[mdlug] What is the Best Bundeled Service Internet/Phone/Cable(With a static IP)

[Jeff Hanson]

On Sat, Jun 21, 2008 at 5:12 PM, Steve Goodhall <steve at goodhall.info> wrote:
> I have had Comcast TV and Internet for several years.  Recently, I decided
> to give in to their entreaties and add phone service.  What I discovered
> when they came to install was that they were going to replace my cable modem
> with one that would permit them to connect to my phone wiring.  This is
> completely impossible in my house because the phone wiring in the room with
> the cable modem is completely inaccessible because the room is full of
> bookcases and computer equipment that blocks access to the walls.  This
> struck me as a bizarre way to make the connection given that the house has
> pluggable access points on the basement wall.  My take is that they do these
> installations on the cheap by piggybacking on the cable modem rather than
> installing a separate phone gateway.  Does anybody know if this is common
> practice with other IP phone providers?

It's perfectly normal.  Since it's VOIP and they're using the cable
connection for Internet access then that's where the analog terminal
has to connect to.  Technically they don't have to replace your
existing cable box but could add a splitter but it's probably easier
to use one for both and provide some sort of QoS bandwidth control for
the VOIP.  You could skip their phone service and set up an IP phone
system using SIP and Asterisk over WiFi but I've never tried it.