"Aidan Whitehouse" <whitehousemadhouse-2005@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote in message
news:M3AMg.10932$SH2.5939@newsfe4-gui.ntli.net[color=blue]
> Just thinking of buying one of the FritzBoxes to replace
> a SIP softphone, and need a bit of advice. I currently
> use a Vonage adapter for standard calls, but want to
> overlay SIP onto my analogue phones to take advantage of
> the better rates to mobiles and international calls. I
> also want to get a couple of international in-bound
> numbers not offered by Vonage. I have seen some of
> Ivor's previous posts but need a bit more detail.
> What I need:
> Non-DSL compatible version (to connect to existing
> network) PSTN Passthrough (to connect to my Vonage box for inbound
> and calls to emergency services)
> Multiple SIP accounts (both in- out-bound - I have become
> a bit disillusioned with Voxalot)
> Flexible call routing via SIP or PSTN port
>
> I think the FritzBox Fon ATA covers all this[/color]

Yes it does.
[color=blue]
> but the
> following questions also come to mind:
> The AVM website mentions up to 10 SIP accounts for
> similar models but not this particular one? Can any
> owners advise?[/color]

Maybe it's missing but AFAIK it does cover up to 10. I have the version
with the built in ADSL modem but I think the only difference is the lack
of a modem. I do know someone with the basic ATA, I'll ask him to be
certain but I'm 99.9% sure it's otherwise the same as mine.
[color=blue]
> Are the multiple SIP accounts all in- and out-bound?[/color]

Yes. There are only two physical phone ports, but they can be configured
to ring for any/all numbers. If you just pick up the phone and dial, the
first two sockets seize the first two accounts, if you want to manually
select account 3 or higher for an outgoing call, you have to dial a prefix
code (in the form *123## for the 3rd account) and wait for dial tone.
[color=blue]
> Is Caller Display passed through from PSTN port OK (not
> sure which flavour Vonage use but I guess if BT flavour
> is passed through then Bellcore flavours will also make
> it through).[/color]

That one I can't answer, the PSTN line here doesn't have caller ID.
[color=blue]
> I think the 7050 offers WLAN and an extra telephone port
> but I don't particularly need either of these. Is there
> any other advantage to this model over the ATA?[/color]

I don't think so, it does have the 3rd phone port, so I'm seriously
considering one.
[color=blue]
> If it helps others, I have found you can buy many of the
> Fritz boxes in Germany for the same price in Euros (excl
> shipping) that we pay in Pounds here. Would just need to
> source power supply or adapter and RJ11 adapter I guess. See
> [url]www.amazon.de[/url], for example. They also have new
> versions not yet available in the UK. Not sure whether
> these are fully "localised" though (language, caller
> display, ring pattern etc.). I think VoIP generally is
> much more mass-market there so I am sure there is also
> other equipment around.[/color]

Bear in mind that the models sold for the German home market are almost
certainly going to be Annex B (ISDN) rather than Annex A (analogue) for
the POTS line port, but the basic ATA wouldn't have this problem of
course. There is an option to select the correct parameters for operation
in different countries, but this doesn't appear to work properly, my
device insists on giving me German dial and ringing tones, despite my
selecting the UK as my country, but I've got used to it now so it's not a
major problem, at least not for me.

Hope this helps,

Ivor