Great VOIP (telephone) Service, Update after one year

OKnewguy · Jul 12, 2013

Hey gang, I was reading the thread on Rural tv/intertent under rural living section. In this thread I read a few people talking about thinking about using voip for their phone. This reminded me that I need to let everyone in on my experiment with Google voice/and these little Obihai boxes. To recap these little boxes allow you to use a Google voice number with your old school home phones.
The Verdict: This has been a great success and has allowed us to shave around $100 per month off our bills. I used this system to replace two landlines. I did have some problems with some ip conflicts, and one of my systems was loosing a connection. I did some network reconfiguring thou and that sorted that out.
If anyone has any questions let me know, I have been trying to spread the word about this setup since it is so great.
Dave

OKnewguy · Jul 12, 2013

Here is my original thread that really went into detail about the setup. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/front-porch/251040-free-monthly-phone-service-i.html. By the way this setup is totally free after you by the little boxes.
Dave

creekbend · Jul 12, 2013

Thanks for posting.

cletus99 · Jul 12, 2013

I used Magic Jack for probably 2 years and never had a problem. Worked great. We just use our cell phones now. We didn't have great cell service where we lived when using Magic Jack.

OKnewguy · Jul 12, 2013

I totally get using your cell phone. We really do not need a home phone any more, but it is sure nice at times. I prefer a large phone when I am on hold and long conversations. I ported my number into it, there is something about keeping that number that I have had for years.
I tried magic jack early on, but it was the one that ran usb off your computer, it was not good. These obihai units are standalone, and do not require your computer to be running.
Dave

cletus99 · Jul 12, 2013

OKnewguy said:
I totally get using your cell phone. We really do not need a home phone any more, but it is sure nice at times. I prefer a large phone when I am on hold and long conversations. I ported my number into it, there is something about keeping that number that I have had for years.
I tried magic jack early on, but it was the one that ran usb off your computer, it was not good. These obihai units are standalone, and do not require your computer to be running.
Dave

You know you can get a cordless phone that is Bluetooth capable that can connect to your cell phone. It can actually connect to several cell phone. Anytime your cell rings it will ring and you can talk through the cordless phone just like if it was your home phone. I do prefer a large phone to as you said, but I'm not one to talk on the phone much and I guess my wife doesn't care. She's never said anything anyway. If I had dsl or cable Internet with unlimited data then I would go with an option like yours too. Ooma is supposed to be good too, but I've never tried it. I think that's what my Barber uses. He got tired of paying for a phone also and his rates kept going up.

Yeah the Magic Jack I had was the same one, but I always left my computer running all the time so it wasn't an issue. The new one is standalone also.

OKnewguy · Jul 12, 2013

Yeah, I have bluetooth head sets as well. I have two that I keep in my work van and use one as the other is charging. When I am home I prefer an old school home. I do not know if the whole cell phone radiation thing has much merit or not, but this option is free (if you have high speed) so it a great option. My wife and I both are self employed too, and we have to do occasion faxing, and this setup is the easiest way to fax.
Dave

Midniteoyl · Jul 12, 2013

ATT has a home phone that works on the cell towers now.. Unlimited calling for $20 a month..

rekees4300 · Jul 12, 2013

OKnewguy said:
If anyone has any questions let me know, I have been trying to spread the word about this setup since it is so great.

Can you keep your old landline phone number? Does 9-1-1 function? Same questions re MagicJack.

OKnewguy · Jul 12, 2013

In the first thread, I detailed the whole thing in extreme detail, but the quick version is:
1.Obihai uses google voice, they only allow you to port in mobile numbers. I ported my old number into a AT&t go phone. As soon as it active on AT&T you can then port it into Google voice.
2. The simple answer on the 911 service is no. BUT, if you are very tech savy there are work arounds. There are voip services that have voip. And the obihai boxes allow you to use 2 services at once. You would normally pick each service from keypad choices on your phone (like #1, for your first service and #2 for your second). On the obihai forums, they show you how you can use your google voice number all the time except when you dial 911. When you dial 911 it would then use your other voip automatically. They have voip services for 911 that are less then a couple of buck a month.
I have really loved this setup and spread the word whenever I can. Let me know if there is any other questions.
Dave