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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Anyone use VoIP phone system

Posted By: cowpatty on 2007-01-05
In Reply to:

and are you having problems with connectivity?  We switched to internet-based phone service a few weeks ago and recently I started having problems with downloading the voice.  I get the report but without any voice.  If you have had this problem, how did you remedy it?  I'm about at my wit's end.  Thanks!


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Anyone using VoIP (internet phone) with a
DVI or C-phone to transcribe, and does it work well?  If so, what company do you use?  Are those companies cracking down on transcription like the regular LD carriers?
VOIP as second phone line

Is it possible to use VOIP as an extra phone line instead of investing in a second land phone line?  I'm going to be working at my mom's a couple days a week.  She has one phone line and DSL.  At my house I only have dial-up. I have an account that requires two phone lines with no DSL, one for dictaphone, one for Meditech.  I really hate to ask her to pay for another land phone line and was wondering if I could use VOIP.  Thanks for any input.   


my concern with VOIP with a C-phone is
how is the voice quality? I would be interested in something like Vonage as I can take that with me and travel.
I've heard C-phone with VOIP works well (sm)
and a lot cheaper, too.  Forget the costly unlimited long distance and business plans!  It may be a good idea to have another phone-line as a backup for your C-phone in case DSL/cable goes down.
cable phone and VoIP are the only TRUE unlimited
I can't find a single phone company that has TRUE unlimited. I've used VOiP in the past through Vonage with no problems. I got rid of it only because I didn't need ULD anymore, and they when I started needing ULD again I decided to switch to cable phone and internet. I bundle my cable, internet, and phone all together at a pretty reasonable price. Cable phone works great and no problems with heavy daily use.
VOIP - If I am not mistaken VOIP requires a high speed connection.
:(
Does a digital phone system
work for a C-phone? I do have unlimited long distance, but it's not the regular old phone line, it's through my cable server. Compatible?
Digital you can either get a phone-in system. sm
Phone-in is more expensive, obviously. Digital handhelds are best option. You can have doctors buy or you can provide and use as a writeoff on taxes. You can use Express Scribe for most, but most of the time there is a transcription module for whatever brand of recorder you buy (Sony, Olympus, etc)
they are dialing into a phone system, so are you -
it sits with the MTSO or the hospital itself, who sets the key codes.
I thought about a phone system but
I like getting out in the mornings. A lot of times, that is my only outing for the day and I get to see the staff, who have become my friends, so I don't mind the drive.
Would someone please explain to me how a c phone system works?
I have been an MT for 15 years....started with typewriter! LOL  Anyway, am now up to digital dictation with local hospital but am looking for other employment.  I'm trying to understand the c-phone system and how cost effective it would be to work using one.  I have been offered a job but need a c-phone and unlimited long distance.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the help.
Using a DVI system C phone. How do I get my foot pedal... sm

to automatically back up a bit?   The instructions I have for my DVI are very limited and I can find nothing with regards to automatic backup.  There is no phone number (got this phone long time ago) to contact for help.  Was hoping someone here could help.  Thanks! 


Computer/digital phone system question - SM

I currently use a Philips digital transcriber system, which I call the number and get my recordings through the phone line.  I would like to get a laptop to start doing my work and was wondering if there was some way I could move the recordings to the laptop and just work strictly with the laptop and foot pedal. 


If anyone has any information or knows if this can be done, I would appreciate it. 


Thank you,


Linda


Is a C-phone like Bytescribe call-in system or Philips digital transcription
My 2 stations don't have the actual phone piece, but I can make calls to the place where I get work.  I'm just curious because I want to take a test that requires C-phone, and I'm not sure if my stations will work or not.  If anyone can give me some background or information on this, I would appreciate it.  Thank you. 
A special phone w/a foot pedal and headset attached for dialing directly into a system. Google it!
s
I was told I needed 2 phone lines, but was told I was dialing into the doctors' system. What woul

Meditech is an operating system and Fusion is voice for a dictation system
nm
VOIP
I think I'm going to try Vonage/VOIP, too, as I'm paranoid about getting back charged by a regular company.  I already have used Qwest ULD before and got a letter after a few months threatening to terminate (there was no 5000 minute limit when I originally signed on), but fortunately I just cancelled it and there were no back charges.  I don't see any minute limit with Vonage, but I have noticed that both the residential and small business plans have the same limitations which say things like continuous call forwarding (not sure that that is).  I know a lot of transcriptionists use it and seem to not have problems, so I'm going to give it a try.  I don't really know what else to do unless pay by the minute, but it'd cost me a fortune, even with a low rate plan.
VOIP
I have been using Vonage and yes it is true that if your internet goes out you have no phone service but you can set it up quite easily to automatically forward any calls to a cell phone or any number you want if your internet or electricity goes out.  My internet rarely goes out and I have had no problems with my Vonage service.  It did require some tweaking at first but I love it and I am saving so much money over Bellsouth that I had previously.
VOIP and 911
If you are switching to VOIP for telephone service, whether it is Vonage or another company, please make sure your 911 dispatch center can find you should you need them.  The location of a land line phone and more and more cell phones (eventually all because they will all have GPS) will come up on computer-aided dispatch systems.  This is not always the case with VOIP.  When you choose your provider, give 911 a call in the late evening/early morning when they are not so busy, tell them you have a new phone system and inquire if a location comes up for you on their computer.  Actually, anyone who moves or otherwise changes their phone number can (and probably should) do this.  The middle of an emergency is not the time to find that 911 thinks you are somewhere you aren't.
VoIP
I use Vonage and I have that same problem. Sometimes it depends on the time of day. Let me know if it gets any better and with what company. I was told that AT&T does not like to help with that.
I have VOIP s/m

And yes, if the power goes out, so does your phone.  Power does not go out that often.  I do have a cell that is a prepay phone for when I'm on the road, etc., so in case of power outage, I can use that as well if I need to.  Just think about it, if the power is out, your not working anyways...


Now I do have a generator as well, so if and when the power does go out, I can get that set up and use that as well. 


Voice quality is just like the regular landline for me although I know some people that have had problems with different services.  It is normally because of a setting that you need to adjust on your end. 


 


AT&T VOIP has been great! (nm)
nm
Lanier and VOIP
I use digital phone with Time Warner for my Lanier account. I also kept my unlimited LD with Verizon as a back up, but use the digital phone service for my Lanier because I'm afraid that Verizon will catch up with me. Therefore, I have TWO lines, one land one (Verizon), and one VOIP (Time Warner). Both are unlimited LD, but if the cable goes out, I still have my land line. Hope this helps.
VOIP and internet - sm
Yes, the Lanier is plugged into the phone line just like your C-phone. The phone line is connected to the cable modem, so the phone line and your internet connection come through the same modem (I think...not sure of the technicalities). The VOIP is half the price of my land line with Verizon, and VOIP is truly unlimited, while Verizon watches the minutes.
I would go AT&T or Vonage VoIP instead
of hassling with unlimited long distance since ULD becomes an issue for MTs.
VoIP problems
I have had three different VoIP companies over the years, all at the request of my employer. I never lasted more than a week with any one of them and now I absolutely refuse to do that again. Had the same issues you have with the foot pedal and I was not using a C-phone nor a wave pedal. The audio quality would be choppy, there would be gaps where multiple words were missing, etc.

Out of those three different companies, not one could fix the problem, though they all acknowledged that the choppiness could be an issue "for some people". Lucky me!

Hope you fare better!
There is no way I would use any VOIP company
for dictation. I used Skype, and I used Packet 8 for home service. I have known people who have used Vonage. They are entirely too unpredictable and the sound most times is horrid. It might be okay for home use if you didn't call much, but there is no way I would use VOIP for something as important as dictation.
My employers forbids us to have VoIP because...
it fouls up lots of things.  Also, I have a friend with Vonage and we are constantly cut off, or it sounds like she is talking from the bottom of a fish tank.  She hates it. 
VoIP plans are the only ones without restrictions
x
VOIP and internet connection - sm
I have VOIP with my cable provider, Roadrunner, and I can use my Lanier at the same time as I am on the Internet, no problems.  In my area, this is much cheaper than unlimited long distance phone service with my land line provider (which I kept, by the way, as you have NO phone if your cable goes out).   I have not had any problems at all.  Hope this helps.
voip.com has true unlimited
I called this morning and questioned her extensively on whether it was truly unlimited, and she assured me it was. www.voip.com - not to be confused with the generic voip service like Vonage. She did say that satellite internet users would probably not be happy with the connection, but I have DSL and it works perfectly. One warning - it disconnects at exactly 5 hours, so you have to remember to hang up and re-dial in prior to that.
Question for Vonage/VoIP users

If you are using Vonage for MT, do you use the residential or small business plan, and how many minutes a month do you use?


Thanks!


VoIP in lieu of landline phones?

I read a little article in one of those free local trade publications which discussed ways of saving money on everyday household costs. VoIP was listed as a way to save a ton of money by using your Net connection for your phone service.


The article didn't explain how it all works. Is anyone doing this? Do you hook up your phone to your cable connection or are you using some speaker system/software on your PC to make calls? I just don't get it. All I know is that they said you can call anywhere in the world and it doesn't matter, it's a fixed inexpensive monthly cost. I also don't know if you trade your landline telephone number for something through thte VoIP service.


So, I'm intrigued but totally in the dark about this concept. TIA!


I had VoIP back in Nov with my cable provider and then went with another IP and just used..sm
my landline because they did not offer VoIP.  Now my IP offers it  and it works great other than the pedal.  Thanks for your help!
VoIP and foot pedal issues

For anyone using VoIP, do you find that your foot pedal does not always respond? IOW, you lift your foot from the foot pedal and the dictation continues along? Or, you have to press the foot pedal twice to get the system to respond. Sometimes, I'll press the rewind pedal for a second and I'm thrown back to the beginning of the report. --- My C-phone and foot pedal are both  new, so it's not with my equipment. And AT&T says they don't support my equipment (although they were helpful once before).

Any suggestions to resolve the problem?


Lingo that is who we use...VOiP, $22.95/month, six months already, no probs.
You might want to investigate further the post someone made about 2007 and VOiP. Seems the government is all hot and bothered because they need to tap phones and cannot do so with VOiP. They probably will end up taxing and surcharging eventually, as well, but for a while it can save you a lot of money...
Has anyone used Sun Rocket VOIP? If so, how is the voice quality and service? nm

C-phone used to call in to dictating systems to receive work. A special phone. nm
nm
I had a lot of trouble with static in my C-phone. I replaced the phone cord and that made a big

difference.  Also, have you tried a different headset?  Also someone told me one time that there is a microphone under your volume control on the right corner of the C-phone.  It's a tiny hole.  If you break off a Q-tip and stick that into the hole that will squelch a lot of background noise and that worked as well.  As far as getting your C-phone service, I heard that Dictaphone is "sunsetting" C-phones at the end of this year.  Meaning, they aren't going to service them anymore as they are considered an obsolete technology.  So, I would contact Dictaphone and see what your options are.


I know very little about Lanier equipment.  I've not used it as extensively as Dictaphone.  Is there a local appliance repair place in your area?  You might ask one of those places to take a look at your equipment and see what they think.  Kinda scary, cause they could do more harm than good, but maybe worth a shot.


Not much help, I know.  But I thought I would share what tiny bit of obscure knowledge I do have. 


I've changed them between an old phone and new phone, but the same company, i.e. Nextel.
x
I use my c-phone whenever we travel. You can hook it directly into your room phone. Be sure and as
xx
I think you can dial into most systems that require C-phone without having a C-phone nm
.
I am wondering if there is a way to use your C-phone with Vonage phone service?
??
May have to change phone companies, have switched to job using a C-phone. sm
Currently have Embarq (formerly Sprint), and my usage will be going up about 12,000 minutes a month.  What phone companies offer really unlimited for a flat rate?  TIA.
C-phone and ATT. There is no problem with the C-phone, but ATT wouldn't let me use unlimited.
nm
I have cable phone access and my C-phone works - sm
I am not sure about you problem, because it sounds just like I have mine hooked up.  The only thing I can think of is that mine has 2 line hookups in the back of the phone.  If you have this too, I would just try the other one, which you probably have already done.  Sorry that was not much help.  I wish you luck
I have a very loud hum when using my C-phone, but no hum when I'm using the regular phone. SM

Anyone else experience this problem with their C-phone?  Is there a problem with my C-phone?  At first I thought it was my telelphone line and called the phone company.  They sent a technician out to replace the lines and check the house, but the hum is still there on the C-phone.


It's driving me batty!


C-phone info regarding phone lines etc.
I am completely clueless on the subject of a C-phone.  Can someone help me understand exactly how this works?  Do you have to specifically have a separate "dial up internet" service to use the C-phone? I currently have cable internet and am wondering if there is anything else I need to get.  I guess I should contact my phone company.  At any rate, any help anyone could give would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you!
If you use a C-phone for work and have a digital phone

through cable, have you tried to take an incoming call?


We only have one phone line.  I rarely get/make calls and when I do we have cell phones.  I just started working with a C-phone and got digital phone.  I can go a month and my phone not ring, so far have gotten 3 calls today, but I'm afraid that if I try to answer the phone that I will lose my report. 


I guess I could pull up a report and have my husband call on his C-phone and test it that way and then if I lose it no biggie. 


 


 


Anyone use/try C-phone with Medicom's phone service?
Wondering if it works?