VOIP calling

seth

I'd check out the line you have in the country. You need a good reliable line and ASDL in the local exchange and if you want a non BT solution you may need a provider with kit in YOUR exchange.

If you have all this then the choices are

1) PC or MAC with software for other lines. Downside is the PC has to be on
2) An analogue telephone adapter (ATA) plug this into you hub ot modem (must be ethernet) and plug a phone in. Downside no traffic management so response and call quality variable
3) Buy an ADSL modem with VOIP support such as the speed touch 716 (BE provide this while you remain a customer) or pay around £90 for it. This type of device has traffic management and also support 2 incoming / outgoing line at the same time. Though it only supports one provider which is poor and the dialplans are basic.

As well as SIPGATE look at VOIPStunt cheaper for calls. An alternative is to use SIPGATE for free incoming and register the sipgate number with 1899 etc and use the 0808 freecall number on the SG line as freephone outgoing is allows. Remember to remove the sipgate number from 1899 if you leave the SG service as the number may be reallocated to someone else!

I got a speedtouch 716 as part of my BE ADSL, nice modem with 2 phone sockets. Kind of odd as one BT line comes in, and 2 voice line come out! So I can have 3 incoming calls at the same time or 3 outgoing calls or any mix of the 2. I used SIPGATE very reliable, but there costs were higher than VOIPStunt. Not a fair comparison as VOIPStunt is a basic no frills service! But it works well for me!

To get a test account you have to download and install their software. Run it once to get the account info, then pop this info into the VOIP section of your modem. You can then uninstall the software from the PC and turn the PC off. You can make calls and test the service WITHOUT payment. Calls limited to 60seconds.

I was really impressed with the quality and reliabilty of the VOIP stunt offering. It is now the main outgoing line for my PABX. I've popped up a quick diagram here. Also sample dialplans so that for UK numbers you just dial without the 0044 prefix!

welnik

seth wrote:

I'd check out the line you have in the country. You need a good reliable line and ASDL in the local exchange and if you want a non BT solution you may need a provider with kit in YOUR exchange.

If you have all this then the choices are

1) PC or MAC with software for other lines. Downside is the PC has to be on
2) An analogue telephone adapter (ATA) plug this into you hub ot modem (must be ethernet) and plug a phone in. Downside no traffic management so response and call quality variable
3) Buy an ADSL modem with VOIP support such as the speed touch 716 (BE provide this while you remain a customer) or pay around £90 for it. This type of device has traffic management and also support 2 incoming / outgoing line at the same time. Though it only supports one provider which is poor and the dialplans are basic.

As well as SIPGATE look at VOIPStunt cheaper for calls. An alternative is to use SIPGATE for free incoming and register the sipgate number with 1899 etc and use the 0808 freecall number on the SG line as freephone outgoing is allows. Remember to remove the sipgate number from 1899 if you leave the SG service as the number may be reallocated to someone else!

I got a speedtouch 716 as part of my BE ADSL, nice modem with 2 phone sockets. Kind of odd as one BT line comes in, and 2 voice line come out! So I can have 3 incoming calls at the same time or 3 outgoing calls or any mix of the 2. I used SIPGATE very reliable, but there costs were higher than VOIPStunt. Not a fair comparison as VOIPStunt is a basic no frills service! But it works well for me!

To get a test account you have to download and install their software. Run it once to get the account info, then pop this info into the VOIP section of your modem. You can then uninstall the software from the PC and turn the PC off. You can make calls and test the service WITHOUT payment. Calls limited to 60seconds.

I was really impressed with the quality and reliabilty of the VOIP stunt offering. It is now the main outgoing line for my PABX. I've popped up a quick diagram here. Also sample dialplans so that for UK numbers you just dial without the 0044 prefix!

Thanks for that, really helpful!

boatman

welnik wrote:

New to this voip stuff and have been reading a number of posts on here. I currently have two landlines, one for my business and one for personal. Im moving to the country and can only have a BT landline. I know from past experience that BT want to charge you business rates for second lines (not sure if that is still the same!) so I am now looking into making web to phone calls as my second line.

Sipgate seems good as they give you a regional landline number.

I will have broadband through BT probably (need to look into the best options there) and then I have a router to which I can attach 4 computers. Ideally want to be able to call in and out without having the PC on.

What do I need to go out and buy?

Why don't you use BT 'callsign' for your second line(not actually a second line, just a different ringtone), its an additional £1.75 on top of your normal line rental. Only slight problem is than they issue a new number to go with your old number, so you would probably need to keep your business number and use the new number for your home number.

https://www.bt.com/SelectServices/index.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2105209563.1149411600@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddhmffgfmdcflgcefkdffndflf.0&showsub3=SS_popular_features&subProduct=SS_Call_Sign&showsub4=SS_callsign&showsub=products_call_packages&showsub2=PCP_Select_Services&showsub3=SS_popular_features&showsub4=SS_callsign&obsType=LINK&obsOID=53762&vStore=1350&obsPage=%2fSelectServices%2fSS_index.jsp&obsNoSee=Y
Welcome to BT Calling Features

welnik

boatman wrote:

Why don't you use BT 'callsign' for your second line(not actually a second line, just a different ringtone), its an additional £1.75 on top of your normal line rental. Only slight problem is than they issue a new number to go with your old number, so you would probably need to keep your business number and use the new number for your home number.

https://www.bt.com/SelectServices/index.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2105209563.1149411600@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccfaddhmffgfmdcflgcefkdffndflf.0&showsub3=SS_popular_features&subProduct=SS_Call_Sign&showsub4=SS_callsign&showsub=products_call_packages&showsub2=PCP_Select_Services&showsub3=SS_popular_features&showsub4=SS_callsign&obsType=LINK&obsOID=53762&vStore=1350&obsPage=%2fSelectServices%2fSS_index.jsp&obsNoSee=Y
Welcome to BT Calling Features

Thank you so much for that! I didnt even know that feature existed. That will do just fine. I just want to have a different business line number to keep things more professional when we answer the phone.

I am a bit gutted as Ive just found out that with blueyonder, you lose your email addresses etc and I cannot use telewest in my new area as its in the sticks. Oh well.

boatman

A bit more info can be found here:

http://www.twintalkhelp.com/
TwinTalkHelp.com

These might be of use but you have to have them for it to work.
http://rswww.com/cgi-bin/bv/rswww/searchBrowseAction.do?obs=sObs&name=SiteStandard&No=0&N=0&Ntk=I18NAll&Ntt=twintalk&Nty=1&D=twintalk&callingPage=/jsp/search/search.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0692210779.1149511433@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckaddhlmhddjecefeceefdffhdfin.0&cacheID=uknetscape&Nr=avl:uk