Do you currently use the CapTel at home? If so, is it used solely on your Vonage service and is it 1- or 2-way CapTel?
No, I don't. I'm actually going to apply for it under my father's name, since has more hearing loss than I do. He's on vacation, so I'm waiting for him to get back.
If it's 2-way CapTel, did you have to get a 2nd Vonage account to make it 2-line? I suppose Vonage's "fax" line for $10/mo. would work as a 2nd line?
I think you mean 2-Line CapTel, not "2-way CapTel". I wasn't sure, so I checked the website. Vonage's fax line, for $10/month has 250 outgoing minutes and unlimited incoming, however, from the CapTel troubleshooting FAQ on 2-Line CapTel, the number that the CapTel dials for the captioning service, in 2-Line mode, is toll free. I called Vonage and I asked the refresentative, "If I get the fax line, and I send a fax a toll-free number, does it still take from the 250 minutes, or is it free?" "May I please place you on hold while I check?" she asked. "Sure," I responded, and a minute later, she answered, "Yes, sir, it would be free and not take from your 250 minutes." That's great news, because CapTel users can use it for 2-Line CapTel. Also, since you can turn the captions on and off anytime with 2-Line CapTel, even during a call, if you really do have a fax machine hooked up to the second line, and you want to send someone a fax, while you're on the phone you can just put that person on hold and turn off the captions while you send the fax, and then you can turn the captions back on take the person off hold, to continue your conversation.
How does swapping the Fed and State CapTel devices go around the long-distance calls issue (in my case, no international calls are required)? I would only go for the 2-line CapTel at both my work and home locations to avoid the dual number dialing scheme.
If you use your Federal Captel at home, and you need to make an international call, you can use it in 1-Line mode, to make free long distance calls. The GSA (General Services Administration), not NECA (National Exchange Carrier Association), pays for Federal CapTel calls, including long distance charges, unlike state relay that does not pay for long distance charges. I think international calls are also free, but don't quote me on it.
Either way, whether you use a State or Federal CapTel at home, even if its in two line mode, if a Hearing person calls 1-888-801-7210, for Federal CapTel, when you answer, even if your CapTel is in 2-Line mode, you will still connect, and your CapTel will switch to 1-Line mode. This is useful if someone needs to call you toll free, such as from a pay phone. It's much better than calling collect!
You don't have to have additional accounts for additional lines. You can have as many phone lines as you like for your account. For example -- a2-Line 2-Way CapTel for Motorola VT2442 with a fax which connects to
D-Link VTA [sic] but if you have a Motorola VT2142, then you will have to have a router to connect the VTA so you can have up to 4 lines.
Yes, that's what were talking about, adding a fax line, for 2-Line CapTel, however, you suggest connecting a using a router, to connect to the Vonage adapter. That's a bad idea, because the call quality will too low to support the captions. If you need to use a router, to share a connection with a computer and/or videophone, it's best you use the redundant ethernet jack, in order to connect the router.