Cheap voip usb phone adaptor at maplins

[fallwood]

Just thought Id let everyone know that maplins are selling really cheap voip phone adaptors, 29.99 and it allows you to use your existing phone (cordless as well) with skype and other voip services, also allows you to use your existing landline at the same time, you just press * to toggle between landline and voip, works seamlessly with skype, just dial a number from the phone as normal and your connected to either voip or landline. Been waiting for something like this at a reasonable price as I didn't fancy having another phone just for voip. A few of my mates have bought them and now all i do is pick their skype number from my phones phonebook and voila free phonecalls without having to go near the pc, even the wife's been using skypeout via the cordless phone to call her friends outsiide of local area as its only 1.3p per minute on skype. Heres a link to the manufacturers site http://www.voip-skyfree.com.tw/
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[applevenus]

do you have any more detail on the device ? interested in seeing if this is also being sold cheap in their Dublin stores.

I presume this is a VOIP ATA ?

[applevenus]

Ah. Got off my backside and looked it up on the maplin.co.uk site
here's the link :

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...46125&doy=29m9

this is a USB device so you'll need to leave your PC turned on . so strictly speaking it's not an ATA
(unless there's an ethernet socket on there ?)

[mucca_D]

I have looked at this in the Cardiff Maplin and yes it does look good if you only want it for skype but you are correct in that you need your PC on to use it as there is no ethernet socket.

I want the SPA-3000, but need it to be cheaper first.

anyone found one for under £60?

[psflynn]

cheapest i have seen is for £82 inc VAT - have you seen it any cheaper?

Cheers

P.

[mucca_D]

Dam, just looked and I too can only see them around that, should of bought it when I seen it for £72inc Vat.

I think they will come down soon

[fallwood]

Originally Posted by mucca_D

I want the SPA-3000, but need it to be cheaper first.

anyone found one for under £60?

Can you use your existing phone with this without having to interact with the pc, what i like about the maplins one is that I can just pick up the phone and ring a number through skype or landline without needing to go near the pc, do you get the same type of seamless operation with other voip providers.

[applevenus]

The SPA-3000 (by Sipura) is an ATA.

Basically an ATA has an ethernet socket on one side (so you connect it to your broadband router) and a telephone socket on the other.
You can programme it via a browser.
Your traditional telephone(s) and (if supported by the VOIP provider) fax machine(s) work directly with the ATA. So, you could theoretically put this ATA next to your broadband router and feed all the phones in your house (or if you've got DECT wireless phones you can use it that way).

Advantages are : no need for a PC to be left powered on, some ATAs have 'fall-back' to ordinary phone lines, some ATAs allow for multiple phone lines via the same interface, some ATAs are very programmable so you can setup all sorts of usage rules. Some providers will sell you an ATA and preconfigure it for you if you're not into doing that yourself.

Watch out for cheap ATAs : they might be locked to a particular provider.

I'm going for an ATA solution so that I don't have to leave a PC on 24-7 and also I like control

Skype is just another provider though they appear to be very propietary. With other VOIP providers : yes, you can simply pick up the phone and use it as normal. If you've got an ATA you don't even need the PC on.

[Setch]

The Linksys PAP2 from broadbandbuyer.co.uk is £34 and has two ports. Is a breeze to configure. I use it for box fax and phone with two free numbers from sipgate.

Setch

[mucca_D]

Do remember that id you buy the pap2 you wil need to order a line converter for each port @£2.46 link


As I said in this post

It would be good if you coul dunlock the vonage ones as they are only £19 from comet


It also looks like the PAP2 is a clone of the spa-2000 not the 3000, anyone know the dif?

[BlueAdvocate]

not sure if it works

[Lakeuk]

Originally Posted by BlueAdvocate

not sure if it works

Yes it does work according to this interesting UK thread :-
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...d.html?t=96064

Problem is getting hold of one, vonage in the UK are quickly going into Comet stores to reclaim unsold stock

[mucca_D]

Yep it does work , and i used those exact instruction to unlock the on i bought from comet.

The one in cwmbran has loads on the shelf (well 5) as of weekend

[benwong]

Just looked, the USB device from Maplins is now £19.99.

Have reserved one and will be picking it up on Saturday!!



Does anyone know if this adaptor works with any other application apart from Skype? The description on the website doesn't even mention Skype, which I'm happy with as this would indicate it works with other apps..

When I called the guys over in Maplin, they opened the box for me and saw on the CD that it's 'optimised for Skype'.

Thinking of using Skype & maybe Voipcheap or Voipbuster..

Ben

[mucca_D]

Originally Posted by benwong

Just looked, the USB device from Maplins is now £19.99.

Have reserved one and will be picking it up on Saturday!!



Does anyone know if this adaptor works with any other application apart from Skype? The description on the website doesn't even mention Skype, which I'm happy with as this would indicate it works with other apps..

When I called the guys over in Maplin, they opened the box for me and saw on the CD that it's 'optimised for Skype'.

Thinking of using Skype & maybe Voipcheap or Voipbuster..

Ben

I am sure I have said this lol. but I looked at one and it is USB only so need your computer and uless there is a feature I can not see then it only works with Skype type use, but for £19 now buy it find out everything it can/ cannot do and report back here asap

D