Grant Laird, Jr. Blog

Videophone: D-Link DVC-1000 vs. Sorenson VP-100

In past few weeks, I’ve been struggled to get both videophone specifically D-Link DVC-1000 provided by CSD and Sorenson VP-100 provided by SorensonVRS.com working within our Linksys wireless router.

We have multiple networks to our several computers, laptop and two videophones at home. It gets really complicated than you think because these videophones are not 100% compliable. At least I believe they are.

As you know that DVC-1000 is actually developed by Sorenson but it was programmed differently by D-Link Company. It is not a problem but we find it rather difficult with our Linksys router. I was told by one of the Hamilton representative that it would be easiest if we buy D-Link router instead. Sigh!

My good friend Brenden has similar problem and we troubleshooting it together from time to time. One of the biggest accomplishments we did by adding 2nd public IP. It cost me $5.00 per month under Comcast service. Things get a lot better. Keep in mind, I had to use switch (non-firewall) device to hook it up so we can use it for 2nd public IP.

We noticed that VP-100 works better with router than it’s on own with public IP. That’s where we decide to keep VP-100 under router and use D-Link as 2nd public IP. It works out very well.

The next thing is – we had to set up port forwarding for it and enable DMZ to 192.168.1.125 to make it work properly under router. Unfortunately, we are still facing some weird problem like blackout, cannot call someone or calling back to me properly. Using telephone number wasn’t always worked great.

We upgraded firmware for Linksys wireless router to latest version (August 2004) which isn’t even show in Sorenson knowledge base list on their website because the features have changed or moved elsewhere within administration menu.

Also, I’ve been helping another couple of friends that have some kind of problem related to videophones. One of the biggest lacks from all VRS companies that they don’t always offers tech support or multiple on-site supports. Some of their website is have very good knowledge base while another website doesn’t have much at all.

I realized that VRS companies are only interested to help them calling VRS which is not a problem. Unfortunately, people tend to mess it up when they move it or reconfigured it or whatever. Also, I believe that the more they use videophones, the chance they will use VRS services more frequently in long run.

Bottom line, I truly believe that videophone will be common household in few years just like email and VoIP however all tech companies like Linksys, D-Link, Sorenson, etc must work hard together to continue improve technologies and easy to install & work instantly.

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See original blog that I email to Albertson Customer Service last month. They finally replied to me and they are working on it. I will keep you posted. –gwlj

From: John Moritz 54200 [mailto:John.Moritz@albertsons.com]
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 12:13 PM
To: ‘grant@deafnetwork.com’
Subject: Customer Concern on Shop-N-Scan

Sincerely,
John Moritz
Albertsons Marketing Manager
7580 Oak Grove Road
Fort Worth, TX 76140

I couldn’t help it but A La Carte Programming got my attention lately.

As you know that cable TV and satellite cable TV subscription cost has gone up – average $50+ if you want handful channels including HBO. Not to mention we also paying $50 a month for cable Internet itself. We use Comcast for cable, hi-speed Internet and telephone. (Not VoIP)

Not too long ago, Misty and I are looking a way to reduce cable bills and we realize that ours are still cheap because we are still using basic service under Comcast even without analog or digital cable box. We used to have everything including HBO. I’ve always pick HBO as my 1st choice for premium channel because of numbers of shows with closed-captioning.

We decided to check satellite cable TV and compared the prices. There’s really not much difference between Comcast and DirecTV or Dish Network. We recognized that many different channel packages offered by both. We are hoping we can find a package that support extended package plus HBO alone for under $50 a month. Nothing.

Now, everyone is talking about ‘a la carte programming’ that make me wonder if it will help bring cost down. It probably will but after I research over Internet and I learned that it may not be good idea to go a la carte programming at all.

Again, all I want to see is lower cable TV bills with HBO – Sigh!

What do you think? Give me feedback!

Definition: a la Carte
adj: having unlimited choices with a separate price for each item, n: a menu having individual dishes listed with separate prices adv: by ordering items listed individually on a menu; “we ate a la carte”

Cable Executives Oppose `A La Carte’ Programming
In late July, prominent cable-television executives expressed opposition to per-channel programming, an idea being promoted by some as a way to lower skyrocketing cable bills. Under such an a la carte system, customers pay only for the channels they want rather than for bundled programming that may include fare they never watch. Most cable companies oppose a la carte, arguing that it is cumbersome to implement and would result in higher per-channel prices while reducing customer choice. “Consumers would never get a new network under this scenario,” Oxygen Media Chairwoman and CEO Geraldine Laybourne said at an FCC hearing.

‘Cable a la Carte’ Programming Option Could Affect Media Diversity
http://www.civilrights.org/issues/communication/details.cfm?id=24326

Fewer Choices, Less Diversity, Higher Prices
http://www.ncta.com/Docs/PageContent.cfm?pageID=379

Wired - FCC: Why No a La Carte Cable?
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64399,00.html

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