What is your VoIP setup?

I'm using a Sipura ATA-3000 with blueface's service.

However by default the ATA is setup for the US style numbers. This leads to a several second delay when placing calls. So I have changed the dialplan to:

([2-9]xxxxxx|[01]x.|999|30x|*x.)
This will allow local (Dublin) calls to be placed straight away and all other calls will proced after a short delay. I inclued 999 and 30x (blueface test numbers) in the plan so that a shorter timeout is used before dialing.

As the Irish numbering plan has differing number of digits in area codes and also numbers begining with 1 can have differing lengths. It was easier to use wild cards and put up with a short delay (or pressing # signal the end of the number)

If you would like Cork numbers to be dialed as a local number with blueface (i.e. without having to dial the area code) try:

(<:021>[2-9]xxxxxx|[01]x.|999|30x|*x.)

This will pre-append 021 to all seven digit numbers starting with 2-9 (i.e. a local number)
Note: I haven't yet tested this last suggestion however according to the manual it should work.

William

I Use Skype on my 56k (yeah I'm a legend) for ringing the family in the US.
But I also use skype whenever I get access to Broadband. (I carry a headset around everywhere )

However, I also use my mates ata 286 when I get the chance.

My setup consists of a Draytek Vigour 2600VGI on Eircom 3Mb, connected to blueface.ie's PAYG service. Mainly used for calls to UK by me. DECT phone in first port of router, and potential to add second phone into router as necessary.

If I could unbundle my line, I would: not available in my exchange.

mart_max wrote:

The only thing is I am not happy is with my headset/mic. They really sux. Wanna get sthing better but not sure whether VoIP phones or just bluetooth headset/dongle combi. Feel free to suggest. My budget is tight, €100 is max!

A hardware ATA costs less than that, and it will allow you to connect a regular phone to blueface.
See this example.

Cheers,
JP

EDIT: I bought mine at half that from US. Brought personally, not shipped. There might be customs duty.
EDIT2: is customs duty less in Germany?

Blaster99 wrote:

While the Plantronics headset is very good, I've just broken a second one. For some reason the microphone keeps going.

I don't use Skype or anything else for POTS calls. I have a landline so I don't see the point with VoIP. The quality is more reliable using the landline and I don't need to buy lots of strange VoIP equipment and the call cost is the same. I only use Skype with other Skype users. The quality varies significantly.

Thats worring about the Plantronics headset breaking easly as I have just bought one. However it has inproved the sound quality of my skype calls no end.

However I found that using a softphone (like skype etc) the quality varies a bit. And can be badly effected by other programs running on the computer. However when using blueface and hardware adaptor (sipura 3000) the quality is consistantly good.

The price of calls is the main reason I use VoIP, I can call the US or a friend in China for half of what Eircom charge me phone next door!!!

There are other benfits, like keeping my calls seprate form others in the house, which simplifes things for me when the bill arrives.

Willie.

It's not completely up to me as I don't pay the bill, but we just didn't want to get in too deep with such a new technology. We felt with the Pay As You Go we would be able to get out easier if it didn't live up to the hype.

My Service Providers:
VoIP provider - blueface.ie :Trial Package atm, hope to get freedom plus x 2 soon
BB provider - Eircom:2048/128 (ratio here is a total joke)

My Hardware Setup:
netopia cayman dsl modem > Netgear RT31P2 > IBOX 48 Phone System (Identical to Eircom Advantage System I think)

My Network Setup:
DSL Modem 192.168.2.254 connected to the netgear router with an address of 192.168.1.1
The netgear router allocates IPs via DHCP to all the pcs in the office & provides internet access. It also supports blocking individual pcs internet access by IP, Mac etc.

I previously had remote access set up to our file server using port forwarding through the Cayman.
I'm not too sure how I should do this now, I was thinking I could set the Netgear up as a bridge instead of a router, allowing the original port forward to continue working. Would I then lose its ability to control QOS when the Netgear wouldnt be acting as the primary gateway to the net?


My Running Costs:
€100 for the netgear router / adapter
I'll update on the running costs, we currently spend about 450pm on calls.

My Review:
Seemed excellent on a few calls with the test credit, had a bit of jitter on my last call to a mobile, however when I logged into the Netgear box I spotted that it was configured manually with 256 upstream instead of 128 so I think this might have removed the benefit of its QOS abilites.
I changed it to the correct value & will report back when I've more time on it.

Eventual plan is to have 2 existing analogue lines ported to VOIP & just have one analogue eircom line for the fax & DSL.
I'll also have approx 3 more gateways in other locations for employees working from home who will be able to then ring the office for free & vice versa.

The only thing I dont see as being possible would be direct dialling to desk (as I could do with an incoming ISDN line) which would be nice as it would free up the receptionist from spending time transferring calls around.