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centric
join:2005-07-31
Ann Arbor, MI | FWD-Free world diapup, how does it work? I was interested in using FWD. I'm not exactly understanding how the technology works. Because it refers to using both IP-to-IP protocal to talk to other people thru the FWD. It also states that Cisco ATA devices can be used. How difficult would it be to configure a Cisco ATA 186 to work thru FWD? And would I be able to call other people thru a standard phone number?
sr_guy | |
3 edits | FWD is a free SIP based VoIP provider and you can use pretty much any unlocked SIP compatible ATA device or software phone. The free service lets you call other FWD users for free and toll free numbers in the US and you can receive calls from other FWD users and from the 'normal' phones thru gateway numbers or by getting a Washington State number for free from ipkall.com. Setup is pretty easy and if your cisco is unlocked should not be a problem. There is btw also Stanaphone.com, its a pre-paid provider, but they offer free NY number, free incoming and free calls to Stanaphone/Tollfree. Calling cards with toll free access work with both.
-Sky | |
centric
join:2005-07-31
Ann Arbor, MI | So basically calling any POTS numbers is out of the question thru this service, even with an ATA device? | |
jyeunginspiration realityPremium
join:2004-03-30
North York, ON | reply to centric
You can't call PSTN lines from FWD. Most 1-8XX numbers can be called, however. | |
| reply to centric
I wouldn't be surprised if you get a number of other replies. And I also wouldn't be surprised if someone points out someplace that I "simplified" things too much (i.e. explained the general idea, but someone happens to know the exception that proves the rule). However, FWIW here's FWD (and VoIP) 101...
VoIP is a way to send voice over "data" (internet) networks. You can either do this with a program on your computer, or get a stand-alone device (such as a CISCO ATA-186, a Sipura adapter, a GrandStream phone, etc) that you simply hook up to the (broadband) internet in your house (in much the same way you would hook up a 2nd computer to your home's internet connection).
Many of us prefer the hardware adapters, over the computer programs; because they are generally "friendlier to use" (at least after they are setup), the sound quality is often better, and you are no longer tied to your computer (but can instead use all the features of the "normal phone" of your choice). The CISCO ATA-186 is one such adapter, although many feel that cheaper and better adapters are now on the market. For example, my current favorite adapter (for its mix of price/quality/features) is a Sipura SPA-3000, available for about $100 from Voxilla.com).
Which brings us into how FWD comes into the picture. While these "SIP devices" (either VoIP programs, or hardware adapters) are usually (by their design) "peer to peer" (in that you can call directly between these devices, bypassing all "3rd parties" including FWD), it is generally a pain to setup all the details for a "direct link" between "internet phones". But it is a lot easier to just dial a "phone number" given out by some 3rd party, and get connected. In general the call still goes directly between the two parties in the call (there are exceptions to this rule, especially if/when "proxies" are involved), BUT the 3rd party (in this case FWD) works as a "phone book" of sorts, translating those "phone numbers" into the gory details of where the other "phone" is currently residing on the internet.
So can you DIRECTLY dial "normal" (telco) phones from FWD? NO, you can't. FWD "numbers" are for connecting to other FWD numbers (i.e. others with "internet phones" who have signed up with a free FWD account). In this case, FWD is simply a way to give a short "number" for some VoIP user, instead of having to deal with all the complications of where their system is currently residing on the internet.
Now, that said, FWD also has a lot of "peering" (interconnect with other networks). First off, there are a number of other "VoIP networks" that are "peered" with FWD, so you can call (and be called from) anyone with one of those other "numbers" for free, by entering an extra "peering code" (similar in function to entering an area code in the normal phone system, to connect to someone "out of area"). Likewise, FWD has an "outbound toll free" proxy, that will let you call normal 800/888/877/866 numbers "for free" (just like you could with a normal phone). So you could use a pre-paid "phone card" (that you call via an 800 number) to call "normal numbers" from FWD. Finally, there are some places (such as »www.ipkall.com ) that will give you free inbound phone numbers (that "ring" your FWD line), so others on the "normal phone system" can call you.
The above is pretty much how FWD fits in. However, you can also use VoIP to get discounted LD. This is not done through FWD (which is a FREE service primarily for calling internet to internet), but it is an option. And don't expect any of these services to be "free", but the cost is frequently cheaper than phone rates with "normal phones". As one extreme example, I only pay $11.99/month for my dialpad.com "unlimited" (I think someone said there really was a "hidden limit" of 3000 minutes/month) residential LD calling service. This gives my family pretty cheap calling (to normal phones), whenever they choose to call. And for those doing less calling/month (or as a "backup", in case your primary provider is having problems), there are always services like the Teliax.com "pay as you go" plan (which is a flat rate 2 cents/min to normal USA numbers). Again, this is NOT "free world dialup" now (these are commercial services), but they are options to call "normal phones" (at a lower cost than a traditional phone call would be).
And finally, with the right software and/or hardware, you can combine these services to meet your needs (NOTE: The CISCO ATA-186 is an older device that only allows ONE service to be entered/used, so you can NOT combine services if you are using a CISCO ATA-186 to connect). For example, imagine combining all the best features of FWD (a nice free service, for calling internet to internet) with all the best features of a discounted LD service (for calling normal telco numbers "cheaply"). In my case, I don't even have to imagine it, as I'm already living it!
What I did, was take a Sipura SPA-3000 adapter (picked partially for its flexibility to handle multiple accounts on the same "phone"), and set it up for ALL of the following services: 1) Make and receive FREE calls from FWD (and any FWD "peering partner"), 2) Receive normal telco user calls via my free IPKall.com inbound phone number (again at no cost to me), 3) Call out to normal USA phone numbers via my DialPad.com residential "unlimited" account (flat rate of $11.99/month), 4) Alternatively, I can also use my Teliax.com $0.02/min account to make a call (for example, if dialpad is down for some reason), 5) Or I can also call into the free voice "conference rooms" of SIPphone from my "phone". And all of this is doable on the same "phone line" (I wired my SPA-3000 into the phone wiring in my house), so that anyone in the house just sees "Line 2" (my VoIP "line") as a "phone line" with all these features available!
As to your question about how easy it is to setup these adapters, that really depends upon your needs, and how complicated your setup (including internet issues) is. In general these adapters can be a pain to setup (think about the difficulty of programming a VCR to record you favorite shows while you are away, and you begin to get the idea), especially if you want to do fancy "combo setups" like I did. However, services like FWD do make setting up the adapters a lot easier then doing things fully "peer to peer". Also some places already have "suggested setups" and/or "wizards" to help you configure things. For example, Voxilla.com has free (although you do need to register with them for a free account to use them) web based "Wizards" that will ask you a number of questions, and then configure your adapter for you (assuming you are using one of the adapter types they sell). So in many cases, getting up and running (with a minimal setup) is often pretty easy. Of course, there is always the chance that you have specific needs not met by the default/recommended settings (in which case expect a painful time setting up the advanced settings manually). But however you get the setup done (via an easy "wizard", some "recommended settings" web page, or manually "the hard way"), the final result is that things should work "naturally", allowing you to use the phone as you are used to doing (with the possible exception of which numbers you dial to call specific places). | |
| reply to centric
FWD-Free world daipup
said by centric:So basically calling any POTS numbers is out of the question thru this service, even with an ATA device? "diapup"?
Is that where you diaper a pup? 
Or just diaper up?
Like was posted earlier, you can call toll-free in US and many other countries. You could call out through another VoIP proxy such as SIPphone, that offers free (or pay) outbound service (you could also use them instead of FWD...). You can also call outbound by knowing a FWD user or SIP URI that has a PSTN gateway, such as the SPA-3000, hooked up to it. The reverse is also true, you can be called the same way.
 Hmmm. . .that then poses the question. . .if all these FREE services can somehow connect to the PSTN for inbound and outbound, is the FCC gonna require them to pay for E911 for every user once they figure that out? Or will the FCC make them disconnect completely from the US PSTN? How exactly would they accomplish that, which is not feasible since anyone can set up a gateway? Will they then send FCC cops out to get the gateway operators like with illegal CB's and Ham radios? | | |
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centric
join:2005-07-31
Ann Arbor, MI | So in essence it be a SIP device configured to talk out to different proxy servers for a varity of services that you can sign up for? Would I need a TFTP server or anything for the SIP device to talk to?
I guess the final question is, does this method end up saving money, or would it be a lot of work that would only end up saving pennies?
I'd like to try this if a different of mix of service that would work thru my SIP device would save me money in the long run. The majority of my expenses thru my current VOIP provider (Sunrocket) are international calls to Bangkok, Thailand and China.
Just something new I'd like to tackle. Thanks for all your input. And yes, I'm a terrible typer =) | |
| said by centric:So in essence it be a SIP device configured to talk out to different proxy servers for a varity of services that you can sign up for? Free World Dialup is not a SIP device. It is one of those services you can point your own SIP device at! In the case of FWD, it is a free service, that is mostly designed for internet to internet calls only.
NOTE: While FWD is for internet to internet calling, it also has "peering arrangements" with a number of other services. As such, there are "3rd party" services (although they are not necessarily "free", unlike FWD itself), that you can use to interconnect FWD and the normal "telco" phone line network (so it is possible to call from FWD to a normal number, indirectly via these 3rd party services). However, such services are not FWD per se, they are just accessible from FWD!
NOTE: Once you have your own (unlocked) SIP device, you are not limited to just using it with one service (especially if it is a device the allows multiple services to be setup in it "at the same time", which is why I use a Sipura SPA-3000 is my primary "SIP device"). Instead, you can "shop around" for the best deals to wherever you want to call. And remember, the best deal of all is "free", which is the price you will both pay if/when you are calling FWD to FWD (i.e. if both of you properly setup your own internet phones with the FWD service)! And FWD to FWD calls are still "free" (beyond any charges your ISP may charge for the internet usage) even if/when you are calling 1/2 way around the world!
Would I need a TFTP server or anything for the SIP device to talk to? That depends upon which SIP device you use. But most "unlocked" SIP devices (such as the SPA-3000 I use) allow you to set them up from a web browser (point your browser at the SIP device, and you see a web page full of setting you can change). So most devices you would buy do NOT require a TFTP server, to use them (as you can do the setup from a web browser).
I guess the final question is, does this method end up saving money, or would it be a lot of work that would only end up saving pennies? That entirely depends upon your calling pattern! Look at where you want to call, how much you want to call, and the cost savings (if any) on such calls. In my case, using a unlocked Sipura SPA-3000 is a cost savings over even a service like my former Packet8, much less what a normal telco would charge for those calls. But my household's calling pattern is not going to be yours. Look at where you call, and "run the numbers", to see how long it will take you to recover the (one time) cost of the adapter (+ the minor "ongoing cost" of the electricity to power the adapter)!
I'd like to try this if a different of mix of service that would work thru my SIP device would save me money in the long run. The majority of my expenses thru my current VOIP provider (Sunrocket) are international calls to Bangkok, Thailand and China. Ah, so you already know what VoIP is! The difference between FWD and SunRocket, is that SunRocket is a commercial service that uses their own adapter (they are "locked", so that only their adapter will work) and their own pricing structure, whereas FWD is an free service that allows you to use whatever adapter you wish to purchase.
Will FWD save you costs to Bangkok, Thailand, and China? By itself, FWD won't even let you make such calls! But the one place FWD could save you a LOT of money, is if you could get the people you talk a lot to, to also be on FWD. Remember, FWD to FWD calls are FREE (except for the initial cost of your equipment, and any "bandwidth charges" your ISP may charge you). So if the people you talk a lot with (in those countries) have "broadband internet" available, it might be "worth it" to arrange for both you and them to sign up with FWD (for the one time costs of buying a compatible adapter). You could then talk all day "for nothing", and "free calls" are certainly going to be cheaper than whatever SunRocket is currently charging for these international calls! But again, this will only work if not only you, but also the people you talk to, can arrange to be on FWD!
NOTE: A Sipura SPA-3000 (cost around $100 per adapter) has one "line" jack, designed to hook up a real phone line to (and allow you to use that phone line, in addition to any VoIP providers you program into the device). While I haven't tried it myself (partially because I don't have SunRocket service), I don't see why you couldn't hook up the existing "phone" output of your SunRocket Gizmo (since the SunRocket device already emulates a "phone line") to the "line" jack of a SPA-3000 (and then hook up your actual "phone" to the "phone" jack of the SPA-3000). With proper setup on the SPA-3000, such an arrangement should allow your "phone" to make and receive calls via the SunRocket adapter _AND_ any services (such as the free FWD service) you setup directly into the SPA-3000. This should allow you to get the best features of your current SunRocket setup + the best features of other BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) services (such as the free FWD service), all accessible from the same "phone" (for outbound calls, you would dial the prefix code of your choice to pick which service you wanted that particular call to go out via, and for incoming calls your phone should just "ring" no matter which service is calling you). | |
| reply to centric
You don't need anything extra like servers, and no, it's not really any work to do.
Whether it saves money or not depends on a number of factors. If the user on the other end that you are dialing to has FWD or another VoIP provider that allows inbound calls then you save a LOT of money because the call is free. If the user on the other end that you are dialing to has FWD or another VoIP provider that allows inbound calls, and has a SPA-3000 gateway, then you save even more money because you can make outbound PSTN local calls through it.
For example:
Say you know somebody in Bangkok. The have internet and FWD and a SPA-3000. You can call them for free with FWD. You can also call their number, enter a password into the SPA-3000, and it will dial out of their local Bangkok number to another Bangkok number as a local call.
FWD is not the only FREE provider. There are others and like I said you really don't need any provider in certain situations. As an example of another FREE provider SIPphone has the same thing and has better features, IMHO. If you use SIPphone instead you can call ANY PSTN number worldwide 5 min./day for FREE. If you buy SIPphone minutes Bangkok is $0.10/min anytime. | |
voip4me
join:2004-06-26
Henderson, NV | reply to centric
Actually, if all you want is to make outgoing long distance calls (don't need incoming), I would highly recommend Voxee (www.voxee.com). No startup fees and you can open your account with as little as $5.00. US rates are 1.1 cents per minute while calls to Bangkok are less than 5 cents and mobile less than 8 cents per minute. They have both east and west proxies and have support for both iax and sip.
To my amazment, Voxee has even passed The Wife Test in my house (she hated Packet8)!
John
| |
centric
join:2005-07-31
Ann Arbor, MI | Actually, I'm probally more interested in buying a SIP device and using an external service, like voxee, to make long distance calls. Mathimatically, I figured it would save me up to 40%.
I currently have Sunrocket:
i.e.
500 min. calls within US
150 min. Bangkok Thailand .08
50 min Shainghai China .05
--------------------------
About $30 per month w/ SR
With my own SIP going thru a minute plan w/ same minutes as above:
500 min. calls within US .01-.02
150 min. Bangkok Thailand .04
50 min Shainghai China .02
------------------------------------
About $18 per month (give or take)
I will still need an incoming number (local), so I'd need to find a solution for that too. So, what I need is:
1. Examples of per minute providers for voip like voxiee.
2. A way to obtain and/or port a local number w/ a SIP I buy.
3. I need incoming/outgoing calling.
Configuring the box I think I won't have a problem with, since I've configured my entire internal network, I just needed the "alternatives" if I were to purchase my own SIP device, and to be pointed in the right direction. | |
| said by centric:I currently have Sunrocket: i.e. 500 min. calls within US 150 min. Bangkok Thailand .08 50 min Shainghai China .05 -------------------------- About $30 per month w/ SR Actually, about $27/mo, since SR gives you $3/month of international LD credit.  | |
1 edit | reply to centric
said by centric: So, what I need is: 1. Examples of per minute providers for voip like voxiee. 2. A way to obtain and/or port a local number w/ a SIP I buy. 3. I need incoming/outgoing calling. Points 2 & 3:
One example:
MPC offers LNP porting from 95% of the US and BYOD or softphone for $4.95 for 60 min, or 500 min for $9.95. Incoming calls are free, so if you don't need many US minutes the $4.95 plan would be perfect. They are EXTREMELY reliable and have awesome customer service. Per minute rates are $0.025 after your free mins are used up.
Of course there are many other options for US PSTN connection. So far Voxee sounds cheapest for per-minute to Bangkok, but there may be others I am not familiar with.
You should look into an internet account for the Bangkok person if that would be feasible. If they already have internet then get them set up with FWD.
Edit:
Hey Draco, VERY good post!
We both said kinda the same thing but somehow you beat me me in by a hair
Your post was much better (and longer, wow!) and more informative than mine. . .
Way to go! | |
1 edit | reply to centric
I have a question about FWD.
I have family in South Korea and I have setup a Packet8 DTA with the open software AR160. I configured it with FWD. We had these DTA boxes when Packet8 allowed the free plan DTA to DTA. They discontinued it and tried to upgrade us to a monthly charge plan. We declined that and have been using skype.
Should we expect good call quality from FWD from Alabama to Korea?
Can we give our family in South Korea access to our VOIP lines thru Asterisk or some other method?
I tried to setup a IPKall number on their DTA box ...but so far the number does not work. I wanted to be able to call their box from a cellphone if I needed to.
I would love some suggestions. We would like to call mainly DTA to DTA not a problem. We would like them to be able to call out in the US without needing any more VOIP lines (We currently have Packet8 and Voicepulse.). Let me know how we could do this....it would be most helpful. Oh yes our family that lives in Korea is about to return to Korea in two weeks so I have both DTA's here. I would need to configure the boxes if I need to make changes...before they leave to return to Korea.
Any help here would be greatly appreciated. | |
| I live in Taiwan.
The key factor to using FWD from Asia to the USA is latency--round trip latency to be precise.
FWD's SIP servers are located in New York. That will make the latency from SK to FWD higher, but you will have to give a try to know if the latency is too high.
Taiwan's latency is probably higher than South Korea, so I would think you will not have a problem.
I use FWD (among other VOIP services), and the sound quality is excellent. The codec they use is called g.711u (ulaw), which is a high bandwidth, high quality codec.
What that codec is not, however, is latency friendly. So...if the latency with FWD is too high, it will result in talking over each other (I doubt you will have trouble with packet loss or the like).
Incidentally, if Packet8 worked well for you with the DTA310s, and if FWD does not, remember that P8's SIP server is/was located in San Jose (among other places), and the latency to their servers (at least from Taiwan), is much lower than to FWD (161 ms to P8 servers in San Jose vs. 255ms to FWD servers in NY). Latency is everything. | |
centric
join:2005-07-31
Ann Arbor, MI | Are there any voip providers out there that offer a pay per minute plan for both international/US calls, and allow BYOD? Based on my average minutes per month it would come out cheaper than what I pay now with Sunrocket on a pay per minute plan if the rates are cheap enough. And oh, I still need my local number. =) | |
| reply to centric
said by centric:Actually, I'm probally more interested in buying a SIP device and using an external service, like voxee, to make long distance calls. In which case I recommend getting a SIP device that is explicitly designed to handle multiple VoIP providers on it. That way, you can "mix and match" as you see fit, to get the best combination of deals (for example: Use one provider with "free incoming minutes" for inbound telco calls, a 2nd provider for internet to internet calls, yet another provider that has good rates for outbound LD, and maybe even a "backup" provider for making calls if/when your primary "outbound provider" is down for any reason)!
1. Examples of per minute providers for voip like voxiee.
Voxee does seem to be the cheapest provider. But IMHO you don't want to depend upon only ONE provider (especially an apparently very small one like Voxee), to provide all your service. As such, I recommend that you get a 2nd "pay by the minute" provider (also programmed into your SIP device), so that you can immediately make calls even if your primary provider (voxee?) is down for any reason.
With that in mind, I use »www.teliax.com "pay as you go" plan ($10 minimum pre-pay to sign up). They are a little more expensive than Voxee (2 cents/min for USA LD vs Voxee's 1.1), but then again pretty much everyone is. And Teliax does have a pretty nice web portal for managing your account. Finally, Teliax doesn't charge any fees for calling USA "toll free" (800/888/877/866) numbers, even on the per-minute plan. So I have my SPA-3000 setup to route all my toll free calling via my Teliax.com account (instead of using up minutes on one of my other VoIP accounts, or dealing with the lower quality calls of FWD's free "toll free" peering arrangement).
Another good choice for BYOD minutes, may be SIPphone.com, which has rates similar to Teliax. One great advantage of SIPphone.com, is that as soon as you have a "premium account" (which happens after you have bought $20 of "SIP minutes"), you can make up to 5 minutes of "free" calls to 30 listed countries (although you do have to enter a special code when calling, to tell SIPphone you want that to be one of your "free calls", or you will be billed normally for the call). So by buying $20 of "SIP minutes", you also get a free 5 minute call every day (if you so desire). While your free 5 minute call likely would cost less than a quarter (if you paid for the minutes), those "free calls" could add up to significant savings over time. And remember, you can use SIPphone for their 5-minute free calls (and as a "backup" provider using your paid for SIP minutes), even if you use some other provider (voxee?) for most of your outbound calling!
2. A way to obtain and/or port a local number w/ a SIP I buy.
In which case, you will need a provider that can handle porting for your area. And that will cost you something each month. How much will vary with the providers (an incoming line with a provider you can "port" a number into, is generally at least $5/month, and prices go up from there).
NOTE: There are some places that can get you an incoming number FOR FREE (no monthly charges). However, those free numbers services don't deal with porting existing numbers, and furthermore they only give out free numbers from their specific geographic region (for example, »www.ipkall.com gives you a free "Washington State" number, that normal telco users can call to "ring" your SIP device). So if all you need is incoming calls via some number (somewhere in the USA), you can get that service for nothing. But if you also include the requirement that the number be "local" (to you) and/or the requirement that they be able to "port your number", you likely will pay a monthly fee for this (how much will depend upon the provider, and that choice will likely be controlled by which providers can handle numbers in your local area)!
Of course, if you can't find a service that can handle/port your number (for a decent price), you always have the option of keeping your SunRocket service for inbound calls + "free" outbound USA calls. You could still use other services (with your own SIP device) when they are cheaper to do (for example, using Voxee to call internationally, and use FWD/SIPphone/etc to make free internet to internet calls). Heck, an SPA-3000 should even allow you to make/receive calls from both your SunRocket Gizmo (hooked up to the SPA-3000's "line" jack) and any services you program directly into the Sipura device itself, on the same "phone" (so you don't have to add extra phones in your house, for different calling patterns).
3. I need incoming/outgoing calling.
Then I highly recommend that you don't buy the cheapest SIP device you can get, but instead spend a little more on a device that is designed to allow multiple VoIP providers "at the same time". For example, the SPA-3000 I use allows you to have: 1) A primary inbound/outbound VoIP provider, 2) Four additional outbound only (you make the call, but they can't call you) VoIP providers (via their "gateway" provider fields), 3) Eight different SIP URIs (direct internet addresses for VoIP calls), via the device's "speed dials" 4) And you can also hook up an existing line (including another VoIP device, such as a SunRocket Gizmo) to the "Line" jack of the device. And if you configure your "dial plan" (the translation of what digits you dial on the phone, and what call you actually make as a result) correctly, all these features are immediately available from any "phone" (including hooking your Sipura up to your house phone wiring) you have hooked up to the adapter.
NOTE: The Sipura SPA-3000 is not the only device that allows multiple VoIP providers to be entered into it. But many of the cheaper SIP devices (and even some of the more expensive SIP devices) can only be setup for one provider at a time (you have to reprogram them to use them for some other service), so do pay attention to the "feature set" before purchasing. As to the Sipura SPA-3000, I speak about it a lot simply because I own one, and therefore have a pretty good idea what it can (and can't) do. But that doesn't mean you can't find some other SIP device that would meet your needs (including support for multiple VoIP accounts), just that I know a Sipura SPA-3000 is able to "seamlessly" handle multiple VoIP accounts because I've done it with my SPA-3000.
NOTE: The biggest limit of the SPA-3000, is that the only things that can directly (without some clever "forwarding") "ring your phone" are the primary "Line 1" VoIP service and the "phone line" you may have hooked up to the device (if you hook up a "phone line" to the device, so far I haven't). However, you should normally be able to put "outbound services" (such as voxee.com or teliax.com) on the 4 "gateway fields", and reserve the primary VoIP service (and/or the "Line" port, if you decide to keep SunRocket) for whatever you are using for incoming calls. For example, my current SPA-3000 setup is: 1) FWD as my primary VoIP (so I can receive FWD calls, and not just make them). 2) My incoming IPKall.com number is forwarded to FWD, so it also rings my "phone", 3) DialPad.com (my primary USA outbound service) is on "gateway 1" (and I also setup my dial plan to automatically select that service if/when I dial a normal USA LD number), 4) Teliax.com (my backup service) is gateway 2, and is also the service my "dial plan" automatically selects for "toll free" 800/888/877/866 calls 5) IconnectHere is currently on "gateway 3", simply because I got a free $3.00 promo account from them, when I purchased my SPA-3000 (I'll probably drop them when the free minutes run out, since they are more expensive then both Teliax and SIPphone) 6) My testing of "VoIP Buster" is on "gateway 4", but I'm seriously disappointed with the quality of that service, so that likely won't remain for long, 7) And I was even able to play "dial plan games" (because SIPphone lets you call them via a normal "unauthenticated" SIP URI), to allow me to directly connect with SIPphone, even though I didn't use a "gateway" spot to do this!
NOTE: I have always been of the opinion, that (if at all possible) you should have new services "up and running" (and tested for a short time), before you disconnect your existing services. By doing things this way, you will have a short period of time when you are using (and paying for) multiple services. However, you will also have the option to painlessly go with "plan B" (a different VoIP provider, perhaps) if any of the new services are "unacceptable" for any reason. And by "overlapping" your old service, with the new, you should (in theory) never have any times where you find yourself with no service at all (even if/when there is some "glitch" with setting up some new service).
In your case, that would mean that you should plan to keep your SunRocket service "for the present", even if you eventually decide to port your number somewhere else. IMHO you shouldn't plan to drop SunRocket until you have done all of the following: 1) Gotten an unlocked SIP device, and figured out how to set it up. 2) Signed up with the BYOD services you want to use for outbound calls, and verified that they work OK for you on that SIP device (and if any of them are unacceptable for any reason, fix the problems and/or find some alternative services to use that are acceptable), 3) You have found, signed up for, and tested (with a "temp number") the service you want to use to replace SunRocket's inbound number (again, if that service is unacceptable for any reason, drop them and try a different service for eventually porting your existing number to). 4) And finally, don't disconnect your existing service until you request that your SunRocket number be ported, wait for however long the number porting takes, and you have CONFIRMED (and tested) that the porting completed properly (if you disconnect your SunRocket service before the porting completes, you may just "lose your number"). | |
| reply to gnexus
Alfonzo21, you wouldn't be using POTS to talk to your family in S. Korea with FWD--you'd simply use the Internet. Both ends would connect via FWD sans phone lines. If your family there doesn't have access to broadband, you may not be able to take advantage of FWD; quality with dialup would be problematic at best. Make sure the family there have signed up for a FWD account and have a softphone (most are free) or a sip device. Don't know if the Packet 8 device wlll work or not, but they can get an unlocked SIP device to use. FWD doesn't really give you true VOIP--just access to other FWD members, toll-free US numbers, and peering with some commercial VOIP providers (however, that's shrinking since Vonage pulled out of it's peering agreement). If you want true VOIP with international long distance to phone lines, you'll need to signup with a commercial provider and I suspect you'll be in violation of their TOS if you attempted to share such a service. | |
1 edit | reply to centric
Yes, almost 100% broadband in South Korea. They are usually listed as the #1 country with broadband.
Broadband is no problem. I wanted my S.K. family to be an extension of our house. I hoped to eventually setup an Asterisk box. They will not be using outbound much just occasionally and we would only be calling them through a standard number occasionally.
We will mainly talk DTA to DTA or computer to computer. I just wanted the option for them to call out on a US line if we were not home...so that they could call us on our cellphones or we could call them on our cellphones if we needed to. It would be nice for them to have a free inbound number for the USA and for them to be able to call out on a USA line if they needed to. This is mainly backup and for convenience.
I know that FWD allows you to communicate with an Asterisk server. We are planning to setup an Asterisk server anyway so we are just trying to figure out the best way to connect them to our server and to be able to make direct calls either with a standard PSTN number or directly through the internet.
I will check on the Spirua 3000... to see if it would meet our needs. The problem I have ran into on setting up a VOIP line out of the US ....is that they do not allow it if the box is outside the US. Packet8 does not allow an unlimited service unless the box is pulling an IP address from the US.
I want to do this with the best quality and the least costly way.
Recap....Mainly calls internet to internet from Alabama to S. Korea. Backup calls by PSTN to Korea and backup calls from Korea over US LD line...some VOIP line and connect to our Asterisk server.
Thanks for the help | |
| said by alfonzo21:I will check on the Spirua 3000... to see if it would meet our needs. The problem I have ran into on setting up a VOIP line out of the US ....is that they do not allow it if the box is outside the US. Packet8 does not allow an unlimited service unless the box is pulling an IP address from the US. I haven't gotten anyone to test this with yet (you really need SPA-3000's on both ends of the link to properly test this, and I only own one) so YMMV. But FWIW I have heard that with a proper dual Sipura SPA-3000 setup (i.e. a Sipura SPA-3000 on both ends) and 4 "free world dialup" accounts (two accounts per SPA-3000) and a "normal phone line" on each end (which could be a locked VoIP adapter from some other service), you can setup an arrangement where either party can do all of the following from the "phone" attached to their SPA-3000:
1) Call out and receive FWD calls (and this also means that either party can call the other "for free"). This one is easy, and is done by putting the 1st FWD account for that user/device into the primary "Line 1" slot of the SPA-3000 (and possibly modifying your "dial plan" to make FWD calling easier to do than the "default dial plan" makes it).
2) Call out via any secondary VoIP services you have (locally) setup in the four "gateway" slots in the SPA-3000. To do this, you just configure those VoIP services on the 4 "gateway" fields, and change your "Dial Plan" so that you can dial some special "code" on your phone to direct the call via one of your "gateway" providers.
3) Call out and/or receive calls from your local telco "line" at your residence (and remember, another provider's "locked VoIP adapter" could be the "telco line" you hook the SPA-3000 up to). To do this, you obviously have to plug the SPA-3000 into that telco line. You will also have to modify your "dial plan" (so that you have the option to dial out via the telco line), and enable the "ring through" option (so the telco line ringing will also ring the SPA-3000's phone port).
4) And finally, if the other side's "line" isn't currently in use, you should be able to call their 2nd FWD number (the number you didn't use to make a direct call to them), have their SPA-3000 auto-answer the call, enter a "pin code" (so that their SPA-3000 knows it is you), and then get "dial tone" on their "phone line" (even if it's in a different country)! This one is the hardest to setup (and one part I haven't yet tested), and makes use of the 2nd FWD number being programmed into the "PTSN" side of each SPA-3000, and the VoIP=>PSTN gateway features being enabled (and configured). But once it is setup, you can not only use your local "phone line", but also the remote person's "phone line"!
NOTE: This setup does NOT give you access to the remote end's "secondary VoIP services". You only have those accounts "locally" with this setup. But it does give you indirect access (via FWD and the SPA-3000's) to the remote end's "telco line", even if that "line" is another (locked) VoIP device (such as a Packet8 DTA). And it also gives you the ability to directly "talk" (with your remote "buddy"), and use any services you locally have access to!
Now, that said, I haven't yet had an opportunity to test this setup (although others are apparently using it), so YMMV.
Also, keep in mind that allowing a remote buddy in another country to "borrow" your local "phone line" (especially if that "line" is something like an unlimited Packet8 account) may very well be against the TOS you agreed to when you signed up for that residential service. And while such arrangements appear to be legal in the USA (I'm not a lawyer, so don't take this as legal advice), such "bypassing" of the normal telco routes could (potentially) be serious violations of some other country's telco laws (especially in a country that has highly regulated and highly taxed telco services). So make sure that using an SPA-3000 in this way isn't illegal in the country you are doing it in first, before just blindly setting things up this way to save money. | |
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