Using my analog phone line from my iphone

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Silverbug

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 113166 8-Jan-2013 15:25
Hey all, I wanted to know if it is conceivably possible (or even if there is hardware out there) to make use of my home analog phone line from my iPhone across my home (WiFi) network? Ideally when the land line rang the iPhone would also ring, and when i dialed out from the iPhone when connected to the home WiFi network it would dial out via the land line. I do understand that you would probably need to be running a soft-phone of some sort on the iPhone. I've done a bit of searching on the internet and am starting to get a bit overloaded with all the VoIP related technology (ATA's, pbx's and such) An explanation of this would all slot together would be great if it is possible. Cheers Paul

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Biddle Corp

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Reply # 741706 8-Jan-2013 15:29
The simplest and easiest solution is to buy a Fritz!box. You get an ADSL2+/VDSL2 modem with dual band WiFi, a VoIP gateway for integration with a SIP provider and your POTS line. The softphone application offers fully automated setup while connected to the WiFi. And to answer your next question you're probably going to ask "whether there is anything cheaper because the Fritz!box is too expensive".. The answer to that is nothing that I'd recommend that will work well. If you want a rock solid solution this is the best one. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

allstar1

57 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 741714 8-Jan-2013 15:39
Easy if you get a 2talk voip account. Port your land line number to 2talk. Set up locate me one number in 2talk web page. You will then need ..naked Broadband... (plus an ata and an analogue phone if you still want an analogue phone) .. and on your smartphone set up a soft phone (Bria is best). Your smart phone then becomes your landline .. where ever you have BB connection (even 3G). (Thats the easy description..)

nickb800

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Reply # 741721 8-Jan-2013 15:43
There's a range of bluetooth-based solutions, such as this http://www.sella.co.nz/general/mobile-phones/accessories/headsets-handsfree/other-headsets/jqz10g/ however I have no experience with them

sidefx

1075 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 741722 8-Jan-2013 15:44
You could also "try before you buy" without a Fritzbox by signing up for a 2talk free plan (http://www.2talk.co.nz/personal/) and try it out on your iphone with a SIP client like Bria. That will give you some idea of how well voip works, how it's managed through the 2talk web interface, all the options that are available, etc - doing it this way you just get assigned an 028 2talk number to try\test\whatever. If it works for you, then a Fritzbox is probably the best option (as recommended by steve above, and their iphone app is probably easier to setup) + sign up for a proper voip plan and port your existing number to it. The fritzbox + 2talk + existing phones plugged into fritzbox ATA ports + androidn SIP clients all works very well for me currently.

allstar1

57 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 741727 8-Jan-2013 15:55
As there is a lot to learn to get what you want there is a longish process that you can go down to get to what you want. Start .. get free 2talk number ..set it up on smart phone (Free softphone) trial that .. buy an ata .. (start about $100 or I like WRP400 on Trademe usually less than $100) set up ata on free number .. when happy with that get a local number from 2talk on your account and change your ata to use this number. then get your regular phone number diverted to it and try that for a bit. then get bold and port your number and set up naked BB. (the porting and naked switch can be tricky but usually ok ... can leave you without BB for a day or so if it gets stuffed up as you may be changing IP. Enjoy.

Silverbug

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 741732 8-Jan-2013 16:00
Ok cool thanks for the quick reply. After doing a little bit more research online, is what I was talking about just a FXO adapter? (I understand the FRITZ!Box is a lot more than just a FXO adapter) With the fritz!box's I cant see where to get them in NZ, or pricing? (Snap looks like they have them, but I cant see them available to purchase on their site) Also just to clarify, I don't want to setup a VoIP line. all I want to do is answer and make call from my analog phone line with my iPhone when I'm connected to my WiFi connection at home. I also still want to have the analog phones there too, so that if I'm not home the phone can still be answered.

allstar1

57 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 741747 8-Jan-2013 16:24
Open a free 2talk account.. even if you never use it .. it is worth it to see all the options for "locate me one number" and other forwarding options.

sidefx

1075 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 741752 8-Jan-2013 16:40
What you're describing (staying on POTS but using a softphone) can't be done AFAIK. You could look at options from e.g. Telecom for Call Diversion but it won't be quite the same and will cost. The best way to do what you want IMO is to switch to VOIP (you can port your existing number) and a naked broadband plan and use an ATA to connect your existing analog phones at home so they run over voip too (using e.g. Fritzbox with built in ATA)

bigal_nz

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Reply # 741768 8-Jan-2013 17:02
Via VOIP and Bria (a softphone app available on iphone and android) you can do this. Works wellish on iphone, but poor quality calls on android - dunno why as they are both using the same 2.4G wifi. -Al

fellaintga

172 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 741778 8-Jan-2013 17:18
Using VDSL and Fritzbox with 2talk is my setup which would be what I would recommend as others have suggested. But if you only want to use your iphone to answer calls then this would work. http://www.uniden.co.nz/new_zealand/p_xdectr003BT_index.asp

chevrolux

984 posts

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Reply # 741790 8-Jan-2013 17:47
FritzBox is by far your best bet. Not only will you get a great telephony platform you get a DECT base station, 2.4GHZ & 5GHz wifi, NAS capabilities and all the other normal features you expect from a top end router. They even have their own soft phone available on iPhone and Android. And if you ring Snap you can purchase one from them. $395 for the 7390. Saying 'get a free 2Talk' doesn't answer the question at all. But with a Fritz you can set it up with your PSTN line and then have a play with a free account. It has the ability to set dial rules to decide which line to use to make the call ie for local use PSTN, for national,international use VoIP.

gregmcc

588 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 741800 8-Jan-2013 17:57
Easy way, you keep your good old POTS and buy a phone such as the uniden XDECT that allows bluetooth devies to be connected to it, so when your home phone rings your cell also rings and can be answered from your cell phone.

sbiddle

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Reply # 741819 8-Jan-2013 18:17
sidefx: What you're describing (staying on POTS but using a softphone) can't be done AFAIK. A Fritz!box does this. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

sbiddle

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Reply # 741821 8-Jan-2013 18:24
Silverbug: Ok cool thanks for the quick reply. After doing a little bit more research online, is what I was talking about just a FXO adapter? (I understand the FRITZ!Box is a lot more than just a FXO adapter) With the fritz!box's I cant see where to get them in NZ, or pricing? (Snap looks like they have them, but I cant see them available to purchase on their site) You don't just want a FXO adapter. That's just for converting a POTS line to VoIP. You still need a SIP proxy to integrate it with your phone. Lots of others have gone down the VoIP track which it seems you don't want. To do precisely what you want a Fritz!box is the only realistic option. Snap! sell these so you can contact them directly, you're looking at $350 - $395 depending on model - that's the price you pay if you want that sort of functionality, it's not something the average everyday person wants. Going pure VoIP will save you around 90% of that cost, you would only need a VoIP accuunt and a softphone app for your phone (I recommend Bria). If you're more tech savvy one other option is to buy an ATCOM IP01 PBX. You'll still be looking at $300ish for one of these but get a full Asterisk PBX with FXO port and the ability to register your softphone directly. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

chevrolux

984 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Reply # 741850 8-Jan-2013 19:11
You'll still be looking at $300ish for one of these... So rather than spend $300 on just a PABX get the Fritz and you upgrade your wireless, network storage and phone handset possibilities with close to the same money. It is a seriously good router. Of course you can go the SPA3102 route through Asterisk on an old PC but that just sounds like effort for very little gain.

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