VoipHerb
@verizon.net
| reply to VoipHerb
Re: [General] VOIP newbie
Test99 & Pandora,
Thanks so much for taking the time to help me out.
I have seen the PAP2 mentioned here and I'll check it out. I currently have a Uniden system - base station that plugs into a phone jack and 3 handsets that just need power. I would just plug the base into the Linksys right?
Forgive this next question (I'm ready to be lit up)... What is the issue that people here have with Skype? I've never used it. The Philips VOIP841 looks dead simple to use but I bet there's a catch.
Herb |
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davidm00
join:2000-08-19
Newtown Square, PA
| Verizon does allow naked DSL, i.e. DSL without phone service. They just charge you $5 more/mth. As for Skype, you need to have yr computer on 24/7 to receive calls. I started off with Skype with an adapter to hook up my Uniden cordless phone. Was OK for me as I already run a server but SIP protocol is much better as it runs on a PAP2 which consumes minimal power and no dependency on a running computer. I've since turned off my Skype and slowly migrating most of my friends over to SIP. |
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Test99
Premium
join:2003-04-24
San Jose, CA
 ·DSL EXTREME
 ·InPhonex
| reply to VoipHerb
said by VoipHerb :
I would just plug the base into the Linksys right? Right.What is the issue that people here have with Skype? Skype is a narrow-gage railroad. There is a large community of providers and equipment based on the SIP protocol that will all work together. Skype uses its own proprietary protocol, which is incompatible with the other providers and equipment.
If you choose Skype you are:
- Hitching your telephony fate to one company whose future is uncertain.
- Relying on customer-provided servers (super nodes) over which Skype has little control.
- Connecting to the telephone network via a service that has a reputation for less than stellar voice quality and billing problems. |
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Test99
Premium
join:2003-04-24
San Jose, CA
·DSL EXTREME
·InPhonex
| reply to davidm00
said by davidm00  :Verizon does allow naked DSL, i.e. DSL without phone service. They just charge you $5 more/mth. Some ISPs who use Verizon lines do not charge extra for dry DSL. For instance, I use DSLExtreme. But watch out for their rate increase after the first year. |
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pandora
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Outland
·ooma
·Future Nine Corpor..
 ·Comcast
|  reply to VoipHerb
said by VoipHerb :
I have seen the PAP2 mentioned here and I'll check it out. I currently have a Uniden system - base station that plugs into a phone jack and 3 handsets that just need power. I would just plug the base into the Linksys right?
Another poster already gave the answer, but yes, you just plug your Uniden phone into the PAP2 or PAP2T. If the PAP2 / PAP2T is connected to a server you'll hear a dial tone, if not, it is silent.
SIP is more universal than Skype, if you aren't happy with one VOIP provider, you can easily move to another. You just change the SIP server and account information. SIP is very reliable, and the PAP2 / PAP2T is very small.
You can experiment with free incoming calls from IPKALL.COM. IPKALL provides a free incoming phone number for VOIP users. This will let you get your feet wet with free unlimited incoming and penny a minute outgoing. After you've tested for a bit, if you like the provider, you can move your POTS number over to them.
My preference was to start slow beginning with an order for a PAP2T.
Currently my pay as you go account has a free local (to me) phone number (thanks to Grandcentral and a generous user in this forum), and a penny a minute outgoing.
With $10 spent 3 or 4 months ago to see the if VOIP was viable my test account is still more than half full. It is tough to beat no monthly fee, a free local number and a penny a minute to call anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.
--
"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." |
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