Discussion About VoIP
I want to start to use VoIP but......
My objectives are as follows:
My mobile phone contract is coming up for renewal and I am thinking about getting a mobile that supports WiFi and VoIP. Is anybody out there successfully using a VoIP mobile phone, if so which model? And with what type of VoIP server is being used?
Or should I go for a dedicated WiFi VoIP handset?
I know enough now to ask a lot of questions before I make any choices.....
So I guess in summary there are 2 choices, choice of handset and choice of server and then a whole bunch of configuration and codec issues that have to be got right.
Points awarded for good ideas......
Background
Point 1
I have a customer who went onto a pseudo VoIP system. They had a LG Nortel box installed which supported remote handsets. When these remote handsets are used the quality can be very poor. It seems that bandwidth can be a major issue. And it seems to me that the software should not allow sound packets to get distorted, I can understand if there are delays, but sound quality should be perfect.
So obviously choice of equipment and infrastructure is critical.
Point 2
I have installed VoIP software phone one of my computers, when using this phone again the sound quality is very poor. However, when I use Skype, the sound quality at both ends is good. I have tried messing with a selection of codec settings to improve quality but I admit I don't know what I am doing. So somehow Skype software is quite cute and in someway better or is it the Skype infrastructure? My softphone X-Lite was utilising the VoIP server at voiptalk.org, so is my problem with my softphone or with the server?
The X_lite has whole bunch of advanced settings but its all Greek to me.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
My objectives are as follows:
My mobile phone contract is coming up for renewal and I am thinking about getting a mobile that supports WiFi and VoIP. Is anybody out there successfully using a VoIP mobile phone, if so which model? And with what type of VoIP server is being used?
Or should I go for a dedicated WiFi VoIP handset?
I know enough now to ask a lot of questions before I make any choices.....
So I guess in summary there are 2 choices, choice of handset and choice of server and then a whole bunch of configuration and codec issues that have to be got right.
Points awarded for good ideas......
Background
Point 1
I have a customer who went onto a pseudo VoIP system. They had a LG Nortel box installed which supported remote handsets. When these remote handsets are used the quality can be very poor. It seems that bandwidth can be a major issue. And it seems to me that the software should not allow sound packets to get distorted, I can understand if there are delays, but sound quality should be perfect.
So obviously choice of equipment and infrastructure is critical.
Point 2
I have installed VoIP software phone one of my computers, when using this phone again the sound quality is very poor. However, when I use Skype, the sound quality at both ends is good. I have tried messing with a selection of codec settings to improve quality but I admit I don't know what I am doing. So somehow Skype software is quite cute and in someway better or is it the Skype infrastructure? My softphone X-Lite was utilising the VoIP server at voiptalk.org, so is my problem with my softphone or with the server?
The X_lite has whole bunch of advanced settings but its all Greek to me.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
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You could probably make do with the Nortel box as it obviously works with other manufacturers equipment as x-lite works. I mentioned Asterisk as that is what we use as our main telephone system. There is a product called Trixbox which is a distribution with Asterisk and a web interface as standard. Personally I am not so keen on it as I prefer to configure asterisk directly and not be forced to use the web interface for for most people who dont have the time to learn linux and asterisk it is the better option.
You might also want to have a look at the Aastra 480i CT which is a standard desk phone but with a built in DECT base unit and handset. Its the same technology as your normal digital cordless phone used at home.
I advice to install a Linux OS Cantos Version and install TrixBox on it, the issue that this version of Linux is so easy to configure and don't need a strong Background in Linux
TrixBox is a distribution in itself so you dont install Linux first. As it happens Trixbox uses Centos anyway.
ASKER
I heard that there is a version of Linux with a pre-inslled Asterisk server on it?