VOIP...

GuruJockStrap

GuruJockStrap

GuruJockStrap

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
9,378
My folks hardly ever use the phone these days, only to make the odd call.

My dad phones his relatives in Italy on a weekly basis and uses Skype for this, which is considerably cheaper than using our NTL line or BT.

They'd like to ditch the phone line altogether and just use a VOIP service to make calls but how can you use it so that you have a number that you can recieve incomming calls on?

Are you able to do this with some of the VOIP handsets that are available on the market?

Is it possible?

Any info greatly appreciated.:)
 
yes, your VoIP provider will be able to connect to the analogue network to make calls. Thus it will work the other way. All VoIP does is transmit the packets about using IP which is switched more nicely than analogue circuits. I.E a single router with LOTS of bandwidth can do the job of a whole exchange. (a big router mind you, verging on web portal size but still smaller than some of the exchanges about.)

If you call analogue people it'll go as far as it can as IP then (if your really lucky only for the local loop) back to analogue, thus nice crystal clear phone calls.
 
yep it can be done, just bear in mind tho power loss and internet connection problems result in it being down, altho that doesnt bother me
 
With Skype, IIRC it's called SkypeIn.
With the provider I was using, I could get a number with a choice of area code etc.
 
Better getting a router with QOS this will give priority to the voip over anything else that is going on. Sipgate provide normal local numbers free I tend to use Voipbuster and others from the same stable to make free or very cheap calls However calls via 1899 and 18866 are sometimes cheaper than voip
 
Bear in mind that QoS on a router at your end can only help your upstream.
There would need to be some arrangement at your ISP's end to handle your downstream.
 
dont forget you can't make 999 calls on VOIP phones usually, so makes sense to have a mobile phone ready!
 
Hate said:
dont forget you can't make 999 calls on VOIP phones usually, so makes sense to have a mobile phone ready!
Click to expand...

Most service providers will have their own dial link to the emergency services or an interface with the existing analogue infastructure.

Nothing really is restrictive to "IP phones", it's the ervice and service provider that will determine what you can and cannot do.
 
I really want to go VOIP. I need to find the right device tho. I need some kind of box that will plug into my exisiting network that allows me to plug in my dect phone, set it all up and make voip calls without using a computer.

Any ideas?
Aaron
 
You're after an ATA (ie Analogue Telephone Adapter IIRC).
Linksys PAP2's one example, Cisco make one too (ATA186?). Some providers give (modified versions of) one or other away for free.
 
So with the linkysys one, I just plug it into my network and away I go? Also, does anyone know for sure if the router that you get with UKonline supports QOS?
 
So with the linkysys one, I just plug it into my network and away I go? Also, does anyone know for sure if the router that you get with UKonline supports QOS?
Click to expand...

If it was manufactured within the last 2-3 years it'll almost definately have QoS hidden in it somewhere.
 
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