Setting Up VoIP

You've made the price comparisons, and decided to join the crowd and replace your old POTS telephone with a VoIP phone. You're going to save money, and get plenty of great new features, too. But once you've signed up and received your equipment from your provider, you're faced with setting it up. Suddenly, you long for the old days, when all you had to do to talk on the phone was plug it in.

Fortunately, it's not as hard as you may think. In most cases, you will be setting up a home network. Even if you only have one computer, your IP-based telephone will be the second device on your Internet connection--and this means you have a network. Home networking is also quite simple, and can be set up through your operating system features. Here is what you will need:

A broadband connection
A VoIP provider
An analog telephone adapter or an IP phone
Router
Broadband modem
Ethernet cable

An analog telephone adapter (ATA) allows you to use a regular telephone. You don't need the adapter if you purchase a specialized IP phone. If you plan to use a regular phone, here's how you connect up the parts: Your regular analog phone connects to your ATA using the standard phone cord. On the other end of the ATA, there is an Ethernet cable, which is plugged into a router. Your computer will also be connected to the router via an Ethernet cable. The router is connected to your broadband modem, which is then connected to your Internet source. It's not necessary for you to have your computer turned on to use your Internet phone (whether you use an IP phone or a regular phone with an adapter). It may also be a good idea to include a surge protector to protect your equipment from power spikes. Your individual router may vary, but most are straightforward, and the manufacturer will include easy instructions on how to set it up.

If you use the IP phone, on the other hand, can be connected directly to the Internet source, even if you don't have a computer at all. If you do have a computer, the configuration is the same as above, except that you do not need to use the ATA device. Note that VoIP is not location-dependent, and you can take your VoIP phone with you when traveling, and plug it into any location that has a broadband connection.

Configuring multiple telephone extensions throughout your home will involve having multiple IP phones, each one connected via Ethernet cable to your router. It is possible to rewire your existing phone jacks, to make it possible to plug in multiple IP phones in different rooms. You must have Category-5 wiring in place to do this. Your telephone wiring must be disconnected from the outside phone company connection, and connected to your VoIP adapter instead. This is a difficult process and there is the risk of damage to equipment. An easier solution is to simply run Ethernet cable to each location and install new Ethernet jacks, simply running in parallel to the existing phone lines. Alternately, you could consider a wireless router solution.

VOIP :: Voice Over IP Information

Your Guide to VOIP Telephone Technology and Services