vB Easy Archive - Confused about how VOIP set up works?

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Confused about how VOIP set up works?
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Posted by: surfkitty

I would like to use Babytel or Vonage but no one at either company can explain to me how it will affect my internet set up. I have 3 Macs connected to an Apple Airport wireless router. Can anyone tell me how a VOIP box connects to your router and how it will affect my current set up? Thanks in advance!

*Also I'm trying to decide whether to go cell phone only or add a cheap VOIP line. Which would have better call quality?

Posted by: emoci

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfkitty

I would like to use Babytel or Vonage but no one at either company can explain to me how it will affect my internet set up. I have 3 Macs connected to an Apple Airport wireless router. Can anyone tell me how a VOIP box connects to your router and how it will affect my current set up? Thanks in advance!

*Also I'm trying to decide whether to go cell phone only or add a cheap VOIP line. Which would have better call quality?

Well depends on how you want to go about it, you could use a SoftPhone on any of the computers (although them being Macs, your choices are limited)...

Your best bet is to buy an ATA device (a PAP2 or a SPA3102). I know in the case of Vonage they will send you the ATA (however it is locked so it can only be used with Vonage), not sure in the case of BabyTel...

All ATAs will have on the back one RJ45 ethernet port, and at least one RJ11 phone port.

Now here comes the tricky question (being a Mac illiterate) does the Apple Airport Router have any Lan ports (except the RJ45 plug where the internet reaches the router is there any ports so you could hook up a computer via cable, not wirelessly)

If there is Free Lan ports, all you do is hook up your ATAs RJ45 to one of these ports on the router, from that point on the ATA will not affect your computers, in fact the best way to think about it, is to think of the ATA just like another fourth computer in your network.

You then plug a phone in the RJ11 phone jack and go from there (in the case of the SPA3102, it'll also let you plug in your landline, so you can have access to both VoIP and the landline from one phone)....

Oh, one more thing, if you were thinking the ATA will somehow be wired throughout your house, it's probably not a good idea right away, it'smore of a production than you think. Best bet is to buy a Cordless Multi-Handset phone to use with the ATA

I don't know what your plans are in terms of how much you'll rely on VoIP, however I suggest that you avoid tying yourself down with monthly plans at least at first, buy your own unlocked ATA (PAP2-NAs are quite cheap on eBay) and sign up for a Pay As You Go provider. This way you get a feel for how things work, and familiarize yourself with VoIP and your needs before commiting to monthly payments.

If you want some backgorund reading on some Free Options to test out see http://forum.voxalot.com/voxalot-ge...-voip-info.html

Hope it helps....

Posted by: neil_aql

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfkitty

If you have wireless already, why not go for a wifi solution ?
- You wouldn't need a VoIP box
- You could use the same handset for VoIP and mobile

Posted by: neil_aql

call quality would be affected by network conditions and carrier capability. you'll find that cheap carriers get to be cheap by sacrificing reliability and capacity.