VOIP - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 05, 2016, 05:36:45 am
content: Dave; you tweeted about VOIP; so here's my experience.I have an account w/ a Canadian company called VOIP.MS, and you can do pretty much whatever you want with the config, it's scary comprehensive. I even have friends with full PBXs running Asterisk connected to it.You have two things with their system:an account (on which you can make sub-accounts)And you have one or more DIDs (DIrect Dial numbers).You then through a fairly complex set of rules you connect DID to Account.The DIDs can be pretty much anywhere (like a number in Sydney, one in Shermer, IL and one in London UK). They range (depending on country) range from C$3/mon to C$10/mon (Canada is $0.85/mon + $0.01/minute, UK is $4/mon, Aus appears to be $7/mon and for some reason US rates aren't currently showing up but they're cheap cheap). They also offer (in countries that have it) toll free and national calling numbers.The routing rules can do things like"If a call comes in on this DID, ring this acct#, if that doesn't answer ring this (sub)acct# otherwise go to voicemail", or;"Start an IVR, and if they press 1 ring this acct, if they press 2 go straight to voicemail, if they press 3, forward the call to this external # etc etc etc"Outbound and inbound calls are metered or flat rate (again, depends on country, some offer both, some don't), but the metering is scary cheap (0.005/min for North America, Aus seems to be 0.01 - 0.02/min)Best part? Drop $10 into their service, download a free VOIP app (I use MicroSIP on the PC, and have an old CiscoPAP hardware driving old style phones), and try it. Nothing much to lose.Their nearest POP is in Melbourne (and I know that winds you Syd guys up, but at least it's Aus, and not Austria)Lastly, I have no affiliation, I stand to make no money from this, just a very happy customer.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2016, 09:15:01 am
content: What's this post addressing?In AUS we have several VoIP providers, as well as unlimited access to overseas VSPs.Personally, I use three separate VSPs to get the best call rates and DID numbers in the US, Asia and Australia with auto call routing and other features.I was using Asterisk but switched to 3CX about four years ago - both are fine, 3CX is easier to manage casually!Oddly enough, my home cable provider actually offer their fixed line service using VoIP, but I don't use that, as it's not portable if I move house etc...

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 05, 2016, 06:34:31 pm
content: Quote from: SL4P on August 05, 2016, 09:15:01 amQuote from: boffin on August 05, 2016, 05:36:45 amApparently you missed the original tweethttps://twitter.com/eevblog/status/761391194802839556

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2016, 07:11:18 pm
content: And the actual answer to the question is 'maybe'.

author: dferyance
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2016, 07:56:42 pm
content: I work for a VoIP company and we support two phones with the same number on different networks. It's configurable on how the two phones should behave when a call comes in. It can be as simple as both ringing at the same time and whatever phone picks up gets it. So yeah, at least some (likely more than just us) support it.

author: Electronoooob
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 10:50:06 pm
content: You probably wont be keen on the idea but if your searching fails, you could setup your own PBX using software like asterisk.http://www.asterisk.org/get-startedWould require to be run on a server somewhere, be it at the lab or hosted, running linux of course. Then you can do any kind of phone configuration you want, including conference calls and ringing both/either phones. Voice menus, etc. Just requires a SIP / AIX provider. (I haven't used this stuff in over 10 years but I assume its very much the same these days.)

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 11:20:05 pm
content: Quote from: Electronoooob on August 16, 2016, 10:50:06 pmI'd be shocked if an Asterisk setup passed the Dave test.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 12:03:16 pm
content: The three companies I know who used Asterisk now use Avaya stuff and a traditional PBX on POTS and paid top dollar for it. Asterisk was hell for them.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 07:29:44 pm
content: I've been using Asterisk at home permanently since August 2010 and experimentally before that. In that time my call charges have been 12.86% of what they would have been had they been made via the PSTN. I buy outbound SIP to PSTN service for next to nothing, it's as cheap for me to call someone in Canada or Australia as it is in London (all on the order of $0.01 USD per minute). I've even got a mobile running via it thanks to a service called SIP2SIM from Andrews and Arnold (a UK ISP). If I'm at home the Asterisk box can tell (via Bluetooth) that I'm there and calls get routed to one of the home phones, if I'm out calls get routed to my mobile.It's required a bit of learning and fiddling to get working but once properly set up has proved highly reliable. There's also voicemail, time based routing - so if you call me in the wee small hours you're prompted to leave a message but can break out and make the phones ring if it's an emergency. Best of all I can route incoming calls based on the callers number, marketing and sales calls now get 'interesting' handling automatically.The basic answer to Dave's tweet is 'yes', you can run two VOIP phones in two locations on one PSTN number. Whether you can find a commercial provider to do it for you is another question but if you're doing the call routing yourself with Asterisk or any other soft PABX it's as easy as getting a politician to lie.

author: boffin
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 10:21:21 pm
content: No need to run Asterisk.As I pointed out in my 1st post, a simple VoIP adapter (and then only if you need traditional phones), and a decent VoIP provider and you're in business.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2016, 10:41:33 pm
content: I'm also using VoIP.ms. Everything runs on their servers (multiple geographical locations). All you need on your end are ATAs (to connect analog phones) or IP phones. You can run your own PBX if you wish, but it's not required as their base service includes lots of PBX functionality.To ring multiple phones on the same DID in different locations, I create a ring group, add the phones (extensions) to that ring group and then point the DID to that group. When someone dials the DID, all the phones in the group ring.

author: Terry593
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 05:15:40 pm
content: I am using Rayan Telecom VoIP service. Check them outhttp://rayantelecom.ca/voip/

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 11:52:06 pm
content: We have two Xfinity/Comcast cable modems, each of which provide for VoIP. The thing is, I don't think their 911 service is as accurate as AT&T and, at my age, 911 is the primary reason for having residential phone service. I sure wouldn't trust my cell phone service! I only get one bar on a clear day at the house.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 06:09:55 pm
content: I've been using VoIP for quite some time (10+ years)First a Cisco827 router w 4 analog POTS channels , then Cisco Phones (SIP) , but got annoyed about the wire to the handset.Then Linksys SPA2102 ATA's (replaced by SPA112 or 122) , and can do T.38 (Fax)An ATA is a "Analog Phone" to VoIP adapter enabling you to use your favorite cordless.I like the LINKSYS SPAxxxx solution , but not all can do Fax (they need a heavy DSP)Lately i have used Gigaset phones , easy to setup 4..6 providers , looooong battery time.And ability to register more handsets w. the base.http://www.gigaset.com/hq_en/telephones/voip-phones/I have a S685IP , now obsolete.This looks like the succesor (i like the ability to import phonebook from PC)http://www.gigaset.com/hq_en/gigaset-s850a-go/I've been trying Asterix & Callweaver , but now just use my provider.He can do all i want/Bingo

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 06:57:34 pm
content: I have a TalkSwitch system v6.11 in my office. One of my phones crapped out, and I didn't know if I can just "plug and play" any VOIP phone and have it work. I have the TalkSwitch 9133i phone. Actually if I could repair it I would, but the board seems to be messed up where the power adapter clicks in (48 V) and some of the SMD components I can't identify. Maybe I'll take some pictures and post in the Repair section and see if I can get any help repairing it.Meanwhile, if I just want to buy any VOIP phone, will it be able to work with the system?By the way, the phone looks like like the Aastra 9133i, but again I don't know if it will work either.I have 3 voice lines coming in and rolling over, so if the main number is busy the next one rings, and then the next. All go into the TalkSwitch box in the back room, and then on to the main Ethernet network. We then have TalkSwitch phones distributed around the office, usually daisy-chained with a computer (ethernet to phone, then pass-through ethernet to computer).I'm just north of Toronto so if anyone has an old VOIP phone or knows where to pick up a used one for cheap, I'd like to try to get it to work. I just don't trust buying it if it is costly and ends up not being compatible or able to work with my old TalkSwitch system (they are now known as Fortinet).

author: Lord of nothing
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2017, 07:17:29 pm
content: I would say it depend on the Law. Here in Austria you have 2 different Phone Numbers you can choose:1) The normal Landline who start with 0X..... who must fix connected to an (Home) Adress who the Number is used. If someone called an Emergency Service the must know who is calling.2) Some "VoIP" Prefix who are 0720XXXXX..., 0780XXXXX... the could be used from any (IP) Adress. With that Number its possible to connect more than one Phone to an Contractor*.* it depent how many phones are allowed by the Operator.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 12:53:47 am
content: Quote from: edy on February 03, 2017, 06:57:34 pmYup that looks like a re-badged Aastra, which are just standard SIP phones. As long as your system doesn't do anything deliberately obstructive to stop it then any SIP phone ought to do. Why don't you try a SIP softphone - there are dozens of free or trial ones that you can download - that will allow you to test whether you can get a standard SIP phone working with your system. You might be limited in what special facilities are available on a non-TalkSwitch supplied phone, but many facilities such as on-hold, message waiting etc. are standard SIP facilities.

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2017, 07:00:05 am
content: LinPhone (OpenSource - Linux/Win/Android/IOS) , is a nice little SIP Phone appYou even get a free sip account @their place if you register - Non buisness (never reveived a spam mail)They even have a free STUN server/Bingo

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2017, 09:01:37 pm
content: Quote from: Cerebus on February 04, 2017, 12:53:47 amYes thanks. I ended up downloading a few Softphones.... I tried X-Lite by Counterpath, but being on an old Windows XP system, the latest version didn't want to install. So I went to "oldversion.com" and downloaded the next oldest version, and so on... until I found one that worked on XP and didn't have the "expiration" date (some worked on XP but when you run the phone it checked the date and decided not to let you use the program). Turns out that X-Lite version 3.0.x is the latest one that works on WinXp and doesn't care about the date.Then I had a bit of a rough time getting it to work because I didn't know if it was a problem with me configuring my TalkSwitch VOIP system, an issue with firewalling/networking in the office, or the X-Lite software, or the setup parameters... etc....Turns out I set it all up all correctly, but the dang PORT was by default set to 5700 whereas TalkSwitch uses 5060. So for domain I had to give it my internal LAN address 192.168.0.3:5060 (and before I had only specified 192.168.0.3 without a port, thinking it was a default that all VOIP systems use). Once I did that, it all worked! Winner winner chicken dinner!Then I had to get my silly Windows XP sound driver/microphone set up to avoid noise, echo cancellation, audio mixing of the person calling me from hearing their own voice, etc.... and figuring out how to actually dial out (I dial "9" first and wait for 5 seconds to hear a dial tone), or transfer calls to different extensions, and so on.Anyways, this solution saved my arse and now I have a phone in my office again and it will be much easier to do it in the future now that I've already learned from this experience, and I have time to shop around now and find a replacement hard-phone (or fix my old one) without feeling the pressure.VOIP is awesome!

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 08, 2017, 04:40:38 am
content: I would highly recommendMicroSIPas a softclient. It's small, simple, and just does what it needs to.