HARDWARE DEVICES TO USE WITH VOIP
After researching a large number of both hardware and VOIP technology providers, we can offer you a good combination of reliable technology coupled with cost-effective but good quality hardware. This page outlines the features of the items needed for the commonest network and computer configurations you are likely to be using....
Analogue Telephone Adapters (ATAs)
As their name suggests, these devices turn the analogue telephone signal into a digital signal that can be sent down your network and broadband connection.
The most likely scenarios for using ATAs are these....
1 Taking an extra ethernet cable off your router and terminating it with a simple, single-line, ATA. We offer the Grandstream Handytone 286 ATA (see below)
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Blue lines indicate your present configuration, red lines indicate added VOIP cabling and equipment
2 In many office situations, your network is 'hard-wired' into the building and all available ethernet sockets are taken up with computer connections. In this case, you can 'insert' an ATA between the office network socket and your computer. In effect, you are 'daisy-chaining' an extra router onto the network in order to add a telephone port that connects through your office router into the internet.
For this, we offer the Grandstream Handytone 486 ATA (see below). The 486 has the advantage of an additional telephone socket to connect into the normal telephone network (PSTN).This acts as a fail-safe in the event of either a power cut or downtime on your broadband connection. It also allows you to bypass the internet connection and use the local telephone network direct for local calls.
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3 Allow multiple office phones to use VOIP with a multi-path switch Many bigger offices have a PBX or similar exchange system in their reception. If you want to enable many or all of your normal office 'phones to use our VOIP accounts, you can route them through a multi-path switching unit beside the office exchange box. In this way, none of your phone cabling is disturbed and "everything on the desk stays the same!"
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In this diagram, four office telephones are "hardwired" through the building and terminate in a PBX unit in your company's reception area. In the diagram below, the cabling for the telephones remains unchanged. Our multi-path unit is installed next to the PBX and the office telephones are routed through it. Only one broadband connection is thus needed to give all four 'phones VOIP access. |
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Using the multi-path unit, all four office telephones still receive incoming calls through the PBX. For outgoing calls, they will use the VOIP connection automatically, but can be set up to use the PBX and analogue phone system if required, for example, for local calls. Your workers use their same telephones but with our VOIP rates. |
The price of these devices is :
| Grandstream Handytone 286 Details | £49.50 + shipping |
| Grandstream Handytone 486 Details | £54.50 + shipping |
| Multi-path unit (2-16 telephone lines) Details | Varies |
Realising the need to be flexible, we have not drawn up set packages of equipment. We charge a simple £20 setup fee for every new account, to cover configuring and testing each device before sending it out. The cost of devices as above is the only other charge you would incur. We do not charge for telephone or e-mail support following your purchases*. Contact us, using our contact form to discuss your exact requirements.
N.B. Prices may be subject to alteration.
* Warning! We will provide you with backup and support for the devices and technology we sell or supply to you. Should you need help configuring your router or other pre-existing equipment not supplied by us, you will have to consult your own IT staff.
