Newbie Support
MurrayB:
AlanB is absolutely correct. Set up your Obi with your SIP account and have them port your number. You have to be vigilant after the port. I ported numbers from Verizon and on one occasion they told me the number was ported but they continued to bill for service.
I have multiple numbers that I ported to VOIP.ms with great success. They have a great porting department, website, and tech support.
Do not be bashful about asking any question!
dudly:
Diane,
I just went through this whole process, probably like many others. I submitted a request to Callcentric to port my Comcast number to Callcentric. When I did that, Comcast within a few days raised my bill about $80.00, saying that I no longer had the Triple Play deal or what ever they call it. I called them up and said that I only wanted Internet and TV ( I got it for $79.99 rather than $159). I also said to leave my number active till the end of the billing period which was about 25 days away. I was surprised the next day when Comcast gave me the Internet and TV and then canceled the voice along with my phone number. The number has to be active to port it. I had to call back and get my number reinstated, which took about 2 days. The port went through a few days later and then I canceled the Phone. As an aside, when I reinstated the number, Comcast said it would be ready to use in 2 days. Two days later it was not working, so I called up to find that it had to be activated again which you can do or have them do it. comcast.com/activate
In looking back, If I had done nothing but port the number and not called anyone, it would have gone better. Once ported and active on Callcentric, I should have then called Comcast to cancel the phone and then negotiated the new deal for internet and tv. I blame myself as much as Comcast. One of their agents along the way saw I had reverted to only internet and tv and canceled my number.
There are many good carriers. I decided on Callcentric, which is not the cheapest, but was easy to setup and does what I need. I now have 3 lines. My main number is the one I ported from Comcast. Then I have 2 free lines which are NY numbers. I have set up one for a dedicated inbound fax to email line which works great, and the other for my second phone line, which spoofs my google voice number. The price I am paying is
E911 - $1.50/month
My ported number $1.95/month
I am on the pay by the minute plan. I will see how the bills are the next few months to decide if I want to buy a plan with minutes included. I do not think my bill should go over $10.00 total per month for the 3 lines.
Diane:
Assimilating the wealth of info that everyone has shared and researching the fine points. Will post the outcome in the very near future. However, other input/comments always welcome :)
Diane:
Ok, so things are improving but ran into a gliche -
Replaced ethernet hub ("switch") with router. Linksys N600 E2500 with one internet port and 4 ethernet ports.
Disabled firewall settings on router.
Port 1 - laptop - working
Port 2 - laptop - working
Port 3 - fax - working
Port 4 - OBi 100 - internet and phone light blinking intermittedly. No dial tone on Corded AT&T CL 4940 Digital Answering System.
Says have to use OBi100 with Analog phone. Looks like I'll be returning the phone. ??
Assuming that is the problem, any suggestions for an inexpensive (under $100) analog phone. Is there such a thing as an analog phone with an embedded answering device or does that make it digital again?
Taoman:
You have an analog telephone. It is only the answering machine that is "digital." The problem is not with the telephone.
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