Topic 'voip is digital - why use an ata?' in forum 'VOIP Tech Chat' - dslreports.com

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:13:49 EDT

DBOD posted : I use the ATA at home plugged directly into my router. I have an At&t base unit plugged into the ATA. It broadcast wireless for the whole house. Cheap and no wiring.

I use an ATA at the office for the FAX machine. Most of the new ones still have an old POTS interface.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:11:58 EDT

horacebork posted : config issues with the kx-tgp500 followups to »problems calling with voip and kx-tgp500
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:08:01 EDT

horacebork posted : mdseuss: i hear you. especially about smart phone integration.
would be nice. re: cell call.. nifty idea.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:58:29 EDT

mdseuss posted :
I'm cheap. A Panasonic DECT analog cordless system with 4 handsets and Bluetooth connectivity to 2 cell phones is $99.00

Add an Obi100 to that and you have Google Voice AND 2nd SIP provider of choice for really short money ($140 total?)

Sound quality isn't HD but it is loud and clear G711.

IP network down? No problem. Hit the 'Cell' button to dial via cell phone on the same handset.

Before I spend >$200 on some fancy IP cordless kit, I want the handsets to be running Android and open to install apps.

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:50:33 EDT

grand total posted :

said by PX Eliezer:

I am not at my office now, and don't remember if there is a way to not have the web interface shut off at each reboot. I do know that you can set it for longer periods of time, but that does not address the reboot issue.

If there is a way I'd like to know it. I don't think there is, at least not a published way.
--
DPC3825 (bridged mode) - WRT610N + Tomato - Panasonic KX-TGP500 - Asterisk 1.8.11.0 with Asterisk GUI on Virtual Server
Anveo - FreePhoneLine - Voxbeam - Numbergroup - Callcentric - VoIP.MS - Localphone - UKDDI

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 09:05:42 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

also, i have a voip.ms account. i'm assuming that if i configure the 500 line 2, i can just select line 2 from the handset and use that as well.

Of course.

For that matter, you can choose different outbound and inbound lines for each handset. For example, your handset might have line 1 as default outbound, while Michele's handset might have line 2 as default outbound. And line 3 might ring into your phone but it won't ring into Willard's. And so forth.

It is good to look at [every] screen and menu on the Panasonic.

------------------

I am not at my office now, and don't remember if there is a way to not have the web interface shut off at each reboot. I do know that you can set it for longer periods of time, but that does not address the reboot issue.

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:57:19 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

that is possible. actually am bypassing my router altogether and plugging into the second open lan port on my firewall (zywall usg20).

You have a [router] AND the [ZyWALL USG 20] ?!

The ZyWALL USG 20 basically [is] a router so I am very confused.

What other [router] do you have?

When you say bypass, do mean that the other router is set to bridge mode, or have you physically removed it from the path?

If it is merely set to bridge mode, it could still be causing problems....

Or when you say another router, do you mean a [switch]?

An unmanaged switch should not be an issue, but a managed switch could be causing problems too when used together with a Zywall device....

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 04:57:37 EDT

sarahportman posted :

said by n1zuk:

Sound is analog. There is no such thing as "digital sound".

He is right. I think you should use cat5 for your digital voip service.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 04:56:03 EDT

sarahportman posted :

said by n1zuk:

Sound is analog. There is no such thing as "digital sound".

He's right! I think cat5 you should use for your digital voip service.

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 11:10:13 EDT

horacebork posted : i just tried voip.ms and am getting similar behavior.
probably on my lan side, but why is the outbound ringing fine?
then the pick up gets silence and *my* outbound keeps ringing.

could it be that the pick up then makes a connection back to me?
then it is still my lan side problem, right?
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 10:22:26 EDT

horacebork posted : also, i have a voip.ms account. i'm assuming that if i configure the 500 line 2, i can just select line 2 from the handset and use that as well.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:20:04 EDT

horacebork posted : that is possible. actually am bypassing my router altogether and plugging into the second open lan port on my firewall (zywall usg20).

at first when i called *in* to the phone, i saw the firewall logs blocking incoming calls to port 5010. i added a new rule to open this port to the firewall and tried the call again and the logs showed the incoming and granted access.

even if the firewall is somehow not permitting incoming, the outgoing calls have problems. the receiving end is just not hearing anything after pickup and *my* end keeps on ringing after the pickup.

and is there *any* way to configure the tgp500 to keep the web interface running? it times out and stops, and doesn't start on reboot. rrrr

--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:54:22 EDT

PX Eliezer posted : Now that sounds more like a router issue.

What is your router and settings?

Because port 5010 is an unusual port for VoIP, I wonder if you need to open/forward that port in your router.

If your router has an ALG-SIP function, turn that [off].

(SIP is not to be confused with SPI which usually can be left on).

------------------------

I hope that the big Anveo users here and Anveo support will jump on that for you.

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 08:19:32 EDT

horacebork posted : now you're a producer. but we already knew that.. =)

the phone is registered. allows me to *ring* other numbers. but then..

when the receiving end answers, they get silence *and* my end keeps on ringing.

calling in won't even ring my phone here. something's wrong.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 01:17:08 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

now how 'bout that! i have a greenlight!

I always wanted to feel like a Hollywood producer. :)

Now if I could only get one of those couches....

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:56:04 EDT

horacebork posted : px - you're burning the midnight oil, too, huh? =)
i was just about to turn in when i noticed '1 reply'!

now how 'bout that! i have a green light!
i had all the ports already at 5010, but had both presence and proxy currently blank.

changed just the proxy to sip.anveo.com and bingo!
left dns srv the way it was. and did an actual restart.
never did that before either. i'll try a few more things to see what affect they have.

would love to start testing on our current line, but phones ringing all night might wake wifey. =(

i'll try in the morning. day of voip ahead.. better than cartoons.

[edit]
just tried a quickie to my cell: got the message to config 911 before making calls.
(i think that does ring a distant bell: anveo *require* 911 option) .. tomorrow .. uh .. later this morning .. =D
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:48:51 EDT

PX Eliezer posted : I'm not an Anveo customer, but I do have the Panasonic, and I have studied all their config samples.

Try this:

sip.anveo.com for the server entries, but I think leave "Presence Server" blank on the Panasonic.

Change all Port 5060 entries to 5010 for Anveo. That's very consistent.

DNS SRV: Try it both ways.

Codec for free service must be PCMU (G.711u)

Also on the Panasonic, don't just "save" settings by clicking on the button, but actually reboot the unit.

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 00:24:30 EDT

horacebork posted : it wasn't shipped from austin tx. the originating scan came from farmingdale, ny.

just arrived today and am having trouble setting it up. probably something simple. documentation is just marvelous. chock full of informative stuff like 'stun server address specifies the ip address of the fqdn of the stun server.' great.

i'm going with anveo free subscription (for the time being). seems like the setup isn't too difficult, but voip service is still 'registering'.

for the voip lines, there is a 'proxy' server and a 'presence' server. i have tried using sip.anveo.com and /blank/ for the values on these fields. neither seems to work.

changed the first codec on line 1 to pcmu. still nothing. i wonder about stupid stuff like: does it even connect to the web? i think it does. i change the time setting to use ntp GMT, and handsets read 5:00 am then GMT -5 and they then read 12:00am, so that seems ok. (not sure if this is 100% definitive)

also, the admin guide from their website discusses setting up voip lines. however, the web interface has a field the docs doesn't describe: "Line ID". i looked at around for voip config guides and voip.ms has one for the tgp500. it says to put your user id number (6-digits for voip.ms) there. i have done the same for anveo (10-digit id) and still not registering.

downloaded but did not install the latest firmware. what could be the harm .. right?

any tips on getting this thing to register?
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

tgp500 version info

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:22:28 EDT

grand total posted :

said by horacebork:

'll keep this thread posted on the process. equipment set to arrive by mid next week.

I'd be interested to know if it is, in fact, dispatched from Austin, TX.
--
DPC3825 (bridged mode) - WRT610N + Tomato - Panasonic KX-TGP500 - Asterisk 1.8.11.0 with Asterisk GUI on Virtual Server
Anveo - FreePhoneLine - Voxbeam - Numbergroup - Callcentric - VoIP.MS - Localphone - UKDDI

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:12:21 EDT

horacebork posted : thanks. will keep you posted.

Re: going with the pana kx-tgp500

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 18:00:50 EDT

PX Eliezer posted : You are correct, TelcoDepot seems to have a very good policy on returns.

I hope that the Panasonic will work well for you. :)

going with the pana kx-tgp500

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:25:53 EDT

horacebork posted : i have purchased the panasonic kx-tgp500b04. seems to me that the quality vs price is relatively good vs ata and new dect 6 phones. it's a bit more 'spensive, but sound quality (according to reports here and elsewhere) is superior to ata. hoping that the equipment will last.

ordered it from 'telco depot' - a decent third party vendor with amazon. they have a reasonable return/exchange policy. unless something is drastically bogus about this unit or the setup, i don't anticipate having to return/exchange.

i'll keep this thread posted on the process. equipment set to arrive by mid next week.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:52:23 EDT

horacebork posted : we are pretty far adrift of the topic. it is one that deserves more discussion than this topic should bear. if there is enough traffic to bear on this topic, perhaps we could start another one in a more appropriate forum?

said by PX Eliezer:

Outmoded compared to what?

compared to modern business practices of taking anything back for a refund. and this is not just large vendors that operate in this manner. i do this with my customers, and i run a shop of 2 people. i also know other small vendors that operate the same way and i do business with them regularly.

i can spot a lemon customer a mile away and will do business with them until they turn into the lemon i know they are. i'll do what is right to resolve the basic problem. from there on i execute my 'reserve' on the right to refuse service to any customer.

*my opinion* is that small vendors have been to too many economics and accounting seminars telling them that products being sent back are more expensive than products being sold and they buy into that business model. *my opinion* is that there is no economic or accounting technique that can measure how customer satisfaction affects your bottom line.

said by PX Eliezer:

These are often smaller companies who could be driven out of business by abusive customers. They can't be held to the same standard as Amazon itself, or LL Bean.

not sure i totally agree with this stance. manufacturers set return policies. some vendors (myself included) refuse to do business with certain manufacturers based on their policies.

given manufacturer 'a' with a liberal return policy and two vendors selling products from manufacturer 'a'. vendor 'x' could offer unqualified full refunds and vendor 'y' offer none based on their *own* policies, not the manufacturer's stated one.

said by PX Eliezer:

You said you like Newegg

never said any such thing. please reread my post and indicate where i qualify newegg in any way.

all in all, i get to make the choices, so i choose my vendors as carefully as possible. when i'm spending $5 or $10, i may cast caution to the wind. when i'm spending $200, i'm just a bit more cautious about vendors that avert their glance after a purchase.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:44:59 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

case in point: 8774e4voip.com (.e4) does not issue refunds of any kind.

voipsupply.com will issue a refund minus a '10% - 20%' restocking fee.

both of these are outmoded business policies.

Outmoded compared to what? These are often smaller companies who could be driven out of business by abusive customers. They can't be held to the same standard as Amazon itself, or LL Bean.

It's pretty standard, actually:

TelephonyDepot, another good vendor, requests that you try to work with the manufacturer first. And returns otherwise are subject to 15 percent restocking fee.
»www.telephonydepot.com/RMA-Form

You said you like Newegg, but they have the same 15 percent restocking fee.
»www.newegg.com/HelpInfo/FAQDetai···Module=6

TigerDirect wants customers to work with the manufacturer first, and many of their returns have a 25 percent restock fee.
»www.tigerdirect.com/sectors/help/return.asp

Fry's charges 15 percent restocking fee for lots of stuff:
[Unless defective, a 15% restocking fee will be charged for all returned opened GPS/Navigation units, network-attached storage, projectors, cameras, camcorders, notebooks, netbooks, tablets and iPads, desktops, monitors, MP3 players and iPods, and Apple TVs.]

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:28:21 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

if i use, say, the panasonic kx-tgp* phones where there is a single base unit and handset extensions, would another extension be able to 'pick up' and join the convo?

Yes, you have to use the [Line] function, then select the desired line (the one that would say "in use") to join in.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:20:43 EDT

horacebork posted : that *is* interesting about using your linksys ata and an aastra ip phone. unexpected.

is this only a problem with mixing the two types of phones together? if i use, say, the panasonic kx-tgp* phones where there is a single base unit and handset extensions, would another extension be able to 'pick up' and join the convo? to join a convo might be more than just pressing the speak button because apparently the tgp* series allows multiple simultaneous calls from different extensions.

conversely if using an ata adapter, would the attached phones be able to join the convo?

i am guessing both will allow joining a convo. and that leokam's issue was symptomatic of mixing the two types of phones together.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:14:20 EDT

horacebork posted :

said by grand total:

I'm not sure it matters where you place your order. I bought my base unit and extension from different vendors on Amazon. ... My point is that most vendors do not hold stock these days and yours will probably be dispatched from Austin no matter which vendor you buy from.

understood. however, different vendors handle sales very differently. amazon is just terrific with their return policy. they provide prepaid return labels and are very lenient about packaging (although i always include all packaging with a return).

i also value timeliness and professionalism. amazon is top flight on both. i don't pretend that amazon doesn't have it's problems. i just like to know and trust who my money is going to. amazon is pretty solid. their third-party vendors have not always proven to be so.

case in point: 8774e4voip.com (.e4) does not issue refunds of any kind. voipsupply.com will issue a refund minus a '10% - 20%' restocking fee. both of these are outmoded business policies.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:59:26 EDT

anon posted : I use a Linksys ATA, and just weeks ago I bought a used Aastra IP phone. The sound quality is better on the IP phone. One feature I do miss is having the ability to have another person at my residence join in a conversation simply by picking up another phone extension. I missed picking up calls on any extension, but I just created a subaccount on voip.ms for the ATA and set up a ring group to ring the IP phone and ATA together.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:42:07 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

said by Dan_voip:

Panasonic KX-TGP551T04 recommended by PX

thanks for the info. looked at it, but the base unit is *corded*. a bit surprising these days. the KS-TGP500 is just about the same thing except all handsets are identical and just communicate with the 'adapter' box.

All depends, I [wanted] a corded base. More useful for a receptionist's desk, easier to hold, easier to push buttons for telephone banking etc....

Anyway, the [500] is only handsets, and the [550/551] has the corded base....

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 23:31:54 EDT

grand total posted :

said by horacebork:

ah, now, this is more like what i am very thankful for: endorsements of online vendors, which i haven't heard of before.

I'm not sure it matters where you place your order. I bought my base unit and extension from different vendors on Amazon. They both left the same facility in Austin TX on the same day within an hour of each other and travelled via different carriers arriving at their destination within an hour of each other. My point is that most vendors do not hold stock these days and yours will probably be dispatched from Austin no matter which vendor you buy from.
--
DPC3825 (bridged mode) - WRT610N + Tomato - Panasonic KX-TGP500 - Asterisk 1.8.11.0 with Asterisk GUI on Virtual Server
Anveo - FreePhoneLine - Voxbeam - Numbergroup - Callcentric - VoIP.MS - Localphone - UKDDI

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:42:27 EDT

horacebork posted :

said by Dan_voip:

Panasonic KX-TGP551T04 recommended by PX

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:43:15 EDT

Dan_voip posted :

said by horacebork:

In your case an IP phone it's a better choice since you don't want to keep using your phone.
Panasonic KX-TGP551T04 recommended by PX it's a very good choice, another good one discussed on this forum it's Gigaset C610A IP.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:05:07 EDT

horacebork posted :

said by PX Eliezer:

It certainly is on their website.
»www.panasonic.com/business/psna/···500.aspx

dang! honest i looked. =(

said by PX Eliezer:

And it's sold by Amazon

.. by *third parties* on the amazon site - not exactly the same buying experience.

said by PX Eliezer:

AND by well-known folks like VoipSupply.
»www.voipsupply.com/panasonic-kx-tgp500

Also e4Voip:
»8774e4voip.com/panasonic-kx-tgp500

These are well-known sellers of VoIP equipment.

ah, now, this is more like what i am very thankful for: endorsements of online vendors, which i haven't heard of before.

said by PX Eliezer:

Please understand, someone like Newegg is [not] the place for VoIP equipment.

hmm.. thanks for the info. not sure how i woulda figured that out without your valuable input.

thanks px eliezer
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:40:49 EDT

garys_2k posted : The stuff I learn here... ! :)

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:15:59 EDT

PX Eliezer posted : Amazing.

Here's a recent study.

Pregnancy and voice: changes during the third trimester.
»www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22578433

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:42:35 EDT

rblizz posted :

said by PX Eliezer:

DTMF talk-off issues predate VoIP.

Bell Labs was concerned about this decades ago, and many companies since then....

Female voices are more likely to trigger.

And, the change in a woman's when she gets pregnant can trigger this in certain systems. My brother was working with a tech where this problem suddenly cropped up. He asked, "this is going to sound strange, but are you pregnant?" "Yep." I would have never had the guts to ask. (I hadn't heard the term "DTMF talk-off" but I'm aware of the issue.)

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:04:23 EDT

garys_2k posted :

said by horacebork:

said by n1zuk:

Sound is analog. There is no such thing as "digital sound"....

ok ok. not *that* wet behind my ears..

i suppose what i'm asking is more along the lines of: which kind of phone should i be using with my digital voip service? the ones that you plug in a cat5 or rj45 line?

maybe i'm making an assumption here: aren't there some voip adapters that have cat5 *out* to the phone?

No, IP phones plug directly into your router and each is setup directly to your provider(s). Any phone-to-phone handoff or call sharing takes place via settings with the provider.

(Edit: You can have your own pbx on site, like Asterisk, and take care of this call handling and routing yourself. In this case your provider simply is an incoming and/or outbound "route").

That is one point of simplicity with a single line analog setup with an ATA: You can transfer a call from phone to phone using conventional "hold" on phone 1 and just picking up phone 2. You can share a conversation just by picking up the second phone while a conversation is going on via phone 1.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:02:30 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

anyone else have an opinion about Panasonic KX-TGP500?

i cannot even find the product on panasonic's website.

It certainly is on their website.
»www.panasonic.com/business/psna/···500.aspx

And it's sold by Amazon AND by well-known folks like VoipSupply.
»www.voipsupply.com/panasonic-kx-tgp500

Also e4Voip:
»8774e4voip.com/panasonic-kx-tgp500

These are well-known sellers of VoIP equipment.

Please understand, someone like Newegg is [not] the place for VoIP equipment.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:53:39 EDT

PX Eliezer posted :

said by horacebork:

anyone else have an opinion about Panasonic KX-TGP500?

I have a closely related Panasonic which is discussed in this thread. I like it a great deal. We use it at my office. That purchase was a special deal that AFAIK is not available any more.
»Panasonic KX-TGP551T04

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:33:27 EDT

horacebork posted : anyone else have an opinion about Panasonic KX-TGP500?
i cannot even find the product on panasonic's website.
there are vendors on the web, mostly unknown name.
amazon has it thru other vendors. newegg sells it *above* list.
--
".. the sofa has just vanished." ".. well, that's one mystery less."

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 08:21:16 EDT

horacebork posted :

said by n1zuk:

Sound is analog. There is no such thing as "digital sound"....

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 06:51:53 EDT

n1zuk posted : Sound is analog. There is no such thing as "digital sound".

Converting the representation of sound from analog to digital can take place anywhere you want -- from the phone in your hand, to the CO of the telephone company.
--
Smoke 'em if you got 'em

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 05:10:56 EDT

sarahportman posted : There is two reason why some still use ATA (including me) it is cheap and very easy to set up. The features of ATA is more reliable and they give high quality output. So until now ATA is still trusted by many.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 21:10:15 EDT

PX Eliezer posted : DTMF talk-off issues predate VoIP.

Bell Labs was concerned about this decades ago, and many companies since then....

Female voices are more likely to trigger.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:46:47 EDT

rblizz posted :

said by crazyk4952:

DTMF talk-off is when your ATA mistakes sounds that it hears (i.e. your voice) for you pressing buttons on your phone. When this happens, the ATA will send the tone through. Very annoying to the person on the other end!

Thanks. I guess I'm lucky enough not to have had that issue either.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:20:43 EDT

grand total posted :

said by horacebork:

wow, lots of great input. thanks so much to all.. i think i get it.

re: telephone itself: i have an 'ok' 2.4ghz uniden base w/2 remotes. i was thinking of getting dect 6 phones to replace it.

i think that will be the solution then. voip.ms is recommending the cisco spa 112, but seems like overwhelming popularity/reliability of the obi100 or obi110 trumps that.

I had older-than-the-hills Panasonic pre-DECT 6.0 cordless phones and needed a new ATA because the old one died. So since I needed both I replaced them with a Panasonic KX-TGP500 and matching KX-TPA50 handset. I'm very happy with the result and the cost was not too much more than a new ATA and new phones. I'm expecting them to last at least as long as the last Panasonic phones I bought i.e. 20 years.
--
DPC3825 (bridged mode) - WRT610N + Tomato - Panasonic KX-TGP500 - Asterisk 1.8.11.0 with Asterisk GUI on Virtual Server
Anveo - FreePhoneLine - Voxbeam - Numbergroup - Callcentric - VoIP.MS - Localphone - UKDDI

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:14:51 EDT

crazyk4952 posted :

said by rblizz:

I'm lucky enough not to have had any echo issues with my ATA. Not sure what DTMF "talk-off" is. I realize that not every ISP and router is the same, though.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:10:54 EDT

rblizz posted :

said by crazyk4952:

I would later realize that using an ATA with analog phones lead to several call-quality problems that I thought were just typical of voip (such as echo and DTMF talk-off).

I'm lucky enough not to have had any echo issues with my ATA. Not sure what DTMF "talk-off" is. I realize that not every ISP and router is the same, though.

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:05:37 EDT

crazyk4952 posted :

said by horacebork:

i'm beginning my conversion to voip and have been trying to research as much as possible. am getting further, but am stuck on one thing: voip is digital, so why would i want to use an ata device to connect to my voip provider?

maybe it's a very stupid question, but isn't there a voip adapter that leverages digital sound? or is everyone just using ata adapters and moving on with things.

sorry to ask such a bottom end question.

I first started using voip a few years ago and chose to purchase an ATA and use a set of cordless phones with it. My reason was simple: cost. I spent $50 on a Linksys PAP2T-NA and I was able to use the cordless phone system that I had already. At that time, the cordless IP phones that I found were way too expensive for my budget. And, I did not want to use a desk phone.

I would later realize that using an ATA with analog phones lead to several call-quality problems that I thought were just typical of voip (such as echo and DTMF talk-off).

After switching out my ATA for a Gigaset C610A-IP IP-based phone, I've been much happier! :)

Re: voip is digital - why use an ata?

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:04:52 EDT

rblizz posted :

said by horacebork:

i think that will be the solution then. voip.ms is recommending the cisco spa 112, but seems like overwhelming popularity/reliability of the obi100 or obi110 trumps that.

The Cisco SPA 112? Really? As far as I know (besides Cisco) they're the only ones suggesting the 112. If it's just one line and you're really cheap (like me), you could get a used (reconditioned) Linksys SPA 1001 for $16.99 ($20.49 total for postage to the United States) at ...

»www.ebay.com/itm/UNLOCKED-Linksy···d6ec6099

I can vouch for this seller as I've bought a few SPA1001s from him -- all have been genuine with the newest firmware. But a new OBi100 is not much more, and that will let you add a Google Voice line if you want it.