Comments on: Experience with a Belkin Skype Wi-Fi Phone http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/ Not your usual Microsoft enthusiast blog. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:02:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-4435 Tom Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:49:19 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-4435 I bought my Belkin Wi-Fi Skype phone (F1PPOOOGN-SK) a week ago Fry's on sale for $99.99. My phone doesn't have any of the problems George has had to deal with, so far. There is no delay with Skype In/Out calls. The volume and sound quality is great from both ends of the conversations (I always ask). The battery lasts for several days between charging. It may not last as long if you are constantly talking on it (I'm not). Charging it each night, or even using it while it's being charged, would probably solve any heavy use problem. The charge cord is 5' long, plenty long enough for talking at your desk like with a corded phone. I use my Skype phone mainly for long distance calls, for Skype incoming calls so I don't have to keep my computer on all the time, and as a mobile phone at Starbucks, McDonald's, Barnes & Noble and any other of the over 100,000 Boingo worldwide Wi-Fi hot spots. My Skype unlimited long-distance calls to any phone in the US or Canada cost me $30/year, my Skype phone number cost me $30/year (1/2 off with purchase of long distance) and my worldwide Boingo Wi-Fi subscription cost me $8 per month, for a total of $13/month. I also have a basic land line phone with DSL and a T-Mobile To Go prepaid cell phone for emergencies on the road and texting. No contracts, low monthly payments, the way I like it. My phone has "Software version: V2.0.0.40 2008/07/01" and "Hardware version: RO3" which is, I assume, are latest versions and may have resolved some of the problems mentioned in the older reviews here. George's review is only a month older than mine, so either he got a lemon and should get a replacement from Belkin or there is a problem with his router/internet connection. I like the way the phone looks, and have no trouble with the keys or any other hardware. A couple of earphones I had laying around work fine with this phone. The only problem I have had are occasional call drops, especially when I am outside my house and far away from my router, but I also have had dropped calls with Skype on my computer, so that may just be more of the same. I have a very old 3 light 2Wire 1701HG Gateway DSL 802.11g 4-Port Wireless Router, so that also may be part of the problem. But for $13/month, I can't complain :) I bought my Belkin Wi-Fi Skype phone (F1PPOOOGN-SK) a week ago Fry’s on sale for $99.99. My phone doesn’t have any of the problems George has had to deal with, so far. There is no delay with Skype In/Out calls. The volume and sound quality is great from both ends of the conversations (I always ask). The battery lasts for several days between charging. It may not last as long if you are constantly talking on it (I’m not). Charging it each night, or even using it while it’s being charged, would probably solve any heavy use problem. The charge cord is 5′ long, plenty long enough for talking at your desk like with a corded phone.

I use my Skype phone mainly for long distance calls, for Skype incoming calls so I don’t have to keep my computer on all the time, and as a mobile phone at Starbucks, McDonald’s, Barnes & Noble and any other of the over 100,000 Boingo worldwide Wi-Fi hot spots. My Skype unlimited long-distance calls to any phone in the US or Canada cost me $30/year, my Skype phone number cost me $30/year (1/2 off with purchase of long distance) and my worldwide Boingo Wi-Fi subscription cost me $8 per month, for a total of $13/month. I also have a basic land line phone with DSL and a T-Mobile To Go prepaid cell phone for emergencies on the road and texting. No contracts, low monthly payments, the way I like it.

My phone has “Software version: V2.0.0.40 2008/07/01″ and “Hardware version: RO3″ which is, I assume, are latest versions and may have resolved some of the problems mentioned in the older reviews here. George’s review is only a month older than mine, so either he got a lemon and should get a replacement from Belkin or there is a problem with his router/internet connection. I like the way the phone looks, and have no trouble with the keys or any other hardware. A couple of earphones I had laying around work fine with this phone.

The only problem I have had are occasional call drops, especially when I am outside my house and far away from my router, but I also have had dropped calls with Skype on my computer, so that may just be more of the same. I have a very old 3 light 2Wire 1701HG Gateway DSL 802.11g 4-Port Wireless Router, so that also may be part of the problem. But for $13/month, I can’t complain :)

]]> By: George http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-4128 George Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:36:53 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-4128 The Belkin Skype WiFi phone is the worst device made for skype. Please don't waste your money. It has so many problems I cannot even start to tell you. The worst of which is the failure to install a manual reset switch. So if your phone freezes and taking the battery off doesn't help, like it has happened to me, it is useless! The phone has a huge delay on Skype Out/In calls. The hearing quality is way too soft. It has a crappy battery life and is constantly in need of charging. It is just by far nothing but trouble. I cannot even begin to express my dislike for this phone. PLEASE, DO SOME RESEARCH AND BUY ANOTHER PHONE IF YOU WANT SKYPE VIA WIFI. The Belkin Skype WiFi phone is the worst device made for skype.
Please don’t waste your money.
It has so many problems I cannot even start to tell you.
The worst of which is the failure to install a manual reset switch.
So if your phone freezes and taking the battery off doesn’t help, like it has happened to me, it is useless!
The phone has a huge delay on Skype Out/In calls.
The hearing quality is way too soft.
It has a crappy battery life and is constantly in need of charging.
It is just by far nothing but trouble.
I cannot even begin to express my dislike for this phone.
PLEASE, DO SOME RESEARCH AND BUY ANOTHER PHONE IF YOU WANT SKYPE VIA WIFI.

]]> By: Kris http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-2286 Kris Tue, 27 Jan 2009 17:45:42 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-2286 Just bought a Belkin (came with firmware v.2.0.0.37) and was able to connect to the wireless network in no time. So far the good news ... Tried to phone a Skype account, got connected and then the trouble started : each time I said something or got a reply, it took approx. 2 seconds delay !? Moreover if you don't respect these 2 seconds time delay and start replying too fast the last words from your counter-party get lost. We ended up calling each other and said "over" each time we finished our sentence ... quite amusing (not) but hardly workable. Making calls to fixed lines prooved even worse : it takes a 3 to 4 seconds delay ... I do not have any of these "delay" problems making my calls directly from the PC, only when I use the Belkin wifi phone. Support ... nada ... Another $120 down the drain ... Just bought a Belkin (came with firmware v.2.0.0.37) and was able to connect to the wireless network in no time. So far the good news … Tried to phone a Skype account, got connected and then the trouble started : each time I said something or got a reply, it took approx. 2 seconds delay !? Moreover if you don’t respect these 2 seconds time delay and start replying too fast the last words from your counter-party get lost. We ended up calling each other and said “over” each time we finished our sentence … quite amusing (not) but hardly workable. Making calls to fixed lines prooved even worse : it takes a 3 to 4 seconds delay … I do not have any of these “delay” problems making my calls directly from the PC, only when I use the Belkin wifi phone. Support … nada … Another $120 down the drain …

]]> By: Test http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-2230 Test Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:38:07 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-2230 Test Test

]]> By: Edu http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-2229 Edu Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:32:28 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-2229 I have also the older version of the firmware,with 10min reset problems and so on. How can I get the latest, Eich is not on the Beloin website? Thnks for the help. I have also the older version of the firmware,with 10min reset problems and so on. How can I get the latest, Eich is not on the Beloin website? Thnks for the help.

]]> By: plan upmc provider health http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-1793 plan upmc provider health Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:21:22 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-1793 pittsburgh health upmc plan <a href="http://www.disturbed1.com/users/upmchealthplan" rel="nofollow">pittsburgh upmc health plan</a> pittsburgh health upmc plan pittsburgh upmc health plan

]]> By: Paulo http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-1759 Paulo Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:07:25 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-1759 same as TTB, can you send the ver. 2.0.0.37 please! same as TTB, can you send the ver. 2.0.0.37 please!

]]> By: TTB http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-954 TTB Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:14:28 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-954 Hi, You said "I can dump the phone’s firmware if anyone really wants it." Could you please do that? We have couple of dead / frozen phones which we want to resurrect. But couldn't find ver 2.0.0.37 anywhere in the internet, for the ver 2000 phones we have got. Also, whatever the firmware available for ver 1000 doesn't works for these ver 2000 phones. Thank you. Hi,

You said “I can dump the phone’s firmware if anyone really wants it.” Could you please do that? We have couple of dead / frozen phones which we want to resurrect. But couldn’t find ver 2.0.0.37 anywhere in the internet, for the ver 2000 phones we have got. Also, whatever the firmware available for ver 1000 doesn’t works for these ver 2000 phones.

Thank you.

]]> By: Mike http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-726 Mike Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:38:49 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-726 Nice review. I have the identical phone that you show above with the same hardware revision and firmware. I use to have an older version of this same phone that was very unreliable (reset for no reason, dropped calls, etc). I returned to Belkin and this unit arrived in the mail. I attribute the improvement due to the new hardware revision and the software. I wish a new firmware would be released that supports browser authentication instead of Boingo (that is useless). Long range wifi N would also be nice in a newer hardware version. Nice review. I have the identical phone that you show above with the same hardware revision and firmware. I use to have an older version of this same phone that was very unreliable (reset for no reason, dropped calls, etc). I returned to Belkin and this unit arrived in the mail. I attribute the improvement due to the new hardware revision and the software. I wish a new firmware would be released that supports browser authentication instead of Boingo (that is useless). Long range wifi N would also be nice in a newer hardware version.

]]> By: chad http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-663 chad Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:12:02 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-663 update, just took a drive down the street and picked up an open wifi connection, no encryption on it the phone worked great, great quality too. maybe just a wpa problem. I'm going to play with it a bit more before returning it update, just took a drive down the street and picked up an open wifi connection, no encryption on it

the phone worked great, great quality too.

maybe just a wpa problem. I’m going to play with it a bit more before returning it

]]> By: chad http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-662 chad Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:40:33 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-662 I just got the phone and charged it for 3 hours. powered it up, connected to my wpa wireless network, and it dropped network connection after 4 or 5 seconds every time I connected. called belkin support. they told me it phone doesnt support wpa. I told them the belkin website says it does. Transferred to supervisor. She tried to walk me through firmware upgrade but I have the v2 (aka version 2000) with the firmware 2.0.0.37 which is newer than the one on belkin's website (which has been explained above) phone wouldn't connect via usb to two different computers I tried. The support person told me to return the phone, it apparently has a hardware problem. But this support supervisor didnt know anything about the fact that his is version 2, the hardware upgrades or anything. total time spent: 2 hours results: return phone I just got the phone and charged it for 3 hours.

powered it up, connected to my wpa wireless network, and it dropped network connection after 4 or 5 seconds every time I connected.

called belkin support. they told me it phone doesnt support wpa. I told them the belkin website says it does. Transferred to supervisor. She tried to walk me through firmware upgrade but I have the v2 (aka version 2000) with the firmware 2.0.0.37 which is newer than the one on belkin’s website (which has been explained above)

phone wouldn’t connect via usb to two different computers I tried. The support person told me to return the phone, it apparently has a hardware problem.

But this support supervisor didnt know anything about the fact that his is version 2, the hardware upgrades or anything.

total time spent: 2 hours
results: return phone

]]> By: jeux olympiques hentai http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-469 jeux olympiques hentai Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:01:32 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-469 hentai stress jeux <a href="http://rollyo.com/hentai-jeux" rel="nofollow">free hentai jeux</a> hentai stress jeux free hentai jeux

]]> By: Waleed http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-436 Waleed Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:05:01 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-436 Hi, I have the version 1 software and im having a ton of problems. Could you please upload/send me the second version for the firmware ? Thanks a ton ! Hi, I have the version 1 software and im having a ton of problems. Could you please upload/send me the second version for the firmware ?

Thanks a ton !

]]> By: Barry http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-414 Barry Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:23:54 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-414 Just to alert Mike. I have the same phone with the same firmware and hardware revision. My phone will reset while after 10 mins of talking. It happens on skype and skype out. I have complained this to Skype customer service for 2 months. Still working on it. It seems to me that the product quality is NOT consistent. Lucky you! Just to alert Mike.

I have the same phone with the same firmware and hardware revision. My phone will reset while after 10 mins of talking. It happens on skype and skype out. I have complained this to Skype customer service for 2 months. Still working on it.

It seems to me that the product quality is NOT consistent. Lucky you!

]]> By: Mike http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-399 Mike Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:02:01 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-399 Hello: It seems we both have the same phone! I had one of the original Belkin WiFi phones and it had terrible battery life and dropped calls often and reset itself for no reason. Not even v 1.0.22 of firmware helped. The root cause I figure (looking back now) was it was hardware revision R01 of the phone. My phone was so messed up, one day it decided not to start. It was under warantee, so I sent it to Belkin. In the mail, I obtained the identical phone you show above, running firmware v2.0.0.37 and hardware revision R03 (as you show in your photo above). Ever since obtaining this phone from Belkin - all problems have been fixed! It is very reliable, never hangs up in the middle of the call, battery life is excellent and works as I originally believed it would! I would recommend this phone to anyone. The only thing I would like if Belkin could somehow put in a really cheezy web browser (graphics/usability should be very low) option for strictly web browser authentication in places like airports, hotels and cafe's it would really be a huge add value to purchase it. Hello:

It seems we both have the same phone! I had one of the original Belkin WiFi phones and it had terrible battery life and dropped calls often and reset itself for no reason. Not even v 1.0.22 of firmware helped. The root cause I figure (looking back now) was it was hardware revision R01 of the phone.

My phone was so messed up, one day it decided not to start. It was under warantee, so I sent it to Belkin. In the mail, I obtained the identical phone you show above, running firmware v2.0.0.37 and hardware revision R03 (as you show in your photo above).

Ever since obtaining this phone from Belkin – all problems have been fixed! It is very reliable, never hangs up in the middle of the call, battery life is excellent and works as I originally believed it would! I would recommend this phone to anyone. The only thing I would like if Belkin could somehow put in a really cheezy web browser (graphics/usability should be very low) option for strictly web browser authentication in places like airports, hotels and cafe’s it would really be a huge add value to purchase it.

]]> By: Ed http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-368 Ed Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:36:24 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-368 I've been testing the Belkin Skype phone for several months and think it is a great device. I also have the call land line option which opens up a whole new world of opportunities. It works at home, at the office, anywhere I can get a WiFi signal. No problems experienced. I have a friend who is about to be deployed to Iraq and has set up Skype at his house to be able to stay in touch with his wife. She can use the Skype phone easier than the computer, so again, new opportunties are presenting themself. I’ve been testing the Belkin Skype phone for several months and think it is a great device. I also have the call land line option which opens up a whole new world of opportunities. It works at home, at the office, anywhere I can get a WiFi signal. No problems experienced. I have a friend who is about to be deployed to Iraq and has set up Skype at his house to be able to stay in touch with his wife. She can use the Skype phone easier than the computer, so again, new opportunties are presenting themself.

]]> By: Rafael http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-338 Rafael Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:17:45 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-338 @Elizabeth: What firmware does your device report? These sound like bugs that were squashed in the latest firmware. @Elizabeth: What firmware does your device report? These sound like bugs that were squashed in the latest firmware.

]]> By: Elizabeth Kugell http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-334 Elizabeth Kugell Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:08:15 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-334 I just got the phone. I am trying to connect o my son's network and I am not having fun. At this moment my son is trying to imput any password available that will make it possible for me to use his network. Earlier, I tried to speak with my sister and she could not hear me. I was using my company network. Well I just had 3 dot, so I assumed that the connection was not strong. Anyway, I did not pay 170 but I paid enough and I did not expected having a bad connection. I just got the phone. I am trying to connect o my son’s network and I am not having fun.
At this moment my son is trying to imput any password available that will make it possible for me to use his network.
Earlier, I tried to speak with my sister and she could not hear me. I was using my company network. Well I just had 3 dot, so I assumed that the connection was not strong.
Anyway, I did not pay 170 but I paid enough and I did not expected having a bad connection.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-329 Anonymous Sun, 15 Jun 2008 14:11:02 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-329 Nice review. Thanks. Nice review. Thanks.

]]> By: Eugene http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-285 Eugene Thu, 22 May 2008 00:22:00 +0000 http://www.withinwindows.com/2008/05/03/experience-with-a-belkin-skype-wi-fi-phone/#comment-285 The date on the "newer" firmware is 2007/05/10, whereis the latest published on Belkin's website firmware version 1.1.0.22 with the date 11/20/07. Not sure which one is the latest ... The date on the “newer” firmware is 2007/05/10, whereis the latest published on Belkin’s website firmware version 1.1.0.22 with the date 11/20/07. Not sure which one is the latest …

]]>