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

[skadoo323]

i've had service for a week and have no complaints at all. so far so good.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: skadoo323
i've had service for a week and have no complaints at all. so far so good.

How long did it take to receive your equipment?

Was install/setup difficult?

Which cable/DSL provider are you using?

Do you also have a wireless router?

 

[rugby]

I have had the service for about 3 weeks and have NO complaints other than the slow shipping to get the gizmo to me. Setup was idiotically simple. I just plugged the gizmo into my WRT54GS, plugged the 2.4GHZ phone into the gizmo and it worked fine for both incoming and outgoing calls.

I have 2 wireless networks in my home, a B network for some devices and a G network for others. No problems with calls. I know my old Siemens 2.4ghz phone would kill my wireless network dead in its' tracks, but the Uniden devices are very decent if not good quality. I will probably use my Uniden 5.8Ghz phone with the service once my Vonage #'s are transferred over.

I had to call CS to inquire about number portability and got immediately through, the rep (Kara) sent me the paperwork via email the next morning and my porting is in the process of completing. I think they quoted me 20 days but I am in no hurry.

I am using Comcast Cable (4Mbps/384Kbps) and have had no issues. I have Sveasoft firmware on my WRT54GS router for QoS and it works perfectly fine. I am in the process of testing SBC DSL out to save money, but if the speed cannot sustain a VoIP line then I am not keeping the service.

I hope this answers your questions RossMAN.

 

[RideFree]

There are apparently a number of questions that appear not to have been addressed...

1. SunRocket will work just fine over DSL or cable. The difference is that with DSL, you would probably need to keep your phone number (i.e. land line) that is the basis for the DSL carrier.

2. Sunrocket was delivered with two phones with the following attributes.
a. Only the base #1 handset plugs into the "gizmo" (the RJ-45 connected router that interfaces between your system router and/or the cable modem).
b. Would this work with an internal Intel DSL card like the Intel PRO DSL? Answer = I don't know.)
c. Both the base phone and the remote phone are maintained by an internal battery/external 115/120v. charger.
d. The second phone (and base) is/are not physically connected to the first phone/base unit.
e. The second unit can communicate with the first phone and/or base unit & vise-versa.
f. The two units can update each other wirelessly. i.e phone directories, etc.
g. The two hand units can share/not share single or entire number directories and either share or have other individual characteristics which can all be updated, wirelessly.
h. Away from the base units, the two phones can act like walkie-talkies, area monitoring devices, etc.

3. The "gizmo" can also be connected to a land line in case the 911 feature does not work over DSL/Cable and/or power failure.

4. I would recommend having the "gizmo" connected to an UPS.

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: RideFree
3. The "gizmo" can also be connected to a land line in case the 911 feature does not work over DSL/Cable and/or power failure.

I haven't heard that one yet... Care to explain? Does the gizmo have a special port for doing this?

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: rugby
I have had the service for about 3 weeks and have NO complaints other than the slow shipping to get the gizmo to me. Setup was idiotically simple. I just plugged the gizmo into my WRT54GS, plugged the 2.4GHZ phone into the gizmo and it worked fine for both incoming and outgoing calls.

I have 2 wireless networks in my home, a B network for some devices and a G network for others. No problems with calls. I know my old Siemens 2.4ghz phone would kill my wireless network dead in its' tracks, but the Uniden devices are very decent if not good quality. I will probably use my Uniden 5.8Ghz phone with the service once my Vonage #'s are transferred over.

I had to call CS to inquire about number portability and got immediately through, the rep (Kara) sent me the paperwork via email the next morning and my porting is in the process of completing. I think they quoted me 20 days but I am in no hurry.

I am using Comcast Cable (4Mbps/384Kbps) and have had no issues. I have Sveasoft firmware on my WRT54GS router for QoS and it works perfectly fine. I am in the process of testing SBC DSL out to save money, but if the speed cannot sustain a VoIP line then I am not keeping the service.

I hope this answers your questions RossMAN.

Very nice thorough post, thanks for sharing your experience!

It's because of people like you, RideFree and MrNutz which make this such an awesome forum :thumbsup:

Last question. Does SunRocket have any sort of referral program? I'd like to help out a fellow AT'er if possible.

 

[najames]

Bellsouth here in Florida sells "dry" DSL, no phone service required. You may be able to get it too from your carrier, ask. Check on DSLREPORTS for other, DSL, cable, etc carriers too. They have listings by state.

There are other dry DSL carriers, Lightning Bolt did it here, but not for me. They said I am over the limit of 18,000 ft from the call center, but they don't know that Bellsouth has run fiber from the call center to close to my house. Bellsouth tech said that is how I get 3Mbps so far away. Sorry, I hope call center is the correct term. It's late, I'm tired.

 

[KidViciou$]

okay, so would i be able to wire my entire house via the 1 gizmo using the existing telephony lines?

 

[rugby]

Originally posted by: MrNutz

Originally posted by: RideFree
3. The "gizmo" can also be connected to a land line in case the 911 feature does not work over DSL/Cable and/or power failure.

I haven't heard that one yet... Care to explain? Does the gizmo have a special port for doing this?

It has an rj-11 port on the back you can stick into the wall that will route calls to the landline in case there is a problem making a VoIP call.

Sounds great, but in the VoIP forum at broadbandreports.com somebody said they had problems with it. I personally haven't used it yet so cannot comment on it.

 

[rugby]

Originally posted by: KidViciou$
okay, so would i be able to wire my entire house via the 1 gizmo using the existing telephony lines?

Only if you UNPLUG the source SBC box outside your home from the existing lines first.

If you get a newer phone with a base and remote handsets that will work as well. I have 1 phone jack in my entire home and 4 remote handsets.

 

[rugby]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Very nice thorough post, thanks for sharing your experience!

It's because of people like you, RideFree and MrNutz which make this such an awesome forum :thumbsup:

Last question. Does SunRocket have any sort of referral program? I'd like to help out a fellow AT'er if possible.

Thanks! I hope they come out with a referral program soon, I don't know of one yet. I will definitely be referring people left and right as this is definitely a good deal. I just hope they don't get swamped to the point of not being good, and I hope they don't get bought out by a company that has crappy CS.

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
It's because of people like you, RideFree and MrNutz which make this such an awesome forum :thumbsup:

Thanks RossMAN... and it's guys like you that keep the economy in motion!

 

[skadoo323]

How long did it take to receive your equipment? 3 days

Was install/setup difficult? very easy. i just connected a straight through cat 5 cable from their "gizmo" to one of the ports on my switch

Which cable/DSL provider are you using? Comcast cable internet

Do you also have a wireless router? Yes it is a Dlink wireless G router. My setup is as this..cable modem to wireless router, then from the router i have a switch upstairs in the house. from their i connected the gizmo to the switch. some people say install the gizmo before your router, but i did it after my router and have not had any issues regarding call quality, even when having more than 1 computer online downloading files.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: skadoo323
Do you also have a wireless router? Yes it is a Dlink wireless G router. My setup is as this..cable modem to wireless router, then from the router i have a switch upstairs in the house. from their i connected the gizmo to the switch. some people say install the gizmo before your router, but i did it after my router and have not had any issues regarding call quality, even when having more than 1 computer online downloading files.

I will probably do wall --> cable modem --> gizmo --> WiFi router

unless there are any security concerns I should be aware of?

 

[KidViciou$]

Originally posted by: rugby

Originally posted by: KidViciou$
okay, so would i be able to wire my entire house via the 1 gizmo using the existing telephony lines?

Only if you UNPLUG the source SBC box outside your home from the existing lines first.

If you get a newer phone with a base and remote handsets that will work as well. I have 1 phone jack in my entire home and 4 remote handsets.

so the gizmo doesn't have to be installed at a main tap or anything? i didn't know any of the outlets in the house will act as a "telephone switch"

cool then, but i already have a phone with 2 recievers, i don't know if i can get more than that. i'll have to look online, will the uniden allow for more than 2?

 

[MrNutz]

The telephone "switch box" is something the local phone carrier maintains. They input a host of lines into an outside "switch box" which splits off to individual houses. Once it gets to your house, it connects to the demarcation block. That is just the centralized feed for the phone wiring in your house. It doesn't do any switching. (Your phone jacks are just connected in parallel to the wiring in your house.)

So, to completely disconnect from the phone company... Open the demark box on the outside of your house and disconnect the input feed. Which is the one that comes normally comes into the box from a conduit that runs along the outside of your house. The other feeds will travel "into" your house.

Normally what the phone company does when you disconnect is they remove you from the main switch box outside. Then the line should be dead at the demark box and into your home.

Read here if you need more info.


Oh, and yes, you can use up to 4 phones on the Uniden.

 

[jai6638]

Is sunrocket giving the 2 free phones as a promotion??? if so, when does it expire..?

 

[MrNutz]

The original expiration date was the end of this month, but someone over at FW posted a different code a few days ago. So they may have extended it...

BTW, my SunRocket equipment arrived today... Too bad I missed the UPS guy...

 

[ElGuache]

Just order, thanks

 

[SirPsycho]

Does anyone here who has SunRocket service have a Tivo also? Their FAQ's say it doesn't work, but if a fax line will work, I can't think of any technical reason that a regular modem wouldn't work as well as long as it was configured to "blind dial" (not listen for a dialtone). I've seen messages on other boards from people who were able to get their Tivos to work with Vonage, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't be possible with SunRocket as well.

Unfortunately, I have a Series 1 Tivo, so I can't just plug it into my home network, and having to spend an extra ~$70 to put a Turbonet adapter in it seems like a waste of money.

Any ideas?

 

[Pocono]

I have a question that has not been asked yet....How does the listing in the phone book go with these services? Do I still get a listing..or would I have to take care of that myself with the local phone book(verizon..etc).?

 

[RossMAN]

How does caller ID work with VOIP (stupid question I know)?

I'm assuming the Uniden cordless phones have caller ID display and all numbers are displayed?

 

[MrNutz]

Originally posted by: Pocono
I have a question that has not been asked yet....How does the listing in the phone book go with these services? Do I still get a listing..or would I have to take care of that myself with the local phone book(verizon..etc).?

There is an option to let your number be listed or unlisted in the white pages. Not to sure if that means it will be in that area code's local listing or not. Give the CSRs a call...

Originally posted by: RossMAN
How does caller ID work with VOIP (stupid question I know)?

Same way it works with POTS... well, basically... When you place a call, the local switch center sends your info with the call. When it is received at the receipients local switch center, the information is sent with the call and it is displayed on the phone (if you subscribe to the service). With VoIP, the call data is gathered by the VoIP provider then sent to you via the net. But since the VoIP provider doesn't exist in the POTS world, sometimes this data is not received or not decoded properly. This is an issue that most VoIP providers are still working on. So for now, caller ID could possibly be somewhat buggy for some of the calls you receive. I've seen this complaint from several VoIP customers, but I don't recall seeing any for SunRocket.

 

[Robor]

Well I think I'm going to give this a try. With the deal they're offering it's a no risk package. I guess the only thing we'd have to worry about is shelling out $199 and the company going out of business.

Thanks to everyone for the excellent info!

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Robor
Well I think I'm going to give this a try. With the deal they're offering it's a no risk package. I guess the only thing we'd have to worry about is shelling out $199 and the company going out of business.

Thanks to everyone for the excellent info!

Yep or service goes down the gutter but I'm more concerned about the company going out of business.