Hosted PBX VOIP IP Centrex

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6 posts

Wannabe Geek
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#384042 24-Sep-2010 13:40

Hi Matthew. Have you try SKYPE?

Zeon

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#384044 24-Sep-2010 13:43

PRC: Hi Matthew. Have you try SKYPE?

OMG, not this guy and his Skype again..... buddy, Skype is not the equivalent to a proper PBX system.

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matthewcoombe

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#384066 24-Sep-2010 14:16

you are kidding right? I am after a reliable business solution not a consumer grade service and even then there is a limited range of "skype" ip desk phones available in NZ.

gordonz

52 posts

Master Geek

#394992 23-Oct-2010 11:47

I run a small tourist accommodation in a rural situation. Our best broadband connection is via the Telecom XP network.
I am looking at providing for VOIP phones for our guests and possibly a hosted PBX. Any suggestions for where to look and what to look for? I am told by Telecom that it is not possible to have a fixed IP address on their system which from my (little) knowledge of such things I guess might limit the options. Any sugestions greatly appreciated.

Zeon

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#395004 23-Oct-2010 12:44

gordonz: I run a small tourist accommodation in a rural situation. Our best broadband connection is via the Telecom XP network.
I am looking at providing for VOIP phones for our guests and possibly a hosted PBX. Any suggestions for where to look and what to look for? I am told by Telecom that it is not possible to have a fixed IP address on their system which from my (little) knowledge of such things I guess might limit the options. Any sugestions greatly appreciated.

Hey there. Do you mean your on Telecom XT cellular network ie you don't get broadband over your fixed landline? Telecom XT won't be too good for VOIP.

Are you able to tell us your approximate address or co-ordinates? There may be other options which will support VOIP such as Kordia wireless which covers many rural areas.

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gordonz

52 posts

Master Geek

#395011 23-Oct-2010 13:24

Thanks for your reply. Unless there is a new wireless service here that I dont know of? I have been in talks with some of the wireless providers for several years, they promise action but non is forthcoming

I run www.adrift.co.nz and our coordinates are S 40° 44.167' E 172° 42.150' or S 40º 44"10’ E172º 42"09' .
I have put up with Farmside satellite for 3 - 4 years and compared to that XT is brilliant.

I checked the XT on a softphone app from 2talk and the quality was quite good. We have a yagi antenna and get between 2.5Mb/s and 4.5Mb/s with ping time of about 150-250ms.

Zeon

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#395038 23-Oct-2010 16:08

gordonz: Thanks for your reply. Unless there is a new wireless service here that I dont know of? I have been in talks with some of the wireless providers for several years, they promise action but non is forthcoming
I run www.adrift.co.nz and our coordinates are S 40° 44.167' E 172° 42.150' or S 40º 44"10’ E172º 42"09' .
I have put up with Farmside satellite for 3 - 4 years and compared to that XT is brilliant.
I checked the XT on a softphone app from 2talk and the quality was quite good. We have a yagi antenna and get between 2.5Mb/s and 4.5Mb/s with ping time of about 150-250ms.

Oh wow, you guys are very remote! If there is no wireless in your area, I realize this sounds crazy but you could setup a parabolic dish at a high point in Whanganui and run a massive wifi connection; but thats just silly.

I'm surprised you get such a good connection on XT but those stats are very promising for VOIP. I'd say that you could go with any of the various hosted PBX options that have been suggested. Make sure they allow the use of G729 VOIP codec though as this will provide the best quality considering your less than perfect net connection

Are you wanting to have internal calls between extensions?

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gordonz

52 posts

Master Geek

#395045 23-Oct-2010 16:45

Are you wanting to have internal calls between extensions?

Yes, I guess an internal call would mean dialling the remote host but the other consideration is we are away overseas sometimes in winter and it would be nice for the phone system to be web-based so that we can easily deal with calls during that time. Another option I have considered is a software based PBX like 3CX.

matthewcoombe

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#395089 23-Oct-2010 19:37

Hi All,

Just thought I would add an update that since I started this post I have spoken with about 8 or 9 companies claiming to offer some form of Hosted PBX and at this stage I have not committed to anything but have narrowed the choices down to http://www.solarix.co.nz/telephony/multi-tennated.asp or http://www.conversant.co.nz/

Both offer Hosted PBX based on the Asterix platform and are both significantly better value for money than an on-premise PBX especially if you are looking at a multi site setup. They both offer full PBX features and an admin control panel and basic unified communications features.

Zeon

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#395194 24-Oct-2010 12:39

matthewcoombe: Hi All,

Just thought I would add an update that since I started this post I have spoken with about 8 or 9 companies claiming to offer some form of Hosted PBX and at this stage I have not committed to anything but have narrowed the choices down to http://www.solarix.co.nz/telephony/multi-tennated.asp or http://www.conversant.co.nz/

Both offer Hosted PBX based on the Asterix platform and are both significantly better value for money than an on-premise PBX especially if you are looking at a multi site setup. They both offer full PBX features and an admin control panel and basic unified communications features.

By the looks of it conversant is hosted overseas which will suck for VOIP. Solarix looks good though.

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Zeon

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#395195 24-Oct-2010 12:42

gordonz:

Are you wanting to have internal calls between extensions?

Yes, I guess an internal call would mean dialling the remote host but the other consideration is we are away overseas sometimes in winter and it would be nice for the phone system to be web-based so that we can easily deal with calls during that time. Another option I have considered is a software based PBX like 3CX.

Considering your situation with only 3g broadband and being so isolated I would definitely go through a hosted PBX, don't even consider something like 3cx as if your away and it broke down....

The only issue is that I'm not sure if the RTP stream will go directly to the other phone or go via the hosted PBX in the big city for internal calls. its best if they stay local. If this is a problem you could look at a local RTP proxy. Something like PFsense (which is a firewall a lot of people around here use) actually has 3g support and a package which has a local RTP proxy which could get you around that problem. Also has a captive portal so if your looking at offering your customer internet access when they are there...

Looking at your website you guys have cottages etc.? Are these wired with something like cat5e back to the main house or how were you planning on getting the units connected up to the net?

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sbiddle

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#395197 24-Oct-2010 12:57

Personally I wouldn't even attempt to try and deploy a VoIP solution over mobile, especially with clients expectations that call quality will be good all the time when they pick up the phone.

A local PBX (something as simple as an ATCOM IP04) with a couple of Vodafone At Home boxes with local numbers would be a far better solution. You aren't going to get the cheap calling rates that VoIP providers have but at least you'll be assured of call quality.

gordonz

52 posts

Master Geek

#395200 24-Oct-2010 13:12

Thanks Zeon for your advice, greatly appreciated.
Yes we have a total of 6 units so with a phone in each plus one for the office and one for the house it is still a small time PBX.
We have wifi that covers all the cottages and we use a captive portal at present to control this. The wifi is the main thing that our guests want.
The phone system will probably not get a lot of use by the guests but would still be a valuable addition for internal calls, our outgoing calls (which at present use our 1 landline) and the occasional guest call.
I have CAT5 cable from the central office to each cottage which at present isn't used and could be used for the phone system but also wondered about using the wifi?

sbiddle

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#395203 24-Oct-2010 13:16

gordonz: I have CAT5 cable from the central office to each cottage which at present isn't used and could be used for the phone system but also wondered about using the wifi?

VoIP over WiFi is fine but the cost of a wireless bridge and either an ATA or IP VoIP phone in each cottage is going to add to costs pretty quickly.

gordonz

52 posts

Master Geek

#395209 24-Oct-2010 13:28

Thanks sbiddle, you guys are just so helpful for a newbie like me trying to make sense of all these options.

I do have a Vodafone wireless box that I bought to try out but haven't done much with it yet as it would need a yaggi antenna to get a good signal. I would like to give the VOIP a trial first especially if the trial isnt going to cost an arm and a leg.
I cant ever seeing getting rid of the land line altogether and multiple systems are a define plus as communication is very important for us but not necessarily for the guest as they are on holiday (rather than business) and most have cell phones.

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