silver

Yup thats it...

If your modem is only ADSL it may be worth going adsl 2+.... You can get free phone calls across the net with it you just need the right hardware or software as it doesn't do the voip/ata inside...

GarryP

IIRC the answer is yes, up to four accounts. Not got it myself though, so don't know how well it works. Basically its just a bog standard ADSL modem 802.11g router with addition VOIP bits. That puts it one up on the Billion.

ozzieeagle

Thats strange, AFAIK according to Whirlpool forums here, the Billion 7404 onwards is the only modem that can handle two seperate voip providers at once. IE: IInet and Pennytel.... not four with the same provider. That and 3g connectivity is the reason the Billion 7404 was Modem of the year at Personal computing in 2008.

My IInet supplied belkin can handle four accounts with IInet. But not seperate providers at the same time.

I looked fairly hard for that information re seperate voip providers on the Zoom, to no avail.... could you point me at it please ?

GarryP

Here's the PDF of the manual
http://www.retrevo.com/support/Zoom-...3197bh450/t/2/

See if you can work out if it can do what you are after.

ozzieeagle

Thanks for that, I've had a look and have to find a manual with Advanced voip settings in it.

So I'll keep looking... many thanks for the tip though.

Keith Moon

So whats the difference between ADSL and ADSL2+?


If i get a ADSL2+? modem,can you plug in a conventional telephone into a port, so in essence does a ADSL2+ modem carry a telephone port for use with Voip?

Its just if that is the case then i will get one, i have a cordless phone from the UK, so i will have landline Voip for incoming calls from the rellies?

Its great at the mo, they will not call a mobile, too expensive, so only talk when i want to!!!!!!!! Pennysim 8 Cents for an unlimited call length to a UK landline!

Is it hard to configure a landline phone to a ADSL2+ modem for use, is there any software requirements on the PC?


Cheers Keith

ozzieeagle

ADSL is only up to 8Mbps and ADSL+2 is up to 24 Mbps so ADSL2 + is a lot faster.


All you do to plug in the Phone is stick it in the Voip port, there is no problems with the hardware at all.

With the software, you have to enter your Voip providers address at the appropriate point in the set up.... It is fairly easy, but I will admit it does look daunting the first time you try it. You enter this address to the Modem actually via your PC.

You just have to find the entry point for Sip Settings.... then in goes your providers address and your voip password.... very similar to Internet set up.

Although with Pennytel on my IInet Belkin modem I have problems with the voice codecs which wont let me enter Keypad tones to 13 and 1300 numbers. I have to use a different modem to sort this... however it's not as big a problem as it seems as Mobile calls to 13 and 1300 numbers are exactly the same price as Voip calls as the 13 numbers are geared to make a profit for the company concerned.

I'll tell you what is bleeding difficult... took me 3 days to get it working... setting up a softphone on Xandros (Asus eeePC Notebook) Well it was for me, as I knew f.. all about Linux before I started the process LOL.

silver

Everything as ozzie said but ADSL 2+ doesn't mean you get VOIP you have to buy a router with VOIP built in (to use a normal phone). Or a voip phone...

Keith Moon

Gents thanks........!

So, what is needed here then is ADSL+2, but i need to purchase a new modem, which has a (#)number of ports/so routes round the house, with built in Voip, so i can plug in a normal lanline phone to utilize Voip!

Any recommendations as to which and where to purchase? I am not on ebay OZ, i have a UK account though!

Cheers Keith

ozzieeagle

I'm fairly sure you can bid with your UK account ?

If your going with IInet, I would suggest a old IInet Belkin modem simply because as your new to ADSL here you will get support from IInet. They are pretty good actually cos if you ask them they will phone you back on your mobile. So if you get stuck they will advise you step by step.

Keith Moon

Cheers Oz,

Pennysim 13, and 1300 numbers are 25 cents untimed, not bad hey? All other calls to Oz lanlines are 8 cents untimed.

Keith

silver

Really depends on the configuration between your property and the exchange in most cases it is just a changes from a telstra dslam to unbundled dslam at the exchange.. but then there can be what the call pair gain systems in the way so if you are on what they call a RIM or CMUX they may have to bypass this and connect you back to the exchange among many other reasons why they may have had to do things....

silver

http://www.fritzbox.eu/en/products/F...7270/index.php is the one I like the look of... its got DECT/VOIP integration... not tried it and it is kind of expensive but it looks cool...

GarryP

Its 'orribly expensive for what it is. If you know you need it, then it can be worthwhile, but otherwise....its like buying a Ferrari to go to the shops.

Keith (and any other newbie), a few pointers.

ADSL 2+ is the new improved version of ADSL, faster speeds etc. - and in general is the one you want provided you can actually see the speed where you are. Most modern ADSL units do it anyway, but not your old Tiscali.

ADSL uses the phone line for the communications, splitting off higher frequencies to carry the signal. That's why you have to put filters on the line to POTS phones, otherwise the high frequencies get through and b*gger things up.

VOIP is just another form of data that goes over the broadband net connection - only this time its phone calls. The provider at the other end gives you a number so that people can call you, converting their call into data and squirting down to your VOIP capable box. It then converts it back to phone type signals and puts it out of a port on the back of your box. You plug in your phone, for instance a DECT basestation, and everything looks and works as before. You dialling out is just the reverse of this, and the cost the VOIP provider charges is usually where they make their money. However since its just data squirted over the network, you usually find that phoning international is cheap with such systems. Be aware though, the voice data will count against your cap in Aus.

Some VOIP systems give you another port so that you can plug a plain old normal line into the box. That's so that calls to/from this conventional line can be integrated with the VOIP calls, and so that if the power falls over you still have an emergency line. Most people don't bother with such things unless the line is hanging around for free.

Some people are interested in signing up to two VOIP providers at once (eg IINET & Pennytel or Aus and UK providers). It then becomes a bit more techie since you need a VOIP box that can do this (hence the discussion above) and most can't.

Routers generally give you 4 wired ports and a Wifi connection. Personally I prefer the wired ports, but many never bother using them. Wifi comes in two flavours 'g' and 'n'. N is the newest, fastest and furthest - but to really get the best out of it you need 'n' at both ends, and many people only have 'g' on laptops. Therefore I tend to consider it a nice-to-have. The other thing to bear in mind, if you only get 8Mb rate out of your ADSL connection, and 'g' wifi will do 54Mb, do you really need 'n's 300Mb top rate?

As far as prices are concerned, in the UK you can pick up a bog standard ADSL/Wifi 'g'/VOIP box (the Zoom I referenced above) for ~£35 / A$63 and the all singing/all dancing Fritzbox for £148 / A$266. As I understand, the prices in Aus are considerably higher.

Personally I'm intending to implement an Asterisk PBX with a separate VOIP box and router - but that REALLY gets into techie territory......

ozzieeagle

That Zoom box is preconfigured to send you to Globalvillage voip.... whatever that is... and the only way to get into the advanced settings is to get the CD that comes with it as it's not in the manual.

Thats the way I read the manual anyway.

So Until I know exactly how to change the Voip settings on it, I wouldnt touch it. It says it easy to set up... but express setting never let you touch Sip settings on Modems.

It should be easy... but I personally dont know... on that basis I wouldnt buy it.

A 2nd hand belkin in Aus will cost around the same after you add postage for Xoom plus very importantly you get IInet support. It does look like a better modem than the Belkin I will give it that. In fact If I had one here I would probably be using it, however buying it on the off chance it is difficult to set up another account has made me wary.