VOIP providers recommendations

wizard

wizard

wizard

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19 Oct 2018
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Will lose landline when I move from Virgin. New FTTP providers I am considering do not provide Digital phone service.

Any recommendations for:

1. Monthly plan
2. Porting current number facility
3. My need is for incoming calls only - can use mobile for outgoing.

Any views will be appreciated
 
Sipgate starter (used to be called sipgate basic) - https://www.sipgate.co.uk/sipgate-starter

It is certainly less prominent on their website than it used to be.

No monthly fee, you get a free local number, can port your landline number for £30.
Just need to login to web interface and have a call in or out every 3 months I think to keep it active. Almost certainly using the test numbers count. eg 10000, 10005

Signup, pick local phone number, verify address with a code they send in the post. Once everything is working then you can port your number.
 
Yeah when I said "never use" I meant not make calls on. A low price per month, a UK company that you can email and who will reply, and very unlikely to just jack the price up or turn the plan you're using off.
 
Sipgate or AAISP gets my vote.

I use AAISP for the main home phone and its been flawless, off the top of my head the phone bill is now around £2.00 P/M instead of 40 odd with BT.
 
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RSR said:
Sipgate or AAISP gets my vote.

I use AAISP for the main home phone and its been flawless, off the top of my head the phone bill is now around £2.00 P/M instead of 40 odd with BT.
Click to expand...
Does the normal landline phone need an adaptor of some sort?
 
wizard said:
Does the normal landline phone need an adaptor of some sort?
Click to expand...
To use a normal phone yes you will do, as you will need something like a Cisco ATA191. You will need something with a FXS (I am sure its a FXS rather than a FXO but I can't remember now) port to use a normal phone and the the device acts a VOIP GW which you configure with the provider settings.

Here is a example from AAISP on the setup of these:


I use a Gigaset N510 IP PRO + Gigaset S700H / SL800H handsets.
 
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RSR said:
To use a normal phone yes you will do, as you will need something like a Cisco ATA191. You will need something with a FXS (I am sure its a FXS rather than a FXO but I can't remember now) port to use a normal phone and the the device acts a VOIP GW which you configure with the provider settings.

Here is a example from AAISP on the setup of these:


I use a Gigaset N510 IP PRO + Gigaset S700H / SL800H handsets.
Click to expand...
I have a quad set of Gigaset S820. These, I think, will not work as VOIP phones without an adaptor (VOIP to Analog).

Wondered if I can buy a cheap VOIP phone like Gigaset C430H tat will connect directly to the router?
 
I'm using Sipgate (basic as it's called now) as my business line going via a Gigaset N300A which also has the normal landline as well. I think there's a newer version now though.

The Gigaset N300A is a nice little box (it's basically the 'phone' and the answer machine which is separate for land line and voip) that sits in the cupboard next to the router and connects to (4 in my case) dect phones which can be configured to accept all calls or just select calls (ie voip and/or landline). You can get your answer phone messages etc direct on the phones.

Setting up sipgate is pretty easy as it's already has a 'template' for them.
 
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lsg1r said:
I'm using Sipgate (basic as it's called now) as my business line going via a Gigaset N300A which also has the normal landline as well. I think there's a newer version now though.

The Gigaset N300A is a nice little box (it's basically the 'phone' and the answer machine which is separate for land line and voip) that sits in the cupboard next to the router and connects to (4 in my case) dect phones which can be configured to accept all calls or just select calls (ie voip and/or landline). You can get your answer phone messages etc direct on the phones.

Setting up sipgate is pretty easy as it's already has a 'template' for them.
Click to expand...

Does the N300A connect to all Gigaet DECT phones? My S820A (3 S20s) are all DECT phones which I would like to continue to use.
 
wizard said:
Does the N300A connect to all Gigaet DECT phones? My S820A (3 S20s) are all DECT phones which I would like to continue to use.
Click to expand...
It should connect to any dect phone but it likely won't support voip in most cases.

You'll need to use gigaset phones to get the full features. I'm using a mixture of different gigaset phones, one old one doesn't support voip though. You'd need to double check compatibility on the s20s.

The ones I have that support voip and landline are C59H, C430H and C430HX.

edit: quick check seems to imply the s20s would only support landline calls but the below page doesn't even list your phone so it's pretty hard to check.

Products | Gigaset

Gigaset offers high-quality phones, smartphones & communication solutions for enterprises ☎ Discover now!
www.gigaset.com www.gigaset.com
 
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lsg1r said:
It should connect to any dect phone but it likely won't support voip in most cases.

You'll need to use gigaset phones to get the full features. I'm using a mixture of different gigaset phones, one old one doesn't support voip though. You'd need to double check compatibility on the s20s.

The ones I have that support voip and landline are C59H, C430H and C430HX.

edit: quick check seems to imply the s20s would only support landline calls but the below page doesn't even list your phone so it's pretty hard to check.

Products | Gigaset

Gigaset offers high-quality phones, smartphones & communication solutions for enterprises ☎ Discover now!
www.gigaset.com www.gigaset.com
Click to expand...
Thanks. Looks like my S820s are not compatible. C59H seems good.

Other option for me to consider is using existing phones with Grandstream HT801 1-Port ATA Adapter. The adaptor seems to work with normal analogue phones.
 
wizard said:
Thanks. Looks like my S820s are not compatible. C59H seems good.

Other option for me to consider is using existing phones with Grandstream HT801 1-Port ATA Adapter. The adaptor seems to work with normal analogue phones.
Click to expand...
I've used a zyzel p2602hw before I moved to fibre and there are options which are for fibre etc (draytek for example). It worked fine but in my case it needed 2 sets of phones (landline and business) so took up a lot more space and plugs. No experience of the grandstream but if it's anything like my old zyxel it should work ok (assuming it supports your chosen voip provider)

If you're ok with a completely new setup might be worth looking at fritz!box with their built in dect as another option....
 
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wizard said:
I have a quad set of Gigaset S820. These, I think, will not work as VOIP phones without an adaptor (VOIP to Analog).

Wondered if I can buy a cheap VOIP phone like Gigaset C430H tat will connect directly to the router?
Click to expand...
Have a look if it works with the Gigaset N300 IP, they also work with analog phones lines so it will cover all bases.

I know places sell bundles with those C430's and also AAISP also do pre configured bundles.
 
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Another Sipgate user here, happy with it. My in-laws also ported their number over to Sipgate last month, are also happy with it.

Got a Grandstream GXP1625 connected straight to the home network (POE) and use a VOIP app on my mobile if I want to make a 'cordless' call from landline. The wife wanted a physical home phone of some sort, for emergencies.
 
Thanks guys. Decided to go with AAISP and Grandstream HT801. A cheap landline works perfectly (the Gigasets are still on copper landline). The HT801 settings look very scary but only half a dozen needs changing from the default ones.

My BB and landline are both with Virgin. Now need to work out if I port the landline to AAISP, will VM cancel the BB?
 
Another Sipgate user here, very happy with it and have been using it for a few years now with a Gigaset N510IP. I ported the landline number across, this was seamless and the number moved over on the correct time/date.

I never knew about the 10005 test number, still not going to use it! I've only ever used the 10000 number.
 
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