Best Voip package

BnB

Hi

I am new to Voip. I have just moved into a new house. Broadband from a local wireless supplier is being installed today.

I don't have an eircom line and I don't intend getting one. However, I do want to use my broadband to have a "landline" telephone.

I have 3 questions...

Who is the best supplier of Voip in Ireland ?
From reading a few threads here, Blueface seem to be fairly well reccomended.

What is the best package to go with ?
It is really for my wife I would be getting it. Most of the calls she makes would be national or to mobiles. I think the Blueface "Ireland/UK Unlimited" looks good. She does have 1 number in Spain she would ring about once a month, but I don't think it would be enough to justify going go for a Europe wide package.

What is the best Phone to go with.
I want to recreate the standard cordless landline phone experience. i.e. Not have to have a computer turned on. Again, from the Blueface website, they have "Siemens Gigaset A580 IP Phone" which seems to do this. Is this a good phone ?

Thanks in Advance

Mister Gooey

Hi,
I use Blueface "Ireland/UK Unlimited". It is mainly for my wife as well. I use Blueface through my UPC broadband connection and have an Linksys ATA from Ebay (about €25) connected to my router. The ATA is connected to my original wireless phones (the base set and 3 others). It works a treat. There should be no need for a new phone.

Myrddin

Not hijacking, as its relevant to the OP's question in a way, but would you guys throw your eye over this thread for me, as it's contradicting advice I've previously gotten on this forum.

The consencus seems to be on that thread that you simply jack your existing RJ11 network into a UPC router, and your existing phone sockets then become useable for VOIP through analogue phones. The grammar is confusing, I asked them about ATA's but no reply.

Like the OP I'm looking to get a VOIP service (Blueface also), but I want to use my existing phones. Do I , or do I not need a seperate ATA (I'm with UPC BB but no phone service available to me).

Mister Gooey

EnterNow wrote: »

Not hijacking, as its relevant to the OP's question in a way, but would you guys throw your eye over this thread for me, as it's contradicting advice I've previously gotten on this forum.

The consencus seems to be on that thread that you simply jack your existing RJ11 network into a UPC router, and your existing phone sockets then become useable for VOIP through analogue phones. The grammar is confusing, I asked them about ATA's but no reply.

Like the OP I'm looking to get a VOIP service (Blueface also), but I want to use my existing phones. Do I , or do I not need a seperate ATA (I'm with UPC BB but no phone service available to me).

You cannot use the UPC router directly. You need an ATA to allow you use your existing phones. Then connect the ATA directly to your PC first, change some settings (which Blueface will help with). Then disconnect the ATA, connect it to your router and reconnect your router to your PC. And off you go!

Myrddin

Mister Gooey wrote: »

You cannot use the UPC router directly. You need an ATA to allow you use your existing phones. Then connect the ATA directly to your PC first, change some settings (which Blueface will help with). Then disconnect the ATA, connect it to your router and reconnect your router to your PC. And off you go!

Thats more or less bang on with what I've learned so far...what are the lads on about in the cable forum? I did ask them about ATA's....

Mister Gooey

EnterNow wrote: »

Thats more or less bang on with what I've learned so far...what are the lads on about in the cable forum? I did ask them about ATA's....

The cable guys watch too much tv:)

This is what I use.

http://cgi.ebay.ie/LINKSYS-PAP2-NA-SIP-VOIP-Phone-Adapter-2-Port-UNLOCKED-/260610641785?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cad9acf79

Johnboy1951

EnterNow wrote: »

Thats more or less bang on with what I've learned so far...what are the lads on about in the cable forum? I did ask them about ATA's....

They are referring to using the UPC phone service and making it available over the existing phone wiring throughout the house.
Presumably the UPC modem device has a socket for a phone --- if they are supplying a phone service -- and that thread seems to describe how to connect that socket to the house wiring instead of a single phone.

That is how I read it anyway ......

Myrddin

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

They are referring to using the UPC phone service and making it available over the existing phone wiring throughout the house.
Presumably the UPC modem device has a socket for a phone --- if they are supplying a phone service -- and that thread seems to describe how to connect that socket to the house wiring instead of a single phone.

That is how I read it anyway ......

Thats as much as I could gather from it, presumeably then if your using the UPC phone service, the Router/Modem itself acts as an ATA for existing phones?

Mister Gooey

EnterNow wrote: »

Thats as much as I could gather from it, presumeably then if your using the UPC phone service, the Router/Modem itself acts as an ATA for existing phones?

Yes!

BnB

Mister Gooey wrote: »

Hi,
I use Blueface "Ireland/UK Unlimited". It is mainly for my wife as well. I use Blueface through my UPC broadband connection and have an Linksys ATA from Ebay (about €25) connected to my router. The ATA is connected to my original wireless phones (the base set and 3 others). It works a treat. There should be no need for a new phone.

Thanks Mr Gooey.

I think I'll do just that. I had never heard of the ATA thingy. I always thought I'd have to get a special Skype phone.

If it goes well, I'll definately consider getting it here at work as well. We are currently paying line rental for 3 freggin lines to Eircom.

k123456

You can use an ATA

buy a router which has an ATA built in

buy an IP phone , which effectively has an ATA built in

use a symbian or android mobile phone, download voipcheap mobile app and make free calls over wifi