VOIP for holiday home
Discussion
I currently have a work provided Cisco phone that I can use to work at home - it has an Aruba box that I plug into my router and it does the rest. It behaves like the phone on my desk in the office - they both ring at the same time etc.
I'm moving jobs and the new job will allow me to work from home, but don't provide the phone.
That's fine when I'm in the UK as I can use my cell phone, but I have a holiday home that I work from & it's in Andorra - which is outside the EU & phone calls are super expensive.
The broadband is fine - no issues there - they ran fibre into the apartment - and my Cisco works OK
What I'd like is some kind of domestic VOIP set up that I could use there - ideally a physical handset.
Any recommendations ?
I'm moving jobs and the new job will allow me to work from home, but don't provide the phone.
That's fine when I'm in the UK as I can use my cell phone, but I have a holiday home that I work from & it's in Andorra - which is outside the EU & phone calls are super expensive.
The broadband is fine - no issues there - they ran fibre into the apartment - and my Cisco works OK
What I'd like is some kind of domestic VOIP set up that I could use there - ideally a physical handset.
Any recommendations ?
Thank you
I prefer a hard phone, but TBH I haven't really tried hard with a soft phone, so maybe better hardware for it would help if anyone can recommend a headset
Hard phone would help as I can leave it there for my wife when I'm in the UK
I'm not too fussed about incoming calls, though I guess it would be useful. My priority is reasonable costs for outbound Andorra to UK calls
I prefer a hard phone, but TBH I haven't really tried hard with a soft phone, so maybe better hardware for it would help if anyone can recommend a headset
Hard phone would help as I can leave it there for my wife when I'm in the UK
I'm not too fussed about incoming calls, though I guess it would be useful. My priority is reasonable costs for outbound Andorra to UK calls
OK:
1) Set up a Sipgate Basic PAYG VOIP account. Choose a suitable local 'UK' number, put £10 in it and wait for confirmation letter to UK address. Add confirmation digits to Sipgate account. Account is now live.
2) Buy a Grandstream GXP-1620 desktop SIP phone. One end plugs into the mains, the ethernet port plugs into your router. GXP1620 will handle two SIP accounts for future-proofing.
3) Disable SIP ALG in the router if it has it . (Also in Andorra.)
4) Use Sipgate set-up guide for your Grandstream. Dial 10000 to test or call your mobile.
If you take the phone to Andorra (UK mains plug?) you can make outgoing calls at the Sipgate Basic UK rates. (The SIP account 'number' stays with the phone.)
If you get a second SIP account and phone for the UK, Sipgate to Sipgate calls are free. :-)
Downsides: no internet = no phone.
Other providers and phones are available.
https://www.sipgatebasic.co.uk/
Phone:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grandstream-GXP-1620-Hand...
1) Set up a Sipgate Basic PAYG VOIP account. Choose a suitable local 'UK' number, put £10 in it and wait for confirmation letter to UK address. Add confirmation digits to Sipgate account. Account is now live.
2) Buy a Grandstream GXP-1620 desktop SIP phone. One end plugs into the mains, the ethernet port plugs into your router. GXP1620 will handle two SIP accounts for future-proofing.
3) Disable SIP ALG in the router if it has it . (Also in Andorra.)
4) Use Sipgate set-up guide for your Grandstream. Dial 10000 to test or call your mobile.
If you take the phone to Andorra (UK mains plug?) you can make outgoing calls at the Sipgate Basic UK rates. (The SIP account 'number' stays with the phone.)
If you get a second SIP account and phone for the UK, Sipgate to Sipgate calls are free. :-)
Downsides: no internet = no phone.
Other providers and phones are available.
https://www.sipgatebasic.co.uk/
Phone:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grandstream-GXP-1620-Hand...
Edited by Slushbox on Wednesday 31st July 13:44
I've used sipgate for a few years and it's really good. Free call forwarding so can send stuff to mobile when the desk phone is off, useful to anonymise your mobile number too for inbound calls.
I used a cisco phone as I was doing their voip cert but that grandstream looks good, much better price!
I used a cisco phone as I was doing their voip cert but that grandstream looks good, much better price!
^^^
There are a lot more VOIP providers now than when I started, one of the advantages of Sipgate Basic is the PAYG feature, you can test a setup for a tenner. The other is free intra-Sipgate calls, though other providers have that.
The Grandstream phones: they're a good value desktop. I have two here with SIP call transfers between them: it's a usable terminal that doesn't need a PBX. Downsides? A zillion options in the Grandstream setup, but just change the ones indicated by the VOIP provider.
Sipgate Basic also supports MWI (message waiting indicator - Voicemail) although Sipgate Basic say they don't support it. But enable MWI in the Grandstream settings, and the red blinkenlampen on the phone flashes when you have voicemail. You also get a pulsed dial-tone.
It's a good combination for a basic home/small office setup, and the two-account GXP-1620 gives me a 'home' line and an 'office' number.
Other providers are... etc etc.
There are a lot more VOIP providers now than when I started, one of the advantages of Sipgate Basic is the PAYG feature, you can test a setup for a tenner. The other is free intra-Sipgate calls, though other providers have that.
The Grandstream phones: they're a good value desktop. I have two here with SIP call transfers between them: it's a usable terminal that doesn't need a PBX. Downsides? A zillion options in the Grandstream setup, but just change the ones indicated by the VOIP provider.
Sipgate Basic also supports MWI (message waiting indicator - Voicemail) although Sipgate Basic say they don't support it. But enable MWI in the Grandstream settings, and the red blinkenlampen on the phone flashes when you have voicemail. You also get a pulsed dial-tone.
It's a good combination for a basic home/small office setup, and the two-account GXP-1620 gives me a 'home' line and an 'office' number.
Other providers are... etc etc.
^^^
A good point.
The OP's request: "What I'd like is some kind of domestic VOIP set up that I could use there - ideally a physical handset."
Skype (also VOIP) has a lot more features, but VOIP on a desktop phone looks and feels like ye olde POTS phone, and doesn't need a mobile or a PC. There's also a choice of mobile apps if needed.
With two SIP phones on the same SIP account, they'll both ring when a call comes in, so one phone can be left in Andorra, and second set up in the UK if needed, or use a mobile app in the UK.
Skype offers 'landline' numbers for £5.16 a month, but with the SIP providers you get a much wider choice of local area numbers, for free in the case of Sipgate Basic.
Then there's all the free voice-call apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Viber etc. So, plenty of info for the OP to chew on.
A good point.
The OP's request: "What I'd like is some kind of domestic VOIP set up that I could use there - ideally a physical handset."
Skype (also VOIP) has a lot more features, but VOIP on a desktop phone looks and feels like ye olde POTS phone, and doesn't need a mobile or a PC. There's also a choice of mobile apps if needed.
With two SIP phones on the same SIP account, they'll both ring when a call comes in, so one phone can be left in Andorra, and second set up in the UK if needed, or use a mobile app in the UK.
Skype offers 'landline' numbers for £5.16 a month, but with the SIP providers you get a much wider choice of local area numbers, for free in the case of Sipgate Basic.
Then there's all the free voice-call apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Viber etc. So, plenty of info for the OP to chew on.
Thanks - my wife has used Skype on her mobile for a few years, but always feels a bit crap - even though it works.
It’s kind of strange psychology - we haven’t had a home phone for years - we use our mobiles around the house, but I still like my Cisco for work calls - particularly the longer conference calls.
A VOIP physical phone - particularly if I can have one on both my work at home offices and don’t have to move the same one around - is exactly what I’m after.
It’s kind of strange psychology - we haven’t had a home phone for years - we use our mobiles around the house, but I still like my Cisco for work calls - particularly the longer conference calls.
A VOIP physical phone - particularly if I can have one on both my work at home offices and don’t have to move the same one around - is exactly what I’m after.
Another option would be a Grandstream HT801 - ethernet goes in one end and a 'normal' phone the other (you may need an RJ11 -> UK phone adaptor) - so you can use a cordless phone etc rather than needing a 'special' VOIP phone.
We have a second line with a SIPGate Basic PAYG account, one of the above and a BT DECT cordless phone, works brilliantly.
We have a second line with a SIPGate Basic PAYG account, one of the above and a BT DECT cordless phone, works brilliantly.
^^^
I'd forgotten about the ATA's (Analogue Telephone Adaptors.) I had a 2-line Cisco SPA112 a while ago which worked fine but liked the Grandstreams which were One Less Thing To Plug In.
The Grandstreams also have programmable soft 'Line' keys. I have them programmed to transfer calls to the other handset. The spare 'Line' key can programmed as a Speed Dial number.
I also noticed with my Grandstream phone yesterday, putting an incoming call on 'Hold' generated mysterious 'Hold' music, presumably coming from Sipgate. A free bonus.
With a handset and a PAYG Sipgate account at either end, the OP will get free international calls. We hope that his Andorra ISP/Router does not block VOIP calls, so being wise, he will try one first. :-)
I've got GXP1620's here if anyone needs help with the set-up. There's also an 'intercom' handset feature I haven't tested.
I'd forgotten about the ATA's (Analogue Telephone Adaptors.) I had a 2-line Cisco SPA112 a while ago which worked fine but liked the Grandstreams which were One Less Thing To Plug In.
The Grandstreams also have programmable soft 'Line' keys. I have them programmed to transfer calls to the other handset. The spare 'Line' key can programmed as a Speed Dial number.
I also noticed with my Grandstream phone yesterday, putting an incoming call on 'Hold' generated mysterious 'Hold' music, presumably coming from Sipgate. A free bonus.
With a handset and a PAYG Sipgate account at either end, the OP will get free international calls. We hope that his Andorra ISP/Router does not block VOIP calls, so being wise, he will try one first. :-)
I've got GXP1620's here if anyone needs help with the set-up. There's also an 'intercom' handset feature I haven't tested.
Edited by Slushbox on Thursday 1st August 06:59
Andorra allow my existing work provided VOIP solution - but I guess that might route in a more covert way - I will certainly give it a go as Skype is always there as a backup - that works too
Hold music is one i’d to be careful with - as I have been known to drop in and out of conference calls and wouldn’t want that to be so explicitly obvious.......
Hold music is one i’d to be careful with - as I have been known to drop in and out of conference calls and wouldn’t want that to be so explicitly obvious.......
Can I ask about VOIP over a 4G home broadband connection ?
Would the set up be stable / work, or does the VOIP need to be through a broadband connection not 4G ?
I have great 4G home EE internet and a mesh network.
Would the combination of connecting a Gigaset GO box to a DecoM5 Mesh unit allow me to have 'a landline' via the 4G home network ?
(do EE allow this???)
Would the set up be stable / work, or does the VOIP need to be through a broadband connection not 4G ?
I have great 4G home EE internet and a mesh network.
Would the combination of connecting a Gigaset GO box to a DecoM5 Mesh unit allow me to have 'a landline' via the 4G home network ?
(do EE allow this???)
Replying on this thread as well as the other one - I have a 'softphone' app on my mobile (Zoiper) which allows me to use it as my home VOIP landline and it works via the phones 3G/4G connection, so I'd say it is eminently possible. I simply configure it with the details from my VOIP provider - PM me for more info.
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