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Thread ID: 77956	2007-03-29 02:12:00	Linksys WAG54GP2 & Xnetvfx	SolMiester (139)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
536657	2007-03-29 02:12:00	Hi, just got a new router with 2 x phone sockets for VoIP. Does anyone here have any experience with VoIP and Xnet. Can I plug a normal handset into the router and use? Suggestions and advice gratefully rec'd	SolMiester (139)
536658	2007-03-29 06:35:00	Hi I use vfx and overall find it very good. Yes you can plug any type of handset into the router. I have a Oricom cordless handset with an extra handset. But remember if you have a crap internet connection then vfx will suffer.	wmoore (6009)
536659	2007-03-31 21:30:00	Hi, just got a new router with 2 x phone sockets for VoIP . Does anyone here have any experience with VoIP and Xnet . Can I plug a normal handset into the router and use? Suggestions and advice gratefully rec'd I purchased 2x PAP2T devices from DSE for the purpose of evaluating voip and Xnet's VFX service . One unit was setup in Christchurch on a Telecom account and the other in Dunedin on a Telstra account . The first problem, I encountered was to discover that Xnet will not permit two different calling zone numbers in one device . I did not realise this limitation from the advertising, neither was it mentioned to me during the setup of the VFX service . In fact I was lead to believe this was possible from both forum conversation and the sales person who assisted me to obtain VFX service . However it was not a major issue as I was only evaluating voip service . Therefore I obtained second line service from iTalk for both devices . At this point I discovered that VFX lock hardware devices on their service and do not provide full user details as iTalk do . I saw this as a form of protectionism and see considerable debate about this approach . VFX justify their action on the grounds that they are able to lock in the best parameters and therefore guarantee the best possible service . I then had to request VFX to unlock the second line on both devices before i could proceed to add iTalk service . Unfortunately the iTalk service was ready to proceed long before VFX had released the line and I found it necessary to perform the unlock procedure myself from information posted on the internet by people who do not agree with the VFX policy . Tests on the VFX service in operation showed it is very reasonable quality although it was not always consistent . For example on one Sunday afternoon I experienced crashing and loss of words during conversations and some calls made from Dunedin to Auckland were marginal on the Monday . But overall it was acceptable for my purposes . iTalk on the other hand was an absolute disaster . On the Dunedin trial we utilised the PAP2T device but technical problems were unresolvable and i had to repeat all my sign-up details to 4 different people as their databse kept corrupting customer entries . I was found to have grown younger and moved to Christchurch within one 2 hour period . I paid by credit card but then was asked to go through a credit check . Such issues went on and on but I persevered in order to evaluate their quality of service . After 8 hours of receiving our iTalk phone numbers, we still could not make external calls TO our iTalk phone numbers from Telecom, Telstra nor VFX accounts anywhere, nor could we make outbound calls to a VFX number from the iTalk although we could call any Telecom number and have a normal conversation . The iTalk helpdesk team could make calls to us The quality was terrible and certainly not good enough for daily use . iTalk technical help did not know what to do and kept suggesting solutions which we were aware had no relevance to the problems we were experiencing eg router port forwarding etc On the Christchurch trial, we removed the PAP2T device completely and used iTalk exclusively with their own recommended Softphone to find we had exactly the same problems as in Dunedin . iTalk were unable to fix the technical problems and we received messages from Telecom saying the iTalk numbers we had been given were not registered and for this reason calls could not be connected . Therefore we felt iTalk did not possess the level of expertise necessary to guarantee the level of service we would expect and closed both iTalk accounts and reverted exclusively to VFX for evaluation of voip service . Help service at VFX is very good although we found inconsistencies between answers given by different individuals concerning what we could and could not do . So we adopted a procedure where Dunedin and Christchurch both phoned VFX Help to ask the same question and then compared answers . Based on our experience I would recommend that anyone phone at least twice to ask the same question from a different person . So having established that VFX does offer an adequate quality of service for our purposes, we then looked at its financial benefits . It is advertised as offering a dramatic cost saving over traditional telecom type services . However, on close inspection, we found this is somewhat "creative advertising' based upon specific criteria selectively chosen to advantage VFX . Excluding line rental costs which is universal in all cases: In our Dunedin location with all traditional services on Telstra Clear, we realise 3 . 5c per minute calls nationally anytime and 34c/min + GST calls to cellphones on one of their standard Kiwipak plans which anyone can sign up for . By comparison VFX offers 5c per call nationally + calls to cellphones at the better rate of 30c/min (incl GST) plus a $11 . 75/month fee . On this basis of practical daily use VFX works out considerably more expensive than Telstra for us in Dunedin . For Christchurch on Telecom service, the 6000 minutes deal effectively reduces toll costs to 0 . 4 cents per minute providing you can use all of them otherwise it is 6 . 25c/min for our typical average use with a higher cellphone charge and no other benefits . So VFX can say they are cheaper in operation then a "no deals" Telecom service and it could be attractive for this reason excepting the $11 . 75 monthly fee . VFX says it is fully independent of telecom but it is difficult to escape the conclusion that they do work in very tightly at some level or at least model themselves on Telecom practice . For example, Telstra remodel the free calling areas into larger domains whereas VFX are locked into the smaller Telecom regions citing regulatory requirements but in effect generating income by requiring more toll calls across short distances . All in all, VFX works quite well and the service is good . Our observation is that the waters are muddy concerning claims and it may be user-choice based on careful calculations as to whether or not VFX will advantage each situation finacially . The only benefit for us from our evaluation for continuing to use VFX is to have out-of-zone numbers so that people can call us . Outgoing calls nationwide are cheaper by traditional service providers . VFX advise that they are shortly to introduce some form of competition to Telecom's 0800 service probably for about $5/month . VFX could come into its own when "unbundling" finally happens and we are able to discontinue the line rentals in favour of a dedicated broadband-only line solution . Unbundling was enabled 18 months ago but there is no sign that Telecom are about to comply in the immediate future and they continue to make profits for as long as they can delay implementation	Jiranz (12053)
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