I currently have a telewest landline, which i rarely use, I want to go for VOIP.
so I would like to be able to switch of my PC from time to time, but dont want to lose my VOIP thing, I have tried reading so much conflicting information over the net that i may just start pulling my hair out, can anyone advise me on where to go from here? and the answer aint straight to hell.

If you have a router you can get an ATA (Analogue Telephone Adaptor) this you connect to your router and then you attach you DECT cordless and/or corded phones as you would your usual phone line.

This means that the PC doesn't need to be on to make and receive calls.

You can also buy a router with built in VoIP ports, so no need for the ATA, you just connect your usual phones up to the router.

As you say you don't use the phone much then the likes of Vonage is going to seem the rip-off it is.

You could buy a Linksys PAP2 ATA and connect to a router, though these can be quite expensive, but are extremely good ATAs (very configurable). There is also a Zoom, though no where near as polished.

There are a few others I forget at the moment.

www.sipgate.co.uk is a pretty good VoIP provider and very popular, they offer for no fee or monthly fee an incoming number of any area-code your choose.

I use VoIPStunt.com , though these aren't currently issuing VoIP-IN numbers.

www.orbtalk.co.uk www.voiptalk.co.uk http://www.voip.co.uk/res_products.html are a few other services, you don't have to take their ATAs / routers as they may be locked to only their service, which is no good if you want to test various services.

There's certainly kit available to do what you want but does your landline actually cost much (anything) extra with your broadband supplier.

I don't know if a VOIP call gives a caller ID, I doubt it, and some phone systems reject calls without an ID - may or may not be an issue to you.

Another thing to remeber is that most VOIP services suggest that they are not suitable for emergency calls - probably to protect themelves.

It may not worry you, but if you are not on a landline and there is a power failure (not uncommon where we live) then you are without any telephone communication at all - except your mobile (again - poor mobile reception where we live).

You doubt VoIP gives caller ID??

Of course it gives caller ID, if you don't know the facts why post such nonsense? With some of the services you can even set it to send out any Caller ID you wish, and not just your VoIP number (which you can choose any area-code you wish, not just the area you live in).

As the OP is a Telewest customer the landline is costing them £11 per month, so you can get rid of the landline and save £11 per month, as a landline is not required for cable broadband, and Telewest don't charge extra on the broadband for not having a landline.

Yes, most VoIP services don't have connection to 999/112 services.

Also VoIP gives you for free, so a big saving over the PSTN, Caller Display, Caller Display on waiting call (something TW doesn't even offer), call waiting, free voicemail*, 3 way calling, call transfer, call divert, anonymous caller rejection, call return, distinctive ringing. There could be a couple more, I forget at the moment.

*You can set the time before calls go to voicemail on no answer on most provider anywhere up 100 seconds, you can also state whether the call should go to voicemail when busy, this is handy as if you use call waiting, you can see who is calling (CWID) and decide whether to take the second call or let it go to voicemail, better that the BT/TW system whereby it sends callers straight to voicemail when busy. Though I don't use voicemail on my lines I use for incoming calls as it annoys my callers if they hit voicemail and they are using a chargeable carrier, I do however have a separate 01 number just for people to call to leave messages.
Last edited by MadMulla : 09-09-2006 at 15:21

The OP is a Telewest phone user, so they will be used to having no working phone when there is a local power outage, as unlike BT Telewest don't have a power-backup when the electricity fails, it therefore means when there is a power outage the local cabinets lose power and you have no phone service.

As the OP will be used to having no phone in those type of power-cuts they could use a UPS for their cable modem, router, ATA and DECT phones just in case they have a house power outage.

AFAIK most voip providers providing access to the PSTN (normal phone networks) provide out bound caller ID. Sipgate deffinatly do. This caller ID signal is acceptable to mobile phones, BTs Caller ID and 1471 services etc. Sipgate also allow you to turn off (or withhold) your caller ID. These calls then show up as Number Unavailable to called parties.

Just to reiterate what some other posters have said. VoIP is not desinged for making emergency calls. Most services do not even provide access to 999 / 112. Even if they do provide you with 999 /112 access they will not work if your internet connection and or power fails.

Firstly I said I didn't know but doubted and clearly now stand corrected. What I actually meant was I doubted they all did - do they? Especially those without VOIP in numbers?

And as advice to MadMulla - read OllieOnline's post as he made the same point as you without being offensive!
Last edited by awasp : 09-09-2006 at 16:29

My post was certainly not offensive, so lets get that one cleared up for a start.

I simply said why post about something you don't know the clear answer too, seems pretty pointless and could cause confusion to the OP. Would it have not been better if you must have posted on that subject a question, asking does VoIP send out a CLID, but to say you doubted it did without even knowing the facts was a bit on the silly side.

So lets not fall out over something so silly, when I wasn't even being offensive.

I've PM'd you as this isn't relevant to the thread which is what I should have done before my reply - apologies to the OP.

thanx for all the advice ppl,
Just a point tho I have been with telewest for 4 years now, and not had any problems with power outages and I have excellent mobile signal. not sure where drogue thinks (We) live, but it clearly not the same place.

You should be fine then with VoIP.

Where we are now we had our first power outage (only 5 mins) for quite a while. At our previous address the area was always having outages as Vandals were always setting fire to the sub-station.

In an attempt to give you a working answer rather than a techie one....I ditched my BT line and now have Vonage through my NTL BB connection.
So far it has been extremely reliable. It has all the benefits of my BT phone with some extras. I use the same phones I always have. My number is a local one. Set up was simple.
They give you 999 access.
Yes, I (and they) would recommend you have a mobile as backup for all eventualities. If you have a power out or your BB is down you can have your calls transferred to any number you want.
Hope that helps.

www.vonage.co.uk do.

My daughter is off to Uni and she has given me a Skype phone to connect to her. Neither of us know anything about this VOIP thing, despite reading the gumph on the Skype site. So I came in here to see if I could get some simple, basic, VOIP for Idiots info - but instead I landed in a warzone of words, and I'm now more confused than ever.

Thank you ever so much! I guess the original poster (aha! I've just worked out what OP is!!!) is - or was - also wanting some non technical info. Please remember that there are still some technophobes out there who can't keep up with the propeller heads.