Comments for pd's Junk Drawer http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress A collection of misc stuff Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:46:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Vonage by admin http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146&cpage=1#comment-17 admin Thu, 22 Mar 2007 14:46:57 +0000 http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146#comment-17 Another problem solved - I often join conference calls that use conference calling services, calls the one "dials into." Those require a pass code. Since the pass codes are usually fixed for the calls I join, I've programmed the codes into speed dial buttons on my phone. Just yesterday I followed my usual practice and pressed the speed dial button to "dial" the pass code. Didn't work - the IVR reported that the code I dialed was invalid! Vonage technical supported helped me learn that the digits were being dialed too quickly. Dial them in by hand and everything was fine. This is a minor limitation with Vonage and I'll reprogram the speed dial buttons with pauses. Another problem solved – I often join conference calls that use conference calling services, calls the one “dials into.” Those require a pass code. Since the pass codes are usually fixed for the calls I join, I’ve programmed the codes into speed dial buttons on my phone.

Just yesterday I followed my usual practice and pressed the speed dial button to “dial” the pass code. Didn’t work – the IVR reported that the code I dialed was invalid!

Vonage technical supported helped me learn that the digits were being dialed too quickly. Dial them in by hand and everything was fine.

This is a minor limitation with Vonage and I’ll reprogram the speed dial buttons with pauses.

]]> Comment on Vonage by admin http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146&cpage=1#comment-16 admin Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:17:55 +0000 http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146#comment-16 Voice mail "rings" and call forwarding - After some experimenting the correct settings appear to be: In "Voicemail settings," set transfer to voicemail after 30 seconds. That's roughly 5 to 6 rings before voicemail, and people seem to be ok with that wait time. To forward a call to my wireless phone (and then to that voicemail if not answered), "disable" voicemail and in "Configure call forwarding," set rings for instantaly. Voice mail “rings” and call forwarding – After some experimenting the correct settings appear to be:

In “Voicemail settings,” set transfer to voicemail after 30 seconds. That’s roughly 5 to 6 rings before voicemail, and people seem to be ok with that wait time.

To forward a call to my wireless phone (and then to that voicemail if not answered), “disable” voicemail and in “Configure call forwarding,” set rings for instantaly.

]]> Comment on Vonage by admin http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146&cpage=1#comment-15 admin Sat, 03 Mar 2007 11:57:34 +0000 http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146#comment-15 Back in town after a week on the road. Vonage has been rock solid, apparently. I used the call forwarding feature to forward office calls to my wireless phone, and found a few interesting points. The call doesn't just transfer. If the forwarding phone doesn't answer, Vonage sends the call to Vonage voice mail, just as if the office phone was ringing. But I want an unaswered, forwarded call to go to my wireless phone voice mail; I want to get the messages on the road. (Btw, that method of forwarding calls means that the call minutes are also Vonage minuters.) I had to adjust the time that Vonage waits before sending a call to voice mail to be greater than the time the wireless phone waits (in the "enable/ disable voice mail"). That way, Vonage thinks the call was answered. 45 seconds worked for me. Vonage also has the "SimulRing" feature. Haven't tried that. Back in town after a week on the road. Vonage has been rock solid, apparently. I used the call forwarding feature to forward office calls to my wireless phone, and found a few interesting points.

The call doesn’t just transfer. If the forwarding phone doesn’t answer, Vonage sends the call to Vonage voice mail, just as if the office phone was ringing. But I want an unaswered, forwarded call to go to my wireless phone voice mail; I want to get the messages on the road. (Btw, that method of forwarding calls means that the call minutes are also Vonage minuters.)

I had to adjust the time that Vonage waits before sending a call to voice mail to be greater than the time the wireless phone waits (in the “enable/ disable voice mail”). That way, Vonage thinks the call was answered. 45 seconds worked for me.

Vonage also has the “SimulRing” feature. Haven’t tried that.

]]> Comment on Vonage by admin http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146&cpage=1#comment-14 admin Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:32:12 +0000 http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146#comment-14 Today, Saturday, I connected Vonage to my house wiring, using a 2-line plug in splitter - after disconnecting the house wiring from Verizon at the NID outside my house - and simple as that, all my 2-line phone have Vonage on the second line. Seems to work fine, and has been very simple to install and set up. Today, Saturday, I connected Vonage to my house wiring, using a 2-line plug in splitter – after disconnecting the house wiring from Verizon at the NID outside my house – and simple as that, all my 2-line phone have Vonage on the second line. Seems to work fine, and has been very simple to install and set up.

]]> Comment on Vonage by admin http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146&cpage=1#comment-13 admin Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:28:52 +0000 http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146#comment-13 The phone number ported from Verizon to Vonage during the afternoon yesterday, the Friday after ordering Vonage on Sunday. Several email messages kept me informed of the status and the porting worked just as planned, with no distruption of service. Of course, the land line, with Verizon, still worked for out-going calls, but a test call to my phone number showed that Vonage was now the carried - the phone connected to Vonage rang. The phone number ported from Verizon to Vonage during the afternoon yesterday, the Friday after ordering Vonage on Sunday. Several email messages kept me informed of the status and the porting worked just as planned, with no distruption of service. Of course, the land line, with Verizon, still worked for out-going calls, but a test call to my phone number showed that Vonage was now the carried – the phone connected to Vonage rang.

]]> Comment on Vonage by admin http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146&cpage=1#comment-12 admin Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:25:31 +0000 http://www.dyerassoc.com/wordpress/?p=146#comment-12 The Vonage hardwire arrived the following Wednesday. Installation was very straight forward. There was a step-by-step CD-ROM included and all the hardware and cables needed, with the cables color coded. I used a separate phone for the initial installation and setup. Within 15 minutes I had dial tone and the phone was working fine. My office phone number hadn't ported, so the line was pretty useless, but everything was ready. Several people whom I called on the Vonage line reported that the calls were clear and they couldn't tell any difference. So far, so good. The Vonage hardwire arrived the following Wednesday. Installation was very straight forward. There was a step-by-step CD-ROM included and all the hardware and cables needed, with the cables color coded. I used a separate phone for the initial installation and setup. Within 15 minutes I had dial tone and the phone was working fine. My office phone number hadn’t ported, so the line was pretty useless, but everything was ready.

Several people whom I called on the Vonage line reported that the calls were clear and they couldn’t tell any difference.

So far, so good.

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