replace home phone with VOIP phone

[NollipfSense]

@bbcmodelb I recently set up a VOIP using FreePBX for my home office. Routing from LAN presents a problem with the firewall I found. So, I had to set up a DMZ; however, to do that, you'll need three ports and your mini PC only has two.

[bingo600]

I have used Linksys SPA2102 & SPA3102 ATA's wo. any problems , behind pfSense.

Just make sure your sip register frequency (or sip keepalive) is lower than the "Firewall state cleanup" , and depending on your device capability to set the "outside ip" , use a STUN server.

I changed recently to a Gigaset SIP phone , and had no problems with that one too.

[provels]

Just sayin', but I left VOIP at home about 10 years ago for Cell alone with a Link2Cell phone base station with 5 handsets to spread around the house. I can use my cell at home, but VOIP in the car is tough...

[JKnott]

@nollipfsense said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

you'll need three ports and your mini PC only has two

That's where VLANs and a managed switch come in handy.

[BBCModelB]

@provels said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

Just sayin', but I left VOIP at home about 10 years ago for Cell alone with a Link2Cell phone base station with 5 handsets to spread around the house. I can use my cell at home, but VOIP in the car is tough...

cell phone coverage is unreliable where I am, so that's a no go

I've found a VOIP phone in the attic, a Polycom CX600, which should do the job. I'll set it up on a VLAN behind Pfsense as suggested and see how I get on

Thanks all for the comments

[JKnott]

@bbcmodelb said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

cell phone coverage is unreliable where I am, so that's a no go

Cell coverage is poor in my condo, but WiFi calling works well.

[NogBadTheBad]

@bbcmodelb said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

CX600

Think you might find it only supports Microsoft Lync, maybe that's the reason why it's in the Attic.

[BBCModelB]

@nogbadthebad said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

@bbcmodelb said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

CX600

Think you might find it only supports Microsoft Lync, maybe that's the reason why it's in the Attic.

in that case, am I better off buying a proper VOIP phone or an adapter to plug into my existing phone(which will be redundant) - I'm thinking call clarity / features?

[NogBadTheBad]

@bbcmodelb If you have network ports scattered about the house, you could move a VOIP phone wherever you wanted, the features would mostly be down to the VOIP provider.

There are plenty of cheap ones on eBay.

The Snom 710 I mentioned is all configureable via a web page once the phone gets an IP address.

[bingo600]

I'd go for either an ATA (Analog to VoIP) adapter , and reuse your existing phone.

Ie.
The linksys is a quite old design , but well proven
https://www.amazon.com/Eboxer-Gateway-Protocol-Internet-Adapter/dp/B07KKD1HY3/

I'd prob go for this one , the $4 more for an extra analog channel (2'nd phone). could come in handy.
https://www.amazon.com/Grandstream-GS-HT802-Analog-Telephone-Adapter/dp/B01JH7MYKA/

Same func as the GS above , but only 1 analog port
https://www.amazon.com/Grandstream-HT801-Single-Port-Telephone-Adapter/dp/B06XW1BQHC/

Or get a new DECT set w. VoIP capabilities.

I can recommend Gigaset DECT VoIP phones.
https://www.amazon.com/Gigaset-C530-Duo-Additional-Businesses/dp/B08M6CWBXX/

https://www.amazon.com/Handsets-Affordable-Replacement-Nationwide-robocalls/dp/B085RV13ZP/

I think you're UK based ... Just found out

Too bad you're not in EU anymore.
https://www.amazon.de/Gigaset-C430A-Telefon-Schnurlostelefon-Freisprechfunktion-Go-platin/dp/B00TG2BHBO/

A Gigaset GO-Box 100 - They usually connect to most DECT/GAP handsets
See reviews
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigaset-GO-Box-100-black/dp/B087XN4YZ4/

Handset for the Go Box
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigaset-C430H-Additional-Cordless-Handset/dp/B00F5V2FJ8/

Or dual (Just don't connect the Base) so you'll end up w. 1 charger
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigaset-Nuisance-Blocking-Cordless-Answering-black/dp/B00F07U4R2/

Note:
DECT phones from EU uses different freq , than US.
Make sure your choice has US freq's EU freq's , aka. buy locally.

Watch out for things like this one , (remember to get the DECT/VoIP base)
https://www.amazon.com/Grandstream-DP720-Dect-Cordless-Telephone/dp/B01GUFAZ9O/

Base
https://www.amazon.com/Grandstream-DP750-DECT-Station-Black/dp/B01GUFAYPO/

If you're happy with your existing analog , i'd prob try the ATA first.
If you need more handsets scattered around the house , i'd go for a new DECT system w. VoIP capabilities.

/Bingo

[slimypizza]

Have you thought of Ooma? I have a wireless phone system with the base hardwired to my LAN and all extensions cordless.

[BBCModelB]

@bingo600

great info, thanks

[BBCModelB]

thank you all so much for the great info - will check out all options mentioned

[BBCModelB]

@bingo600 said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

Gigaset-C430A

How is Skype doing these days? Does it have a poor reputation? The phone I found in the attic is designed for it. Its a Polycom CX600.

[bingo600]

@bbcmodelb
Skype Cloud is "dead/dying" - Replaced by Teams

[JKnott]

@bingo600

I thought Teams was aimed at business and Skype was still alive and kicking for consumer use.

[stephenw10]

Can't remember the last time I used Skype. I used to have a stand-alone Skype hardware phone but that was rendered obsolete some time ago after MS bought it.

[BBCModelB]

so I've picked up a Gigaset c300 handset & n300ai base unit, for voip use

I've signed up with a local provider and hooked up the phone earlier today

I made a test outgoing call - worked fine
I made a test incoming call - worked fine BUT I was expecting my pfsense router to block it

I haven't made any special allowances for the voip phone, yet my router lets the call through and handset successfully rings and lets me answer the call

can someone explain how this worked? I was expecting to set up port forwarding or something to permit an incoming call?

[JKnott]

@bbcmodelb said in replace home phone with VOIP phone:

can someone explain how this worked?

I haven't checked for details, but I suspect the phone initiates the connection to the server and maintains some traffic that will keep the connection alive. When a device on the LAN initiates a connection, firewalls automagically allow the return traffic.

Fire up Packet Capture to see what's happening.

[stephenw10]

Yup, that's what I expect to happen.
The phone initiates the SIP session with an external provider outbound. pfSense allows that because it's an outbound connection. The SIP session and firewall state are held open with keep alive packets. The provider is able to use that open session to send the SIP invites for the incoming call. The phone uses the info in the invite to initiate and RDP session with the provider. The provider uses that open session/state to send the incoming audio back. The call succeeds.

For phones behind the firewall talking to an external server usually no special settings are required in pfSense.
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/recipes/nat-voip-phones.html#configuring-nat-for-voip-phones

Steve