renth

I use Pennytel untimed for all my outgoing calls. Which is is 8 cents for all non-mobile calls, no flagfall, no time limit (calls mobiles are about 25c and timed). So I can speak to the UK for as long as I want for 8c. No monthly contract either, just top up $10 whenever the balance drops to $2 which doesn't happen often.

freebo

This is what I'm thinking, the cost of a modem which only supports 1 voip provider is about $90, for multi providers its $190, can make a lot of 8c calls for $100. Do you also have a UK dial in number linked to pennytel, like this?

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum....cfm?t=1466306

GarryP

Also consider an online PBX. Multiple providers into the PBX service provider, then one connection to you. Some are even free.

freebo

Ahh, yes I remember reading about them, thats a good way to do it, thanks!

renth

I don't understand any of that??

GarryP

https://www1.pbxes.com/iptel_virtual-pbx.html is one

freebo

Sorry, what I mean is its possible to have a UK number (for free) which folk in the UK can call and it will be sent over the internet to your home phone in Australia. They pay just the cost of calling a UK number (and you can have one in each town you need), you pay nothing = cheap way for the rellies to call you.

renth

I didn't know about that, I'll have to look into it, thanks.

rockpeblar

We have a Billion 7404VGP-M modem and reroute a UK local number direct to our home phone for all our rellies to use. Use a local Voip service for overseas calls but will look into pennytel as they are cheaper.
We've used the modem non stop for nearly 3 years without any problems.

ozzieeagle

One really bad thing about Pennytel is their customer service. I'm able to get around this most of the time by sussing out problems myself. However I've got one major issue whilst I've got you guys attention. I'm pretty sure its to do with the limitations of my modem. When I get through to a 13 or 1300 number and one needs a keypad response, not one of the 13 numbers that I call will recognise a keypad input. I've changed codecs, and other prescribed settings on my modem to no avail. I just wondered those of you with the more upmarket Billion modems have this problem. I get a hell of a lot of whinging from the Wife about this. I gave up trying to solve the issue via Pennytel CService months ago.

In actual fact the only company that does react ok to a Keypad input is Pennytel themselves.

We have to use the mobiles for those 13 or 1300 numbers with keypad input now.

spalen

out of band DTMF ? try turning that on or off

ozzieeagle

\


Thats a new tip.... ok thanks

spalen

Sending the DTMF codes out-of-band (OOB) means that codec used by the audio cannot mangle the DTMF codes beyond recognition.

Some codec (G.729a) don't have the fidelity needed to maintain the dual frequencies of a single DTMF tone. Sending the DTMF OOB means the other side will recognize the DTMF even if it doesn't "sound" right

(from a smarter guy on another forum) but it should fix your problem - I beleive you want it switched on.

ozzieeagle

Blimey Spalen it Actually works.... That was via switching it off though.

Heh... the wife is really going to be chuffed.

Just shows how crap Pennytels back up is though, I've been on their Voip service at least a year now... so this is the first time this has worked in a year. It took me weeks to figure out I had to use 61 in front of 13 numbers and even longer to work out I had to put 0 in front of 1300 numbers to make them work. Pennytel just didnt respond to my requests for help.

There were a lot of tick boxes on that page with dtmf, that I didnt feel like mucking around with it without knowing the potential affects.

spalen

Brilliant Im glad the hundreds of hours I wasted reading the whirlpool forums can be of use :-)

There is a good forum on whirlpool for voip providers. I use MNF , I just got mine sorted last week. Its ok - uses g.729 which is the low bandwidth protocol. I guess they're about the same as pennytel.

The whirlpool forums are best for support - lots of enthusiasts on there (or 11 yr old kids who know what they're doing - either way, it works)