There's a landline to the house which belonged to my (recently deceased) wife. I didn't pay attention to how much she was paying, and for a little while didn't care to deal with that stuff. A relative had already changed the account to my name, which was nice of them. Well, I just got a bill and decided it was time to clear things up.
Call charges totaled $0.14. Fine, seven cents a minute. But the total bill was $51.11 !!!
I was going to keep the line, but this is outrageous. So I went looking for a telephone number, or email, on the bill so that I could negotiate something. Nothing there. I then spent an hour on their web site. Nothing there, not even chat. Two tries with the operator brought up nothing. I've found contact in the past, but I just didn't have the energy to deal with such incompetence from this Mickey Mouse Telephone company who doesn't have a telephone number.
So I went over to CallCentric and completed their number porting form.
Looking forward to better times there. :)
PS: also nice to be back here.
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Rage quit
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SignalWire for Dummies 2020 - Softphone & ATA guide?
I've tried to search for a guide / instructions on how to set up SignalWire for just softphones and ATAs. Most search results talk about SignalWire integration with Asterisk. Anyone using SignalWire directly with just a plain ol' ATA like an Obihai and/or a softphone? A bit confused about servers and credentials I'd use.
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[Future9] Future9 Retrieve VoiceMail
Is there a 3 or 4 digit number to retrieve Future9 VoiceMail without dialing the main number?
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[CallCentric] Callcentric Call Treatment Question
A while back I ported my home number from Ooma to Google Voice. I added Callcentric for 911. I have my Google Voice setup to ring the Callcentric number, and have a list of numbers in Callcentric that I have various call treatments applied to. One treatment I use a lot is "Number disconnected" for telemarketers, political calls, etc. I use this all with an Obi212.
What's actually happening with these calls? Is the call technically still ringing, but the caller is hearing a disconnected message instead of ringing? The reason I ask is because I have one that's set for "Number disconnected" but they somehow end up back in the Google Voice voicemail and leave a message. The phone never rings on my end - so the call treatment is working in that respect. It's an automated call, no live person. It's always the same caller this occurs with. None of the other numbers I have set to "Number disconnected" do this.
The only thing I can figure out that's going on is this automated caller isn't recognizing the "Number disconnected" and continues on with its thing until Google Voice voicemail grabs it because the call is actually still ringing. Or is there some other possible explanation? My whole reason for using the call treatment is so I don't have to deal with these calls at all. The phone doesn't ring, but then I have to go in and mess around with deleting the voicemails.
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[General] Registration - multiple devices, same number
Is it possible to register several devices to the same number? I'm thinking of using my existing ATA for one or two numbers, and also an IP phone to at least one of them.
I'm sure the answer is obvious, but somehow I can't get my head around it at the moment. :) In this case the provider in question is CallCentric,.
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[Equipment] Advice on DECT IP handset and base station
I've been looking at Grandstream DP730 handset and DP752 base station. The specs are about what I'm looking for: long standby, 5 or more accounts, not small color screen. I'm not new to VoIP, but have never tried a DECT IP handsets, so perhaps someone has useful information for me.
But I'm not sure the interface is suitable for me. For example it has proximity and accelerometer sensors, which sounds like a nuisance. I don't like deep menus for things like switching account. Vendors typically don't talk about such important stuff - you have to buy it to find out. Of course, there is no perfect phone so I'll have to compromise in any case. I'll be interested in others' experience and suggestions for other models. The price seems about right for me though I'll go more expensive if the product is better - but the expensive ones I've seen appear to be focused on features, and not "better". :)
I currently have a Grandstream HT702 ATA and it's been ticking for a lot of years with no problem, so I trust the brand, but no doubt others are good too.
Here's the spec sheet for the DP730: https://www.voipsupply.com/downloads/dl/file/id/39051/grandstream_dp730_datasheet_english.pdf
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[Unlock] New Grandstream ATA used by Vonage [Unlocked]
Looks like Vonage uses a new Grandstream ATA for their service, model HT802.
It's Grandstream newest generation of ATAs, with 2 ports.
Currently available at Walmart and BestBuy for $10.
If unlockable, this could be a nice, inexpensive 2 port ATA. Interesting that they are using a MicroUSB port for power.
I don't have a way of getting any of these soon to test as I am located in Canada. However, I am sure there are similarities between unlocking those and the BasicTalk HT701 (though probably they will not accept Mackey's firmware without some modifications).
Edit: seems like some new members are jumping into unlocking these adapters without going through the thread and reading all the comments. The proper unlocking method, tested by many already is posted here.
I still recommend reading through all the posts to learn from other members experience before starting anything.
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Anyone using VoIP equipment behind zScaler?
I run a SIP service and one of my Customers just migrated to zScaler. I am experiencing regular one-way audio where the calling device behind zScaler does not receive any packets. Can anyone share their experiences of VoIP and zScaler?
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[General] FCC, FTC give providers 48 hours to block COVID-19 scam robocalls
The US government's quest to fight robocalls is taking on added urgency in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The FCC and FTC have demanded that gateway providers cut off COVID-19-related scam robocalls of overseas origin within 48 hours or else face "serious consequences." Other phone companies will have permission to block all traffic from those providers if they don't heed the warning, the agencies said.
https://www.engadget.com/2020-04-03-fcc-ftc-demand-block-on-covid-19-scam-calls.html
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Faxing Experiences Wanted
Good afternoon,
I used the search function but I'm not getting any results past 2011 and I figure the situation has likely changed since then, so...
The business I work at requires the use of physical fax machines. We've moved as much as possible to scan and e-mail but there are still daily situations where we have to be able to send or receive an actual fax.
I am trying to come up with a solution to use IP based transport so that we can cancel the $60+ POTS lines we currently have. I've been testing T38fax with a Cisco SPA112 ATA. It works ok, but I get inexplicable failures from time to time that doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me. I also hate that every T.38 offering I have found is still using version 0, so we're limited to 14.4Kbps transmission speeds.
I've seen people say to use an HTTPS based fax service, I guess the ATA uses HTTPS transport instead of T.38, but I have no idea if that works at v.34/33.6Kbps or if its any more or less reliable than T.38.
If anybody has had any real world experiences they could share, I'd appreciate it.
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Paid Flexisip installation and support
Now looking for flexisip installation and long term support. Seems like a fork of opensips etc. One needs to have HA knowledge as well and a big plus if one can fork Linphone. Salary or consulting
Need this for yesterday
Regards
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[Other] ITalkBB VoIP bandwidth question
I want to setup traffic shaping at home, we are having some problems with the wiring and such. Does anyone know how many Kbits I need to set for the up/download speeds on the traffic shaping? Its for normal house use.
I am using pfSense. It also asks for Upstream SIP server, not sure if that info would help at all?
Thanks,
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[General] Ooma vs Google Voice with E911
This is for those who want to compare Ooma and Google Voice
Item Ooma Google Voice
Device/start-up $99.00 $49.00
Monthly tax / E911 based on random zip code $6.05 $1.00
For Google voice E911 service is provided by a third party provider GV911.com which is owned by bulkvs.com, which provides wholesale E911 service to service providers. GV911 is for end users. A small configuration change is required.
For Google Voice The Obi200 is the device at $49.00 as found on Amazon. http://www.amzn.com/B07FCS1NGM (Thanks Boz)
Obi200 may offer other benefits such as asterisk connectivity (https://cboh.org/voip/obi/OBi_As_ITSP.htm), multiple VOIP accounts, multiple lines. Much like the asterisk connectivity, You can "tether" a SIP phone (softphone or hardphone) to the obi200 and by opening/forwarding ports on your router you could use the softphone on an Android or iPhone even when away from home..
The Ooma device offers integrated cordless phone.
Ooma offers a softphone apparently for android or iOS , unsure if there is an addditional cost.
Some People have claimed that some numbers can not be dialed from Google Voice. I have never encountered this after many years of using Google Voice, but apparently Google has blocked some Very expensive area codes/prefixes which are likely blocked by Ooma as well. These Area codes/prefixes are from small rural independent telcos that other telcos had to pay very high settlement fees to dial. There was a scam that developed decades ago that allowed people to call these numbers then dial an international call with no additional charge, but it cost companies like AT&T millions in settlement fees to these independent telcos.
Mark
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[Future9] No response from Future9
I'm trying to port my number from Future9 to Anveo. The address on my profile at Future9 is not the same one that the porting wants to see. I tried to contact Future9 support with no results. I sent an IM to him here, nothing. I'm at a loss on how to proceed. Does anybody have any ideas? Thanks
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VoIP.ms new POP servers
Chicago & Montreal have new servers.
chicago5.voip.ms
chicago6.voip.ms
chicago7.voip.ms
montreal9.voip.ms
montreal10.voip.ms
Server latency (ping) checks are easy with the under-appreciated VoIP.MS Console android app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pcability.voipconsole
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Mobile VoIP / SIP with bluetooth headsets
I wonder if anyone can shed light on this. I've been using data-only on my Android devices for a long time. Google Voice, Hangouts, Acrobits + Callcentric, Bria, etc.
They're all pretty good but my favorite is Acrobits.
In any case, I have found that regardless of what codec I use and what brand Bluetooth headset I use, outgoing sound quality is vastly inferior. When I call using my carrier line, the headset handles the sound really well, but when I use it for VoIP, it sounds less distinct.
I have tried different brands of headsets (Plantronics and Jabra mostly), all the settings in Acrobits (there are lots of them!) and nothing substantially improves the sound.
Does anyone have any experience with this?
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[Voip.ms] Can Acrobits Groundwire work with voip.ms
First, thanks greatly to everyone here who provided me with excellent advice in January about which app to use on my iphone. I recently installed Groundwave (to start). I have been very satisfied with its audio quality, functionality, and minimal power use with push notifications enabled.
Can Groundwire work with voip.ms encrypted calls?
ref: https://wiki.voip.ms/article/Call_Encryption_-_TLS/SRTP#Configuration_on_SIP_Client
I am guessing this won't work when Acrobits is set up for push notification because of their function as a proxy? or maybe not at all.
If it can work, I have no ideas which settings to change in Groundwire to enable it. I have looked through all the Advanced Settings. I contacted voip.ms but the rep didn't know.
Thanks!
in good health,
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[Voip.ms] audio drops for longer phone calls using Zoiper on Android
For longer phone calls e.g. 58 minutes the last time it happened, that the audio suddenly stops working when I am on an outgoing call to a toll-free number using voip.ms on Zoiper on my Samsung Galaxy S7. I can no longer hear the other person and after a few minutes they end up disconnecting the call. I do not have this problem using voip.ms on my lan phone connected to the router using a Grandstream ATA adapter. Is there a way to fix this?
I have also seen the same thing happen with Google Hangouts and TextNow so I think there may be something about voip over wifi vs. using a landline phone with ata adapter?
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ObiHAI Obi100/Obi110 Firmware Mod Discussion
So many of us have the Obi1xx series devices that recently stopped connecting to google servers due to a certificate update. This thread is intended to discuss the possibility of modifying the firmware to update the certificate and let these devices work with Google Voice again.
These devices are based on a MIPS-X processor similar to the Sipura ATAs and there is not a lot of tools/docs out there about them except for a Yahoo Group mostly related to DVD player chipsets. The venerable DogFace05 who was an expert with these types of devices once posted that he was able to extract this firmware sucessfully. Not sure if he is still around. Anyone else familiar with this architecture?
It seems that the place to start looking is the end of the firmware update file which contains some kind of table. Then there seems to be a loader section which presumably decompresses one or more other sections and loads them to RAM before executing the firmware.
So the questions are:
Can we extract, modify, and repack the firmware and create proper checksums/signatures?
Where is the certificate stored and in what format?
Can we drop in a new certificate without messing up other things (e.g. if the length of the certificate has changed) or do we need to move the certificate and patch the code pointing to it?
Is updating the certificate enough or is the codebase missing support that is necessary (e.g. if key length has changed)?
Anyone who wants to participate please post your thoughts.
Thanks
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[CallCentric] CallCentric Directory - to list or not
When I configured my first CallCentric account I saw "List me in the Callcentric Directory" under general preferences. Being new to VoIP and CC, the answer was obvious - NO. Anything which I don't know the security effect of, is always a no.
Now all has gone well for some years and I'm starting to question that setting. Maybe there are advantages. It doesn't look like it, but perhaps others think differently and can educate me.
- Do you list yourself in the CC directory?
- If so, have you experienced any security or nuisance effects?
- Have you found it advantageous?
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