Vonage is a phone service that utilizes VoIP technology. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, which means you must have high-speed Internet service before you can use their service.

There is no need to purchase special phones; however, you will need a Vonage phone adapter. This adapter plugs into your telephone and computer, as well as your cable or DSL modem. If you have a home network, you will also need a router.

Vonage recommends using a wired Ethernet router when connecting to their phone service. This is because transmission problems can occur when using a wireless router. If you choose to use Vonage phone service with a wireless router, there are a few things you should be aware of.

First, you must install the wireless router before you can setup the Vonage phone adapter. Next, the adapter must be connected to the modem in order for your Vonage phone service to work. It’s important to realize that most wireless routers have pre-installed firewall software, which may need to be configured to work with VoIP.

D-Link manufactures a wireless router for Vonage which retails for around $89. While it doesn’t rank well with most consumers, it does offer nice features which are worth exploring. One such feature is that you can take the Vonage Wireless Router anywhere there is a high-speed Internet connection available to make or receive calls. Another feature is that the unit allows for wired or wireless connectivity.

Tags: DHCP, ethernet, TCP/IP