Hi all. I am a Hearing ASL student in my second year of learning about Deaf culture and ASL. I cant get enough of it! I am at a point where I need to have access to a VP to stay in touch with some friends (this email thing just isnt cutting it...so cumbersome!) I had a few questions though and was hoping someone could walk me through the basics.
My friends use the Sorenson equipment but I am finding it increasingly hard to find how I can get this. From what I can tell, Sorenson has being Deaf or HH as a requirement. I am now looking at the D-Link DVC1000/1100 devices. It appears that they should work...but I am confused about a few things...
1) Am I understanding correctly that as long as I have high speed internet, I just need to buy the device and there is no monthly cost? (this is important as I am a dirt poor student )
2) There appears to be varied opinions about whether Sorenson or D-Link is better - many times having to do with the requirement of using Sorenson servers or not needing servers or something to that effect. Using a D-Link device, am I able to call Sorenson users)
3) My friend gave me an actual phone number, does this just point to an IP address? For example, I assume I wouldnt be able to get a phone number for a D-Link device but as long as I know the ip addresses for people...I am good?
4) Do I need to use the relay service thing for anything? I obviously wouldnt be using the interpreting services, but is there something else about the whole relay service thing I am missing? I ask because one of the requirements of the free sorenson VP is that you use their VRS now and then and I was confused as to why this was a requirement.
Sorry if these seem like dumb questions - I am still trying to piece together how I am going to get this going on my end here...
My friends use the Sorenson equipment but I am finding it increasingly hard to find how I can get this. From what I can tell, Sorenson has being Deaf or HH as a requirement. I am now looking at the D-Link DVC1000/1100 devices. It appears that they should work...but I am confused about a few things...
1) Am I understanding correctly that as long as I have high speed internet, I just need to buy the device and there is no monthly cost? (this is important as I am a dirt poor student )
2) There appears to be varied opinions about whether Sorenson or D-Link is better - many times having to do with the requirement of using Sorenson servers or not needing servers or something to that effect. Using a D-Link device, am I able to call Sorenson users)
3) My friend gave me an actual phone number, does this just point to an IP address? For example, I assume I wouldnt be able to get a phone number for a D-Link device but as long as I know the ip addresses for people...I am good?
4) Do I need to use the relay service thing for anything? I obviously wouldnt be using the interpreting services, but is there something else about the whole relay service thing I am missing? I ask because one of the requirements of the free sorenson VP is that you use their VRS now and then and I was confused as to why this was a requirement.
Sorry if these seem like dumb questions - I am still trying to piece together how I am going to get this going on my end here...