MaximumPC 2005 03

Linksys Wireless-G

Router with VoIP

Who knew phone service could kick this much ass?

A

bumpy setup

notwithstanding, we’re

unabashed fans of this

Linksys WRT54GP2A-AT router.

It’s not only a spanking-good

Wi-Fi router, but an outstanding

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

telephone adapter as well. For its

part, VoIP offers access to unlimited

nationwide phone calls and a bevy

of features typically found only in

advanced corporate phone systems

(e-mail notifi cation of new voice

messages, for example).

The integration of the VoIP

adapter and router delivers

much better phone service than

a stand-alone telephone adapter

could ever provide. Because the

router serves as a traffi c cop for

all network activity coming into

or going out of your home, it

can give priority to time-critical

transmissions—like VoIP phone

calls. This function, called Quality

of Service, allows for crystal-clear

conversations, even when your

Internet connection is under an

extremely heavy load. With other

VoIP gear we’ve tested, echoes,

static, and even broken

connections were common,

especially when we uploaded large

fi les to the Internet and talked

simultaneously. We had no such

problems with this adapter.

Because the WRT54GP2A is

tied to AT&T’s VoIP service, AT&T

locks certain aspects of the router’s

fi rmware, which you might miss.

For example, you can’t disable the

integrated fi rewall or manually

control Quality of Service settings.

When we began testing, a missing

setting kept us from seeing our

home server, but an automatically

delivered fi rmware update fi xed

that problem.

As a router, the WRT54GP2A

performs admirably, besting nearly

every other stock 802.11g router

we’ve tested in our fi le-transfer

and range tests. The Linksys router

transferred our 724MB MPEG-4

test fi le in a little less than four

minutes. In our range test, we

managed more than a 50-foot

distance while maintaining full

signal strength.

After experiencing the

reliability and clarity afforded

by a VoIP adapter/router combo,

we’ll never consider buying a

stand-alone VoIP adapter again.

—WILL SMITH

MAXIMUMPC MARCH 2005

It looks like a normal

Linksys Wi-Fi router, but the

WRT54GP2A has everything

you need to add multiple

broadband-powered telephone

lines to your home.



It’s as fast as any standard 802.11g router we’ve

tested, and the VoIP functionality rocks!

AT&T limits some advanced functionality present in

other routers, including some firewall and Quality of

Service controls.

$150, http://www.linksys.com

MAXIMUMPCVERDICT 9

VOIP

VOIGHT

Reviews

AT&T CallVantage

AT&T’s CallVantage service costs $20 a

month for basic local calling—for $10

more, you get unlimited long distance

inside the U.S. Cheap long distance

isn’t revolutionary anymore, but the

advanced CallVantage features kick

serious ass. First, you can choose

a phone number from one of many

geographical locations. Our VoIP line is

a local call for Manhattanites, but we

answer the calls in San Francisco. You

can even confi gure the CallVantage

number to ring on up to fi ve different

phones; for example, your cell phone

and offi ce phone. This effectively

allows you to give one phone number

to friends and family, which will ring

every phone you own whenever they

call. Voice-message delivery via e-mail

blew us away. We’ve waited a long

time to kiss traditional phone-based

message playback goodbye.

The only downsides to CallVantage

are common to all VoIP services:

VoIP connections depend on both

your Internet connection and

external power. If either goes out,

so does your phone. You should also

know that 911 calls go to a cellular

dispatch center, instead of the normal

dispatcher. Emergency operators will

not automatically know your location

or phone number. For those reasons,

we recommend using VoIP only for

secondary phone lines.

—WILL SMITH

Easy access to contents, loads of external pockets,

and admirable attention to detail.

No phone when your broadband or power is out

and 911-call weirdness keep VoIP out of Kick Ass

territory, for now.

$30/month for local and long distance,

http://www.callvantage.com

MAXIMUMPCVERDICT 9

ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL

THE BELL CURVE