UKVoIPTalk.com

andrea · #1 (**permalink**) 29-09-2006, 09:10

Hi all,

I am new on this site, so I apologise in advance if this topic has been tackled before. I had a look at the previous threads, but nobody seem to have talked about it explicitly.

I am about to move and in my new house I was thinking of getting Telewest broadband and give up the BT line, mostly because I don't use the land line a great deal and since I started using VoipStunt about 6 months ago I think I have made 2 phone calls using my normal phone (one by mistake and one because i was in bed and too lazy to get up), although people still phone me on it. I have been asking around and the amount of info I get is next to nil. Been to computer shops and they don't know anything. Went once to a high street shop and they didn't know what VoIP was..... Has anybody a story to share? Is the technology reliable enough? For my work I need broadband and a mobile, so the "landline" would only be used for private phone calls. I am quite satisfied with Voipstunt, but they have given me a number with a Coventry code (I am in Dundee), so the next obvious question is whether I can get a proper geografical number from some provider. I have found a post where someone mentions, I think, voip.co.uk, but I have not looked it up yet.
Last question: cordless VoIP phones (WiFi?). What I have been able to find on the internet so far is only a Skype phone which cost megabucks and that I couldn't understand whether it would work with a different provider. Any insights?

Also, I wouldn't mind the option of being able to phone with the PC off (like the option that Skype advertises).

One more question, I have been trying to ask the same questions to VoIPStunt, but there is no e-mail address, nor any address to write to. There used to be something, but it was no good anyway because I never got a reply.

I have to say, I never knew there was so much to know and so much choice around. I now feel quite confused, insecure and needing reassuring

Thanks in advance

Andrea (fae Dundee)

mattpark · #2 (**permalink**) 29-09-2006, 10:17

Welcome to the forum Andrea.

Fear not, your solution is indeed very simple.

Id like to get rid of my BT line at home, but unfortunately am stuck with it as i use ADSL.

Lets start with your VoIP provider first. There are a few decent ones floating about. My rule of thumb is don’t ever use a company who you cant get in touch with. Look for one with a support number for when their service goes down, and one that will respond to your enquiries. There is nothing worse than being ignored. Do away with VoIP Stunt.

I would recommend voipfone. If you tell me what the area code for Dundee is I’ll check for availability. My guess is they will have it. Their service has many handy functions, and are continually developing. A local number will cost you £2 a month.

So your signed up, now you need something to talk on. You have two options. 1. Buy a dedicated VoIP specific handset. OR 2. Use and existing "old style" handset, and add a converter/ATA - analogue telephone adapter. You can pick up an ATA for about £30, so I’d go with that. All it does is enables your old retro phone for use with this new fangled VoIP. A common ATA people use is this one - http://ukvoiptalk.com/reviews/showpr...oduct/4/cat/14

Once you have those two things set up, it can handle all you’re looking for.

Hope this helps.

Matt

andrea · #3 (**permalink**) 29-09-2006, 17:27

Hi Matt,

thank you very much for your reply.

Let's see if I understand what you are saying, I can get my Telewest broadband connection, attach to it the router for wireless connection and to the router I can attach the magic box that gives me a phone socket (Why can't you? No Telewest in Durham?). Then I get my old phone, plug it in and bob's your uncle.
As simple as that????

Also, with regard to the provider, I understand that some give numbers for free (voip.co.uk or sip.co.uk perhaps?), but in any case the important thing is that the technology is NOT linked to a specific provider. For example all the various skype phones I see around seem to be suitable for Skype only and not for other VoIP systems, while what you suggest can be used in any case.

You slander VoIpStunt and the fact that they are not contactable is annoying, however they are, at the moment, free for calls to most of Europe. it is true that VoIPBuster used to be free and not it isn't (besides, their interface is the same, are they the same company?). I suppose that I can use one provider to receive phone calls and another to make them, until things change. If things go awry with one provider, I always have a fall back position

One other thing. Looking around amidts all the posts in the forum and in VelocityReviews, I saw one VoIP provider that was very cheap on mobiles, some 5p a minute. Can't remember which one it is. If you know, can you tell me if it is any good?

One last point, which deserves a different thread, why hasn't BT gone bust yet? Why is this technology unknown in the UK??

Thanks a lot Matt, you've been a star!!

Andrea

PS

I am on a roll now.... could I also get an Italian number?????

andrea · #4 (**permalink**) 30-09-2006, 20:16

One other quick question, I have been having a look at the sipgate website and they seem to tick all the boxes: cheap, full of info, helpline an e-mail away, free phone number, a shop where to buy stuff etc. can someone tell me if they have been around for a while and they are actually trustworthy?

Sorry if I keep spamming the list with these trivialities.

Andrea

Update:

I subscribed with Sipgate (which was free) and got my Dundee (01382) number (which was free) and for now it seems to work. Since the calls are cheap as well, assuming I don't use VoipStunt for outgoing calls, why is voipfone better? Sipgate seems to get the worst out of people

, but why is that?

I apologize again for spamming this list endlessly with boring questions, but I'll have to start from somewhere

. How did people on this forum manage to become so knowledgeable on something still so uncommon in the UK? At Uni? Unlikely......

andrea · #5 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 20:31

What equipment to get?
Since I need to get a router as well, I would like to get something that will be as easy as possible to set up. Matt advised me to get the bit from voipfone (I think) which is only a converter though.
On sipgate I have found this which, if I understand correctly, is a wireless router, plus a converter for the phone. It costs £128 including delivery, and it doesn't seem that steep, or is it? Compared to other prices I have found on the internet for the same product, it was the cheapest. I was looking at at Netgear's WGR826V but it got a terrible review. In any case I would like a wireless router and an adapter for the phone and if they are in one, all the better. I stress again that I will be using Telewest and an as yet unspecified VoIP provider!!
Any suggestions?
I would really like to make my purchase early next week to make sure that everything works before I move in a couple of weeks or so.

Cheers,

Andrea

andrea · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 07:54

Hi again,

I was about to go and buy the FritzBox as advertised on SipGate, when I realized that it has an ADSL modem included. Gosh, just in time...... does anybody know if it is compatible with Telewest??? Am I supposed not to use the modem Telewest will send me???? If the FritzBox doesn't work, is there a router with adapter I can get? Otherwise I can get an adapter AND a router. I am sure that someone here must be using Telewest and can give me some advice.

Thanks,

Andrea

mattpark · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 11:16

Hi Andrea.

Sorry for my late reply. I've been away over the weekend.

You have been busy in this tread.

Let me have a read....

Okay so you have gone with sipgate and got your number. Thats one thing sorted.

You need to decide if you want to use your old house phones or not. If you do want them then you need either a fancy VoIP router, or an ATA.

OR you can use VoIP telephones. (something like the snom300 )

For your router your looking for either a plain wirless router with no modem at all, or a cable modem router which will replace your telewest box. I suggest you use a plain wireless router with a technology called QoS (priortises VoIP data traffic). Perhaps this - http://www.voiptalk.org/products/Dra...ireless+Router

Matt

andrea · #8 (**permalink**) 03-10-2006, 11:58

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