up 160-180KB and that I needed to upgrade my connection. Diplomatically explained that my connection was not the problem, twice, to different reps on 2 seperate calls. They never left script and always ended at the "you need to upgrade your ISP" line. I never had the opportunity to talk to a tech rep.

Boxed it up, sent it back with the pre-paid return UPS tag that was included in the original packaging. My full refund should arrive any day now.

They were polite at every turn, and the entire transaction cost me nothing.

All you had to do was get a router and put the Gizmo Behind the router instead of in front of it... I don't think anyone's had any problems with that configuration. But lots of people have complained when they have the computers connected through the Gizmo to get out to the internet.

 

[azoomee]

Any of you guys do the VOIP analysis at: http://myspeed.visualware.com/voip

I have 7-8mb/s download with 55-65% QOS. I'm curious if this QOS is even an issue given that I have such high download speeds. QOS is defined at this site as lowest download speed / highest download speed.

Thanks

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: azoomee

Any of you guys do the VOIP analysis at: http://myspeed.visualware.com/voip

I have 7-8mb/s download with 55-65% QOS. I'm curious if this QOS is even an issue given that I have such high download speeds. QOS is defined at this site as lowest download speed / highest download speed.

Thanks

I'll try to remember to do that when I get home. Does it matter if my Gizmo is behind or in front of my router? Not sure if it has to go through the Gizmo to get to that site or anything like that.

 

[GTFan]

OK here's my renewal story. Tried to auto-renew after they sent me the email, and forgot about it when I got the confirmation that it was being processed. Logged into my account on sunrocket.com today (couple of weeks later) and lo and behold, they've switched me to monthly. Big surprise there, they never get billing right.
So, I called up CS since I was now determined to get the phones too. First call, no go. Guy in Sales says all I can get to renew is $199/13 mo. Call back, bingo, get a chirpy gal that hooks me right up, annual plan + phones. Go figure.
I betting now that I'll get charged for a month on monthly then get switched back to annual. We'll see.

 

[TheTony]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior

Originally posted by: azoomee

Any of you guys do the VOIP analysis at: http://myspeed.visualware.com/voip

I have 7-8mb/s download with 55-65% QOS. I'm curious if this QOS is even an issue given that I have such high download speeds. QOS is defined at this site as lowest download speed / highest download speed.

Thanks

I'll try to remember to do that when I get home. Does it matter if my Gizmo is behind or in front of my router? Not sure if it has to go through the Gizmo to get to that site or anything like that.

That is a line speed test. It analyzes your connection and tells you if/how many VOIP connections you can support. You do not need to have VoIP service to utilize it.

 

[Kelemvor]

OK, Just ran it twice and here's my results.

This is Roadrunner with 5meg down, 512 up I think. Not sure on the up part.

Wireless G
Download: 2,174,784 bps
Upload: 489,856 bps
QOS: 97%
RTT: 57 ms
MaxPause: 45 ms

Wired
Download: 4,893,896 bps
Upload: 486,864 bps
QOS: 99%
RTT: 55 ms
MaxPause: 12 ms

 

[DoozerM]

Hi all. I (along with a small following of others at the sunrocketforum.com site) are experiencing a high number of 'dead air' calls, both inbound and outbound. Just curious to know if any of you are experiencing this as well. I think people are posting this issue as well over at dslreports. Thanks.

 

[Kelemvor]

If you mean that you dial anumber and then nothing happens... We had that happen a couple times the other day. Seemed random though.