Wireless Network Help

DVB_3

Normally ATAs have two ports that can be used for two different numbers (phone and fax, etc). The only common restriction I found with them is that usually those phones (well, lines or numbers) have to be from the same provider. Not so sure about the fallback, as far as I recall it's not the feature of the ATA, but a service provided by your VOIP provider.

Btw, have you ever considered a Vonage solution ( http://www.vonage.co.uk ). Some people like it, some don't, but it has all the services you need plus quite a few more. Also, they provide you with a free VOIP adapter upon connection. Not the cheapest, but I found their quality to be reasonable and use them myself.

Number of connection you specified is not a problem for a decent router. On top of my head - all wired ports + 10-20 wireless clients before you start to notice any significant performance degradation. That is, of course, if no client is performing a heavy download, but again that is not different from the wired situation. Of course, with wireless clients we're talking about the shared bandwidth, but if all you need is to share an internet connection - plenty to spare. The only extra equipment you might need is a hub or switch if you physically run out of Ethernet ports (wired clients). If that's not the case - nothing else is required.

That's correct. This is called a star topology. Router is in the centre, and every other node (pc, printer, etc) is connected to it. It receives packets and forwards them to their corresponding destinations, i.e. it operates as a default gateway.

The whole idea of an ATA is essentially to bridge analogue and ethernet connections together. Proper VOIP phones normally come with Ethernet ports already built-in (Cisco 7960, etc), and as such can connect to wired networks directly. Phones like Cisco 7920 directly connect to wireless networks. In terms of advantages - proper VOIP phones certanly have some, but in my opinion those advantages only become relevant when you have a relatively large and complex setup, something like a callcentre. The most notable advantage is QoS (quality of service), which ensures the quality of voice calls under heavy network loads. Essentially, it prioritises voice packets over the standard network stuff and queues them out of order (upfront in the queue). While this technology used to be in a corporate (read expensive) domain for some time, nowadays more and more sme-type routers can do the same (if I'm not mistaken - Vigor can).

Paul_Varjak

Thanks again for a most comprehensive reply. The mist is finally clearing!

I think the 'fallback' to analogue line in the event of power failure, SIP server down etc is actually done by the Vigor router. You can also choose to route calls over the analogue line using a prefix even when SIP is fine - I assume you cannot do that with a proper VOIP phone?

I have not heard of Vonage. I have got a SIP number (actually a Hull number) for free from SIPGATE. I did not even have to supply any credit card details - I think you only do this when you buy credit for calls. I will not use SIPGATE but will use 1899 for VOIP as all calls are free, even those to UK landlines! I don't know how long that will continue though! Luckily, I can configure 1899 to accept the SIPGATE number as a valid number so that my CLI is the SIPGATE number.

Draytek just do not say how many wireless connections you can make with any of their wireless routers. But I have seen others that provide at least 16. The Vigor does provide 16 simultaneous VPN tunnels so, I assume, I must at least be able to connect 12 wireless devices plus 4 wired ones.

You are correct about Vigor having QoS, at least that is what it states in the specifications, but I did read on an Australian website that although the Vigor claimed to have it, it was not yet implemented (would have to wait for firmware upgrade). That was in November 2004.

DVB_3

With respect to this link http://www.draytek.co.uk/support/qos_info.html and other docs the router appers to have QoS in place.

You don't need to worry about wired/wireless clients. If this router can support 16 simultaneous VPN tunnels, it means it has plenty of processing power. VPN tunnels require strong encryption and are not the fastest of the services, but if this router can support 16 - you can connect all your neighbours to your network (not that I personally would do it, but still ). Jokes aside, for all practical purposes you would have no limits on the number of clients you could service.

The only thing that I have my doubts about is the failover, and I would confirm it with the SIP provider, just to be sure.

Paul_Varjak

Thanks DVB. Still not sure about QoS. It may have user-configurable QoS. Just not sure about the automatic QoS for VOIP. However, I assume I could configure VOIP manually if required. Is QoS the same as 'port throttling'?

Thanks for clarification on number of simultaneous wireless connections.

Regards failover, I have determined that for local power failure the FXS port gets connected to PSTN port so phone can be used over analogue network. However, I guess that means, in normal usage, I cannot receive PSTN calls on the analogue that is connected to router. Is that correct?

For failure of the SIP provider (or even entire WAN) it will not default to PSTN connection.

DVB_3

Paul_Varjak wrote:

Thanks DVB. Still not sure about QoS. It may have user-configurable QoS. Just not sure about the automatic QoS for VOIP. However, I assume I could configure VOIP manually if required. Is QoS the same as 'port throttling'?

Thanks for clarification on number of simultaneous wireless connections.

Regards failover, I have determined that for local power failure the FXS port gets connected to PSTN port so phone can be used over analogue network. However, I guess that means, in normal usage, I cannot receive PSTN calls on the analogue that is connected to router. Is that correct?

For failure of the SIP provider (or even entire WAN) it will not default to PSTN connection.

Port throttling is not the same as QoS, even though they can be used for similar purposes. Throttling the port means restricting its bandwidth. For instance, if you have a 256/512 Kbps ADSL connection, you could connect your VOIP adapter to port 1, and throttle all other ports to 192/448 Kbps, thus leaving your VOIP adapter with a guaranteed bandwidth of 64/64 Kbps. While being effective, it's not the most efficient (elegant) way of doing things. QoS, on the other hand, allows you to "colour" different types of network packets by assigning them different priority levels. After that packets are queued with respect to their priority levels, so voice packets get sent immediately, even if there is a queue of standard packets on the interface. So, by using QoS you have the advantage, as you bandwidth is not wasted; when VOIP call is in progress - it gets the bandwidth needed, and when it's not on - other nodes can use the full bandwidth available. In case of throttling example I provided you would've permanently locked out 64/64 Kbps from being used by anything other than VOIP adapter.

You can read more about bandwidth throttling with respect to Vigor here http://www.draytek.co.uk/support/vigor_throttle.html , and nothing stops you from configuring QoS yourself.

Failover - this term in this instance is used to describe call re-routing in case of connection failure. Normally you have a SIP adapter up and running with VOIP provider checking its status every so often. Should that check fail the connection gets re-routed to the analog line of your choice. This is typically used to preserve the integrity of incoming connections, and is normally done at a service provider level. However, I took some time to look further into this matter, and found out that your provider of choice (1899) does not offer incoming calls anyway. As such, Vigor does seem to be the best choice for you, as you can connect both SIP and analogue phones (lines) to it, and in your case you would probably just need a single handset. All analogue calls would be routed by Vigor straight into your handset, even if your SIP part is operational, and you would be able to choose your outgoing line by dialling #0. There will be nothing to default to, as you'd only have a single incoming connection, and the choice of lines would be a matter of dialling extra two symbols.

Following links might prove useful:

http://www.draytek.co.uk/support/voip_faq.html
http://www.draytek.co.uk/support/call1899_voip.html
http://www.call1899.co.uk/voip_extra.php

Paul_Varjak

Once again DVB, a most comprehensive reply for which I am most grateful!

Given that 1899 do not supply an 0845/0870 number for incoming calls and provide completely free calls to UK landlines I do not know how they make money!

I can receive incoming VOIP calls by getting a SIPGATE number (which I have done) and this is a standard geographical number (01482) from SIPGATE and by using X-LITE (the 1899 software cannot be configured for incoming calls).

I think I can probably can receive both VOIP and analogue calls on the one analogue handset.

DVB_3

Paul_Varjak wrote:

I think I can probably can receive both VOIP and analogue calls on the one analogue handset.

Shouldn't be a problem.

Take a look here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86763&item=5763414139&rd=1

As it stands it's a bit overpriced (well, for eBay ), but you might be able to negotiate the price - seller has a large quantity.

Paul_Varjak

Thanks for that DVB. Must admit I know nothing about EBay. With postage it is £177. A pound or two more than I have seen on DABS. They are asking for immediate payment.

Guess I will have to learn about EBay though as I have an 'electric toilet' for sale. Not something that will sell via newspaper classified adverts.!

Toxteth_OGrady

Paul_Varjak wrote:

I can receive incoming VOIP calls by getting a SIPGATE number (which I have done) and this is a standard geographical number (01482) from SIPGATE and by using X-LITE (the 1899 software cannot be configured for incoming calls).

@Paul

If you get a Firefly softfone you can configure it for both 1899voip outgoing and SIPGate incoming. Take a look in the Home Phones board.

:cool:

TOG

Paul_Varjak

Sorry Toxteth, did not make it clear. By using X-Lite I can receive incoming calls on my SIPGATE number and make outgoing calls that seemingly originate from my analogue landline (or any other number registered with 1899 - including mobiles!)