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LinksysPAP2T-NA

Customer Rating:
The LinksysPAP2T has a lot to configure but fortunately what needs to be done to get on line and making calls, is fairly easy. The audio quality on phone calls is hardly distinguishable from PSTN when set for G711. I was pleasantly surprised at the small footprint of the device as well. These are the pros.
The cons? None to date.

Works great with Gizmo5/Google Voice

Customer Rating:
This is our primary telephone, using Gizmo5 and Google Voice bridged together. We replaced our Vonage device with this, and now our phone bill is less than $1 per month. Initially I had some issues until I discovered that AT&T ISP was blocking the SIP port, but after changing the settings and using a different port, we've had no further problems. Setup screens are tricky and require pretty good telephony knowledge to configure with your particular SIP provider.

Linksys techs Help

Customer Rating:
I had trouble configuring the device. However Linksys helped to configure. The Philippine women techs were great. However the men in India were next to worthless. I use Vitelity for my VOIP provider. I am happy with them as well.

Don't Expect Handholding From Cisco!

Customer Rating:
I am sure the bad comments about tech support are true. But when I bought my first PAP2T-NA, I never expected to call Cisco to get it working.

Cisco is perhaps the biggest provider of the biggest professional-grade communication hardware. Their ACCESSORIES cost 100 times what I paid. Understand that the PAP2T is a very powerful device that was never intended to be configured by an individual. It was designed to be sold by the thousands to providers like Vonage who would custom-program it and lock it to the provider's settings, then install it and support it for the client. There are hundreds of arcane parameters that can be set! So if you buy ANY Analog Telephone Adapter, expect to get your tech support from your VOIP provider! Only they can give you the exact settings needed for their system!

Even though I used to design computer systems and build microcontrollers, I fond configuring my PAP2T daunting. However, what I had cleverly done was select my VOIP provider first, then buy one of their recommended adapters--which included the PAP2-T. They provided on-line step-by-step instructions; only a dozen or so entries were needed. The unit registered first try and has worked like a charm as a second phone line for nearly 2 years. I am here to buy a backup unit because I am getting rid of the old analog phone line that costs me $70/mo. And I know that makes me dependent on the PAP2T. So I will retire my old unit carefully, and set up the new one to provide my two lines. If it ever fails, I will be able to get back on line with my old unit in minutes.

To see what's involved, you can check a provider that doesn't actually sell hardware, [...] and look at their instructions for setting this excellent unit up. Of course, the actual entries you make have to be correct for your provider's system.

Excellent router; most defaults are just fine

Customer Rating:
I have two PAP2 routers - one bought here, and one "on loan" the VoIP company (VoicePulse). Both are set up for VoicePulse on one line, and a completely different VoIP company (VoipDiscount, which is one of BetaMax companies).

VoicePulse locks (and supports) their first line, and I have never had problems with making calls on the second line, either. I didn't play with many of the features, just credentials, dial plan, and preferred codec. At some point I wanted to set up a full-featured PBX at home, but I doubt that anybody in my house will use it; so I gave up.

If you are complete technophobe, you can always get the same model in a locked way from VoIP service provider; but if you prefer an unlocked adapter (and there are many reasons to) - this is one of the best residential models.

Why 4 stars, and not 5? There are so many options, and they are so poorly documented, that I am left with a feeling that I am missing *a lot*. I realize, that it was initially designed for VoIP companies, and technicians had training how to set up and lock it - but it's not time to upgrade the documentation "for the masses".