VolP telephony overview
Long-distance and international calls over the Internet are much more profitable than ordinary ones, but making them from a computer is not always convenient. In addition, certain skills are required to use this feature. The Internet telephony gateways we tested are free of these drawbacks.
If you have a dedicated Internet line and minimal skills, it is very easy to use attractive tariffs for telephone calls: just install special programs on your PC and purchase a comfortable headset or handset. This is a good option if you spend a lot of time on the desktop. But what to do when your loved ones need an inexpensive phone without buying a computer just to turn it into a phone? In addition, it is sometimes difficult for older people to explain how to dial a number on a computer instead of the usual telephone set.
In this case, the best way out is an autonomous IP telephony gateway. The compact device connects to a telephone line, the Internet and a regular telephone. As a result, you can call in the same way as you used to do it: at the moment of entering the number, the gateway automatically selects the communication channel with the optimal tariff in accordance with the rules you set. For example, all local calls are made through the public telephone network, while international and long distance calls are made only through the Internet.
In case you don't want to rely on automation, there are fixed prefixes similar to area codes. They tell the gateway which line to choose for the call. By entering them, you can easily make calls either over the city network, or through an Internet telephony provider.
You can be sure that the convenience of such communication, when you do not need to think about complicated settings, and also sit in front of the computer during a call, will be appreciated not only by your loved ones, but also by yourself. We, in turn, have tested the most attractive gateway models for home use to help you make the best choice.
We put in place
Although the installation and configuration of the IP telephony gateway is performed only once, it is important that this procedure does not become an insurmountable obstacle. We noticed that the solutions we tested are customizable without any problems, but there are slight differences in the ideology of the manufacturers. The laconic design of the ZyXEL P-2301RL EE model is thought out to the smallest detail: the compact gateway can be placed on a table next to the phone or hung on the wall, for which special grooves are provided in the case. Telephone and network cable connectors are color-coded to help prevent connection errors.
Conveniently, the P-2301RL EE can also function as a router, so one compact device will provide you with IP telephony and secure access to the World Wide Web for your home computer through your home network or a dedicated channel. This will be helped by the NetFriend program, which you will receive in the kit with the gateway. If your city and Internet and VoIP telephony providers, the list of which is quite extensive, are present in the program, then it is enough to select them, enter the appropriate logins and passwords - and the device will be configured and ready to work.
D-Link DVG-5112S can only be placed on a horizontal surface, but its attractive design in no way violates the harmony of the surrounding space. There is an on / off switch on the AC adapter cord, so you don't have to crawl under the table to the outlet for a "hot" boot. A small minus - the connectors of the device do not have color keys, so for the correct connection you will have to carefully study the inscriptions on the case.
The gateway is designed exclusively for VoIP, therefore it is optimal for homes where there is no telephone line, but there is an Internet connection. The DVG-5112S has two connectors at once for connecting external telephones or a combination of telephone and fax.
As part of our test, the D-Link DPH-150SE is in some way an exception, since it is not a gateway, but a full-fledged VoIP phone. Nevertheless, it meets our requirements: the classic design of a telephone set, no connection to a PC and the ability to make calls over the Internet. You cannot connect additional handsets to the DPH-150SE, and it does not have connectors for external devices, but it has everything you need to make and receive calls. And if you take into account that often in the office or at home the Internet appears before the landline phone, then this is an attractive option when you need to establish high-quality and inexpensive communication as quickly as possible.
The large display with clear presentation of call information and configuration menus is a huge plus, especially when there is no computer nearby. In this case, all network and operator parameters can be entered using the telephone keypad.
However, the design of the controls is controversial: the disk inscribed in the space of the “Menu” keys is nothing more than a dummy, although it gives the impression of a functional element. The advantage of this VoIP device is the presence of a phone book that can hold up to 500 contact names and phone numbers. There is also an answering machine function.
It is also convenient that two SIP accounts can be stored in the device memory at once. Advanced call quality features including silence and acoustic echo cancellation, Jitter Buffer and Comfort Noise generation ensure a pleasant conversation. In general, the look of the DPH ~ 150SE is more suitable for a study or office - in a home living room this unit seems to be something foreign.
Choosing an operator
The de facto standard for Internet telephony is the SIP protocol, which underlies the services of a large number of operators, which makes it easy to choose the most attractive option in terms of price and usability.
In the case of ZyXEL P-2301RL ITS, you can continue to use the existing SIP number or get a new one at the gateway configuration stage. To do this, the NetFriend program provides the function of registering with any of the extensive base of IP telephony operators.
Configuring D-Link DVG-5112S is somewhat more complicated due to the fact that all actions for entering VoIP operator data must be performed manually through the English-language and not well-documented web interface of the gateway. In this case, you may have to change the parameters of the computer's network adapter, since the default gateway address is 192.168.8.254. On the other hand, D-Link works with two SIP telephony operators at the same time, and thanks to two telephone connectors, it can be used to organize two lines with different numbers. Logically, D-Link DPH-150SE is similar to DVG-5112S, but the advantage of this product is that its web interface is Russified. Otherwise, the selection and connection to the operator are made in the same way - by manually entering all the necessary parameters.
Making a route
In order to select the optimal tariffs, it is important to determine which calls should be made via PSTN (public switched telephone networks), and which - via the Internet.
It is logical to leave the former for free local calls, and for the rest, including calls to mobile numbers, use IP telephony.
The ZyXEL P-2301RL EE provides three call routing options - Internet, dial-up, or reset. For automatic direction selection, the NetFriend program will immediately suggest the optimal settings: free local calls will be made through the PSTN, and international, long distance and mobile calls - via the Internet. In addition, there are fixed prefixes for manually selecting PSTN or IP telephony, regardless of the automatic routing settings.NetFriend already has hardcoded parameters of the most popular Ukrainian Internet providers and operators providing access to IP telephony services. In case of problems in the operation of the adapter, the same utility will help to create an archive with diagnostic information, which can be provided when contacting the technical support service.
Since D-Link DVG-5112S cannot connect to PSTN, it has only two routes - calling via the Internet or dropping a call. The choice between them is made using a manually configured system of criteria. It should be noted that during the test, we encountered the fact that the default adapter parameters prevent calls from being made, and the user manual does not contain a section describing typical problems and solutions. This makes it somewhat difficult to configure the device with a lack of skills.
The inconvenience is compensated by the possibility of flexible call routing due to the fact that the DVG-5112S supports up to three SIP operators with the option of automatic analysis of dialed numbers and direction selection according to user-defined rules.
In terms of its functionality, D-Link DPH-150SE is similar to DVG-5112S: there is a system of rules for analyzing a telephone number and choosing the appropriate direction. But his asset is work with four SIP operators.
Expanding opportunities
For simplicity, many gateway parameters are usually hidden behind wizard dialogs, but at the same time, there is often a possibility of fine tuning, which will be useful if you have some skills.
To do this, the ZyXEL P-2301RL EE has a web interface that provides full access to network parameters, IP telephony and firmware update functions. As a result, the device can be configured to work with SIP operators that are not in the NetFriend database, add personal automatic routing rules and add numbers to a special speed dial list. Also, if necessary, the operating mode is configured: router or bridge, WAN and LAN parameters, built-in network security functions, including a firewall and a content filter. Unfortunately, the P-2301RL EE web interface, in contrast to the quick setup program of this NetFriend device, is not Russified, which makes it difficult to use.
The peculiarity of the D-Link DVG-5112S is that you do not need a PC to change the basic parameters - a dial-tone telephone connected to the gateway is enough. However, for full access to all settings, you must use the web interface, which, as in the case of ZyXEL, is not Russified. There is also a remote access function for remote configuration of the gateway. A large number of parameters allows you to flexibly change the configuration of the DVG-5112S, which is convenient for specific requirements of the network or VoIP operator.
Since the preferred option for configuring the D-Link DPH-150SE is the web interface, do not expect any special surprises: it all depends on how well you know the theory and practice of SIP. Therefore, you have in your hands not only call routing, but also full control over the list and priority of voice codecs, call forwarding, tone dialing parameters and many other settings.
OUTPUT
It is quite possible to save on calls over the Internet and much easier than it might seem, especially if you use special VoIP gateways. The compact ZyXEL P-2Z01RL EE is easy to set up and makes the most of available communications: it serves as a home network router and connects to a regular telephone line for more profitable local calls. If you only have an Internet channel at your disposal, pay attention to the D-Link DVG-5112S with the ability to connect two numbers or the stand-alone DPH-150SE phone, which does not require a computer to configure.
