[PLUG] VoIP question

[Michael Ewan]

Thanks. I have heard advertisements for Ooma on PBS

On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM Russell Senior <russell at personaltelco.net> wrote:
>
> 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
> > >