Who uses the phone over the internet?

[echnidna]

Who uses the phone over the internet?

Do you use a normal phone and just dial out normally,

or do you use a headset and dial with your computer.

What does it cost to setup and run?

[CameronPotter]

I don't yet but I will be.

It costs a local phone call.

I will be using a headset (with USB connection for improved clarity) and it will be done over the computer connection (nothing to do with a normal phone).

Setup cost = headset cost.

Running cost = local phone calls + internet bill (and a fair chunk of download too).

Cam

[Bluegum]

Just hooked up to broadband so I will be looking into it myself. I have family in terstate and its the go to keep in touch with them.

[Babylon5]

I use Voip (Voice Over Internet Protocol). Current provider is a company called Engin. I use a separate phone that plugs into a special box and this plugs into my router. Any normal call in Australia is 10c untimed. I pay a $10 monthly fee.

[echnidna]

That sounds better than the headset idea.
Does the computer need to be turned on?

[Krunchy]

Hi Echidna,

We use Internode's adsl service at home (http://www.internode.on.net/adsl) and they have a product called Nodephone (http://www.internode.on.net/nodephone/)

It is a similar setup what Babylon5 described except we don't pay a monthly subscription fee. The call costs are 18c untimed to any landline in Aus and mobiles are 30c per minute.

In terms of quality I've been really happy although you really need a broadband service with a minumum of 512k though.

The nice thing about our setup (and the same with engin) is that you plug a standard telephone into the device and you make calls as you normally would and you don't need to have your pc switched on (it's completely independent).

We paid $190 to get set up but that included the cost telephone adapter (Sipura SPA-300) which Internode preconfigured.

Cheers,
Krunchy

[Bowdo]

I have been using the Primus Talk Broadband - it's $10 a month, with 10c untimed calls Australia wide, 2.7c international calls and 26c mobile calls. http://www.iprimus.com.au/talkbroadband/plans.asp

The beauty is there's no headsets - they supply an analog adapter and you you just plug in your standard phone and connect it to the modem - no need for the PC to be switched on - in fact you don't actually need a PC!

You do need a broadband connection - doesn't matter which provider. It was very straightforward to set up and call quality is good.

Set-up was $99 and includes the adapter.

Bowdo

[echnidna]

I wonder how it would go with broadband over a 2 way satellite?
Can you have more than 1 phone service?

[Krunchy]

Hi Echidna,

I wonder how it would go with broadband over a 2 way satellite?

It *should* work but the biggest issue with internet via satellite is the latency ie. the time it takes for the data to leave the dish bounce off the satellite and return to earth and vice versa. Typically this not much of an issue with web surfing but it may make phone calls a bit choppy.

Can you have more than 1 phone service?

You can, it depends on the providor and how much bandwidth you have.

Cheers,
Krunchy

[Auld Bassoon]

Also that satellite services are typically very asymmetric, eg 512Mbps downlink, but 64Kbps uplink - using a PSTN (ie normal phone) link.

[echnidna]

must be 2 way satellite.
I'm thinking of eliminating telstra totally, no landlines.

[Auld Bassoon]

Bob, Such services do exist, but I'm not aware of any from any domestic (as it were) service provider. Happy to be corrected.

[Jim Carroll]

Are you getting a new phone number with this setup or using your existing number.
I would like an extra line to the house but telstra want their share as well.

[ptc]

Look at
bordernet.com.au
they run a voip called Voise
you might qualify for Hibis Vsat

[echnidna]

I was thinking of bordernet and the hibis subsidy.