Residential SIP telephony

[Sephiroth]

Hi all.

 

Off of the back of another thread (phone systems recommendations) I was wondering if there's anyone out there that has got a residential SIP line, and if so, how it all works and which providers are worth looking at.

 

I'm looking at using a freePBX box as a PBX on the back of FTTP fibre broadband from PlusNet. Is that feasible or am I barking up the wrong tree?

 

Thanks

[GTX]

I'm also interested in this.

 

Iv been thinking about it for a couple of years but never started the project.

 

Ill be keeping an eye on this thread.

[twin--turbo]

Yes.

 

I have two sipgate accounts one with a non geographic number and the other with a local code.

 

Both are lines into my freepbx based box. And I use Mitel 5220 Phones in sip mode.

 

I also have an analogue trunk card to connect to the PSTN and an analoug port for a plain handset.

 

TT

[FN-GM]

I do believe you can run FreePBX on a Raspberry PI for a small amount of extensions. Might be worth looking at.

[twin--turbo]

I do believe you can run FreePBX on a Raspberry PI for a small amount of extensions. Might be worth looking at.

 

one of my first installs was on a PI.. The hardware requirements for the actual PBX are not massive.

 

TT

[FN-GM]

one of my first installs was on a PI.. The hardware requirements for the actual PBX are not massive.

 

TT

 

We have 100 extensions running on a not so powerful VM. Never seen the usage bars!

[twin--turbo]

once the call is set up by the PBX the RTP stream is between the handsets, so there is little load.

 

TT

[fiendishlyclever]

I use sipgate too, just the one line to an analogue dect phone. I believe it can ring multiple phones at once but never needed this functionality. I use a Cisco spa112 connected directly to my router. Incoming calls took a bit of fiddling but have had an incoming local number with no line rental charges for 18 months and spent less than £20 on calls in that time.

[m25man]

+1 Sipgate been with them for years now. No monthly bills £20 credit every so often there are two products, a personal and a Business/Team version.

Draytel is another to look at for Home users.

[twin--turbo]

Forgot to say,

 

I also use Zoiper on android and linux as a voip client.. If I can be botherd I can even use it whilst away from home.

 

TT

[MartinRouterKing]

Are you using sipgate with free pbx?

[Geoff]

I have a sip account with OrbTalk that has a uk geographic number attached to it (I have an 087 number redirected to it and use that contact number for any signup forms etc). At my home this is handled by FreePBX. I then use the 'follow Me' settings to have it redirect to my mobile or my computer(s) as necessary. Failing that connecting then the call is screened against a number list and then redirected to an IVR infinite loop (Lenny) or Voice mail as appropriate (I have voicemail to email setup).

 

Outbound dialling CallerID either presents my 087, UK geographic number(s) or mobile number based on call prefixes. The outbound call rates are far cheaper than calling over the mobile network.

 

I make around £50 a month on the 087 numbers revenue share after paying for the SIP account.

[SpuffMonkey]

This sounds really interesting - can anyone point me at some useful "How to start" guides?

 

Thanks

[Sephiroth]

I use sipgate too, just the one line to an analogue dect phone. I believe it can ring multiple phones at once but never needed this functionality. I use a Cisco spa112 connected directly to my router. Incoming calls took a bit of fiddling but have had an incoming local number with no line rental charges for 18 months and spent less than £20 on calls in that time.

 

Which ISP are you with, if you don't mind sharing. My (admittedly brief) research suggests that ISPs are very reluctant to not charge for line rental. My main problem is that I don't want to be changed an additional £130 for a phone line to be run when it won't ever be used. Plusnet state that they require you to have a phone line to the house, even for FTTP. Seems pointless to me, or is it a money making scheme?

 

Sipgate is one I was looking at, so it's good to hear that people are having good experiences with it. I already have phones that were taken from the school when we changed our phone system. they're Samsung IP phones and are good.

 

@Geoff, I like the idea of using a chargable number for signups and other unwanted calls. you must get a lot of calls to make £50 from it though!

[fiendishlyclever]

Which ISP are you with, if you don't mind sharing. My (admittedly brief) research suggests that ISPs are very reluctant to not charge for line rental. My main problem is that I don't want to be changed an additional £130 for a phone line to be run when it won't ever be used. Plusnet state that they require you to have a phone line to the house, even for FTTP. Seems pointless to me, or is it a money making scheme?

 

Sipgate is one I was looking at, so it's good to hear that people are having good experiences with it. I already have phones that were taken from the school when we changed our phone system. they're Samsung IP phones and are good.

 

@Geoff, I like the idea of using a chargable number for signups and other unwanted calls. you must get a lot of calls to make £50 from it though!

 

I use virginmedia - cable internet, 50mb connection

 

I also use Flextel for a voicemail only number that I give to insurance companies etc. Amazing how many of them call but never leave a message if they do leave a message it gets emailed straight to me.

[MartinRouterKing]

Does anyone know how to set outbound route up on freepbx? I can't get it to work!

[twin--turbo]

Does anyone know how to set outbound route up on freepbx? I can't get it to work!

 

It's a whiles since I have looked at stock freepbx... (my system uses a heavily skinned interface)

 

You will need your trunk set up.

You will need an outbound route set up with a dial pattern something like "9." which will match 9 followed by any number.. Point that at the trunk.

 

more advanced would be

 

90. ( uk national )

9xxxxx ( local 5 digit )

9xxxxxx ( local 6 digit )

[SpuffMonkey]

I use virginmedia - cable internet, 50mb connection

 

I also use Flextel for a voicemail only number that I give to insurance companies etc. Amazing how many of them call but never leave a message if they do leave a message it gets emailed straight to me.

 

Surely you still have to cough for the line charge though? I'm on VM too and its around £18 / month for me

[fiendishlyclever]

Surely you still have to cough for the line charge though? I'm on VM too and its around £18 / month for me

 

Only the £18 a month for the broadband, I don't pay for TV or phone line rental...

[MartinRouterKing]

Virgin media is the only one out there that you don't need a phone line for the Internet.

[m25man]

Is that not Cable only? I've got 150mb for £30 pm

I have 3 SIP services on a Gigaset IP300 Dect system.

It also has a POTs which is on a BT socket

So every call I can choose which IP service to use or BT

TBH the BT line is long overdue cancellation.

I'm paying £16 pm to receive PPI calls!

[twin--turbo]

Is that not Cable only? I've got 150mb for £30 pm

I have 3 SIP services on a Gigaset IP300 Dect system.

It also has a POTs which is on a BT socket

So every call I can choose which IP service to use or BT

TBH the BT line is long overdue cancellation.

I'm paying £16 pm to receive PPI calls!

 

Surely you have an IVR to filter the PPI's do a "Disconnect"

 

TT

[m25man]

No, the BT line is supposed to be ex directory and has only been kept on for family and friends.

Everyone calls our mobiles nowadays so the only time the £16 pm BT Line rings seems to be PPI or some pleb asking how I'm feeling after the life changing car accident I was recently in!!

I must put it in the diary for Tuesday, Cancel BT line.

[Geoff]

Oh yes, forgot to mention. My landline is hooked up to a fax machine to entertain cold callers.