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Signing up to sipgate
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| Ok, so I admit to struggling a little with the VoIP way of things, but
could I do any worse that signing up to sipgate using one of their
pre-configured Grandstream BT-101 handsets?
I'm also not too sure about my other hardware either. My router is a
single port ethernet / USB modem linked to a 5 port desktop switch
serving my notebook and desktop with shared broadband. I imagine that
the handset will plug into the switch?
Please bear with me; I do structural engineering for a living and will
admit to being more comfortable with moments, universal beams and M16
bolts:-)
| |
| Phil Thompson 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
| On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:41:52 +0000, PL
<neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote:
>Ok, so I admit to struggling a little with the VoIP way of things, but
>could I do any worse that signing up to sipgate using one of their
>pre-configured Grandstream BT-101 handsets?
depends what your objectives are, who you call, what features you need
(incoming number etc).
I set someone up with sipgate yesterday, its been a bit so-so thus
far.
Phil
--
Usenet spam eaten by a Hamster http://www.tglsoft.de/
No more cable clowns :-))
Please do not feed or re-quote the trolls.
| |
|
| Phil Thompson wrote:
>
> depends what your objectives are, who you call, what features you need
> (incoming number etc).
>
> I set someone up with sipgate yesterday, its been a bit so-so thus
> far.
>
> Phil
I need a portable contact number, portable in the sense that I expect to
be moving around for the next year or so, but want my regular callers to
dial up on the same geographical number, wherever I am.
I want good, reliable voicemail, but fax and call forwarding (if that's
not a contradiction) would be handy.
If I was pressed into giving the reasons why I'm looking for this
particular service, I'd say it was something to do with dealing life's
up and down, whilst trying to maintain a business with long-standing and
new clients alike; I don't want to be issuing a 'change of number'
every few months.
| |
| Gordon Henderson 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
| In article <11n4gn26ul2s334@corp.supernews.com>,
PL <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote:
>Ok, so I admit to struggling a little with the VoIP way of things, but
>could I do any worse that signing up to sipgate using one of their
>pre-configured Grandstream BT-101 handsets?
>
>I'm also not too sure about my other hardware either. My router is a
>single port ethernet / USB modem linked to a 5 port desktop switch
>serving my notebook and desktop with shared broadband. I imagine that
>the handset will plug into the switch?
I signed up to sipgate recently - only for a bit of fun and because
I had a spare Grandstream 102 handset - everything went OK, the
configuration was straightforward, but if you are getting one
pre-configured then I'd expect it to just plug in & go...
The 102 has a 2nd Ethernet port so you can connect it in-line to your PC,
BUT ... it's only a 10Mb switch inside! This would normally be no matter
unless you have servers in-house and you need vast quantities of data,
or have a broadband connection > 10Mb/sec...
But if you have a spare port on your ethernet switch, which you indicate
is the case, then this won't be an issue for you.
I only use it for fun and testing other VoIP stuff, (and I can joke with
friends to call my Edinburgh office number when I live in Devon!) so
I've no idea how reliable they are for "proper" use...
Gordon
| |
| Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
| On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:41:52 +0000, PL
<neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote:
>Ok, so I admit to struggling a little with the VoIP way of things, but
>could I do any worse that signing up to sipgate using one of their
>pre-configured Grandstream BT-101 handsets?
You certainly could not do worse than signing up to Sipgate but you
could do a lot better using any other voip provider regarding the
headset don't know don't like them don't use them sooner have an ATA
plus a cordless phone .
| |
| hairydog@despammed.com 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
| On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:49:37 GMT, Dexter@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
>You certainly could not do worse than signing up to Sipgate but you
>could do a lot better using any other voip provider regarding the
>headset don't know don't like them don't use them sooner have an ATA
>plus a cordless phone .
More incoherent ranting from the resident buffoon.
Sipgate is free. If you don't like it, you can simply stop using it.
--
Visit the Hairydog Guide to Mobile Phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
|
"PL" <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote in message
news:11n4gn26ul2s334@corp.supernews.com
> Ok, so I admit to struggling a little with the VoIP way
> of things, but could I do any worse that signing up to
> sipgate using one of their pre-configured Grandstream
> BT-101 handsets?
> I'm also not too sure about my other hardware either. My
> router is a single port ethernet / USB modem linked to a
> 5 port desktop switch serving my notebook and desktop
> with shared broadband. I imagine that the handset will
> plug into the switch?
Yes it will. It has an RJ45 ethernet connection so you plug it in just
like any other hardware.
However, unless you are simply playing around, I would advise you go for
an ATA (analogue telephone adaptor) and use this with a normal phone
(either wired or cordless) rather than a dedicated IP phone. It will be
far more versatile and with the right choice of device would allow you to
access your normal fixed line and your VoIP line on the same handset.
My personal recommendation (in that I use one, I don't work for them..!)
is the AVM Fritz!Box Fon, this isn't the cheapest option but isn't the
most expensive either. It does have an ADSL modem built in, so you can't
use it with cable, but they do have a router-only version I believe. See
www.avm.de/en for info.
> Please bear with me; I do structural engineering for a
> living and will admit to being more comfortable with
> moments, universal beams and M16 bolts:-)
Fair enough..!
Ivor
| |
| Phil Thompson 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
| On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:50:49 +0000, PL
<neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote:
>I need a portable contact number, portable in the sense that I expect to
>be moving around for the next year or so, but want my regular callers to
>dial up on the same geographical number, wherever I am.
if you want it to reliably ring maybe sipgate's not the best.
Does sipgate usually generate a ringing tone, rather than a silence
followed by someone answering (current experience)
Phil
--
Usenet spam eaten by a Hamster http://www.tglsoft.de/
No more cable clowns :-))
Please do not feed or re-quote the trolls.
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-09, 5:45 pm |
|
"Phil Thompson" <phil.thompson@spamcop.net> wrote in
message news:j115n15vtbsvr2hsf18tao939496621c7i@
4ax.com
> On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:50:49 +0000, PL
> <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote:
>
>
> if you want it to reliably ring maybe sipgate's not the
> best.
>
> Does sipgate usually generate a ringing tone, rather than
> a silence followed by someone answering (current
> experience)
The ringing tone is generated by your equipment (ATA etc.) not Sipgate or
any other provider come to that.
There are a few reasons why sometimes you get no tone, but as with all
things VoIP without knowing the precise combination of settings and
when/how problems occur, it's difficult to lay blame in any one place.
Unless you're Dexter of course when it just *has* to be Sipgate's fault
(Sorry, I get crabby sometimes..!)
Ivor
| |
| Phil Thompson 2005-11-10, 2:45 am |
| On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 23:41:23 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
<ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:
>The ringing tone is generated by your equipment (ATA etc.) not Sipgate or
>any other provider come to that.
the *tone* obviously is, but what tells it to make the noise - sipgate
I assume ? Are you saying that sipgate does do ringing tone as
standard.
>There are a few reasons why sometimes you get no tone, but as with all
>things VoIP without knowing the precise combination of settings and
>when/how problems occur, it's difficult to lay blame in any one place.
Linksys PAP2-NA to samsung DECT (ancient), dialling 10000 or a person
who isn't getting incoming calls get no ringing tone, to BT line or
your speaking clock (sipgate internal) get one.
Linksys setup default apart from account settings.
Phil
--
Usenet spam eaten by a Hamster http://www.tglsoft.de/
No more cable clowns :-))
Please do not feed or re-quote the trolls.
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-10, 7:45 am |
|
"Phil Thompson" <phil.thompson@spamcop.net> wrote in
message news:fdu5n1dg6vomvvndrkuluojirjq83lefsi@
4ax.com
> On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 23:41:23 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
> <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:
>
>
> the *tone* obviously is, but what tells it to make the
> noise - sipgate I assume ? Are you saying that sipgate
> does do ringing tone as standard.
The actual tone you hear in your phone is generated locally if it is a SIP
to SIP call; if it is a call to PSTN then the tone generated by BT or
whoever is passed back through the system. Sipgate itself doesn't generate
a ringing tone, although the cause of that tone, i.e. a call waiting to be
answered, is of course signalled, presumably by a data packet, I don't
know enough about the SIP protocol to answer that one.
>
> Linksys PAP2-NA to samsung DECT (ancient), dialling 10000
> or a person who isn't getting incoming calls get no
> ringing tone, to BT line or your speaking clock (sipgate
> internal) get one.
10000 won't generate ring tone, it is picked up straight away. Nor will
you get one to someone whose calls are going direct to voicemail due to
their system being offline, although you should get one if they don't pick
up for 20 seconds or whatever they've set it to.
You *probably* won't get ringing tone on my clock, as it picks up almost
intantaneously, you might get it if the line is in use, the system can
only handle one call at once; it's arranged so if it's busy you get
ringing tone until it becomes free (max. of 30 seconds) then it connects.
Email me off group and I'll give you another number to try. (ivor dot
g6urp dot gmail dot com).
Ivor
>
> Linksys setup default apart from account settings.
>
> Phil
| |
|
| Ivor Jones wrote:
>
> However, unless you are simply playing around, I would advise you go for
> an ATA (analogue telephone adaptor) and use this with a normal phone
> (either wired or cordless) rather than a dedicated IP phone. It will be
> far more versatile and with the right choice of device...
Any suggestion here as well, please Ivor
PL
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-10, 5:45 pm |
|
"PL" <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote in message
news:11n67hjdan57c5d@corp.supernews.com
> Ivor Jones wrote:
>
>
> Any suggestion here as well, please Ivor
>
> PL
It all depends what you want to do. If you already have a modem/router
that you're happy with, then a simple ATA will probably suffice. Something
like the Sipura 2000, which has 2 phone ports would probably be fine,
although I believe that model has been superseded by the 2100..? A look at
their site www.sipura.com will give you an idea anyway.
For a general look at VoIP solutions, you could do worse than look at
www.voxilla.com - they have all sorts of info, reviews, FAQ documents etc.
For a purely personal recommendation, in that it's what I use here, take a
look at the AVM Fritz!Box Fon at www.avm.de/en - this has a built in ADSL
modem, a router (although only one ethernet port, so you'd need a
switch/hub to connect more than one PC) and two phone ports. The big plus
point for this particular device however is its capability to store login
information for up to 10 SIP accounts, and for all of these to be able to
accept incoming calls. You can select which account to dial out on by
means of dialling rules or prefix codes, given that you only actually have
two physical phone ports. This makes it an ideal device for playing with
different providers as you don't have to disturb the settings for the ones
you use all the time and know work.
It's available in both wired and wireless versions, although Sipgate are
currently only selling the non-wireless version. They also make a version
without the modem, if you're on a cable connection for example.
Hope this helps,
Ivor
| |
|
| Ivor Jones wrote:
> "PL" <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote in message
> news:11n67hjdan57c5d@corp.supernews.com
>
>
>
> It all depends what you want to do. If you already have a modem/router
> that you're happy with, then a simple ATA will probably suffice. Something
> like the Sipura 2000, which has 2 phone ports would probably be fine,
> although I believe that model has been superseded by the 2100..? A look at
> their site www.sipura.com will give you an idea anyway.
>
> For a general look at VoIP solutions, you could do worse than look at
> www.voxilla.com - they have all sorts of info, reviews, FAQ documents etc.
>
> For a purely personal recommendation, in that it's what I use here, take a
> look at the AVM Fritz!Box Fon at www.avm.de/en - this has a built in ADSL
> modem, a router (although only one ethernet port, so you'd need a
> switch/hub to connect more than one PC) and two phone ports. The big plus
> point for this particular device however is its capability to store login
> information for up to 10 SIP accounts, and for all of these to be able to
> accept incoming calls. You can select which account to dial out on by
> means of dialling rules or prefix codes, given that you only actually have
> two physical phone ports. This makes it an ideal device for playing with
> different providers as you don't have to disturb the settings for the ones
> you use all the time and know work.
>
> It's available in both wired and wireless versions, although Sipgate are
> currently only selling the non-wireless version. They also make a version
> without the modem, if you're on a cable connection for example.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Ivor
>
>
Ivor, thank you for taking the time to give some good information
PL
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-10, 5:45 pm |
|
"PL" <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote in message
news:11n73tegnqdlaeb@corp.supernews.com
[snip]
> Ivor, thank you for taking the time to give some good
> information PL
No problem. BTW the wireless version of the Fritz!Box went on the Sipgate
shop about an hour ago. Bit pricey for me though..!
Ivor
| |
| hairydog@despammed.com 2005-11-10, 5:45 pm |
| On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 23:21:09 +0000, Phil Thompson
<phil.thompson@spamcop.net> wrote:
>Does sipgate usually generate a ringing tone, rather than a silence
>followed by someone answering (current experience)
Nope. Sometimes calls from the PSTN seem to take two or three seconds
to connect, then you get ringing tone followed by the answer. Outgoing
calls just work as any other phone.
I think that Sipgate gets a lot of flak for bad setups that are
nothing to do with them. Because it is a free service, lots of people
try it without really knowing how to set things up properly. That was
certainly true of me, and Sipgate was not reliable for me at all.
Once I'd set the port forwarding on the router properly, it has been
both reliable and dependable.
--
Visit the Hairydog Guide to Mobile Phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
| |
|
|
<hairydog@despammed.com> wrote in message
news:g7a7n1pp5aa1gc68u0bqpec841cu75pti3@
4ax.com...
> On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 23:21:09 +0000, Phil Thompson
> <phil.thompson@spamcop.net> wrote:
>
>
> Nope. Sometimes calls from the PSTN seem to take two or three seconds
> to connect, then you get ringing tone followed by the answer. Outgoing
> calls just work as any other phone.
>
It takes two or three seconds to connect from a PSTN because the system
is waiting to see if any more digits are being entered, if you press the
# key after the last digit, it should connect straight away, as this
tells the system the last digit has been entered.
| |
| Heimo Hetl 2005-11-10, 5:45 pm |
| <hairydog@despammed.com> wrote:
> I think that Sipgate gets a lot of flak for bad setups that are
> nothing to do with them. Because it is a free service, lots of people
> try it without really knowing how to set things up properly. That was
> certainly true of me, and Sipgate was not reliable for me at all.
Not all of the flak is unjustified. I had some problems this afternoon
with one call dropping after a couple of minutes, no outbound calls (my
german account switched call attempts into a silent void, the austrian
account got me an error message "Ein Fehler ist aufgetreten" which means
"an error has occured". Not helpful at all.) Calls to Sipgate's test
number 10000 worked fine. About an hour later, everything worked again.
My setup has remained unchanged for months now, and most of the time it
works perfectly.
> Once I'd set the port forwarding on the router properly, it has been
> both reliable and dependable.
IMHO, (lack of) reliability and dependability are the only drawbacks
with Sipgate. YMMV, of course, and certainly no reason for blindly
bashing Sipgate.
cheers
Heimo
--
You never ask questions when God's on your side.
| |
|
|
"Phil Thompson" <phil.thompson@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:j115n15vtbsvr2hsf18tao939496621c7i@
4ax.com...
> On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:50:49 +0000, PL
> <neatripple.@.lineone.dot.co.dot.uk> wrote:
>
>
> if you want it to reliably ring maybe sipgate's not the best.
>
> Does sipgate usually generate a ringing tone, rather than a silence
> followed by someone answering (current experience)
>
I've had similar problems intermittently recently, both with an ATA and VOIP
router. Sometimes after I dial the number, there is silence until the person
on the other end answers- there is no 'ring ring'. *Most* of the time there
is a 'ring ring' though. Not sure whether its sipgate or my ATA and VOIP
router. I get vaired results without changing any settings.
Alex
| |
| Heimo Hetl 2005-11-11, 7:45 am |
| Heimo Hetl <trashcan@hetl.net> wrote:
> IMHO, (lack of) reliability and dependability are the only drawbacks
> with Sipgate. YMMV, of course, and certainly no reason for blindly
> bashing Sipgate.
Austria is down again, both inbound and outbound. 10000 doesn't work
either. Germany seems to work.
cheers
Heimo
--
You never ask questions when God's on your side.
| |
|
| In news:xKTcf.11401$lJ.8266@newsfe5-win.ntli.net,
Alex <nospam@invalid.com> typed:
> I've had similar problems intermittently recently, both with an ATA
> and VOIP router. Sometimes after I dial the number, there is silence
> until the person on the other end answers- there is no 'ring ring'.
> *Most* of the time there is a 'ring ring' though. Not sure whether
> its sipgate or my ATA and VOIP router. I get vaired results without
> changing any settings.
> Alex
Those are very similar to the experiences I've had with a Grandstream 486
ATA (settings unchanged for a month or more). I made two calls in quick
succession this afternoon, the first was silent after dailing the number
followed by #, until after about 15 seconds the called party answered and I
then had a normal conversation. Immediately afterwards I rang another
number which gave ringback tone until it was answered.
--
Don
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-11, 5:45 pm |
|
"Heimo Hetl" <trashcan@hetl.net> wrote in message
news:1h5ux1o.1hod9hc151vri2N%trashcan@hetl.net
> Heimo Hetl <trashcan@hetl.net> wrote:
>
>
> Austria is down again, both inbound and outbound. 10000
> doesn't work either. Germany seems to work.
Don't know anyone in Austria, but UK and Germany seem ok from here.
Ivor
| |
| Heimo Hetl 2005-11-11, 5:45 pm |
| Ivor Jones <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:
> Don't know anyone in Austria, but UK and Germany seem ok from here.
Austria is still down. They acknowledged they have a problem, the
technician is working on it. At least that's what they told me 8 hours
ago. With some configuration effort, can route my outbound calls via
Germany (at higher cost), but I am not reachable at my Austrian number.
This situation sucks.
cheers
Heimo
--
You never ask questions when God's on your side.
| |
|
| Phil Thompson wrote:
> On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 23:41:23 -0000, "Ivor Jones"
> <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:
>
>
> the *tone* obviously is, but what tells it to make the noise - sipgate
> I assume ? Are you saying that sipgate does do ringing tone as
> standard.
When you place a SIP call from your SIP phone to another SIP phone [ie an
end-to-end SIP call] the dial tone and the ringing tone will be generated
in the end-users' equipment, and not sent across the network - or at least
that is the default setting for the PBX server software that Sipgate use.
Given that Sipgate is Dead Cheap, I can't imagine that they would alter
this default setting, as it would a) cost them more money in terms of
bandwidth and b) potentially annoy/confuse customers if they heard
dial/ringing tones they weren't used to.
--
<http://ale.cx/> (AIM:troffasky) (gebssnfxl@ubgznvy.pbz)
20:13:30 up 8 days, 23:48, 4 users, load average: 1.10, 0.83, 0.57
This is my BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMSTICK
| |
|
| Ivor Jones wrote:
> You *probably* won't get ringing tone on my clock, as it picks up almost
> intantaneously, you might get it if the line is in use, the system can
> only handle one call at once; it's arranged so if it's busy you get
> ringing tone until it becomes free (max. of 30 seconds) then it connects.
When dialling your clock through the PSTN, I get normal UK ringing tone.
When dialling Sipgate-to-Sipgate, I get US ringing tone. In both cases,
it is brief as the call is picked up fairly swiftly. I presume the
ringing tone for PSTN calls is generated by Sipgate's switch, and for
direct calls by your Asterisk box.
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-17, 5:45 pm |
|
"Chris" <chris.hopley@gmail.com.z> wrote in message
news:1132229636.32381.0@ersa.uk.clara.net
> Ivor Jones wrote:
>
> When dialling your clock through the PSTN, I get normal
> UK ringing tone. When dialling Sipgate-to-Sipgate, I get
> US ringing tone. In both cases, it is brief as the call
> is picked up fairly swiftly. I presume the ringing tone
> for PSTN calls is generated by Sipgate's switch, and for
> direct calls by your Asterisk box.
I would guess the ringing tone on a PSTN call is generated by either BT
or Magrathaea, it might be generated by Sipgate, I don't know (but I'll
find out now you've mentioned it..!) The ringing tone on a Sipgate call
should be generated by your ATA, not mine, do you get US tone for all
Sipgate calls..?
I don't have Asterisk, the clock is a card in my PABX which is in turn
plugged into a Sipura 2000 ATA. Not sure if that generates ring tone, but
if it does it should be a UK one, it's set to UK spec. for all the
parameters I could think of that needed changing.
Ivor
| |
|
| Ivor Jones wrote:
> "Chris" <chris.hopley@gmail.com.z> wrote in message
> news:1132229636.32381.0@ersa.uk.clara.net
>
>
>
> I would guess the ringing tone on a PSTN call is generated by either
> BT or Magrathaea, it might be generated by Sipgate, I don't know (but
> I'll find out now you've mentioned it..!)
I doubt it's BT as I'm calling from outside the UK, so the call may or
may not pass through their network. I suppose it will be either Sipgate
and/or Magrathea, depending on what kind of arrangement they have. I
though Magr. just provided numbering... but I'd be interested to hear
what you find out, though.
> The ringing tone on a Sipgate call should be generated by your ATA,
> not mine, do you get US tone for all Sipgate calls..?
You're right. I never changed the defaults in my SPA-3000. I've just
found a syntax guide for the call progress tones - time for a fiddle...
| |
| Ivor Jones 2005-11-17, 5:45 pm |
|
"Chris" <chris.hopley@gmail.com.z> wrote in message
news:1132244891.8657.0@lotis.uk.clara.net
> Ivor Jones wrote:
[snip]
>
> I doubt it's BT as I'm calling from outside the UK, so
> the call may or may not pass through their network. I
> suppose it will be either Sipgate and/or Magrathea,
> depending on what kind of arrangement they have. I though
> Magr. just provided numbering... but I'd be interested to
> hear what you find out, though.
Apparently from what I can find out it's generated by whoever controls the
number, so for Sipgate that would be Magrathea, for BT it's BT etc. so it
is down to your telephone provider, whoever that is. Where are you..?
>
> You're right. I never changed the defaults in my
> SPA-3000. I've just found a syntax guide for the call
> progress tones - time for a fiddle...
I have an SPA-2000, I would guess the settings are similar, let me know if
you need any info.
Ivor
| |
| Alan Ramsay 2005-11-17, 5:45 pm |
| Ivor Jones wrote:
> "Chris" <chris.hopley@gmail.com.z> wrote in message
> news:1132244891.8657.0@lotis.uk.clara.net
<snip>
>
> I have an SPA-2000, I would guess the settings are similar, let me know if
> you need any info.
>
> Ivor
>
>
The settings for the Sipura can be found on the Gradwell website at:
http://tinyurl.com/96g6k
Alan
| |
|
| Alan Ramsay wrote:
> Ivor Jones wrote:
>
>
> <snip>
>
>
> The settings for the Sipura can be found on the Gradwell website at:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/96g6k
Thanks Alan, very helpful!
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