[WXC/VFX] Moving to VFX, questions

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rscole86

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#14190 20-Jun-2007 16:37

I have two phone lines in my home. So we have two phone number aswell, one we use mainly for work, the other is used for myself and work related faxing.

I am currently with TCL, who provide me with everything.

I am thinking about getting a similar setup as freitasm has just got. Post.

That is, I would like to get a VFX line as we make alot of calls to Australia, (we currently pay $2.75 for two hours).

However I need some advice on the best way to do it.

I would like the VFX line to be able to handle both a VFX account and a mynetphone, this way people in Australia can call a local number?

Also it would need to be able to send/receive faxes.

Can people advise on the best options, and whether or not this will work how I want it?

Thanks

grant_k

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#75365 20-Jun-2007 17:39

rscole86: I would like the VFX line to be able to handle both a VFX account and a mynetphone, this way people in Australia can call a local number?

Buy an ATA with 2 Voice Ports: Line 1 = VFX, Line 2 = MyNetPhone (same as Mauricio has done).

rscole86: Also it would need to be able to send/receive faxes.

In that case, your best option is to buy a SPA2102 which works well for National faxes (within NZ). Sending International faxes is still a problem, but for a lot of people that doesn't matter.

There is an easy way to RECEIVE International Faxes as I have mentioned earlier in another thread (Faxaway which costs US$1 per month). Someone else on Geekzone is also using it with good results last I heard.

rscole86: Can people advise on the best options, and whether or not this will work how I want it?

With the exception of your preference to have VFX and MyNetPhone sharing a single port -- which isn't possible with SIP AFAIK -- I think I've covered everything.

Cheers,
Grant.

rscole86

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#75370 20-Jun-2007 18:02

Grant17:

With the exception of your preference to have VFX and MyNetPhone sharing a single port -- which isn't possible with SIP AFAIK -- I think I've covered everything.

Cheers,
Grant.

Sorry you've got me confused there, I can do it but I can't? Or are you trying to say that only one will work at any one time?

I.e. I cannot make a call using mynetphone and VFX at the same time? Or will I just have to forward different ports?

It looks like I may have to ignore faxing then, as we do send/receive a few faxes, more of them are international that not.

Thanks for the quick reply Grant

grant_k

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#75375 20-Jun-2007 18:12

rscole86: Sorry you've got me confused there, I can do it but I can't? Or are you trying to say that only one will work at any one time?

I.e. I cannot make a call using mynetphone and VFX at the same time?

No no, let me explain it a little more:

* There are two physical Voice Ports on most ATAs
* Line 1 will be VFX
* Line 2 can be anything else you like
* They can both work simultaneously

rscole86: Or will I just have to forward different ports?

We are talking at cross-purposes here: There are 2 Voice Ports on the ATA.

You don't need to worry about forwarding IP ports through your router. The VFX servers will take care of that for you.

rscole86: It looks like I may have to ignore faxing then, as we do send/receive a few faxes, more of them are international that not.

Have a look at www.faxaway.com for the International Fax options. It is great for receiving, but for sending, you can only fax documents from your PC rather than physical pieces of paper. If you are faxing documents from your PC, you may as well just e-mail them as it will cost nothing. For that reason, I have never bothered SENDING faxes through Faxaway, only receiving. Incoming faxes appear in your e-mail which is great if you are on the road as I am at the moment.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Grant.

Andy_Walker

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#75377 20-Jun-2007 18:22

I've noticed Call Plus have just introduced an interesting looking fax line service. You get a dedicated VOIP fax line that you can either use with a traditional fax machine or fax/modem. Or (even better) you use their faxmail service. With that you don't need any physical line & all faxes sent to your number arrive as email attachments. You can use the same system to send faxes by attaching a tiff or pdf to an outgoing email.

http://www.2talk.co.nz

I used a similar service here years ago & found it great. I am hoping that the new advanced VFX features that are due soon will have something like this.

rscole86

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#75379 20-Jun-2007 18:27

Ahh, so what you are trying to say is that port one will always be VFX, port two can be whoever I choose?

And I only the device connected to that port may use that provider?

I had a look at the faxing, the problem is is that almost everything we fax is done off a hardcopy.

We send/receive a fair few faxes to school throughout NZ, and I'm not too sure how they would feel and sending faxes to the US number (that was a argument in the othe rthread too).

Also we want to keep the fax number we currently have, as it goes well with our other number.

Thanks again Grant

sbiddle

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#75386 20-Jun-2007 19:38

rscole86:
Ahh, so what you are trying to say is that port one will always be VFX, port two can be whoever I choose?

And I only the device connected to that port may use that provider?

Yes.

The only way to get around this is to run something PBX software like Asterisk. Unfortunately because VFX doesn't support Asterisk at present you would have to go with iTalk or 2talk to be able to do this.

rscole86

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#75389 20-Jun-2007 19:50

So if I was to go for this option, I would need to have a big RED phone for one and a big GREEN for the other so I can tell them apart?

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freitasm

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#75401 20-Jun-2007 20:38

In my case I have a Skype Dualphone plugged to Line 1 and to my router - it works for both my VFX account and Skype calls. I also have a second cordless handset plugged to Line 2, which is my Australian line.

sbiddle

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#75405 20-Jun-2007 20:56

rscole86: So if I was to go for this option, I would need to have a big RED phone for one and a big GREEN for the other so I can tell them apart?

In a simple sence yes.

The other way is to get an IP phone such as an SPA941 that supports multiple lines.

grant_k

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#75429 20-Jun-2007 22:13

sbiddle: The other way is to get an IP phone such as an SPA941 that supports multiple lines.

Last week at Fieldays I also noticed that Uniden have a Dual-Line phone with 5.8GHz DECT system.

I bought a simpler unit with 5.8GHz DECT (one of the handsets is waterproof) and am very pleased with it so far.

rscole86

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#75439 20-Jun-2007 22:37

Grant17:
sbiddle: The other way is to get an IP phone such as an SPA941 that supports multiple lines.

Last week at Fieldays I also noticed that Uniden have a Dual-Line phone with 5.8GHz DECT system.

I bought a simpler unit with 5.8GHz DECT (one of the handsets is waterproof) and am very pleased with it so far.

Was it at the DSE stand? I take it that it was this phone here?

grant_k

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#75444 20-Jun-2007 23:08

rscole86: Was it at the DSE stand? I take it that it was this phone here?

I don't think DSE had the Dual-Line phone on display at Fieldays. But YES, that's the one.

Uniden had a stand just a few doors along from DSE and their prices were significantly cheaper for exactly the same phones, so we ended up buying directly from Uniden. I still have the Uniden price list if you want to price any particular phone.