MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion VOIP

redux

I've seen mention of 40 to 70 MB per hour for VoIP

Neptune

HI,

I've done some research on this now and can say my finding lead me to believe the data transfer for the Voip element would be approximately 2Mb per hour plus some packet loss contingency and other background data transfer related to the application, 1Mb should be more than enough (Your only concerned about incoming data, not the outgoing data I assume, as most of the capped services only measure downloaded data transfer).

These are based on the data flow through my PC NIC interface (network card), with as much other data traffic as possible blocked.

The data traffic measured fell within my calculation that speech (for telephone), is typically 8Kbps, plus the packet loss. I allowed a generous 25%, if your system is generating packet loss as high as this I would fix that problem first as you are in effect downloading a quarter more data then you should be!

Rookie

is there a particular type of phone I have to use or will my existing BT phone do the job. I am on BT Broadband?
Advice appreciated

datimms

Well I have to say I am pretty disapointed. And I was really impressed with the service until this morning.

Back in the summer I put £10 credit on my account. Of course, all the calls I make are free and I havn't hardly used it anyway since I have a generous mobile contract.

But this morning I received an email from voipcheap... "Your credit will expire"

Dear *****,

VoipCheap credit is valid for 180 days.
Your credit will expire in February.
We advise you to use your credit before it expires and/or buy new credit* so your current credit will not expire.

* buying new credit is only possible if you have a small credit left on your account.


Kind regards,
VoipCheap Customer Services

So forget them charging more when they decide they want to make money... this is how they plan to rip people off. I better get calling some mobiles

Neptune

Hi Datimms,

Can understand your frustration at losing the credit.

However it does pay to read everything with these free deals, and it is made clear on their (Voipcheap) website that this will happen. If you weren't going to use it much (and so re-coup your spend), why did you place £10 on the account?

I personally use the Pay by Phone service, so OK, it costs me £1.50 for £1.20 of credit, but I'm caning the service anyhow so I'm losing nothing. I personally would estimate I have saved well over £45.00 compared to my old BT bills so even the loss of the £1.50 is no great deal (I'll spend this before hand anyhow).

The key to saving money is asking yourself will it actually save you money, not 'Does it SOUND to good to miss'.

I would therefore personally recommend, use your mobile if the contract has inclusive minutes, and this is more convenient, OR simply buy less credit to lose and use it before you lose it.

I'm not connected with VOIPCheap (it might sound like it) although I do use their service and my personal experience has been great with them. I will continue to save bucket loads of cash with them.

A good post though that may bring to the attention of others the need to benefit from the service that VOIPCheap offer, and use credit before expiry (6 months is pretty generous, and the same as all the mobile providers, except 3 whos normal PAYG top-ups expire after 1 month).

datimms

Hey

Well I put £10 on because that was the cheapest option when i joined! The website only lets you add £10 and I think £20.

What is this pay by phone option? Would be nice to only put a small amount of credit on. It's ironic you can pay for an internet phone line by landline. Problem is I dont have a landline (i use cable broadband) so it would probably cost me more off my mobile. Still, cheaper than losing £10.

Dave

Neptune

Hi Dave,

Mmmmmmm, just checked to let you know details and the 'Pay-by-phone' option isn't displayed. It was when I last topped up on 02/12/2005!

This has, as I recall, happened before (no icon for the pay-by-phone option) and it has reappeared later. Maybe one to look out for over the next week or so.

Certainly if they've removed this option I won't be using them any further as the CS is so slooooow / poor that I wouldn't want to try and sort out a credit card problem with them.

The pay-by-phone option is normally with the CC options, click on the icon, gives you a code and a number to ring. Call number (£1.50) and follow instructions, takes about 20 seconds.

Wouldn't use mobile, just a normal call box if you don't have a home phone.

I'll be looking out for the icon myself now.

intel

***Attention***

Ive posted before about this but cant find the post, if someone else has posted
this on this thread already im sorry for the duplication.

Voipcheap, Voicebuster, Voipstunt are all the same company.


Edit:Found post http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=1308836&postcount=4

jackbremer

VOIP Phones - http://www.aria.co.uk/specials.asp?productid=18941&customerid=#3937

between £8 and £17 each!!!

reelcrazy

Is there an idiots guide to getting VOIP up and running on a standard PC / Laptop?

I have got Blueyonder broadband (10mb/sec) and would like to start using VOIP to save my inclusive mins on my mobile.