How to connect a VOIP phone

richieoflynn

Hi guys,

I have an eircom broadband router connect to my phone line at the front of my house. I then have a range booster at the back of the house in the kitchen that boosts the wireless signal down to my office in the shed maybe 30 - 40m away. I want to set up a VOIP phone in my office and I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it. I've never used VOIP phones before so do I connect it to the usb on my pc and use my internet connection there or does it have to connect to the router ? If it does have to connect to the router, can I put a second router in my office that connects wirelessly to the booster and connect the phone to that ? I don't mind if I use a desk based phone or a cordless phone so I'm open to options. I don't want to connect it to the router at the front of the house because I won't be up there and I also want to isolate it from the house.

Thanks,

Richie.

Torqay

The easiest and cheapest way is a USB phone/headset with a software VoIP client. Downside here is, that the PC has to be turned on but since it's in your office that shouldn't be a problem.

Or get a VoIP phone which connects to the router. That will work independently from the computer.

richieoflynn

Thanks for the reply Torqay. Presumably I can install a second router, have that wirelessly connect to the booster in the kitchen which will go back to the main Eircom one ? I don't want to limit my choice with phones and might go with something like this one here http://www.blueface.ie/helpandadvice/specification/kxtgp500.aspx which I have just found out uses a lan port. If I put the base in the front of the house I'll be too far away when I'm down in the office hence needing the router in the office.

Torqay

Run a cable then through a PVC or other plastic pipe, installed with waterproofing (buried 10" deep to avoid ground frost), up to 100m no problem. Beats the heck out of wireless anyway, booster or no booster.

richieoflynn

Well, you'd have thought that 2 years ago when I put down 150 ton of top soil, tar drive, kirb stones etc. I'd have had the brain to run cable but as you can guess I didn't ! Not one of my cleverest moments !!!

Torqay

Well, TBH, I've been using a 30m overhead CAT6 cable for years, no protectional condiut, nada, just a clothes line for support. But when asked in a public forum I tend to give sound advice and this is clearly not (i.e. do it at your peril).

richieoflynn

Fair point, I like the clothes line idea ! But would my original idea work if I was to put in a second router ?

Torqay

You'd need something better (and more expensive) than a normal router (which again would require a cable connection to your broadband modem).

You'll have to expect a lot of savings from VoIP justify the costs.

Just had a quick look at the Blueface web site, their pricing is quite steep too. If you can do without an inbound VoIP number, you'll get VoIP a lot cheaper elsewhere.

richieoflynn

Yeah, I'll definately have to have a think about it and reassess my situation. Thanks again for the help !