Product Description

The router allows you to connect up to three PCs and two telephones or fax machines, and they'll all share a single Internet connection through which you can smoothly transfer data of all kinds. While talking on the phone, you can still share a printer, make backups, or simply move your latest presentation notes over to your laptop. With easy Web-based configuration, all these options are available at the click of a mouse. Linksys backs the router with a generous three-year warranty.

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Product Details

• Brand: Linksys
• Model: RT31P2
• Dimensions: .79 pounds

Features

• Unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada only $24.99 per month, other plans as low as $14.99
• All plans include call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, and many more features
• Voicemail can be checked online or by phone or forwarded via email
• Use your current phone; keep your existing phone number or choose a new one
• Advanced Linksys router with 3 10/100 switched Ethernet ports, 2 RJ11 voice ports

Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description With Vonage, you can make phone calls over the Internet, potentially save on long-distance charges, and access a rich assortment of calling features. Plans start as low as $14.99 per month, and the Premium Unlimited plan offers unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada for only $24.99. And it's easy to use--for making and receiving calls, Vonage works just like traditional phone service, with no special access codes or account numbers required.

Easy Hardware Connections

All Vonage plans let you enjoy the call features you've become accustomed to: call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, three-way calling, call return, repeat dialing, and reliable long distance... plus other features that may be new to you. For example, you can receive your voice mail as an e-mail attachment, and you'll have a phone number that travels with you. Visit www.vonage.com/amazon to see which plan is best suited to your lifestyle and budget. The low monthly rates are quite reasonably priced, in our opinion, and with them you may save considerably compared to traditional phone service. International calls are available for additional low fees, with one economical exception: calls from the U.S. to Canada are treated as domestic long-distance calls, rather than international ones. Vonage also supports short-form emergency 911 service, where available. (Dialing 911 requires activation and operates differently than traditional 911. See Vonage's website for details.)

The starter kit comes with a Vonage-certified Linksys RT31P2 router, avoiding the need for a separate phone adapter. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection (cable or DSL) and a touchtone phone. After setting up your Vonage account, you'll have instant access to two lines, each with a separate phone number--you can even assign them different area codes, subject to availability. You'll still be able to surf the Web while talking on the phone or receiving faxes.

The router allows you to connect up to three PCs and two telephones or fax machines, and they'll all share a single Internet connection through which you can smoothly transfer data of all kinds. While talking on the phone, you can still share a printer, make backups, or simply move your latest presentation notes over to your laptop. With easy Web-based configuration, all these options are available at the click of a mouse. Linksys backs the router with a generous three-year warranty.

What's in the Box
The Linksys RT31P2 broadband router with two phone ports and three switched Ethernet ports, a power adapter, a setup CD with user's guide, a network cable, Vonage plan and support information, a Quick Installation card, and a registration card

From the Manufacturer
From Vonage
For years, you've sent written messages over the Internet in the form of e-mail. Now you can do the same thing with your voice messages. VoIP (or voice over Internet Protocol) is the new way to make and receive phone calls. Vonage converts your phone calls into data that zips through your high-speed Internet connection. The big advantage with Vonage is that you can call anywhere at any time for less money. And it's better than your traditional line because it expands the power of your phone.

Features:

• Make the 50 states and Canada your local calling area.
• Get unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada for only $24.99 per month.
• Calling plans start at only $14.99 per month.
• All plans include call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, and many other features.
• Get your voice mail by e-mail or phone.
• Enjoy extraordinary account control with a feature-rich online management system.
• Keep your existing phone number or choose any avialbale area code from Vonage's nationwide list.
• Use your current phone.
• The advanced Linksys router has three 10/100 switched Ethernet ports and two RJ11 (standard phone/fax) voice ports.

Vonage lets you make domestic (U.S.) local and long distance and Canadian calls for one flat price; such low cost is possible because the service runs over your high-speed Internet connection. Say goodbye to confusing bills and surprising charges. With Vonage, you get high-quality local and long distance calling, Canadian calling, plus great features like:

• Voice Mail Plus
• Caller ID with Name
• Call Waiting
• Call Forwarding
• Three-Way Calling
• In-Network Calling
• Traveling with Vonage
• Area Code Selection
• Call Transfer
• Click-2-Call
• Call Return (*69)
• Caller ID Block (*67)
• Repeat Dialing
• International Call Block
• Ring Lists
• Call Hunt

Vonage works with any touchtone phone, corded or cordless. You can make calls to any phone on Earth. The person you're calling doesn't need to have Vonage or an Internet connection on their side. Of course, if they do have Vonage, your calls to them will be free. Best of all, you pay only one low price. Visit www.vonage.com/amazon to choose the plan that's right for you and sign up for service.

From Linksys
Think of the RT31P2 Linksys broadband router with two phone ports as a kind of "splitter" for your Internet connection. Just connect your DSL or cable modem to the router, and all the computers in your home or office can share the Internet at the same time. The built-in three-port switch lets you attach three local PCs directly, or daisy-chain out to more hubs and switches as your network grows. Once your computers are connected to the Internet through the router, they can communicate with each other as well, sharing resources and files. All your computers can print on a shared machine, and the kinds of files you can share are numerous: music, digital pictures, and more.

The two standard telephone jacks on the router enable high-quality, feature-rich telephone service through your high-speed connection, even while you're surfing the Web. Each phone jack operates independently--so it's like having two phone lines. When you activate Vonage VoIP service, you'll get low domestic and international phone rates, caller ID, call waiting, voice mail, call forwarding, distinctive ringing, and lots of other special phone features. Choose any free-local-dialing U.S. area code, regardless of where you live. Add another, virtual phone number in any area code, or even a countrywide toll-free number.

It's all easier than you think. The included Setup Wizard takes you through configuring the router, step by step. The router can act as a DHCP server for your network, so your PCs are configured automatically. Universal plug-and-play lets specialized Internet applications configure the router so you don't have to. Built-in NAT technology helps keep intruders out of your computers. Advanced users can set up QoS prioritization based on port or service type.

With the RT31P2 Linksys broadband router at the heart of your home network, you don't need to be a networking genius to share high-speed Internet, printers, and files, and to turn your Internet connection into a high-quality, high-value telephone service.

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Customer Reviews

Good phone adapter - horrible router
I had the Motorola ATA (analog telephone adapter). The voice quality was fine unless other people were downloading. Then I would have dropouts. I bought this product specifically because it support Quality of Service, reserving bandwidth when using the phone to maintain voice quality.

In order to take advantage of QoS, all traffic has to go through this router. No problem, I did my homework and ensured that it had all the features I needed; port forwarding, a DMZ setting, and IPSec and PPTP passthrough. I installed this in front of my current firewall, assigned my current firewall to the DMZ address, forwarded all ports, enabled IPSec and PPTP passthrough and I was all set - I thought.

My current firewall is also a VPN device - it establishes an IPSec tunnel to a matching firewall to another location. This works fine, the RT31P2's IPSec passthrough works well. All servers behined the RT31P2 are also functional, Web, mail, ftp, etc. Great!

But for 2 weeks I could not understand why no one could complete a VPN conection PPTP) to our Microsoft remote access server. Turns out the the "PPTP Passthrough" setting on the configuration menu (and in the manual) is for show only - it doesn't work. A search on the Vonage forums and a Vonage tech representative confirmed this. So even though I did my homework, downloaded the manual ahead of time, etc, I still have a paperweight - I have to go back to my Motorola ATA. Worse, Linksys says it's a Vonage problem, and Vonage has no plans to fix this issue.

As an aside, I bought the RT31P2 about 5 weeks ago (I can't return it for an RMA). Back then I found a number of sources that sold it. I just did another search and most have taken it off their web sites. Is the word getting around that this is a Mickey Mouse device? (No offense to Micket).

The device should last more than six months
I got the Vonage service just under six months ago then moved and brought my phone number with me - today there was a brief power outage - and the router did not come back. For your amusement, this is the list of stuff that Vonage wanted me to do (Imagine, if you will, all these instructions given in an Indian accent, not unpleasant, but everything had to be repeated four times, and common idiomatic US english was not understood.

1. unplug the router and plug it back in.
2. Hold the reset button for 50 seconds, unplug the router and plug it back in.
3. Plug the wall wart (idiom) cube (idiom) wire from the router to the power outlet on the linksys router to the wall power outlet into a DIFFERENT WALL SOCKET! (chuckle)
4. Reboot my Cisco router (yeah, sure - everything else is working, I told them sure - they wanted me to disconnect the router from the T1 and the ethernet and then plug them all back together - I told them yes and ignored them, just waited a minute, this was a stupid suggestion, I had 1000 kilobits on the line both ways, and everything else was working).
5. Unplug all other computers from my Cisco Router (I simply refused on this one, it is just silly).

Vonage wants $99 to replace this router - and they send it DHL, which does not work in my rural area (why else would I have a T1 and not a DSL or Cablemodem connection)?

But I can send the router back to them when I cancel my service and suffer no penalty, and then get a free one with free shipping from Tomatovine. Maybe theirs will work a bit better.

Vonage service has deterioriated to where I would not recommend them to anyone. I did not mention that this was the third call to Vonage - the first two resulted in hangups. This router is not good - a power outage should not kill a consumer grade device like this. Power outages are common in the consumer world.

Significantly worse audio quality
I had the Motorola adaptor and then got this Linksys Vonage adaptor. This model Linksys unit has a terrible background noise that is always present, which sounds like a fax coming on on another telephone line that is bleeding through to the voice line. I've tried two, both with the same result, using multiple telephones. I don't have the problem at all with the Motorola device.

I've not tried the newer Linksys device (which doesn't include a router).