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

[georgepa]

lazarus-

Hey, this place has become a community of sorts, a cool place to hang out. I check here every day, other forums I sometimes just check once a week. I like the format and most of the posters of this thing.

Yep, analog works fine. Faxing, TIVO, DirecTV and Alarm system hookups usually get a "thumbs up" from Sunrocket users. Give the ol' Sunrocket ship a try, dude. Nuttin' to lose.



Speaking of press, SR released a press release this morning in which they claim that they now serve 96 of the top 100 US markets and that they reach 75% of the US population with their footprint.


SunRocket Expands Footprint to 75% of U.S. Households as Consumers Embrace Bottom-Line Pricing



Hey doozer, you'll appreciate this old article from when Sunrocket first started and had just a couple hundred customers.

Sunrocket before going national

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: georgepa
Tom, I am sorry, but the advice was to get a router, easiest fix in the book. They are cheap and will fix your problem. There are plenty online, but locally you should find great deals as well. CompUSA and Best Buy always run special deals which will bring your cost to under $50, perhaps even under $20 (after rebate.) It is not like you are down, your phone and internet should work fine, and you should hardly notice an appreciatable difference, so you can take your time and perhaps get the best online deal for a router.

I agree that routers are cheap and everyone should use one, even if you are running Mac OSX or Linux. However, Tom's point is valid - SR says that you don't need a router but they have never had a straight answer to the 'bandwidth goes in the weeds' problem with the gizmo. Even if the answer is to put the gizmo behind the router, which most of us do, it's a sad answer for someone that just shelled out money for the service and did not have a router before. It would make me feel the same as Tom, that what I got was not what was promised.

And I'm not convinced that this is a gizmo-modem incompatibility problem. A modem just provides an Ethernet connection, and if it works fine with a PC hooked to it it should work fine with a gizmo hooked to it. There are too many reports of bandwidth being throttled with the gizmo in the middle. It seems more likely that this is a gizmo hardware/firmware issue that Telco Sys and SR won't (or can't) address.

On a different note, is anyone else's message waiting indicator not working again? After months of it working fine, now it will not stop blinking after checking VM. Doesn't matter if I delete all the VM's, it just won't quit. I checked with SR via online chat yesterday and they said it was a known firmware issue with 4.57 that they are working on.

 

[georgepa]

GTFan-

I disagree. I think if I am about to be saving a ton of money over landline a $20 investment in a router is not a big thing, especially with the fact that SR has no shipping cost, activation fees, cost for adapter and phone equipment. Besides, having the setup modem -> gizmo -> computer may work, but is in no way desireable. During gizmo firmware updates data flow through to the computer stops completely. You lose internet access for minutes at a time because the gizmo is too busy getting managed and can't be bothered to also push data through to a computer. I see no justification for the argument that because someone did not need a $20 router for their setup before they should not need it now. That person had ONLY one computer before, now there is another service/piece of equipment wanting to share bandwidth. You have to get a router if you add another computer into your household. Same simply applies to the gizmo, and at $20 it really makes all the sense in the world. Perhaps Sunrocket should start listing after-router setup as one of the possible options and possible solution in case bandwidth is effected.

VM light: If you press the PAGE HANDSETS button on your Uniden base unit (and keep it pressed for 5 seconds) the VM light should stop blinking.

 

[DoozerM]

Originally posted by: georgepa
lazarus-

Hey doozer, you'll appreciate this old article from when Sunrocket first started and had just a couple hundred customers.

Sunrocket before going national

Nice article... BTW, I noticed my subscriber number is above the 50K mark... We should start to ask the new SR subscribers their first 2 digits to get an idea of the growth...

 

[azoomee]

GEORGEPA --
You've probably already mentioned this heare (forgive me if I dont look at all 49 pages of posts) -- but my gizmo wont work behind the router for some reason. I have a linksys router.

How do I get it to work behind the router (like this idea to limit BW use and to protect the gizmo from hackers)?

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: georgepa
VM light: If you press the PAGE HANDSETS button on your Uniden base unit (and keep it pressed for 5 seconds) the VM light should stop blinking.

Yeah I forgot to mention that I've already done that, more than once. That stops it until the next VM, and then it won't stop again until I go back to the base. Kind of annoying. Don't really understand why it was working fine before and now in the last month or so won't stop unless I turn it off.

 

[SuperBacon]

Just signed up. $200 for a year of service is hard to pass up. $40 bucks a month for Verizon phone service wasnt worth it.

 

[georgepa]

SB, did you get the $199/12 months/ with 2 phones deal? I read in another forum that you can call SR back and tell them that you heard about this $199 for 15 months deal. Give them the promo code YAH98ks.

Chances are they'll give you 2 free months on top of what you've already got coming, at least that was the experience of another poster. Worth a try.


azoomee-

The gizmo works fine between modem and router, but not when you put it after the router? Is that correct?

Be sure the Ethernet cable coming from the router goes into the WAN port of the gizmo. If that is the case it may be an IP issue, the router not refreshing the DHCP table to the new device (I am assuming here you don't have static IP.) Try unplugging and then plugging devices back in. The sequence should be (with all devices turned off): Plug cable modem in, wait for all the lights to come on, then plug the router in, then the gizmo. That should give you the voice light. If it does not work, let us know here. In that case let us know whether you see the Power light on AND the light next to it (the Ready light) blinking occasionally.

 

[DoozerM]

Originally posted by: SuperBacon
Just signed up. $200 for a year of service is hard to pass up. $40 bucks a month for Verizon phone service wasnt worth it.

My Verizon phone service is up over $60 a month.... We are getting close to dropping it as well. I only hope they don't cut off my Verizon FIOS in the process. I know they technically shouldn't, but I noticed that my account number for FIOS is tied to my VERIZON phone number....

 

[georgepa]

Doozer-

You have to call Verizon and request a "naked" FIOS account. They'll take your credit card and from then on they charge your card. A debit card (even if it is also a VISA) will be rejected. If you don't request this either before or during the porting procedure your FIOS account will die alongside your phone number.

BTW, $60 is way too much to pay for POTS when you have the rocket with all its fixings. Pare it down to a measured line and strip it of all its features, except one: Call Forwarding. Then forward that line to your SR line. I did just that when I waited for my port. Should be just a little over $20 that way.

 

[tomtrike]

GeorgePa said " Perhaps Sunrocket should start listing after-router setup as one of the possible options and possible solution in case bandwidth is effected. "

Well I finally pinned SR down today and they agreed that I should buy a router and put the computer and the Gismo on the Lan ports. My cable modem should be connected by their crossover cale to the routers to the WAN port of the router.

I asked why this in not addressed in the Q&A section on their web-site. He thought my "special problem" of slow download was not common. I told him that the problem has been reported on the web since 2/05.

By the way, level 2 never called me and it has been three days since a call was promised. I had to call this morning to press them for an answer. I did receive an e-mail offering apologys for the slow response to my problem though today.

I researched modem options and found that MacWorld is pleased with Netgear routers for Mac OS. I was able to find one with a rebate at our local Micro Center here in Mayfield Heights, Ohio. My final cost will be $39. I chose the WRG614 because I may buy a laptop in the future and use that on the wireless in our family room.

My thanks to RideFree, GTFan and GeorgePa for their help. I particularly liked GerogePa's latest justification for buying a router(1/06). That sold me. And I am glad that SR finally admitted that a router was the cure for slow download through the Gizmo.

I'll try and get the router set up tomorrow and report back.

Tom

 

[ElCapitanAmerica]

I signed up this Monday night (a holiday for most businesses) and received the Gizmo this afternoon (Friday). I live in FL, so they deliver these things fast!

I'm very impressed by the voice quality, and the uniden phones are really nice. I was thinking of just selling them on ebay or something, but they're nicer than my motorola ones and smaller. This thing has so many features, I couldn't stop talking about it with friends. I installed the message screener app, and it's pretty nice too. Only thing that wasn't working right now was the extra phone # setup. I chatted with the tech support and they told me that feature is not up right now ...

I subcribed with the 19.95$ a month option, but I'm regretting that. However, I didn't know the 15 month deal was still active when I signed up, I'm thinking of calling them and seeing if I can at least get the 2 months some people are reporting.

Next thing is to see how fast I can get rid of Verizon and their ridiculous prices. Just wish the # transfer could be done faster.

Very happy so far though !

 

[stockjock]

OK...I'm about to jump on this deal...my question is this...anyone know of a phone system I can hook up to this that I can add mutliple phones to.....I must be able to use all the phones at the same time...in other words If 3 people in my house want to talk to grandma at the same time..they can. It seems most of the phone systems only allow one phone to be used at one time.
And...almost forgot...has to be either 900 Mhz of 5.4 Ghz because the 2.4s knock out my wireless network.

Anyone help me with this.

 

[stockjock]

sorry Double post

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: stockjock
OK...I'm about to jump on this deal...my question is this...anyone know of a phone system I can hook up to this that I can add mutliple phones to.....I must be able to use all the phones at the same time...in other words If 3 people in my house want to talk to grandma at the same time..they can. It seems most of the phone systems only allow one phone to be used at one time.
And...almost forgot...has to be either 900 Mhz of 5.4 Ghz because the 2.4s knock out my wireless network.

Anyone help me with this.

Look to Panasonic. IMHO, they are the defacto phone peeps.

 

[GTFan]

Uniden has a 5.8Ghz expandable cordless line, so you can fleabay the free phones that SR gives you and use the money to upgrade. Cruise over to Uniden's website or just go down to your local electronics store and check them out. I like the free phones from SR but I have noticed that when I'm downloading on my old 802.11b Netgear router, the calls over the phones break up. Doesn't seem to matter which channel I pick on the router so I guess the 2.4G phones will cause interference.

 

[nyker96]

Is there service any good? 100th post awesome!

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: nyker96
Is there service any good? 100th post awesome!

I assume you mean S/R's?
Yeah, all Guns & Roses!

 

[TheTony]

Originally posted by: stockjock
OK...I'm about to jump on this deal...my question is this...anyone know of a phone system I can hook up to this that I can add mutliple phones to.....I must be able to use all the phones at the same time...in other words If 3 people in my house want to talk to grandma at the same time..they can. It seems most of the phone systems only allow one phone to be used at one time.
And...almost forgot...has to be either 900 Mhz of 5.4 Ghz because the 2.4s knock out my wireless network.

Anyone help me with this.

Uniden, in my experience, is good too.

This 5.8 Ghz model, with 2 handsets, can be paired with the TCX800 for a 3 handset system.

Originally posted by: RideFree
Look to Panasonic. IMHO, they are the defacto phone peeps.

A nice Panasonic model, for even less than the uniden.

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: georgepa
GTFan-

I disagree. I think if I am about to be saving a ton of money over landline a $20 investment in a router is not a big thing, especially with the fact that SR has no shipping cost, activation fees, cost for adapter and phone equipment. Besides, having the setup modem -> gizmo -> computer may work, but is in no way desireable. During gizmo firmware updates data flow through to the computer stops completely. You lose internet access for minutes at a time because the gizmo is too busy getting managed and can't be bothered to also push data through to a computer. I see no justification for the argument that because someone did not need a $20 router for their setup before they should not need it now. That person had ONLY one computer before, now there is another service/piece of equipment wanting to share bandwidth. You have to get a router if you add another computer into your household. Same simply applies to the gizmo, and at $20 it really makes all the sense in the world. Perhaps Sunrocket should start listing after-router setup as one of the possible options and possible solution in case bandwidth is effected.

We'll have to agree to disagree on the fact that SR advertises that you can just hook the gizmo up, nothing else needed, and the fact that the gizmo setup instructions show that you just hook it up between modem and PC. Nowhere do they imply that you might actually need a router to get 100% of the advertised service with your ISP connection.

Check out this SR page if you want more proof.

Doesn't really matter because Tom's doing the right thing. I fully agree that $20 buys a much better setup, but it is a hidden cost of using the service if you don't have one.

 

[DoozerM]

Originally posted by: georgepa
Doozer-

You have to call Verizon and request a "naked" FIOS account. They'll take your credit card and from then on they charge your card. A debit card (even if it is also a VISA) will be rejected. If you don't request this either before or during the porting procedure your FIOS account will die alongside your phone number.

BTW, $60 is way too much to pay for POTS when you have the rocket with all its fixings. Pare it down to a measured line and strip it of all its features, except one: Call Forwarding. Then forward that line to your SR line. I did just that when I waited for my port. Should be just a little over $20 that way.

Thanks for the "naked" tip. Regarding Verizon, I agree it is way too much when including SR for part of the service. The only way my wife would agree to "test" SR, was to leave Verizon service alone during the test phase, and then if we liked SR (which we do so far), then we would just drop Verizon POTS completely. (So close now... so close..... )

 

[DoozerM]

Originally posted by: stockjock
OK...I'm about to jump on this deal...my question is this...anyone know of a phone system I can hook up to this that I can add mutliple phones to.....I must be able to use all the phones at the same time...in other words If 3 people in my house want to talk to grandma at the same time..they can. It seems most of the phone systems only allow one phone to be used at one time.
And...almost forgot...has to be either 900 Mhz of 5.4 Ghz because the 2.4s knock out my wireless network.

Anyone help me with this.

Stockjock -

May not be relevant, but have you thought about hooking up SR directly to your inside wiring? That would be the cheapest solution, and obviously would not knock out your wireless network?

 

[stockjock]

Sent you a PM about using existing inside wiring. This can be done?

 

[TheTony]

Originally posted by: stockjock
This can be done?

It certainly can. Here are a few tutorials - setting up your home wiring for SunRocket (a couple of the examples happen to use Vonage) should be no different.

1
2
3
4
5

Regardless of how you go about it, the real key is to ensure you've disconnected your internal wiring from the demarcation point.

 

[SuperBacon]

georgepa- thanks for the tip, i am going to try to get the extra couple months free

my phones and gizmo shipped 2day, hopefully get em soon to try it out