Packet8 Internet Phone<base href="http://www.atruereview.com/" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/template_css.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/style10.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/slimbox/slimbox.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/rokmoomenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <style type="text/css"> td.left div.moduletable, td.right div.moduletable, td.left div.moduletable-hilite1, td.right div.moduletable-hilite1, td.left div.moduletable-hilite2, td.right div.moduletable-hilite2, td.left div.moduletable-hilite3, td.right div.moduletable-hilite3, td.left div.moduletable-hilite4, td.right div.moduletable-hilite4, td.left div.moduletable-hilite5, td.right div.moduletable-hilite5, td.left div.moduletable-hilite6, td.right div.moduletable-hilite6, td.left div.moduletable-hilite7, td.right div.moduletable-hilite7, td.left div.moduletable-hilite8, td.right div.moduletable-hilite8 { width: 175px; } div.wrapper { margin: 0 auto; width: 868px;} </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/mootools.r462.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/roktools.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/mootools.bgiframe.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/rokmoomenu.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> window.addEvent('domready', function() { new rokmoomenu($E('ul.nav'), { bgiframe: false, delay: 500, animate: { props: ['opacity', 'width', 'height'], opts: { duration:400, fps: 100, transition: Fx.Transitions.sineOut } } }); }); </script> </head> <body id="page_bg" class="f-default"> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/js/slimbox.js"></script> <div id="fxContainer"> <div id="fxTarget"> <div id="fxPadding" class="wrapper"> </div> </div>  </div> <div id="template" class="wrapper"> <div id="header"> <a href="http://www.atruereview.com" class="nounder"><img src="http://www.atruereview.com/images/blank.png" style="border:0;" alt="" id="logo" /></a> <div id="banner"> <div class="padding"> <form action="index.php?option=com_search&Itemid=5" method="get"> <div class="searchroflmao"> <input name="searchword" id="mod_search_searchword" maxlength="20" alt="search" class="inputboxroflmao" type="text" size="20" value="search..." onblur="if(this.value=='') this.value='search...';" onfocus="if(this.value=='search...') this.value='';" /> </div> <input type="hidden" name="option" value="com_search" /> <input type="hidden" name="Itemid" value="5" /> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div id="horiz-menu" class="moomenu"> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/news/">News</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/search.html">Search</a></li> <li><a href="http://atruereview.com/oldrev.php">Old Reviews</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/atruereview/articles.php">Old Articles</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/contact/contact.html">Contact</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/links/links.html">Links</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/accessories/2.html">Reviews</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="top"> </div> <div class="clr" id="mainbody"> <table class="mainbody" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="left"> <div class="moduletable"> <h3> Main Menu </h3> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/" class="mainlevel" >Home</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/news/" class="mainlevel" >News</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/search.html" class="mainlevel" >Search</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://atruereview.com/oldrev.php" class="mainlevel" >Old Reviews</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/atruereview/articles.php" class="mainlevel" >Old Articles</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/contact/contact.html" class="mainlevel" >Contact</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/links/links.html" class="mainlevel" >Links</a></td></tr> <tr align="left"><td><a href="http://www.atruereview.com/accessories/2.html" class="mainlevel" >Reviews</a></td></tr> </table> </div> <div class="moduletable"> </div> </td> <td class="mainbody"> <table class="sections" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="top"> <td class="section w99"> <div class="moduletable"> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <div class="padding"> <h2 align="center"> <?php include '../banner.php' ?> </h2> <h2 align="center">Packet8 Internet Phone (cont.)</h2> <p align="left"><strong>Usage:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/packet8/05.jpg"><img src="atruereview/packet8/05th.jpg" alt="Packet8 Internet Phone" border="0" width="250" height="102"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>Setting up the DTA310 is very easy. Plug all the cables into it and dial the activation number. Make sure not to plug the DTA310 into your home's phone jack. This can cause damage to the DTA310 and the phone system. </p> <p>The DTA310 will only allow one phone to hook to it. The good news is that there are a bunch of phones that have a base and wireless satellites. Of course, this might add another expense if you do not already own one of these phones. You can also add a phone spliter and run another phone to it that way.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/packet8/04.jpg"><img src="atruereview/packet8/04th.jpg" alt="Packet8 Internet Phone" border="0" width="155" height="250"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>I have been using Packet8 for over 7 months now. I first started using Packet8's service in my apartment. The apartment complex was connected with dual T-1s. The voice quality was good but there were some problems. One out of every ten times the phone was busy. It would remain busy for a couple of hours. I knew the line wasn't because I called my own Qwest phone number. The other issue I had was when talking to another person on the phone. If I talked over the other person, the voice quality was poor and even cut out. This affected my fiancee more because women tend to talk over each other more often then men. </p> <p>I then moved into my house and got Comcast's high speed Internet (cable). Notice the phone quality was good enough to try it out in another place. At my house, I never had the busy signal problem and the voice quality was better. Although, sometimes I would have to reset the device because it would lose connection and there would be no dial tone. Packet8's phone service takes about 20 - 30Kb of band width. You might have to set QOS on your router to ensure that the DTA310 has 30Kb to work with to be safe. You can also download software bandwidth limiters on your computer if you do heavy file transfers.</p> <p>When calling certain people such as those on ATT Wireless, the quality was worse. When calling these people it would take a few seconds to connect. They would answer, but a few seconds would have to pass before they could hear me. This was only when first connecting not when talking. I also noticed that when calling family in a remote area of Utah, the quality was poorer and talking over the other person was a problem again. I called friends and family in Wyoming and the quality was fine with only a slight quality loss. When calling companies like the credit card companies or people in metro areas, the quality was good.</p> <p>Now that I have scared many of you away from getting Packet8, you should read this paragraph. All this was before I found a firmware upgrade on Packet8's web site. I installed the firmware without a problem. It has an installer that finds the device on the network. The purpose of the firmware upgrade is to improve routing tables and add additional * features. </p> <p>Normally, when doing a firmware upgrade there are a few features added and a little more stability. When upgrading the DTA310 for Packet8's network, the difference was night and day. Those that I called on ATT Wireless thought I was calling on a normal phone line. Quality was perfect. Since the upgrade, about 2 weeks, I have not had a need to reset the DTA310. If you have Packet8 and are upset with the quality, make sure you get the latest firmware.</p> <p>When you sign up, you can pick any area code you want. This means you can have a New York number while living in California. Your New York family's call is then a local call. It is easy to move your phone whether you are moving to a new place or going on vacation. Not that you want people calling you on vacation, but you can. Simply, plug the DTA310 into your router and your phone is active again. There is no switching phone numbers; no hassle. The last little thing is that every call must begin with a 1 and the area code, even if it is local. </p> <p>When first subscribing to Packet8 there was no 911 capability. I am young and live with someone; therefore, I didn't see this as an issue. A few months ago, Packet8 offered 911 for 3 dollars extra a month. You can log into Packet8's web site to check minutes and phone numbers of outgoing and incoming calls. This is good if you are concerned about the kids spending too much time on the phone. As mentioned, the Packet8 service has Caller ID. It only displays the number and not a name. Other features like voice mail work perfect. One last thing I must mention, I get about one telemarketer every three weeks. All my credit cards have my number. Before Packet 8, I would get about 2 telemarketer calls a day. Whether they can't find my number or its Packet8, who knows; but I like it.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong></p> <p>Before the upgrade, I would have told you to wait a while before adapting to the new phone technology. After the upgrade and the added features that Packet8 has included, I have to say what are you waiting for. Quit dumping all that money into the baby Bells or cell phone companies. Twenty dollars a month will allow you to have voice mail, unlimited long distance to the US and Canada, caller ID, call waiting, and a ton of other features. Price this out with the baby Bell's plans and you are talking $70+ a month for a phone. Imagine 50 dollars a month going into your pocket for important things like Video cards, processors, car payments, or whatever else you want. </p> <p>About the only problem with the Packet8, is that you need high speed Internet. If you don't have this, the cost might be more than what you are paying for your phone.</p> <p><strong>Pros:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Cost effective</li> <li>Voice Mail</li> <li>Caller ID</li> <li>Call Waiting</li> <li>Online reports</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cons:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Need high speed Internet</li> <li>Need latest firmware</li> </ul> <p><strong>Ratings:</strong></p> <table border="0"> <tr> <td width="95">Features: </td> <td width="88">Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Performance: </td> <td>Very Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Compatibility: </td> <td> Good</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Price: </td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Overall: </td> <td>Excellent</td> </tr> </table> <p>(Ratings Possible: Terrible, Very Bad, Bad, Fair, Good, Very Good, Excellent)</p> <p><a href="atruereview/packet8/index.php"></a> <a href="packet8/index.php">Previous (Introduction & Description)</a></p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer"> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-6922792-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script>  </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>