[PLUG] VoIP question

[Russell Senior]

Just to toss in another home-phone-over-internet option, I am an Ooma
user. It does require Internet, but ... like, I've already got
internet and, with the occasional outage, will continue to have
internet access. It's similar to other phone-over-internet services
that have been mentioned already.

-- 
Russell Senior
russell at personaltelco.net

On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM Michael Ewan <michaelewan15 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> This sounds like the way to go for me.  I have Centurylink POTS, but
> they have had a "cable break" so no phone for weeks.  We also have
> Xfinity Internet which has been fairly reliable, but Vonage at $10 and
> a T-Mobile home Internet box for $30, I am still cheaper than
> Centurylink. My main concern with going VoIP was during a power outage
> we would have no phone service, but a whole house generator made that
> academic,
>
> On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 8:15 PM Ted Mittelstaedt <tedm at portlandia-it.com> wrote:
> >
> > Yes.
> >
> > Hand's down the easiest way to preserve a "residential landline" is to go to
> > https://www.vonageforhome.com/
> >
> > You can see the box here:
> >
> > https://www.vonageforhome.com/why-vonage/
> >
> > And on the description:
> >
> > "Simply plug the device into your router, then into your phone."
> >
> > When you sign up with them they will ask you if you want to do a "number
> > port" you put in your Ziply land-line telephone number, and they will port
> > that number to your service with them.   Once all that's working, then you
> > contact Ziply and tell them you want to turn off your telephone service and
> > just keep the Internet service only.   The number port may have already
> > triggered that.
> >
> > There ARE cheaper VoIP providers and if you want to get fancy you can setup
> > a FreePBX Asterisk based server and register a SIP trunk right into it.  Or
> > just buy a VoIP phone, and find a SIP provider on the Internet you can pay
> > to register your phone into.
> >
> > But to use any of your "old school" POTs phones you would still need a FXO
> > device (which is what the Vonage box is)
> >
> > The reason I recommend Vonage to newbies to VoIP is that they are the
> > largest, have a technical support number, and are sort of like Consumer
> > Cellular in that they cater to the KISS crowd.
> >
> > As for getting rid of the $15 a month Ziply charge you need to find out if
> > they are charging you "rent" on the "ONT" (Optical Network Terminal) since
> > that device is mandatory for Ziply, in order to keep Ziply fiber you would
> > need to continue paying for this even if you cancel phone service with them.
> >
> > Please post your results to the list!   It's been a while since I've checked
> > up on what Ziply does on the Residential accounts.
> >
> > Ted
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: PLUG <plug-bounces at lists.pdxlinux.org> On Behalf Of Rich Shepard
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 9:02 AM
> > To: plug at pdxlinux.org
> > Subject: [PLUG] VoIP question
> >
> > I just discovered that the ZiplyFiber router/modem installed (separate from
> > my Ubiquti Edge router and LAN switch) when the phone was converted from
> > copper to VoIP costs me $15/month rent for what the company calls "Business
> > Network Services". That's more than the taxes on copper phone lines.
> >
> > Knowing nothing about VoIP I ask if there's an analog voice (land line
> > phone) to digital converter that I can connect to my switch (or directly to
> > the router) to replace this rented unit? The Ziply installer told me he
> > turned off the WiFi capability of their modem because I already have a
> > working WAP.
> >
> > Advice appreciated,
> >
> > Rich
> >