dreamword
@winstar.com
| Got Softphone Working with Packet8
Based on some info found on the Asterisk mailing list, I've got Packet8 working great with a softphone on my computer. I've tried several of them, and the only one I've found with a free trial that can do g.723 is the eStara phone, available from »www.estara.com. Several others work, but don't include g.723, so you can call out but can't receive calls (which fits with what people have been saying about changing the codec setting in the DTA310 and no longer being able to receive calls). But, if all you need is to make calls, you can use the free X-lite softphone from »www.xten.com.
On to the settings!
These are for the eStara phone, but they are generalizable to any SIP softphone.
Friendly name: {Anything you'd like.}
SIP domain: packet8.net
SIP proxy: packet8.net
Leave everything else at the default.
When you login, it will ask for a username and password.
Username: {Your Packet8 phone number, including leading "1"}
Password: {The 10-digit PIN code they emailed you that you entered during activation.}
And it's as simple as that. I can make calls -- in fact, multiple calls at once. And I can receive calls; both my DTA310 and my computer ring (though my computer sometimes doesn't ring; this will have something to do with a re-registration interval that I'll need to tweak at some point.)
I don't know how this will work with NAT traversal; my computer has a "real" IP address. But it works great for me. I'm off to RadioShack to grab a headset this afternoon  . |
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The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs: | Ok that is cool! Time to rip the notebook out for the next trip out of town! Thanks! |
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Section13
join:2003-04-17
Plano, TX | reply to dreamword
will Vonage support this setup? Sounds very cool.
S13 |
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gardel
Premium
join:2003-04-06
San Francisco, CA | reply to dreamword
This is something I've been looking for (albeit, at less than $100 for the software). One question: Can you record phone conversations on your computer using the eStara? |
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dreamword
join:2003-07-02
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to dreamword
I've no idea whether this will work for Vonage; certainly worth a try, I suppose, if you can look at your ATA-186 configuration and you have some data that make sense for username and password.
The eStara softphone doesn't support recording conversations natively, though since the audio goes through your sound card, you could use any sound recording application to take care of that. Bit of a nasty kludge, though.
The eStara is $100, and that sucks (though it's not TOTALLY clear to me that the "evaluation version" ever expires; it doesn't say anywhere when it's going to expire, anyway). I know there have to be other, cheaper SIP softphones out there that support G.723 -- maybe even something for free. Can anybody find one? |
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Automate
join:2001-06-26
Atlanta, GA
| said by dreamword  :
The eStara is $100, and that sucks (though it's not TOTALLY clear to me that the "evaluation version" ever expires; it doesn't say anywhere when it's going to expire, anyway). I know there have to be other, cheaper SIP softphones out there that support G.723 -- maybe even something for free. Can anybody find one?
The G.723 codec is licensed and cost the hardware/software company money to include in their products so I don't think you will find it in any free products.
Xten Pro »www.xten.com/pro.php includes G.723 and only cost $50.
[text was edited by author 2003-07-02 16:40:11] |
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The Way Out
join:2003-01-20 | reply to dreamword
Did you actually try it with Xten lite, doing G.711? If so, this is hot! |
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dreamword
join:2003-07-02
Minneapolis, MN | reply to dreamword
Yeah, it works fine with Xten-Lite on G.711, but for outgoing calls only. |
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selicade
join:2001-01-18
Cambridge, MA | reply to dreamword
Also, you can't make Packet8-to-Packet8 IP calls using G711... I found this out last night and tonight using my DTA. |
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ejrobinson
Premium
join:2003-05-16
Miami Beach, FL | reply to dreamword
I don't understand why you'd wish to add a sip softfphone to a sip hardware based service like packet8 or vonage. Could you explain please? |
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Automate
join:2001-06-26
Atlanta, GA
| Mainly for traveling. When you go out of town you can leave your DTA connected up at home. Take your portable computer with you and you can make free calls on the road.
No need to carry a crossover cable, DTA and phone to make VOIP calls. You could even use it at a wireless hotspot like a cell phone. |
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Packetloss
Premium
join:2002-07-01
Harrisonburg, VA
| reply to dreamword
Does anyone have Xten pro to try this on since that has 723? If you buy two it goes to $35 a copy. It would be great that way I could have the availability to use my Packet8 service anywhere.
In Packet8's FAQs they say you can have multiple DTA's attached to the same number, so I'm betting the software would look like an additional DTA so you could get phone calls on both devices, which ever one is answered is the one that takes the call I'm guessing  |
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dreamword
join:2003-07-02
Minneapolis, MN
| reply to dreamword
Yup, that's exactly how it works. Whichever picks up first gets the call. This is a pretty good substitute for call waiting, since when I'm on a call on my DTA and have a softphone running, the softphone still rings when I get a call even though the DTA doesn't do call-waiting yet.
Also, there is the potential for abuse; the eStara phone, for instance, has three lines, and you can be on all three, plus the DTA, at once. Of course, at that point, I ran out of bandwidth and all four calls became choppy. But it works. There's something else this allows, too, but I want packet8 to stay in business so I'll keep my damn mouth shut . |
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Cam
Premium
join:2003-01-25
Luther, OK
clubs:
| said by dreamword :
There's something else this allows, too, but I want packet8 to stay in business so I'll keep my damn mouth shut .
I must have had the same thought you had. |
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Packetloss
Premium
join:2002-07-01
Harrisonburg, VA | reply to dreamword
I agree I want Packet8 to stay in business as well, and I wouldn't want users to abuse the system, I'm glad we have some ethics here. I only want the soft phone for travel for the most part and maybe wifi laptop use. |
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ginger777
join:2001-12-01
Kirkland, WA | reply to dreamword
Is there any sip telephone instrument this would work with? I don't want to tie up a computer to use it as a phone, but I am tired of carrying my ATA from between my house and my office. |
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dreamword
join:2003-07-02
Minneapolis, MN | reply to dreamword
The obvious answer seems to be to purchase another ATA for $100 or so on eBay. |
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Automate
join:2001-06-26
Atlanta, GA
| reply to ginger777
said by ginger777 :
Is there any sip telephone instrument this would work with? I don't want to tie up a computer to use it as a phone, but I am tired of carrying my ATA from between my house and my office.
I have not tired it but I would think the Grandsteam BudgeTone could be made to work, only about $75. »www.grandstream.com/y-product.htm |
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wkendrvr
join:2001-07-09
Greensboro, NC | reply to dreamword
I just looked and they never sent me the password, it was just on the web page... Any way to get it? |
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Packetloss
Premium
join:2002-07-01
Harrisonburg, VA
| reply to dreamword
I not quite sure, but I get logged in in once, make 1 call and it stops letting me call out says rejected and won't let me log back in, but my DTA still works. I am using different real public IP's are you guys all behind a firewall using 1 IP and NAT? |
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