Phone number for your pc - FREE incoming calls!

BexTech

If you use an ATA you will need to plug this into a router. Some routers come with VoIP ports. One or two ATAs allow you to connect this to your Ethernet modem and then pass through to your PC.

If you use an VoIP phone then this connects to a port on your router.

You can get USB phones, but these work with your PC and softphone, USB phones aren't up to much as they are just USB soundcards. Better off using PC mic and headphones if using PC/softphone.

VoIP phones and ATAs are much better as you don't need your PC on to use them.

Voicemail is pretty good, the service is offered free, and you can record your own greeting, you also have the choice to have voicemail kick in when busy or when no answer, this is a good idea, because one thing that annoys me with landline 1571 service is that you end up through to voicemail when the other person is busy, this doesn't have to happen with VoIP. You get free call waiting and free caller display.

I switched to Telewest for broadband a few months ago (once Telewest finally realised my area had been upgraded - I could have switched almost 2 years previous if they hadn't kept ignoring the fact neighbours had digital TV and broadband, so I must have been upgraded, at least I have been compensated for the fact they were wrong), and have just recently dropped my BT landline (wouldn't have cable phone - BT line is much wiser choice out the two) and now rely on Sipgate and SIP Discount.

rbulph

Stabilo wrote:

1. Sipgate works with software or hardware. With software you just need a headset with mic. For hardware you need either a modem with VOIP ports (95% don't have them) or what is known as an ATA (approx £30). With hardware there is no need for your PC to be on.

2. Voicemail is stored with the provider, free to access via VOIP or pay to access via a geographic number. Can also arrange for the voicemail to be emailed to you as a wav file (excellent quality).

3. If you have cable broadband I would say Sipgate is good enough to bin the BT line. Most people in the UK have broadband on a BT line and therefore still need to keep the line even of they never make or receive any calls on the line. Time for Oftel to look into this.

Presumably if you use a headset the software makes a sound and does something on screen so you know if someone is calling you. I don't think that would be good enough though because I don't always have the computer on and I feed the computer's sound through the same speakers as I have for my CD player, so if I was using that I wouldn't hear anything. Looks like getting a phone and ATA is the way forward. Sipgate don't seem to sell any ATAs though, or am I mistaken?

rbulph

BexTech wrote:

If you use an ATA you will need to plug this into a router. Some routers come with VoIP ports. One or two ATAs allow you to connect this to your Ethernet modem and then pass through to your PC.

If you use an VoIP phone then this connects to a port on your router.

You can get USB phones, but these work with your PC and softphone, USB phones aren't up to much as they are just USB soundcards. Better off using PC mic and headphones if using PC/softphone.

VoIP phones and ATAs are much better as you don't need your PC on to use them.

Voicemail is pretty good, the service is offered free, and you can record your own greeting, you also have the choice to have voicemail kick in when busy or when no answer, this is a good idea, because one thing that annoys me with landline 1571 service is that you end up through to voicemail when the other person is busy, this doesn't have to happen with VoIP. You get free call waiting and free caller display.

I switched to Telewest for broadband a few months ago (once Telewest finally realised my area had been upgraded - I could have switched almost 2 years previous if they hadn't kept ignoring the fact neighbours had digital TV and broadband, so I must have been upgraded, at least I have been compensated for the fact they were wrong), and have just recently dropped my BT landline (wouldn't have cable phone - BT line is much wiser choice out the two) and now rely on Sipgate and SIP Discount.

So the phone is connected to the ATA, the ATA's connected to the router, and the router's connected to the modem. I feel a song coming on. I've checked and I do have a spare Ethernet port in the back of my modem so I'll bear that in mind. Guess I just need to make absolutely clear from whoever I buy all this kit from that it's going to work! I do have Telewest cable and phone, so getting rid of the phone should save me £10 a month or so in line rental.

Stabilo

rbulph wrote:

Presumably if you use a headset the software makes a sound and does something on screen so you know if someone is calling you. I don't think that would be good enough though because I don't always have the computer on and I feed the computer's sound through the same speakers as I have for my CD player, so if I was using that I wouldn't hear anything. Looks like getting a phone and ATA is the way forward. Sipgate don't seem to sell any ATAs though, or am I mistaken?

broadbandbuyer.co.uk sell ATA's, search their site for Linksys VOIP. It should bring up the router with 2 VOIP ports and the PAp2 (locked & unlocked versions).

rbulph

Starting to get a bit expensive. £59 for a new phone from sipgate, £40 for the unlocked Linksys phone adapter from Broadbandbuyer and £73 for the Linksys router (which I will have to change the plug on) from Broadbandbuyer = £172. With all this kit my flat will start looking like a NASA control centre, and I still have doubts that everything will plug together when I get it. I think this may be more trouble and expense than it's worth.

BexTech

If you have the ATA you don't need the VoIP phone from Sipgate, the Linksys PAP2 allows you to connect your standard phone. If you already have a router and many people do, then it's just the £40. I already had a wireless router (£25).

Sipgate sell two ATA's, the NETGEAR TA612V and the HandyTone-486, but you are better off with the PAP2.

You buy the VoIP phone if you want to just connect that straight to your router and not use an ATA with a regular phone.

Mr_Skint_2

Just thought Id let people know that Voipbuster is not free anymore you are charged
for all phonecalls.. I just phoned a geographical free number and got charged.

If this is posted before sorry.

Stabilo

Mr_Skint wrote:

Just thought Id let people know that Voipbuster is not free anymore you are charged
for all phonecalls.. I just phoned a geographical free number and got charged.

If this is posted before sorry.

It has been mentioned but I am sure some will have missed it. That is why the recent posts relate to their sister company Sipdiscount which still offer free calls to landlines.

Mr_Skint_2

Stabilo wrote:

It has been mentioned but I am sure some will have missed it. That is why the recent posts relate to their sister company Sipdiscount which still offer free calls to landlines.

Do you still have to buy credit at the start.... ?
so you get more than a minute free? :beer: :beer:

Scrub that, I just had a look at site and its a yes....

Matt`_5

Well some calls are still free...

Free calls to any regular landline in:

Austria
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United States