Phone use on wifi connection

Ah, pardon my ignorance, but...

Can I use a 802.11b 11mbs connection with any program or software to
make local phone and/or long distance phone calls?

I have heard about VOIP and Vonage. Can either of these be used and does
it require special software and or equipment on both ends?

What wifi connection factors determine if a reliable connection can be
made and how do I check for these.

I really need to find an alternative to my local phone company which
keeps putting fraudulent charges on my bill. The gov. here does nothing
when I complain. Cellular does not seem to make sense either since I
hear a ton of complaints from cell users, not to mention their
connections are usually so flakey. I don't want Cox cable either.

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:32:17 +0100 (CET), in alt.internet.wireless ,
erpardonmy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Ah, pardon my ignorance, but...
>
>Can I use a 802.11b 11mbs connection with any program or software to
>make local phone and/or long distance phone calls?
>
>I have heard about VOIP and Vonage. Can either of these be used and does
>it require special software and or equipment on both ends?

Voip works over any IP network.
Vonage is a proprietary version of Voip which has some
interconnectivity.

As for using Voip with a wireless router, you have several choices

- a softphone (ie software) installed on a wireless laptop which you
use with a headset

- a wireless Voip phone - a websearch for that exact term will give
you some ideas. They're quite pricey.

- a "normal" cordless phone plugged into a Voip ATA which in turn
plugs into your router. This isn't actually using the wireless at all,
but if you already have a cordless phone it works well.

I do the latter with a Grandstream Handytone 386. I have my cordless
phone plugged into the ATA, which is connected (via normal ethernet)
to my router. The cordless base unit is close to my router, the
satellite handsets can be scattered round the house as normal.

>What wifi connection factors determine if a reliable connection can be
>made and how do I check for these.

Voip requires a fairly high quality of service (QoS) to give good
quality calls. Some routers can guarantee QoS to specific ports/IP
addresses. Other than that I've no idea what you would need to check.
--
Mark McIntyre

Mark McIntyre <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 07:32:17 +0100 (CET), in alt.internet.wireless ,
> erpardonmy <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>

>
> Voip works over any IP network.
> Vonage is a proprietary version of Voip which has some
> interconnectivity.
>
> As for using Voip with a wireless router, you have several choices
>
> - a softphone (ie software) installed on a wireless laptop which you
> use with a headset


How bout some names of softphone programs that might work?

>
>>What wifi connection factors determine if a reliable connection can be
>>made and how do I check for these.
>
> Voip requires a fairly high quality of service (QoS) to give good
> quality calls. Some routers can guarantee QoS to specific ports/IP
> addresses. Other than that I've no idea what you would need to check.

How do you define QoS with respect to using a softphone with no router,
only a software firewall? Adapter card software reports good to
excellent connection (66-80%)but regular data transfers seem
slow/irregular at times. I have read the speed of the connection is not
so important as the consistency of the speed.

Softphones: X-ten Lite is good and free, X-Pro has few more features.
SJPhone is the next most popular choice.
I get good call quality with X-Lite and X-Pro over 54Mb/s WiFi and using a
QoS enabled router (Draytek 2600VG).
You may have bit more of a problem with 11Mb/s WiFi connection (WiFi works
in simplex mode, i.e. it's either send or receive, not both at the same
time).
QoS allows you to set priority for certain types of packets, in this case
VoIP. It can only be done on QoS enabled a router (not many).
Regards,
Martin

Mark McIntyre <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> - a softphone (ie software) installed on a wireless laptop which you
> use with a headset

I have walked down the hallway while using my laptop and headset for a
Cisco Softphone or Skype call, but it is kinda heavy ;-)

A co-worker uses Skype on a PocketPC device, which is WiFi, and a headset
for that... it doesn't seem any bulkier than a Blackberry.

> - a wireless Voip phone - a websearch for that exact term will give
> you some ideas. They're quite pricey.

Youch. $200+. But I saw one at Walmart...
Philips DECT Skype Cordless Phone - $79
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5392453

> - a "normal" cordless phone plugged into a Voip ATA which in turn
> plugs into your router. This isn't actually using the wireless at all,
> but if you already have a cordless phone it works well.

Ah, that must be what the Walmart phones are... Skype at home, but not a
handset you could carry down to Starbucks and use on T-Mobile.

> Voip requires a fairly high quality of service (QoS) to give good
> quality calls. Some routers can guarantee QoS to specific ports/IP
> addresses. Other than that I've no idea what you would need to check.

Skype wants you to turn off QoS scheduling.
http://support.skype.com/index.php?_...ndetails&_i=35
"Another possibility to improve conditions is to disable QoS (Quality of
Service) packet scheduling.
Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections

Right click on the connection you are using (e.g. "Local Area Connection")
and select Properties

Untick the "QoS Packet Scheduler" option.
"

I didn't reply to the original poster because that seemed more a rant about
some telco billing issue that included not being satisfied with cellular
carriers for presumed ill actions in the future.

I wouldn't consider Skype as a full replacement for my home phone. The
Skype-out quality to landline phones is poor for me. Skype-Skype is fine,
in the US, Europe and Australia. It does occasionally freeze or break up
during video calls.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:43:08 +0000 (UTC), (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I have walked down the hallway while using my laptop and headset for a
>Cisco Softphone or Skype call, but it is kinda heavy ;-)
>
>A co-worker uses Skype on a PocketPC device, which is WiFi, and a headset
>for that... it doesn't seem any bulkier than a Blackberry.

I use Skype on my Verizon XV6700 cell phone with built in Wi-Fi. It
runs Windoze Mobile 2005 (WM5). The WM5 version of Skype is very beta
and seems to be causing some minor glitches. The only gotcha is that
I can't sue my BlueGoof Headset and the Wi-Fi at the same time.

>Skype wants you to turn off QoS scheduling.
>http://support.skype.com/index.php?_...ndetails&_i=35
>"Another possibility to improve conditions is to disable QoS (Quality of
> Service) packet scheduling.

That will gain some more outgoing bandwidth. As I recall, the Windoze
"QoS Packet scheduler" reserves about 10% of the outgoing bandwidth to
insure that there's something left for ACK/NAK traffic. I don't think
that 20% is going to help much of the outgoing bandwidth is
constipated by other traffic.

How to edit the reserved bandwidth (XP Pro Only).
<http://www.dslreports.com/faq/3688>

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:43:08 +0000 (UTC), in alt.internet.wireless ,
(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I wouldn't consider Skype as a full replacement for my home phone. The
>Skype-out quality to landline phones is poor for me. Skype-Skype is fine,
>in the US, Europe and Australia. It does occasionally freeze or break up
>during video calls.

I don't use skype (ISTR they're not proper voip, they're a proprietary
variation on the theme). I went with sipgate who work fine, tho I
occasionally get problems dialling out. Quality is generally ok, no
discernable difference from our ntl landline (which we no longer use).
--
Mark McIntyre

Thanks for answering my questions. Simplex mode sucks. I get that when I
try to call overseas on my landline, not sure why.

"Martin²" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:45947deb$0$8743$(E-Mail Removed):

> Softphones: X-ten Lite is good and free, X-Pro has few more features.
> SJPhone is the next most popular choice.
> I get good call quality with X-Lite and X-Pro over 54Mb/s WiFi and
> using a QoS enabled router (Draytek 2600VG).
> You may have bit more of a problem with 11Mb/s WiFi connection (WiFi
> works in simplex mode, i.e. it's either send or receive, not both at
> the same time).
> QoS allows you to set priority for certain types of packets, in this
> case VoIP. It can only be done on QoS enabled a router (not many).
> Regards,
> Martin
>
>

I haven't gotten a cell phone yet, cuz they all suck. Many times I've
talked to someone using one, I wind up calling them back cuz their
phones don't work consistently (dropped connections, bad batteries; no
they are not hanging up on me ;-)).

Also, they are more expensive than landline basic service generally,
from what I have read. Also I don't want to have to hire a lawyer to
figure out what the terms of the agreements are, nor spend the time with
a magnifying glass trying to read them myself-they often don't honor
their contracts anyways.

Until cell phone industry improves, it's really a scam, imo. Only real
advantage is for rescue or heart attack, or use in third world
countries.

However, even given this I may break down and get a prepaid if QWORST
continues to place fraudulent charges on my bill. Or I might upgrade my
wifi and try the free route. I am already getting my wifi free and
happily using the steady stream of cox, QWORST and isp junk mail for
firestarting kindling.


(E-Mail Removed) wrote in news:en29tc$b7g$(E-Mail Removed):

>
> I didn't reply to the original poster because that seemed more a rant
> about some telco billing issue that included not being satisfied with
> cellular carriers for presumed ill actions in the future.
>
> I wouldn't consider Skype as a full replacement for my home phone.
> The Skype-out quality to landline phones is poor for me. Skype-Skype
> is fine, in the US, Europe and Australia. It does occasionally freeze
> or break up during video calls.
>

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 09:45:57 +0000, Mark McIntyre
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 05:43:08 +0000 (UTC), in alt.internet.wireless ,
>(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>>I wouldn't consider Skype as a full replacement for my home phone. The
>>Skype-out quality to landline phones is poor for me. Skype-Skype is fine,
>>in the US, Europe and Australia. It does occasionally freeze or break up
>>during video calls.

>I don't use skype (ISTR they're not proper voip, they're a proprietary
>variation on the theme). I went with sipgate who work fine, tho I
>occasionally get problems dialling out. Quality is generally ok, no
>discernable difference from our ntl landline (which we no longer use).

Skype is not exactly proprietary. The primary supported codecs are
iLBC and ISAC (from GIPS), which are used only for peer-to-peer phone
calls. Well, actually ISAC isn't used too often. When using Skype in
or Skype out, it uses G.729 which is standard but not as efficient as
iLBC.

In my never humble opinion, the problem is not getting Skype to
support standard codec's, but rather why haven't the VoIP instrument
manufactories suppored iLBC, which is license free:
http://www.ilbcfreeware.org
Most of the standard codecs require licenses.



--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS