Phone number for your pc - FREE incoming calls!

BexTech

MercilessKiller wrote:

This would use Skype am I correct? Or possible a BT VOIP service?

Either way I wouldn't recommend that for wanting free calls etc.. this thread was about how to give your PC a phone number, and how to make free calls from your PC to Landlines

Skype Hype is proprietary, a router with built in VoIP ports or an ATA will not work with them, you need those crappy USB phones for that.

BT Broadband phone service is also non-standard (also not very good value either) so you need their hardware.

The ATA (analogue Telephone Adaptor) or a router with built in VoIP is the better way of going, and is the recommended route, as this means you can connect your usual corded or cordless phone to the system and therefore you don't need the computer on at all to make and receive calls.

USB toy-town phones are only really for testing purposes or if you have a laptop and you may want to make a few calls here and there whilst out and about.

I certainly wouldn't recommend USB-phones, software and PC being on, if you plan to make a lot of calls.

I have a Linksys PAP2 ATA connected to my router, this means I have all my house phones connected up and can make and receive calls without a PC switched on, and to people who use it, it's just like your usual phone system, I no longer have a phoneline, and just use VoIP, it would be too much hassle to leave a PC on all the time just so I could make receive phone calls, the ATA or router with VoIP is the ideal / best way of going.

On my PAP2 ATA I use Sipgate and VoIPStunt, this means I get free calls over my broadband, without having a PC switched on.

There are many services you can use with an ATA or router with VoIP ports, such as Sipgate, VoIPBuster, VoipCheap, VoIP Stunt, FWD, VoIPTalk, OrbTalk and many more.

I don't understand why you don't recommend the best way of using VoIP, you seem to prefer the worst way of doing it!! Crazy!

The best way is using your broadband connection without need of the PC on, that way you can use it as you would a regular phone, and is what most people want, why do you think so many want to set it up this way, have a look at the news group uk.telecom.voip and you will see software/PC is the worst way of going, ATA or router with VoIP is the best.

With an ATA / VoIP Router, you still get a 'free' number, still make the free phone calls etc, just you don't need the hassle of the computer being switched on and you can attach a normal phone.

PC/software/USB toy I certainly wouldn't recommend for anything other than testing the service, until you set up a proper system of an ATA or VoIP Router.

MercilessKiller

BexTech.. I didnt realise the routers were compatible with software such as sipgate and voipcheap

Either way the router will cost money yes? This post was a complete freebie one Though I am looking into that router for myself now so thank you.

BexTech

MercilessKiller wrote:

BexTech.. I didnt realise the routers were compatible with software such as sipgate and voipcheap

Either way the router will cost money yes? This post was a complete freebie one Though I am looking into that router for myself now so thank you.

X-lite is a piece of software that lets you add SIP services.

An ATA or VoIP router is a piece of hardware that lets you add SIP services.

As Sipgate, VoIPTalk, OrbTalk, VoIPCheap, VoIPStunt etc use SIP, then either software or hardware can run these.

Yes, these devices can cost money, but this post can't just be a complete freebie, as yes the number is free, and calls between others on the same network is free, but you still have to pay for other calls.

MercilessKiller

BexTech ye I understand that. My original post was designed as a complete freebie thing as it still is.. but it's good to have the hardware option!

Can you go one further now and tell us the cheapest router option

BexTech

Trouble is cheapest isn't the best.

Not sure about routers with VoIP ports now as the Linksys one has been discontinued, there is a AVM one that is excellent.

As for ATA the best one for VoIP is the Linksys PAP2, for one that has VoIP and also PTSN then it's the Linksys/Sipura SPA3000 range.

ichbinbored

you can just refresh the page if you want a different number. gr8 find!

medic1978

Hi
I'm new to this VoIP business.
I have a BT line so this will need to be kept for the time being.

If i buy a ATA device to plug into my existing router, can i have 2 additional numbers and still receive calls on my existing BT number or is this not possible?

Are the ATA devices easy to set up? what is a good, reasonably priced ATA?

BexTech

medic1978 wrote:

Hi
I'm new to this VoIP business.
I have a BT line so this will need to be kept for the time being.

If i buy a ATA device to plug into my existing router, can i have 2 additional numbers and still receive calls on my existing BT number or is this not possible?

You can indeed have two additional numbers, and yes you can still receive calls on your existing BT number, as the extra numbers are using VoIP over your broadband connect, in the same way viewing this website or reading your email over your broadband connection doesn't stop you receiving calls on your existing BT number.

medic1978 wrote:

Are the ATA devices easy to set up? what is a good, reasonably priced ATA?

A LinkSys PAP2 ATA is one of the best, yes there are a lot of settings, most don't need to be touched, so are pretty easy to set up, even if at first it may seem a little daunting.

MercilessKiller

ichbinbored wrote:

you can just refresh the page if you want a different number. gr8 find!

Yup keep refreshing till u get a good one

And no prob for the find, hope u thanked me

medic1978

Thanks BexTech, makes sense

I have registered with sipgate for a number and voipcheap.com for calls. At the moment just trying out the system on PC before comitting to ATA to add to router.

Having trouble configuring voipcheap.com to work with xlite. When i click on menu in xlite, then system settings then sip proxy i only have the option of selecting the default sipgate settings.

There are no additional proxy settings that i can select and add the details for my voipcheap.com account. Is this normal? Is there still a way of adding these details?
Any help appreciated