Thread: Looking for best cheapest voip/broadband solution

I'm on the £18.95 talk unlimited VM package + line rental, works out to around £25 a month, which is way too much

I've heard of voip phone services like vonage, tesco voip..........etc

I need a cheap but excellent voip/broadband phone provider, which will allow me to use my existing handset (i could get a different one if need be), gives me free UK calls unlimited, allows me to make calls without having to use the pc or leaving it switched on, allows me to call landlines/mobiles and allow people with normal landlines to call me, what do you recommend?

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Originally Posted by tal

I'm on the £18.95 talk unlimited VM package + line rental, works out to around £25 a month, which is way too much

I've heard of voip phone services like vonage, tesco voip..........etc

I need a cheap but excellent voip/broadband phone provider, which will allow me to use my existing handset (i could get a different one if need be), gives me free UK calls unlimited, allows me to make calls without having to use the pc or leaving it switched on, allows me to call landlines/mobiles and allow people with normal landlines to call me, what do you recommend?
I use vonage myself, however they are soon to introduce a fair usage policy 2,000 minutes per month I can't post a link as vonage is a commercial organisation and would break froum rules.
It occurs to me that you may still have to keep your VM line why not try to negociate a deal with them, don't forget VOIP use some of your broadband width.

Regards

Andy

To be perfectly honest, all you need is a decent broadband connection and then to choose your voip provider very carefully. Any boxes or equipment you buy/rent through people like vonage is locked to them, so if you decided to change, it would be redundant. Look up SIPGATE. I was once advised, although I havent done it yet, to buy a bog-standard (unlocked) VOIP router with TWO telephone jacks, and to sign up with SIPGATE for INCOMING calls, and to use another provider whos name escapes me at the moment but charges something like 10 euros for 3 months access with free calls to various places (all of the UK for example, plus free calls to many European countries). I will post back with more details when I can find the other provider, and tell you how to set it up. The only thing you might not be too happy with is using one line for incoming calls, and another line for outgoing calls. Essentially, all you pay for is the box (unlocked), and the 3 months access each time of about 10 Euros, plus any phones you want to use. I'll post back shortly.

OK, so...

Linksys PAP2 ATA (analogue telephone adaptor)
Sipgate
Voipstunt.

As I said previously, you have two lines, one for incoming and one for outgoing calls.

Sipgate provides the incoming connection and supplies a free telephone number. Free to register and use, plus 1 free telephone number.

Voipstunt gives you the outgoing call access. The last accurate cost for this - 10 euros for 120 days access. Total cost is 10 Euros for 3 months.

The ATA I ws recomended is the LINKSYS Pap2 ata.. I think the price new is about £35.

Hope this helps

Regards

I just want an easy to use voip for the home, no messing around with the pcs, what do you recommend?

Well, as Voip uses the internet, and a lot of the simpler offerings are software based, you would have to use a computer. Even if you bought an ATA, you would need to set it up through a computer anyway. In effect, you will be creating a (very) small network, as the adapter needs to have a network (IP) address for you to be able to use it. Once it's set up however, you don't need a computer, but your modem connection to the outside world would have to stay on 24/7 if you would use the voip telephone number as a main number.

The other recommendations from other people are fine if you are happy to stay with the same provider all the time, such as Vonage, but I don't know anything about that product, or if its software based, which means you would have to do it all via the comp anyway (iniating calls I mean).

HI all, Can anyone help me with advice re the skype systems or voip systems, re are they compatable with GPRS?? as I have a 3g usb modem (dongle) although I have a bt line into the house it is barred at the moment (disputed bill) Any comments/advice will be gratefully received. "EXEMPLO DUCEMUS"

I use skype for clients all over the country and some that live abroad

Never fails me