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voip is digital - why use an ata?

An ATA just allows one to use legacy analog equipment with VoIP. I have an analog wall phone in the kitchen that reads off the CID string out loud when a call comes in, that's nice. I also have a multi-handset DECT wireless set, that's nice, too. It works, we only talk to others with cell phones or other PSTN connections so there's no need for HD voice.

As for an ATA that can use "digital sound," if you mean a high def. codec, then no. Analog phones are not able to produce sounds that go outside of the G711 resolution range so there'd be no point.

reply to horacebork
I can see two perspectives on this:

1. I prefer SIP phones or SIP/DECT phones as they are often more capable than an analog phone paired with an ATA.

»www.mgraves.org/2008/10/cordless···ess-ata/

2. There may be cases where you need to leverage existing analog gear

»www.mgraves.org/2008/10/small-of···e-cheap/
--
Michael Graves
Houston TX
»www.mgraves.org

reply to horacebork
My reason was because it was lot's cheaper than buying a new digital phone.

Like garys_2k, I already had a really nice 3-handset, 2-Line Dect 6 multi-line analog cordless phone system. Replacing that with an equivalent digital phone at the time I moved to VoIP would have been expensive.

Similarly, and again like garys_2k, everyone whom I talk to uses either a cell phone or a POTS phone. I can think of 3 people, max (2 serious PBX tinkerers; one getting there) who might themselves even invest in a digital phone. Only one of them has.

reply to horacebork
For home use, there's nothing wrong with an analog phone. They are simple to use and simple to set up. The average person doesn't need any more functionality than what can be found in a basic $20 desk phone or sub-$100 multi handset cordless system.

ATAs are simple to set up - especially the OBi devices. You can plug several phones into them and they all ring at the same time without messing with anything other than the initial configuration.

As far as sound quality goes, an ATA is just fine. A large number of people have considered that the relatively poor sound quality of mobile phones is good enough to use as their only phone, so clearly sound quality isn't that huge of a factor for most people.

For businesses with several people, the benefits of IP phones are a lot more clear.

reply to horacebork
ok - to answer your question
we have a customer with 20 incoming POTS lines
they did not like the cost of the POTS lines
they had no features from the telco provider (just dial tone and roll over)
they had a phone system (Iwatsu) from 10-20 years ago already wired throughout their building with Iwatsu handsets. phone system in basement is as big as a refrigerator
wiring in building only done to accomodate the phone system (1 pair of wires to each office - non-twisted basically, western telephone wire) - historic building
cost too high to re-wire for all new phones
want to use VOIP for features, lower cost
their phone system did not even offer an voicemail
solution: VOIP lines mated into their old phone system with ATAs (in this case, we use an ATA which is made for a business and does and converts lots of VOIP lines to analog, not just 1 or 2 or 4)
results: minimal equipment purchase (just enterprise ATA device to convert all VOIP lines to analog), cost savings from VOIP lines, features from VOIP (voicemail, etc...)

that is a business example of using VOIP and ATAs

for a brand new install, where ethernet wiring available and no phone system exists, we would use digital handsets and likely no ATAs except where needed for a legacy device

we might use a PBX server offsite or else onsite for a lot of lines

Grandstream, for example, makes some excellent and affordable digital handsets for example that are in most price ranges for small business and even home users

reply to horacebork
I have an obi 110 for I think when I bought it around $50 . Then a 5 handset panasonic with answer machine (wife still prefers answering machine to voice mail) for another $60 or so on clearance. It works fine for home use and heck others calling may be on a cell anyways. For the same sip/dect phone setup would cost a lot more unless catch a real bargain.

reply to horacebork
I have VoIP service and I use an ATA with it. My reason is simple: the current generation of Panasonic POTS cordless phones are simply outstanding, and inexpensive too. I need an ATA to use the Panasonic phones with VoIP.

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

reply to horacebork

reply to horacebork

reply to crazyk4952

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.

reply to horacebork
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.

reply to horacebork
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

reply to grand total
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."