Optimizing my monthly communications spending...
Dec 15, 2004 | 5:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: usually DCA
Posts: 1,839
Originally Posted by escog
Can you get Metered Rate for your local landline phone service? I did this when I got my cell phone a couple of years ago.
Basically, you get charged per call for all local calls. They include around $5 worth of calls. The break even point is something like 10-20 calls. If you make more than 10-20 calls a month, then you should get the unlimited local plan. If you make less, then get Metered Rate (also known as Measured Rate)
Here's what I'm paying:
1-02 Measured Rate Residence Svc 5.70
1-03 Caller ID Complete Blocking .00
1-04 Your Listing Is Not Published .28
Total Monthly Service 5.98
Taxes and Fees are $6.00, so I'm paying $12 a month for local phone service. As you'll note, I completely stripped out any other service that might cost me anything except for unlisted number.
I hardly ever use my landline nowadays. I use my cellphone for just about everything, including long distance.
Basically, you get charged per call for all local calls. They include around $5 worth of calls. The break even point is something like 10-20 calls. If you make more than 10-20 calls a month, then you should get the unlimited local plan. If you make less, then get Metered Rate (also known as Measured Rate)
Here's what I'm paying:
1-02 Measured Rate Residence Svc 5.70
1-03 Caller ID Complete Blocking .00
1-04 Your Listing Is Not Published .28
Total Monthly Service 5.98
Taxes and Fees are $6.00, so I'm paying $12 a month for local phone service. As you'll note, I completely stripped out any other service that might cost me anything except for unlisted number.
I hardly ever use my landline nowadays. I use my cellphone for just about everything, including long distance.
I do this -- it's great for me because I call out on the cell. But use the landline for incoming calls / 800#s, etc.
Dec 15, 2004 | 9:11 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lower Merion Township, PA, (an inner-ring suburb to the Socialist Workers City/State of Philadelphia, PA)
Posts: 597
Originally Posted by jwhite4
Agreed, you location is important to know. I just set my sister up with Cavalier voice and DSL, $25/month for basic local service, $25 for DSL, $20 for unlimited toll + LD, plus taxes and fees. Benchmarked her DSL, got a reading of 3800kbs down, 807kbs up, faster than my Comcast HSI.
Jeff
Jeff
Dec 16, 2004 | 7:10 am
#18
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Follow-up question: anyone here use VoIP over a 384k/128k circuit? Is that broadband "broad" enough for a crystal-clear VoIP call?
Assume that the only data transferring at the time of the call would be the call itself - I don't need to be able to call at the same time I'm downloading bootleg movies or anything. The reason I ask is that I can knock off another $20/month. by switching to RoadRunner Lite. For my 'Net surfing, 384k down is probably sufficient. I upload a large batch of still photos about once a month, but as long as the connection itself is reliable I don't mind kicking off that process at night...
Assume that the only data transferring at the time of the call would be the call itself - I don't need to be able to call at the same time I'm downloading bootleg movies or anything. The reason I ask is that I can knock off another $20/month. by switching to RoadRunner Lite. For my 'Net surfing, 384k down is probably sufficient. I upload a large batch of still photos about once a month, but as long as the connection itself is reliable I don't mind kicking off that process at night...
Jan 10, 2005 | 9:13 pm
#19
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Steps 2 and 3
Step 2: Signed up for Sunrocket VoIP service for $199/yr. (no add'l charges or fees). Got my hardware today (included in the $199) - router and two cordless handsets. FWIW, I'm surprised by the quality of the calls - definitely better than a cell phone and so far I can't tell the difference vs. the CLEC I was using before.
Step 3: Changed to a Sprint PCS plan that is $30/month less than my current plan. I now have a monthly minute limit, but it's still high - and with Sunrocket I'll use fewer cell minutes anyway. Sunrocket is unlimited US/Canada plus $5/month credit for Int'l and cheap rates across the board. We might've liked Lingo's free unlimited Western Europe as well, but Sunrocket won out with free hardware, free activation, and no-bull $199/yr pricing.
So my overall savings for the 2005's three changes are:
- Cable - $20/month less - $240
- Wireless - $35/month (when you count the taxes/fees) less - $420
- Home phone - about $20/month less - $240
So over the course of 1 year, about $900 less out the door for telecommunications. I feel good about it, but I also feel like an a** for not making the changes sooner...
Step 3: Changed to a Sprint PCS plan that is $30/month less than my current plan. I now have a monthly minute limit, but it's still high - and with Sunrocket I'll use fewer cell minutes anyway. Sunrocket is unlimited US/Canada plus $5/month credit for Int'l and cheap rates across the board. We might've liked Lingo's free unlimited Western Europe as well, but Sunrocket won out with free hardware, free activation, and no-bull $199/yr pricing.
So my overall savings for the 2005's three changes are:
- Cable - $20/month less - $240
- Wireless - $35/month (when you count the taxes/fees) less - $420
- Home phone - about $20/month less - $240
So over the course of 1 year, about $900 less out the door for telecommunications. I feel good about it, but I also feel like an a** for not making the changes sooner...
Jan 11, 2005 | 8:49 am
#20
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Posts: 4,768
Originally Posted by pinniped
Follow-up question: anyone here use VoIP over a 384k/128k circuit? Is that broadband "broad" enough for a crystal-clear VoIP call?
Assume that the only data transferring at the time of the call would be the call itself - I don't need to be able to call at the same time I'm downloading bootleg movies or anything. The reason I ask is that I can knock off another $20/month. by switching to RoadRunner Lite. For my 'Net surfing, 384k down is probably sufficient. I upload a large batch of still photos about once a month, but as long as the connection itself is reliable I don't mind kicking off that process at night...
Assume that the only data transferring at the time of the call would be the call itself - I don't need to be able to call at the same time I'm downloading bootleg movies or anything. The reason I ask is that I can knock off another $20/month. by switching to RoadRunner Lite. For my 'Net surfing, 384k down is probably sufficient. I upload a large batch of still photos about once a month, but as long as the connection itself is reliable I don't mind kicking off that process at night...
If you configure your home network properly, you should be able to prioritize VoIP traffic above all else. When I'm on a call, I can still upload - my computer just isn't allowed to cut into Vonage bandwith by my router/firewall (Linksys).
Jan 11, 2005 | 9:41 am
#21
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Originally Posted by bdjohns1
Well, the uplink bandwidth is the one that's going to be the tightest. Vonage does work fine on 128kbps links though. They also have a bandwidth tuning option on their site - you can adjust how much bandwidth Vonage uses from a high of ~90kbps to a low of 50kbps.
If you configure your home network properly, you should be able to prioritize VoIP traffic above all else. When I'm on a call, I can still upload - my computer just isn't allowed to cut into Vonage bandwith by my router/firewall (Linksys).
If you configure your home network properly, you should be able to prioritize VoIP traffic above all else. When I'm on a call, I can still upload - my computer just isn't allowed to cut into Vonage bandwith by my router/firewall (Linksys).