Linksys RT31P2 Wired Router for Vonage Internet Phone Service

Average customer rating: 2.5

Crap!
Two good years, then she quit...
Dreaded Blinking Power Light
Over a year using this product and few complaints
The money you save is not worth the time you'll spend fixing this system!!

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Linksys RT31P2 Wired Router for Vonage Internet Phone Service

Manufacturer: Linksys
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B0002V8KWM

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Amazon.com Product Description

With Vonage, you can make phone calls over the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of calling features. Plans start as low as $14.99 per month, and the Premium Unlimited plan offers unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada for only $24.99. And it's easy to use--for making and receiving calls, Vonage works just like traditional phone service, with no special access codes or account numbers required.

<table cellpadding="10" width="300" align="right"> <tr> <td><B>Easy Hardware Connections</B>
<img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/r31back.jpg" align="right"> </td> </tr> </table>

All Vonage plans let you enjoy the call features you've become accustomed to: call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, three-way calling, call return, repeat dialing, and reliable long distance... plus other features that may be new to you. For example, you can receive your voice mail as an e-mail attachment, and you'll have a phone number that travels with you. Visit www.vonage.com/amazon to see which plan is best suited to your lifestyle and budget. The low monthly rates are quite reasonably priced, in our opinion, and with them you may save considerably compared to traditional phone service. International calls are available for additional low fees, with one economical exception: calls from the U.S. to Canada are treated as domestic long-distance calls, rather than international ones. Vonage also supports short-form emergency 911 service, where available. (Dialing 911 requires activation and operates differently than traditional 911. See Vonage's website for details.)

The starter kit comes with a Vonage-certified Linksys RT31P2 router, avoiding the need for a separate phone adapter. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection (cable or DSL) and a touchtone phone. After setting up your Vonage account, you'll have instant access to two lines, each with a separate phone number--you can even assign them different area codes, subject to availability. You'll still be able to surf the Web while talking on the phone or receiving faxes.

The router allows you to connect up to three PCs and two telephones or fax machines, and they'll all share a single Internet connection through which you can smoothly transfer data of all kinds. While talking on the phone, you can still share a printer, make backups, or simply move your latest presentation notes over to your laptop. With easy Web-based configuration, all these options are available at the click of a mouse. Linksys backs the router with a generous three-year warranty.

<B>What's in the Box</B>
The Linksys RT31P2 broadband router with two phone ports and three switched Ethernet ports, a power adapter, a setup CD with user's guide, a network cable, Vonage plan and support information, a Quick Installation card, and a registration card <p clear="left">

Product Description

Think of the Linksys Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports as a kind of "splitter" for your Internet connection. Just connect your DSL or Cable Modem to the Router, and all the computers in your home or office can share the Internet - all at the same time.

Customer Reviews:

Crap!.......2007-04-12

Got the router, installed it, used it with Vonage for last 2 years:
1) Slow to reboot
2) Have to reboot after EVERY configuration screen.
3) Drops your calls when rebooting (some routers don't!)
4) Every 2-3 months the router gets "constipated" and gets very sluggish and unreliable requiring a HARD reset and reconfiguration (see #2 above).
5) This model is LOCKED to Vonage service.... can't change Voip service providers.
6) After 2 years the router simply quit working. All the lights work, but it doesn't route anymore and it doesn't let you make phone calls anymore.
7) Small glitches with its routing ability. The more configuration you do, the slower the routing becomes. Very underpowered processor doing the routing.

So yes, Vonage is inexpensive phone service.... but when you have to buy a new router every 1-2 years it isn't as cheap as you initially think!!

Two good years, then she quit..........2007-03-20

I didn't have many problems with this unit until recently, when I was unable to place or receive calls. For the past six months, I had to do an occasional reboot (once/twice a month, maybe) when it would lock up and render my phone and internet service useless. The past couple of days, no dial tone and my incoming calls went right to voice mail. Spent an hour on the phone w/tech support troubleshooting today, only to have him tell me what I already knew - I needed a new adapter. I called customer service threatening to cancel if they didn't provide me with a phone adapter (I didn't pay for the first one, if they wanted to keep me as a customer, I wasn't going to pay for the second one). The account manager said no problem, and said they'd ship me out a new one pronto w/two day shipping.

I haven't had any problems with my Vonage service. Call quality has been suprisingly clear (thank you Cox for great broadband) and in the 2+ years I have been with them, this is the first real issue I have had, and they were quick to keep me as a customer. Good job Vonage!

Dreaded Blinking Power Light.......2007-01-24

As I read through the other reviews, I realized that my experience was way too common. It worked fine for about a year, with various reboots needed to get it back working, and then all of a sudden I get the dreaded blinking power light. It will not boot up. Now I have to go buy another router. Sounds like this Linksys product is a dud.

Over a year using this product and few complaints.......2007-01-14

I'm not sure I understand all the negative reviews I've seen here. I've had this product installed for over a year and in general it has been successful. I have excellent call quality (better than my traditional landline)and the box can actually drive more ringer equivilents than the line coming in from the phone company could. I've recently gotten a lot of use out of the free calls to Western Europe. I'm connected via a Comcast Cable connection. The speed and quality of the internet connection are important for voip. A DSL connection may not cut it.

I would agree that Vonage customer support leaves a lot to be desired. That said, its still better than the service I got from SBC.

One thing I would like to see improved is the performance of the router after a power failure. Most of the time it requires a manual reset after a power failure. It doesn't seem to find the cable modem if they are both powered up at the same time.

The money you save is not worth the time you'll spend fixing this system!!.......2006-12-23

I was thrilled that I could save money on my phone bill, but this system is down every other week. When it is working, the line if very loud and noisy. I worry that we will have an emergency and be unable to call 911 because our Vonage is down AGAIN! Getting someone to help takes a long time, they are nice and very polite, but expect to spend several hours (at least) turning things on and off and checking your computer settings with the tech support every time it goes down. I wish I had stayed with AT&T. Getting my phone number transferred to Vonage was such an ordeal, I have not switched back to AT&T yet because I don't have the energy for the transfer drama.

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