Ip Home Telephone

[Flukey]

But then the second point wouldn't appeal to you I guess!

Not neccesarily. My preference is to be able to do away with a telephone line to the house but the technology may be too immature yet to do that. A system that uses both technologies would good to start with, but drop off the PSTN as IP develops further.

[EvilDaifu]

Hi all,

A disadvantage with VoIP services is that emergency services like 000 cannot accurately trace your call to obtain your location if you're not in a condition to tell them accurately. That's why you generally see disclaimers about VoIP services not being a telephony service (in the legal sense of the word which encompasses the concept of call tracing). However, I'd welcome any updates to this as I'm sure the VoIP service providers are working damn hard to overcome this issue.

Mobilephones used to have this same issue as well, especially when you dial 13x xxx numbers that use Intelligent Networks to route your call to the nearest store based on where you are calling from, but now the cellular carriers can work out your position based on the base stations you're using and triangulate you to within a few kms (not GPS-like resolution, but does the job for 13x xxx services, etc.).

Having said that, I've use Skype successfully to call Italy on a mobile PDA using 1xEV-DO and also 3GSM (wireless broadband mobile PDAs are particular good because they have the electronics to be a proper phone in the first place and the transmission network is approaches ADSL performance) and found that the call quality was as good as when we've called using our home PSTN phone.

[HUSTLER]

Yep the 000 thing is another big thing, sumtimes the 000 call wont work!!!!! because the way the voip works, is is reads the first few numbers you push in and by that it knows what service to use, hard to explain, but if I put in 0418 then it knows it going to dial a mobile, if I type in 0884 it knows its going to somewhere in SA and is aland line, but they have problems when you start dialling 13**** numbers or 000 numbers. they are workin on a fix for this but it is not FULLLY FULLY FIXED YET!!! Voip uses 64 kb of upload stream, which means bsaically if you have 256/64 adsl connection and you pick up ya voip phone, your internet will basically stop!!! that's one of the reasons adsl2 is now being implemented!!!

[Cro]

But then the second point wouldn't appeal to you I guess!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not neccesarily. My preference is to be able to do away with a telephone line to the house but the technology may be too immature yet to do that. A system that uses both technologies would good to start with, but drop off the PSTN as IP develops further.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Personally the home user VOIP system wouldn't be an acceptable emergency communications system. I.e. internet goes down, so does your phone.

There are way too many points of failure.

You require someone like iiNet (3rd largest ISP in Aus behind Telstra & Optus).

As far as I know, they are the only high speed broadband provider that bundles a PSTN as well as a VOIP number with their broadband plans.

And by high speed I don't mean a pissy 1500/256 ADSL, or shared 8000/128 cable, I mean ADSL2+ which can support up to 24,000/1000 depending on the distance to your exchange (and if your exchange is upgraded yet)

In any case, here are their plans: http://www.iinet.com.au/broadband/

Damn cheap for what you get.

I use iiNet on standard ADSL speeds (1500/256) and my exchange just got upgraded. I'm waiting on my contact with Telstra for single bill to finish before I move over to their ADSL2+ bundled service.

[Guest newl]

80GB of traffic a month with iiBorg doesn't hurt either.

[ROBiiE]

In any case, here are their plans: http://www.iinet.com.au/broadband/

Damn cheap for what you get.

I signed up for the iiNet ADSL2+ service last month. I highly recommend it. I also recommend getting the Belkin 4 port wireless router as it has the ability to fail over to the PSTN line when the VOIP is down for whatever reason.

I have it hooked up at the moment using one of those cordless phones (have 3 cordless phones hanging off it). When a call is made from any phone in the house it uses VOIP if it is available, if not, it automatically uses the PSTN line. The phone rings when calls are received on both VOIP and PSTN. So, in other words you only need one phone. The quality of the calls in my opinion is great (it actually seems clearer than the PSTN line).

Sure you have to still pay the line rental but the calls are damn cheap. Not to mention the super fast internet access

[xrdreaming]

I have been using Skype with my bigpond broadband cable for 6 months and find it very good.

[nang3]

Im with IInet and use their iiPhone and iiNetPhone (VoIP) service.. although I rarely use the VoIP, the iiPhone has halved my phone bill at least.. plus I get a ADSL2+ broadband connection with 20gb or so..

all up about $120 a month where before my phone bills were usually that alone on a good month

[Flukey]

Im with IInet and use their iiPhone and iiNetPhone (VoIP) service.. although I rarely use the VoIP, the iiPhone has halved my phone bill at least.. plus I get a ADSL2+ broadband connection with 20gb or so..

all up about $120 a month where before my phone bills were usually that alone on a good month

Good info, thanks.

[God666]

Where is the best place to find a VOIP USB handset? I currently use Skype with a headset and it works good. Like the idea of a handset.