[Ste_Mulv]

Hello,

I have been thinking about beginning to use VoIP for a while. I have used SkyPe for skype to skype and skype to landline, with not too many issues. However I have found that during peak internet usage time, my call quality is low and is quite a way behind land lines. I know this is due to my internet connection, however is i need to upgrade to a business style SDSL line, it will not be financially viable.

One feature that does interest me is the ability to be able to phone from phone to phone in the same LAN. can some explain how it is possible to do this.

I have included a little picture (of top class MS paint quality) to describe what i am looking for. I would like to still have access to the BT line, but would like a new number to be supplied via the VoIP. Is there such thing as a VoIP gateway which can connect to a service provider like skype (or alternative, any suggestions?).

Are wifi, stand alone phones avalible?

is it possible to interconnect two seperate LANs via a VPN, therefore creating a largers LAN and then call between VoIP phones in that network for free? is it then realistic to try to attempt to connect your mobile phone (running android or similar) to the internet via 3G or wifi, and then connect into you LAN via a VPN, thus allowing free calling to you other VoIP phones?

I am looking to expore the realistic possiblilities before cutting them down (mainly due to cost) for my planned installation.

Thanks for any help that you can give...

Ste

[fritter]

if you have a spare pc floating around, you can build yourself an asterisk box. Doesn't need to be very high spec (runs on linux, and you aren't exactly going for enterprise telephony by the sounds of things). Asterisk acts like a PBX system and has plenty of features. It's free of course but that means you'll need to read up a bit on setting it up. The forums are generally pretty helpful.

Asterisk :: The Open Source PBX & Telephony Platform |

LAN to LAN etc etc, yep, you can do all that. You can run everything off the asterisk box, or have multiple boxes on each site if the connections aren't up 24/7.

As far as compatible phones, check the asterisk site - there should be a compatibility list floating around somewhere there. I know it supports most of the cisco stuff/polycoms and all that at the very least.

I haven't looked into whether voip providers like skype offer gateway services to ip pbx systems, but if they don't, then there are a certainly other providers around that do. There are ISPs around that allow trunk connections etc, but I've only ever used them for access from an IP system to the PSTN.

Hopefully that helps. Asterisk should do everything you need, but unfortunately I don't know of many free systems that are easy to set up properly without much knowledge.... even the ones that aren't free generally require a bit of experience to set them up quickly, and correctly

[itsdusty]

Hi, you have probably moved on now. I would suggest a Linksys SPA 3102. This will allow you to use the same handset for BT and VOIP calls if you plug your DECT base station in to it then all your wireless handsets can use both gateways. I only use voip for outgoing calls (Freecall) but I am aware that you can get a number free of charge to link to your voip account. The only problem I have experienced is with incoming POTS calls being disconnected early but not always.

Dusty