kris926
join:2003-04-13
Uniontown, OH
| [General] VOIP & POTS together?
I'm looking into VOIP (CallVantage) and have some technical issues I'm not sure about. Since I have ATT DSL I can't port my number. It's tied to the DSL service. As I can tell, there is a few options.
*Get a new VOIP Line - No option, wife wants the same #
*Get cable and port # - Not sure if I want to give up DSL for TWC.
*Get 2nd line, move DSL, port my #, then cancel primary line. - Complicated!
Is there a TA that would accept my current POTS line for incoming calls and use my VOIP account for outgoing? I would prefer an incoming call transfer from POTS to VOIP to retain features but a pass-through may also work.
If no such TA exists, any other ideas than I stated?
Thanks in advance! |
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hwittenb
join:2003-12-20
 ·Future Nine Corpor..
·callwithus
·Callcentric
| said by kris926  :Is there a TA that would accept my current POTS line for incoming calls and use my VOIP account for outgoing? I would prefer an incoming call transfer from POTS to VOIP to retain features but a pass-through may also work. You can do what you want with a Linksys SPA3102. Setup the dial plan to put emergency calls (911), perhaps local calls, etc., out on the pots line, put other calls on the voip line. The attached pots line will "ring-thru" to the analog handset attached to the ata. On a power failure the adapter will "fall back" to the attached pots line so that the phone will still operate. |
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priller
join:2000-10-20
Gainesville, VA
·voip.ms
·Callcentric
·Vonage
·callwithus
1 edit | I personally recommend the Zoom 5801 over the Linksys SPA3102.
A major advantage of the Zoom is that permits you to have 4 registered VoIP providers.
The Zoom also resolved some of the issues I had with the SPA, mainly.....
a) PSTN echo
b) spurious DTMF tones
Of course, either of these ATA's require your provider to permit BYOD. |
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kris926
join:2003-04-13
Uniontown, OH | reply to kris926
These both look good. Can the incoming POTS be forwarded to VOIP in order to take advantage of advanced VOIP features?
Thanks |
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priller
join:2000-10-20
Gainesville, VA |
Both can bridge calls from PSTN to VoIP. |
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Fisamo
Premium
join:2004-02-20
Apex, NC
·VOIPo
·AT&T CallVantage
1 edit | reply to kris926
Unfortunately, none of these devices would be supported by CallVantage--AT&T only allows customers to use (locked) equipment they supply. If you're dead set to get CallVantage, your best options are as follows: (You have to decide the order of preference)
•Get 2nd line, move DSL, port #, cancel primary line. Pros: Get to keep same number; inexpensive long-term (don't maintain POTS line and VoIP line). Cons: Complicated, as you said, and high start-up costs.
•Get cable internet, and port your number. Pros: Probably least expensive and least complicated route. Cons: Depends on quality of TWC network in your area vs quality of DSL connection.
•Activate (and pay for) "call forwarding" on your POTS line and forward calls to your VoIP line. Pros: Not complicated (just adding a service that you can cancel any time). Keep POTS line for non-VoIP E911. Cons: Expensive--maintaining POTS line and VoIP line, have to add call forwarding on POTS line. CID on outbound calls will show VoIP number, possibly confusing people you call.
•Go BYOD with equipment mentioned by other users above. Pros: Control over your VoIP equipment. Can configure many options with VoIP providers and POTS line. Can program device to route all incoming calls (both POTS and VoIP) to same handset, no call forwarding expense, can program which calls go out over POTS vs VoIP (e.g. local and 911 via POTS, LD/local toll via VoIP); depending on VoIP provider, might allow your POTS # on outbound CID. VoIP billing options (monthly "unlimited" or pay-as-you-go plans).Cons: Choice of providers "limited" to those who allow BYOD (there are many). Expense (maintaining POTS line and VoIP line). Support: If you get a BYOD VoIP account, you become your family's telephone repairman. (You'll get lots of advice here, though.  )
Unless you choose to port your number and make new arrangements for internet service, CallVantage won't work out for you. There are a number of BYOD-friendly providers out there, some of whom will allow you to send your POTS number as outbound CID. If you get a Sipura 3102 or the equivalent Zoom adapter, you'll be able to 'bridge' calls from the PSTN and VoIP lines to the same handset, but incoming calls on your POTS line would only have the features you pay for (e.g. CID, etc). Forwarding those calls might cause those features to work on your VoIP line--depends on things like how many channels your telco will forward at a time (e.g. call waiting might not work). |
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kris926
join:2003-04-13
Uniontown, OH | reply to kris926
Thanks everyone!
Thank you Fisamo for the detailed post!
I guess I'll have to weigh my options. At least I have some good info thanks to all of you.
Kris |
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