Posted on 10/19/2019 6:57:20 AM PDT by daniel1212
Looking for a way to connect a landline phone via a computer that is wirelessly connected to the Internet (which I using now to post this), without physically plugging into a modem/router (since that is on a different floor). This would have to work with cordless phones.
I see magicJack EXPRESS Digital Phone Service , but cannot find clear documentation as to whether one can get phone service using this without plugging into a modem, vs. just plugging into a computer that is wirelessly connected to the Internet.
Likewise magicJackHome 2019 VOIP Phone Adapter Portable, or OBi200 1-Port VoIP Phone Adapter ,
And ooma Telo Free Home Phone Service
Explanation We use a landline via Comcast Voice ($65.00 a month total), and use Vtech cordless phones (via line splitters) along with a stationary one. But most often the call gets dropped after a bit on the receiving end (we can hear them, but they cannot hear us) for about 30 secs, so they usually hang up. This occurs despite rebooting the modem, changing lines and splitters (there are 3 devices running off one line, and 2 cordless).
However, while a Comcast modem is used for our Comcast Voice, I cancelled the Internet service itself to save about $40.00 a month. And instead we connect to the Internet via a separate Comcast modem downstairs (as one ministry). We do no own the building and so running a cable is not an option.
I have not called Comcast yet, who will most likely blame the extra devices plugged in, but for now I want to supplement this spotty landline with a VOIP service, and am looking for advice from those who have experience with this. If reliable, maybe we could just port our number and go with the VOIP.
Thanks. Grace and peace thru Jesus the Lord.
Yes, he used a landline phone plugged into his laptop.
Yes to the latter, and i want to connect a LL phone thru wireless Internet, and the reason i can’t connect magic jack and a phone to a router on another floor is because that would require running wire from their to here, unless I used cordless phones.
Curious how you cancelled comcast internet yet still get it wireless ?
I told them I was not going to pay their ever increasing prices for Internet, and turning off that and using their modem/router for Voice was the only option. Of course i should just buy a compatible modem/router and save the $11.00 rental fee.
If it’s VOIP, it isn’t REALLY “landline”, right? Even with battery backup, it’s still via computer and requires electricity, as I understand. My sister has VOIP through AT&T and during long power outages, it’s unusable if battery is dead.
I love our actual landline, plugged directly into the wall phone jack. If the power is out for days, the landline works.
See my post 39. We use OBi202 devices. We have been using them for years now. They are still around $90 and the wifi adapter is around $30. They take just a few minutes to setup. All of the ones we have and have setup for family and friends have come from Amazon Prime.
You mean the OBi202 2-Port VoIP Phone Adapter with Google Voice and Fax Support for Home and SOHO Phone Service and the Obihai OBi110 Voice Service Bridge and VoIP Telephone Adapter?
The only irritating step is that if you want to keep your current landline number you have to first port it to a cell phone and then port it to Google Voice. T-mobile prepaid has been the cheapest to do this in the past. $10 to T-mobile and then $20 to Google. If you don’t care about keeping your number this doesn’t affect you.
If the process of set up could be made simpler - and GV continuance promised - than I think more people would go for it.
Thanks.
WWDRT is an open source firmware for routers. Only certain routers are supported. There is an option in that firmware to run the router as a wireless bridge. Think of the WIFI as being an invisible cable between your existing router and this cheap used router. The ports on the used router become as if you are plugging into your current router with a cable and that connection is typically faster and a lot more reliable than what you could get from a wireless card. I get a solid and steady 80Mbps 200 feet through 3 walls on a 100Mbps connection (Only 90Mbps @ the main router) going router to router whereas my laptop connects at under 10Mbps at the same spot.
SIP phones just plug into an ethernet port and work. No computer needed. If you have ethernet to the internet they work. I can plug it in anywhere there is an ethernet port and all the magic happens behind the scenes. I can walk it over to a neighbors and plug it in... it works. I can take it to timbuktu and plug it in. It works. Takes 30 seconds or so to sync up with the VIOP provider but if there is a connection and enough bandwidth it works. They look and act like traditional desk phones.
I will post a pic of a system with 1 desk phone and 2 cordless ext.
I see, but these will no work without being plugged into a router
Correct - VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. Vast majority of so- called landlines work this way now. VOIP is a well-established and reliable phone service nowadays. You can even do “free”, as in not paying specifically for the phone service, with some apps. There are many ways to use VOIP; Ddo your research and choose the one that works for you.
Thanks to all who respond, but I must go for now to attend to some ministry outside for a few hours.
This has been very informative and helpful overall, and can help others (even if Google ignores FR in searches), and with more responses than I would have received from some tech forum. Thank God for all who helped.
“There are many ways to use VOIP; Ddo your research and choose the one that works for you.”
Nope. Not giving up the landline. We did sign up for a VOIP with our internet provider a couple years ago, but had it removed after a month.
Addendum to my last post: the AT&T service you have is still likely in some part VOIP; the service directly to you goes through a local switch then through the internet, your specific power outage does not always effect the phone service because AT&T supplies the power to your local phone lines.
Still scratchin my head. no need to run wire from here to there.
The only wires are the magic jack dongle connection and a wireless phone connections.
The magic jack dongle gets plugged into an electrical outlet and the wire from the dongle connects to the router. Phone connects to an electrical outlet and the magic jack dongle. probably would need a power strip\surge protector.
still need an internet connection. so, how do you get internet ?
good luck
You just need the base plugged in. It acts just like any old regular phone with 3 lines. The cordless handsets are just like any cordless handset. With this 3 people can be on their own calls at once. Only the base (Desk Phone) needs to have an ethernet port. If you dont need multiple lines or to transfer calls go with magicjack. What you have now will work just fine with that.
“So you need an adapter to connect a Rj-11 port to Rj-45?”
Nope. The MajicJack mini has both an RJ-11 and an RJ-45 port on it. RJ-11 for the telco wire to the phone system base unit’s Line In and the RJ-45 goes from the MJ into a LAN port on the house modem. So the MJ mini has two wires connected -RJ-11 and RJ-45 wires connected to the phone base and internet modem respectively.
For $20 more the OBi202 is much more capable than the OBi200 or 110 and allows you to use two separate lines at the same time along with better FAX capabilities. You only need the wireless adapter if you cannot hook the OBi202 to your router with the included cat5 cable or if you need to take it on the road.
The actual setup process is about as simple as it can get, pretty much all step by step menu driven. The most complicated piece of the puzzle is that Google will not allow you to port a landline number directly to Google Voice. You have to first port your landline number to a cell phone carrier, the cheapest major carrier has been T-Mobile using one of their “prepaid” options. But you can use any other carrier as well, the turn around on this has typically been about 2 days. This is a political and tax issue... you do not pay 911 taxes or anything else on a Google number. Landlines all do, so this is how you have to shed that burden. Google is not really to blame for this.
Google doesn’t advertise since they do not charge for this service, and as far as I know Obihai does not advertise much if at all either, so people just do not know about this option. All the providers that charge for their VOIP services like Vonage and MagicJack etc... are getting money for their services so they spend money on advertising. I believe that Obihai is the only device maker that works directly with Google. When the protocols are tweaked you get a firmware update and sometimes the adapter needs to be restarted to get it working right again. This does not happen very often.
Well, it has to be connected to the internet, either through a direct connection to your cable/DSL modem, or through a bypass on your PC...which is connected to the modem.
It CAN go through a laptop connected to WiFi at McDonalds or if you are stealing from your neighbors. Just be sure to not call 911—because that is where the responders will go.
In all honesty, it sounds like you either need to get a service call for your existing system (30 seconds is a data issue, not a phone issues.) Or my second guess is you are trying to cheap out by using some sort of free wifi. From a quality standpoint, that is going to be a non-starter. The speed is not going to be enough.
For $35 per month you can have a dedicated tel number via Office 365 business license. You’ll need to have the app open to run it, but the line can be forward to any other line.
In my case, in order to avoid spam calls I have set up:
1. Two landline no’s via Comcast Business VOIP
2. Both route to Office 365 call attendant, which requires actual input to select where to route the call
3. I can call outbound on my Comcast VOIP lines
4. All calls route to my cell phone or voicemail (for personal calls). Voicemail goes straight to email w/ transcription.
This could be done w/o the Comcast local VOIP numbers, but we like having the landline phones in the house.
Thanks. But I gather MJ also works just by being connected to a PC that is connected to the Internet via wireless.
As explained, the router is downstairs. If the MJ needs to plug into a router then the only way to get landline service upstairs is to use mobile phones.
still need an internet connection. so, how do you get internet ?
Wireless from downstairs. Thus if of the MJ can work by being plugged into the PC vs. the router itself, then it can be used upstairs.
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