Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

I'm still cluless about the modem thingy! I presume I need a new modem/router?

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

The key is in the wording;)

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

any uk people use this service

http://www.telediscount.co.uk/mobilephones.php

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

Me, too.

Plus, I have a free UK number from http://www.localphone.com/. Choose a number from any area code.

Pennytel is cheaper but they are having loads of problems at the moment. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-threads.cfm?f=107

I use the Siemens c470IP phone. Cheapest from https://www.maxo.com.au/?mt=shop&sho...item&itemid=14 and http://shop.freshtel.net/product.php...&cat=12&page=1. If you live in Melbourne pop down to Freshtel in Southbank and save on the postage.

If you have extra handsets you can associate a different number with a handset e.g. give your daughter her own number and calls for her ring on her handset in her room. I have older BT-branded Gigaset handsets I have got working with C470IP http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...1776#r17931776

Best to have two providers, one on standby, in case your main supplier has problems.

Ian

EDIT: mynetfone has special offers for whirpoolers https://www.mynetfone.com.au/offers/...irlpool-plans/, so does Maxotel http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...?t=1033963#r15. Pennytel is just cheap (and a tad crap atm) http://www.pennytel.com/call_plans.html

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

I found a ADSL Modem with a voip port already in it I think there's a few but this one is a Zoom X5v anybody got one of these? It seems to save having a modem and a seperate voice box.

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

I've just bought a Grandstream 502 ATA and I can honestly say I've gone brain dead! I've got as far as plugging it in to the power socket and connecting an ethernet cable from my modem/router to the WAN port on the ATA. I have no idea how to get the phone working I've tried looking up images on the net and I'm still confused. It seems that the phone is also plugged into the ATA but then it's not connected to the phone line so how do you make a call?!

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

You should plug your router / modem into the phone socket, the ATA into the router / modem and then your phone into the ATA. Remember that you are not making 'regular' phone calls, hence the phone doesn't plug into the phone socket!

Beyond that you will need to get help in setting up the grandstream with your VoIP service - you have signed up for a VoIP service haven't you?

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

Aaaah! I've been uplugging the wire that connects from my phone socket to my cordless phone and plugging it in to the ATA (RJ11-RJ45) so it seems I need to get an RJ11 TO RJ11 wire instead and then I can unplug my cordless from the phone socket.

I've signed up to localphone. I think it would've been easier for me to understand an IP phone. But I'll see how I get on I'm sure I'll get stuck again!

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

Sounds like you are getting there :D

Localphone have a guide for setting up a Grandstream, though not your specific model. See http://www.localphone.com/help/devices/grandstream.

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

Ha that's what I thought!

I got my adapter, plugged it in and hey presto a dial tone! just to configure it.... I really got confused and to be honest I can't be bothered to try and work out there's about 25 pages of instructions and they're not very clear - to me anyway. I think it's safe to say I've just about given up and am probably going to sell it on a get myself the siemens IP phones instead.

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

If anyone out there is looking into this and fancies getting a new modem with everything built in, have a look at the NetComm NB9MAXX or something like that. Avaiabale in most places, it is wireless, modem router, that has two VOIP ports built in as well, plus a space for your normal telehone line. Thus we now have a normal line, plus a VoIP phone as well, plus a router (with 4 ethernet ports), modem and anything else. It does not make the tea, which is a bit of a bummer...

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

Although my Linksys doesn't actually make tea, it does get hot enough to boil the kettle on :blink:

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

Before you do that, bear in mind that you can leave most of those settings as is to be honest. The important ones to try are:

Proxy: localphone.com
Outbound proxy: proxy.localphone.com
Use Outbound Proxy: Yes
Register: Yes
Register Expires: 240
Display Name: your name
User ID: your Localphone number in full e.g. 441642xxxxxx
Password: your SIP password
Auth ID: your SIP ID

Get your SIP ID and password from http://www.localphone.com/settings after logging on to your dashboard. Those settings should be enough to get you started. Your Grandstream should have a default dial plan configured, if not you could try this one that I use:
Good luck :thumbup:

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

This is the problem with ATAs (analogue telephone adapters) - you need to get involved with command line dialling plans.

My suggestion is the Siemens C470IP I use. Before buying any kit check out the manual to make sure you understand it OR you have a friend that can set it up for you. http://gigaset.com/shc/0,1935,hq_en_...0.html#content

Benefits of voip dect phones.
1. You can make 3 calls simultaneously - 1 fixed line (Optus, Telstra) and 2 voip.
2. You can set up 6 voip accounts on the phone and assign different handsets to them.
My daughter has her own DID (direct inward dialling) telephone number which receives calls in her bedroom and the lounge. Calls from her handset are sent using her DID.
The other 4 handsets send calls using our fixed line number (Optus) as the DID even though the call is via voip. I give out two phone numbers to get me - Optus line and a Maxotel DID.
Also, you can transfer calls between the handsets although in our house people insist on walking the handset to each other.
3. Always have more than one voip provider. All our calls are sent via Maxotel except international which go via Pennytel (8c call to UK). I also have a mynetfone account. The dialling plan on the Siemens phone is easy - no difficult parameters to understand.
4. DID from Maxotel is free. DIDs from Pennytel and Mynetfone cost $5/year.
5. Maxotel and Pennytel allow you to assign another number as the DID. I send calls using Maxotel but receivers see my Optus phone number if they have CLID.
5. Join Whirlpool and ask questions. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-threads.cfm?f=107
6. It's not necessary to get a bunch of new handsets. I have associated 4-year-old BT handsets with the base. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...7308&p=14#r279
7. I have enabled QoS on my router and given UDP ports 5060 and 5004 highest priority. I have also port forwarded (http://www.portforward.com/help/portforwarding.htm) those ports. This is the hardest bit but easy to somebody that has a basic knowledge. Get a friend to do it - we all know somebody that is better at computers than yourself.

Ian

Re: How to make cheap phone calls to the UK
 

85p thats a bit expensive, We pay 8c with penny tel for as long as we like :)

And they do a Linksys SPA 3102 ATA for $68 that includes $18 of free calls as well, the 3102 is good becuase you can plug you standard phone line is as well so can use the same handset for both.

I think using a UK based VOIP provider might degrade the quality if the servers are based in the UK due to the lag.

Having a local number must be handy though, saying that it's normally cheaper to ring Oz then a local number with BT :blink: