VOIP alternatives to FritzBox 7390 + VDSL

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SumnerBoy

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#142846 26-Mar-2014 13:40

Hi,

I recently signed up to Snap VDSL and received the much-hyped FritzBox 7390. Whilst some of the VOIP features on the box are pretty cool (DECT base station, emailing answerphone messages and the ability to interface with my home automation software), the rest of this device is pretty hopeless IMO.

The main issue is I am having all sorts of trouble with the DHCP and DNS servers, fixed IP address assignments are just ignored, and the DNS lookups freeze periodically.

Previously I had a Vigor 120 + Netgear WNDR3700 (running DDWRT) and was completely happy with the stability and performance. However now I am on VDSL + Snap Voice Plus I need new devices if I want to replace the Fritz entirely. So first up I am pretty confident the Vigor 130 will do nicely as a dedicated VDSL modem.

Next is the router and VOIP. I would happily go back to the WNDR3700 running DDWRT but I would then need something like the Cisco SPA122 in order to use my existing DECT phones - correct? Are there any devices out there that have some of the features that the Fritz has (w.r.t VOIP) but are not all-in-one modem/routers? What is the best set of devices/config for VDSL + WIFI Router + VOIP in your opinions?

Secondly, if I did use the SPA122, what sort of features do I get? Is there any sort of API I could 'hack' into to retrieve incoming caller IDs etc? What about answerphone messages? I presume if I don't have a Fritz then the only way to do this sort of thing is via cloud based VOIP services - which I don't think Snap provide.

I am pretty good with the IP side of things, but am new to this VOIP business - so any help, tips or suggestions would be most welcome!!

Cheers,
Ben

hio77

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#1013177 26-Mar-2014 14:00

Although it would take a bit to get perfect, have ypu considered making the netgear handle the dchp for your fritz?

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SumnerBoy

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#1013181 26-Mar-2014 14:05

Yeah I did try that initially and it got very messy, very quickly. I ended up ringing Snap support asking if this was doable, and they stated the Fritz wouldn't work in that config. Not sure if they were just fobbing me off, or if it genuinely can't work like that, but I reverted back after that call.

It doesn't look like there is much out there that can match the Fritz (for VOIP features at least) so I might look at running my own DHCP/DNS servers on an Ubuntu server I have on my LAN (e.g. dnsmasq).

Seems a bit of a waste spending all that money on the Fritz, only to use it for the VOIP stuff, but I am not sure there are many other options.

Would love a cheaper device that does all the clever VOIP stuff in a standalone device. Then I could use a dedicated modem (Vigor 130) and a dedicated router (WNDR3700) to handle their jobs respectively.

SumnerBoy

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#1020637 8-Apr-2014 13:47

Ok - so I am seriously considering dropping the Fritzbox and buying a Draytek 130 modem. Just want to make sure the 130 will do all my routing and NAT/port forwarding? That is pretty much all I am using the Fritz for currently, as I have dnsmasq running on my home server doing all the DHCP/DNS leasing etc. I am going to install Freeswitch to handle the VOIP side of things.

So can anyone see any holes if I was to just replace the Fritz with a Draytek 130?

graemeh

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#1020655 8-Apr-2014 14:30

SumnerBoy: Yeah I did try that initially and it got very messy, very quickly. I ended up ringing Snap support asking if this was doable, and they stated the Fritz wouldn't work in that config. Not sure if they were just fobbing me off, or if it genuinely can't work like that, but I reverted back after that call.

Really?

I had that setup at one point, fixed IP address on the Fritz and dhcp served from a Linksys WAP54GL running DD-WRT. It worked OK.

My current setup has the Draytek Vigor 130 and a Ubiquity edgerouter lite that sets up the PPPoE session and handles the routing.

In the setup you are describing the Vigor 130 should work fine. Just make sure it has the latest firmware (I think 1.5). I was running 1.3.1 (I think) and that worked in a similar configuration to that you propose. 1.3.1 doesn't work with PPPoE from outside of the modem.

SumnerBoy

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#1020678 8-Apr-2014 14:35

Hey Graemeh, good to hear. And as far as you know the Draytek has no issues doing port forwarding etc? Just wary it might not be the most powerful router, since it is really just a modem (or am I mistaken?). I have a 16 port gigabit switch which all my network devices are plugged into so the single LAN port is fine in that respect.

graemeh

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#1020683 8-Apr-2014 14:39

SumnerBoy: Hey Graemeh, good to hear. And as far as you know the Draytek has no issues doing port forwarding etc? Just wary it might not be the most powerful router, since it is really just a modem (or am I mistaken?). I have a 16 port gigabit switch which all my network devices are plugged into so the single LAN port is fine in that respect.

I did not ever configure port forwarding but I assume it works OK for basic configurations.

If it doesn't do something in future you can always set it up to work just as a modem and supplement it with a dedicated router managing the PPPoE connection.

I can highly recommend the Ubiquity Edgerouter lite as long as you accept their documentation is rather limited.

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SumnerBoy

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#1020685 8-Apr-2014 14:42

Yep good point, I have just installed a Ubiquity UAP-LR and have been pretty impressed with the hardware. I am sure the Edgerouter is good as well.

Previously (when I was on ADSL2) I had the Draytek Vigor 120 + Netgear WNDR3700 managing the PPPoE connection. It was a great setup, very reliable and stable.

Just trying to minimise the number of new devices I need to buy to replace the Fritz!

graemeh

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#1020687 8-Apr-2014 14:49

SumnerBoy: Just trying to minimise the number of new devices I need to buy to replace the Fritz!

I have taken the other approach, one function per device, that way if one is not doing the job it can be replaced.

The only reason I added the router (instead of using the built in one in the modem) was that I wanted to give different DNS server assignments to different machines in the network. I couldn't find a way to do that in the modem.

SumnerBoy

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#1020705 8-Apr-2014 14:52

Yep - I can see the benefit in that approach - that is how I was doing things previously as well. Running dnsmasq on my home server (Ubuntu) means I can remove all DHCP/DNS requirements from my router however. So now all I need is a modem and simple router with NAT/port forwarding. Everything else is handled elsewhere.

Have you looked into dnsmasq?

graemeh

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#1020725 8-Apr-2014 15:15

Thanks, I'll have a look at DNSMASQ. At the moment things are working OK with all LAN clients using the unblock-us DNS servers.