www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I live in CR and use Skype.com for free calls. It works great, although there's sometimes a little dead air which takes a little getting used to.

I might be doing some business that will require me to have a land line quality connection. I've heard that the pay VoIP services are that good.

Does anybody use one to call US from CR that they would recommend to me? Or warn me away from?

Thanks for any advice...

We used Vonage on our last trip (had a Miami telehpone number) As long as Wifi was available where we stayed it worked great.

ChicaGoGuy....thanks for the feedback...I'd be using it over an ether net connection so would appreceate anybody responding who has tried that.

I use CrystalVoice. I have used it for four years. I call the States for 2.9 cents....and Montery Mexico for 3.4 cents. It is a GREAT service.

Using my home phone service through Earthlink in Rio right now. It requires that your location(apartment) has DSL or Cable. It's very good. You have to bring your setup manual, driver CD(just in case) and of course, your analog adapter and cables. But, it works very well now that it is set up. I am calling the US as if I am calling from my home phone- nobody knows the difference. Plus, I've got my cellphone forwarded to my home phone so that it is me in Rio also. I brought my little answering machine so I am getting messages when I return from mongering. Yes, I'm on vacation but I don't have to return calls if I don't want, caller ID is working, and I can turn off my answering machine when I have guests so that the phone doesn't even ring. All in all, it's great. There's a slight delay but not bad enough to complain. You just have to be patient and not talk-over whoever you are speaking with.

I/ve been using callserve.com @ 2.9 cents minute USA and less than 5 cents to Colombia from Panama. The software works well...better quality voice transmission than my previous Skype efforts.

Good luck.

Has anyone had any problems receiving calls from the states on their US VOIP number in Costa Rica? If not, what service are you using. I need to sign up for a service before I go to CR.

I use vonage and no problems reciving calls from CR

I have problems people calling me on my Sunrocket # from CR Cellular using calling cards.. I have NO IDEA WHY...

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Ok... Seems like there was some net congestion going on.

Net Congestion - To much information being pushed though a limited connection.

You have to remember, it's not a normal land line telephone. While I was in CR last week I used the college's VoIP phone that I work for. I was having some dead air time, but it all comes down to how fast of a connecton the hotel or hot spot has back to the internet, how many people are using the internet and how much information they are trying to send or receive.

I am not sure how other VoIP phones work, but I was able to turn down the quality of phone call and it worked a lot better.

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Now, I am back in the game!

On my last trip, I downloaded and triend the Vonage Softphone. It was a piece of crap. I rarely could get connected, and when I could, my voice was mostly a mess. It was worse that bad cell coverage. HOWEVER, calls to CR ( US tele number) cost only $0.07 per minute.

Vonage also has a new USB all in one VOIP telephone that should work both on laptops and other PC's with USb connections and wireless or wired Internet. It works only with PC's and not Mac's yet. This is a small device and may have some promise. It's $14.95 per month for 500 minutes (US & Canada) and reduced International calling. I'll give it a try in the future. If any of you have tried it save me another Vonage battle if it too is a piece of crap.

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Slut Puppy in Training

Is low self esteem a prerequisite for being a good Ho or is it a result? ;-)

It's probably not enough just to have high-speed internet access available. Make sure you have the actual modem to plug your cables and analog converter in to if you are taking your "vonage" type telephone system with you.

Can VoIP phone systems work in a hotspot like Castillo or Sportsmens Lodge? If so, I would guess you have to bring some kind of wireless router with you...

I was going to stay at Hotel Anon but I wasn't sure that they have the ethernet connection. I am not sure which of the softphone would work best, if I can't lug the analog adapter around.

I wouldn't bother, personally. There are plenty of cheap internet places that you can call the states for 5 cents a minute or thereabouts. Unless you can only talk on the phone while lying in your bed, I wouldn't bother.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

All depends on your needs and preferences.

Vonage allows you to not only call the US and other countries but gives you a US number that people can call you on. You can get a plan that allows you 500 minutes to the states for a base fee of $14.95.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine