Matt’s Hands on with VOIP

Matt’s Hands on with VOIP I’m a self confessed geek who generally likes playing around with technology. With lots of help from David and Allan Matthew Smith, works for big blue and is a certified IT Architect. Note all content is my personal opinion and not that of my employer.

Introduction • Toilets • Coffee and Tea is available next room • Breaks • Use back USB ports on the computers • Powerpoint presentation available from the PCUG site • Fire exits

Danger Will Robinson..! • You are logging into the PC’s will full access so please don’t ‘play around’ with the settings. • At the end of the session please complete the feedback and provide your details if you want to keep the sipme account.

Agenda • VOIP Terms • Overview of setups • Hands on install of VOIP Software • Making some calls with VOIP • If we have time look at Skype • General talk questions etc

Questions..??? Just hit me as we go..! When is a headset not a headset..?

VOIP Terms • VOIP – Voice Over IP • ATA – Analog Telephone Adaptors, box that plugs into your network on one side and a phone on the other. • Softphone – Similar concept to the ATA but runs as software on your computer. • VSP – Voice Service Provider, the company that provides the VOIP facility. • PSTN – Public Switched Telephone Network (ie a normal phone line) • Broadband – Highspeed internet, much faster than using the older dial up modems. • Router – The box most people have which connects them to broadband internet. • Skype – Well known VSP great for free computer to computer calls, but call rates to land lines are not so competitive. Also doesn’t use standard codecs so cannot use standard ATA’s.

VOIP Terms • Codec – Software for the conversion of analogue (voice) to digital. Most commonly used in Australia are 729a and 711a • 729a – Good compressed with some minor sacrifice of quality. Some ability to deal with network data loss. • 711a – No compression, best voice quality but uses significant bandwidth and not good with data loss. *Note Kilobits per second ie same measure as your broadband ie 256/64

Resources for more information • Whirlpool VOIP Forums • http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-threads.cfm?f=107 • OZVOIP Forums • http://forums.ozvoip.com/ • Dial plan Generator for SPA-3000 • http://www.taet.com.au/dp.nsf/SPADialPlan?OpenForm • Excellent step by step guide to SPA-3000 • http://www.jmgtechnology.com.au/spa_3000_guide.pdf • VOIP Wiki • http://www.voip-info.org

Basic OptionSummary • Software phone • Requires a PC to use it. • Not much good for in coming calls as the computer needs to be on 24x7 and you need to be near it. • Acceptable call quality but not generally as good as a dedicated ATA • Able to select a range of VSP’s and obtain good cost savings, particularly for STD and International calls.

Basic VOIP - Setup

Integrated VOIP • Ok, you have trialled it and are happy so now its time to get serious. • The aim is to integrate it into your home so that when anyone picks up the normal phone it’s going out via VOIP. • Also incoming calls ring on the same handset

Integrated - Setup

A good quality router is highly recommended..! • Router with good quality QoS (Quality of Service) • Why do I need it..? When you use your internet connection for uploading/ downloading files unless you have QoS your VOIP calls are going to get broken up. • Most routers provided by ISP’s have fairly limited QoS capability… • A good quality router will cost around $200.

Integrated - ATA • ATA • An ATA connects to your network on one side and your phone on the other. • Good quality phone calls. • Most are programmable so you can have mobile phones go to one VSP and STD to another and local to another. Allowing you to mix and match. Unless yours is locked then you are tied to a single VSP…

Go with a ‘locked ATA’? • There are companies like Engin who offer a complete VOIP service, however that only applies if you accept a locked ATA. • Benefit, is that its plug-in and up and running good support. • Downfall is that you cannot add other VSP or customise the configuration at all and typically comes with a monthly fee.

Advanced VOIP • Asterisk software PABX feature highlights; • Voicemail • Multiple Extensions • Redirection to extension based on the calling number. • Full call monitoring and reporting More information here http://www.asterisk.org/features

Advanced - Typical setup

Advanced VOIP • Asterisk • Opensource PABX • Offers excellent features and zero cost • Whilst there is some excellent “How To Guides” does take reasonable computer skills to get up and running. • Does require a dedicated pc to run on and needs to be on 24x7.

Handsets • IP Phones • Excellent way of deploying VOIP if you are going to have multiple handsets as the handset simply plugs into your network. Some models even come with a mini network switch so you can plug your PC into your phone • Multiple ATA’s and phones, usually the more expensive option but does allow you to connect any normal phone.

Matt’s Hands on with VOIP