Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

VoIP (IP Telephony) means you can make calls over the Internet to any phone in the world. The phone you are calling does not have to support VoIP. VoIP usually costs less than using your local telephone company, and you can keep your existing phone number or choose a new one with any area code in your country. Prices may vary.

Steps

1. 1 Buy a VoIP adapter. Please note that you will not be able to use a standard (PSTN) phone unless it specifically states that it supports VoIP or Skype. Therefore, to use an analog phone as a VoIP phone, you need to connect that phone to a VoIP adapter.
2. 2 The VoIP company from which you purchased the adapter should send you instructions on how to connect it. Some adapters are designed to connect between your cable modem and your router or computer, while others need to be connected to your router. Follow the supplied instructions.
3. 3
4. 4Connect a telephone to the LINE 1 port of the telephone adapter using a standard telephone line.
5. 5 Turn on the phone adapter by plugging the power cord into the back of the adapter and plugging into a power outlet. For your phone service to work, you need to keep the adapter plugged in at all times.
6. 6Wait a couple of minutes for your adapter to boot.
7. 7 There may be updates that need to be downloaded, such as new firmware or changes in capabilities. They will be downloaded automatically. Do not interrupt this process by turning off the power or disconnecting the adapter from the ISP modem.
8. 8 Pick up the handset and wait for a dial tone. If you hear a dial tone, the installation is complete and you can make calls.

Tips

• If you connect the VoIP adapter directly to the broadband modem, then you should turn off the power of the modem before connecting the VoIP adapter. After connecting, first turn on the power of the modem, wait a minute for its operation to stabilize, then turn on the power of the VoIP adapter. On the other hand, if the VoIP adapter is connected to a router, it is not necessary to turn off the power of the modem or router before connecting the VoIP adapter (unless, of course, the instructions of your VoIP provider say otherwise).
• If you want VoIP to work even when your computer is off, choose a VoIP phone with WiFi function or one that connects directly to the router.
• Many VoIP service companies offer extensive features such as caller ID, call forwarding, conference calling, and receiving voicemail to an email account. Some companies offer more features or capabilities that are different from others, so check that the company you are considering offers the features you want.
• Companies such as IPvaani (www.ipvaani.com) USA Datanet, VoicePulse and Vonage will let you choose a second or third virtual phone number for an additional monthly fee. This phone can be anywhere in the country where the VoIP provider offers numbers (some providers even offer virtual numbers in other countries). If you live on the east coast and your family or friends are on the west coast, you can choose a virtual phone number with a west coast area code. In this case, if your friends call you, it will be a local call for them.
• It is assumed that you are connecting the modem, router and your VoIP adapter to the same Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which is not used for anything else (not used to power any computers). This will allow your VoIP service to last longer when there is no power supply, provided the network is also working.
• You can use dial-up Internet access, but a direct connection is recommended.
• If your download speed (which is determined by the provider) is less than 256Kbps, you will not be able to make parallel calls, there will be a maximum of one additional parallel line. Some companies offer a "bandwidth saving" feature that can be useful in situations where download speeds are limited. This feature allows calls to use less bandwidth at the cost of a slight degradation in call quality (usually invisible to most people).
• Your computer does not need to be turned on to use telephone services.
• If you want to move away from your regular wired telephone service, you can use a telephone wire to use VoIP service throughout your home, although some VoIP companies may not recommend this. But you first need to completely disconnect your home telephone network from the telephone cable entering your home. For instructions on how to do this (as well as information on similar topics related to replacing regular telephone service with VoIP, such as problems with alarms and home entertainment devices connected to the telephone line), look in the relevant articles.
• If your VoIP service ever stops working (for example, you cannot hear a dial tone), first check if your Internet connection is working (open a browser and try to visit the VoIP provider's website).If this is not a problem, try disconnecting the VoIP adapter for about 30 seconds, then turn the power off and on. Then wait a minute or two (in case he needs to download new settings or firmware) and try again. Often, a simple reboot of the VoIP adapter will fix the problem.
• Before connecting to the VoIP service, it is recommended to perform a VoIP test. This will test the bandwidth, as well as jitter and latency, which are key VoIP parameters that determine the quality of phone calls. Sometimes VoIP providers are criticized for the quality of the connection, when in fact the problem is with the Internet connection.

Warnings

• If you want to connect the VoIP service to your home telephone network, you first need to completely disconnect the home network from the telephone company cable that goes into the house. Otherwise, you will ruin your VoIP adapter, and therefore some VoIP providers do not recommend connecting the VoIP service to the internal telephone network.
• Some VoIP providers require you to explicitly enable 911 service because they do not automatically do this. Check with the company if you have 911 service connected.
• Any telephone connection, such as a Vonage, that uses a cable line has no connection to emergency services. In an emergency, you may not receive an immediate answer to your emergency call. It is not recommended to have a cable phone as the only form of communication in the house.
• Some unscrupulous VoIP providers advertise "unlimited" service, but in reality they are restricting the service to those they perceive as "frequent service users" or forcing them to upgrade to a more expensive class of service or service. If you are considering subscribing to an "unlimited" service and think you will fall into the category of "frequent use of the service" customers, read the company's Terms and Conditions carefully, and read reviews of this company on the Internet to see if any of their customers have experienced problems.
• If you transfer your phone number to another provider, do not disconnect the service from the old provider until the number works with the new VoIP provider. Failure to do so may result in the loss of your phone number.
• In the event of a power outage or network problem, you will not be able to use your VoIP service while troubleshooting. You can avoid power outages by using an uninterruptible power supply, thereby protecting your ISP's equipment from losing power.
• When comparing VoIP providers, keep in mind that some companies charge a "statutory recovery fee." This payment is not approved by any government organization and therefore it is just a mechanism to make the declared value lower than the actual one that you will pay upon connection. Before connecting, you should ask your provider to calculate your real monthly billing.

What do you need

• Telephone line
• Telephone
• UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)
• VoIP adapter and related service