OT: aussie voip providers

[Ext User(Leo Gaggl)]

Apologies for being a bit off topic here (but VoIP can be mobile too ;-)
). But are there any good comparisons of Aussie VoIP providers out there
? Found some stuff on Google, but nothing seems to be very broad. Is
there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?

I have been using OZTell for a while but the call quality (at least at
the Adelaide POP) is pretty crap even on a 512SDSL connection.

Any pointers appreciated.

Leo
Adelaide, SA

[Ext User(Frank Jones)]

A good comparison websites:
http://www.ozinternetphones.com
http://compare.ozvoip.com/

Whirlpool has a good VoIP forum as well, by the way:

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-threads.cfm?f=107


Leo Gaggl wrote:
> Apologies for being a bit off topic here (but VoIP can be mobile too ;-)
> ). But are there any good comparisons of Aussie VoIP providers out there
> ? Found some stuff on Google, but nothing seems to be very broad. Is
> there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?
>
> I have been using OZTell for a while but the call quality (at least at
> the Adelaide POP) is pretty crap even on a 512SDSL connection.
>
> Any pointers appreciated.
>
> Leo
> Adelaide, SA

[Ext User(A User)]

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 14:02:00 +0930, Leo Gaggl
<leo.0spam0.gaggl@nospam.g3i.com.au> wrote:

>Apologies for being a bit off topic here (but VoIP can be mobile too ;-)
>). But are there any good comparisons of Aussie VoIP providers out there
>? Found some stuff on Google, but nothing seems to be very broad. Is
>there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?
>
>I have been using OZTell for a while but the call quality (at least at
>the Adelaide POP) is pretty crap even on a 512SDSL connection.
>

What kind of router have you got? If it doesn't have QOS, don't bother
with others. Most consumer ones don't.

I don't have any probs with the right router in Brisbane, Sydney or
Wireless with Iburst.

>Any pointers appreciated.
>
>Leo
>Adelaide, SA

[Ext User(Leo Gaggl)]

A User wrote:

> What kind of router have you got? If it doesn't have QOS, don't bother
> with others. Most consumer ones don't.
>
> I don't have any probs with the right router in Brisbane, Sydney or
> Wireless with Iburst.

Thanks for that hint. I am using a Linksys WAG54G. Will check that. Any
hardware suggestions that are reasonably priced ?

But with 512 SDSL bandwith and no other traffic my router should not be
the bottleneck.

Just read that other OzTell users have been complaining about quality as
well.

Leo

[Ext User(will kemp)]

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 14:02:00 +0930, Leo Gaggl wrote:

> Apologies for being a bit off topic here (but VoIP can be mobile too ;-)

yeah, it is off-topic. aus.comms would be a better place for it.

> ). But are there any good comparisons of Aussie VoIP providers out there
> ? Found some stuff on Google, but nothing seems to be very broad. Is
> there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?

another post has mentioned those, but i can tell you about a few of them
from personal experience.

currently, i've got accounts with 3 aus ITSPs and 3 european ones. the aus
3 are oztell, ATP and freshtel.

like you, i've found oztell crap. i've yet to succesfully make a call
using them - as the sound quality is unusable - and i'm really pissed off
i had to put $20 credit on my account with them to find that out.

ATP (http://www.austechpartnerships.com/atp/) are good as far as the telephony
connections go, but their documentation leaves a bit to be desired - it's
not easy to work out what they charge for various types of call (although
they're definitely very cheap). however, looking at their web site just
now, i notice they've improved it a lot, so maybe it's not that bad any
more. but, regardless of that, their service is good and their call
charges are good in general. i use them mainly for calls to most aus
capitals - as they're cheap for that - but i don't use them for calls to
regional numbers.

freshtel (http://www.freshtel.com.au) are pretty good too. possibly better
than ATP in some ways. their call charges are good for regional numbers -
and that's what i mainly use them for - but ATP beats them for the
capitals. their international call charges are not super cheap though.

the three european accounts i've got, i use for calls to (and from)
europe. to britain, i use sipgate (http://www.sipgate.co.uk). i've also
got two local phone numbers in britain with them (at no monthly charge!),
so people in london and in the town where i come from can call me for the
cost of a local call.

i don't use gossiptel (http://www.gossiptel.com) any more, as sipgate's
better and gossiptel have been a bit on the dodgy side lately. but i use
to use them quite a bit.

i've also got an account with voipgate (http://www.voipgate.com), which i
use for calls to mainland europe. of those 3 european ITSPs, i'd say
gossiptel is best.

i know you were asking about aus ITSPs, but i thought i'd chuck that in
anyway.

by the way, i've got a linux box with asterisk (http://www.asterisk.org) -
an open source PBX - running on it, which i do all my internet telephony
though (i've got a Grandstream BudgeTone 101 hardware SIP phone). i've got
asterisk set up so i can dial numbers on the BudgeTone as if it was a
normal telstra landline phone and it routes the calls through the ITSP
which is best for that call - i.e. 001144... numbers via sipgate, 029...
numbers via ATP, 0266... numbers via freshtel, etc....

a good source of information on all things VOIP is Voip-info
(http://voip-info.org/tiki-index.php)

will


will

[Ext User(A User)]

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 17:15:21 +0930, Leo Gaggl
<leo.0spam0.gaggl@nospam.g3i.com.au> wrote:

>A User wrote:
>
>> What kind of router have you got? If it doesn't have QOS, don't bother
>> with others. Most consumer ones don't.
>>
>> I don't have any probs with the right router in Brisbane, Sydney or
>> Wireless with Iburst.
>
>Thanks for that hint. I am using a Linksys WAG54G. Will check that. Any
>hardware suggestions that are reasonably priced ?
>
>But with 512 SDSL bandwith and no other traffic my router should not be
>the bottleneck.
>
>Just read that other OzTell users have been complaining about quality as
>well.
>
>Leo

It's possible oztell is having hassles, I certainly don't spend all
day on it.

With regard to QOS, it only works with ISPs who honor that tag as
well. Not all ISPs do. The WAG54g is wireless,I haven't played much
with Wifi access to SIP phones. I have seen software slowdowns with
wireless networks, it's possible there is an interaction.

Those links to whirlpool and others are helpful. I am always trying
new providers as well.

One thing to try though is, http://www.testyourvoip.com from the end
that the phone is using. This just runs on your PC.

[Ext User(..)]

Any one has data for best voip provider to indonesia/asia

ta
"Leo Gaggl" <leo.0spam0.gaggl@nospam.g3i.com.au> wrote in message
news:42e5bcba$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> Apologies for being a bit off topic here (but VoIP can be mobile too ;-)
> ). But are there any good comparisons of Aussie VoIP providers out there
> ? Found some stuff on Google, but nothing seems to be very broad. Is
> there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?
>
> I have been using OZTell for a while but the call quality (at least at
> the Adelaide POP) is pretty crap even on a 512SDSL connection.
>
> Any pointers appreciated.
>
> Leo
> Adelaide, SA

[Ext User(John Smith)]

I jumped from Oztell as well recently, quality and connection issues in
QLD as well.

I now use siphone (http://www.siphone.com.au/), which has been flawless
(and very cheap for lots of short landline calls).

Leo Gaggl wrote:

> A User wrote:
>
>> What kind of router have you got? If it doesn't have QOS, don't bother
>> with others. Most consumer ones don't.
>>
>> I don't have any probs with the right router in Brisbane, Sydney or
>> Wireless with Iburst.
>
>
> Thanks for that hint. I am using a Linksys WAG54G. Will check that. Any
> hardware suggestions that are reasonably priced ?
>
> But with 512 SDSL bandwith and no other traffic my router should not be
> the bottleneck.
>
> Just read that other OzTell users have been complaining about quality as
> well.
>
> Leo

[Ext User(A User)]

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 08:56:12 +1000, John Smith <test@test.com> wrote:

>I jumped from Oztell as well recently, quality and connection issues in
>QLD as well.
>
>I now use siphone (http://www.siphone.com/), which has been flawless
>(and very cheap for lots of short landline calls).
>

Sipphone are very good, but their servers are not in Australia and
there is quite a bit of latency.

They also only offer GSM codec from memory.

>Leo Gaggl wrote:
>> A User wrote:
>>
>>> What kind of router have you got? If it doesn't have QOS, don't bother
>>> with others. Most consumer ones don't.
>>>
>>> I don't have any probs with the right router in Brisbane, Sydney or
>>> Wireless with Iburst.
>>
>>
>> Thanks for that hint. I am using a Linksys WAG54G. Will check that. Any
>> hardware suggestions that are reasonably priced ?
>>
>> But with 512 SDSL bandwith and no other traffic my router should not be
>> the bottleneck.
>>
>> Just read that other OzTell users have been complaining about quality as
>> well.
>>
>> Leo

[Ext User(Frank Jones)]

I think js meant freecall.

You're confusing 'siPhone' 'siPPhone', which are two completely
different companies.

The o/s company:
http://www.siphone.com / http://www.sipphone.com

The Aussie company:
http://www.siphone.com.au / http://www.freecall.net.au

The Australian company - Freecall, who also uses the domain
'www.siphone.com.au' - are indeed in australia. The server is 30ms away
from me (proxy.freecall.net.au).

They use the G729 codec, and from my business use, I've never had a
problem with reliablity, and the quality is crystal clear.

For business use, it's a god send. We've saved an absolute fortune. We
only use the landline for incoming calls now, and are thinking of ways
of abolishing that - number portability is the problem though.


A User wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 08:56:12 +1000, John Smith <test@test.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I jumped from Oztell as well recently, quality and connection issues in
>>QLD as well.
>>
>>I now use siphone (http://www.siphone.com/), which has been flawless
>>(and very cheap for lots of short landline calls).
>>
>
>
> Sipphone are very good, but their servers are not in Australia and
> there is quite a bit of latency.
>
> They also only offer GSM codec from memory.

[Ext User(Leo Gaggl)]

Frank Jones wrote:

> For business use, it's a god send. We've saved an absolute fortune. We
> only use the landline for incoming calls now, and are thinking of ways
> of abolishing that - number portability is the problem though.


I agree - number portability is a big problem. Is there any movement to
require portability for VoIP trunked numbers ? There was some talk about
it. I guess it's not an easy thing technically with such a number of
providers.

Is anybody aware of an Australian SIP proxy service ? Where you can rent
a number and then redirect it to whichever SIP provider you choose.
Similar to DNS for domain names to IP.

Leo

[Ext User(Simon Templar)]

Leo Gaggl wrote:
> Frank Jones wrote:
>
>> For business use, it's a god send. We've saved an absolute fortune. We
>> only use the landline for incoming calls now, and are thinking of ways
>> of abolishing that - number portability is the problem though.
>
>
>
> I agree - number portability is a big problem. Is there any movement to
> require portability for VoIP trunked numbers ? There was some talk about
> it. I guess it's not an easy thing technically with such a number of
> providers.
>
> Is anybody aware of an Australian SIP proxy service ? Where you can rent
> a number and then redirect it to whichever SIP provider you choose.
> Similar to DNS for domain names to IP.
>
> Leo

Why not have a 13, 1300 or 1800 number that you can point to your VoIP
service?


--
The views I present are my own and NOT of any organisation I belong to.

73 de Simon, VK3XEM.
http://www.aca.gov.au/pls/radcom/client_search.client_lookup?pCLIENT_NO=157452
VoIP http://www.TALKonIP.com.au/
Domain Hosting http://www.GizNet.com/

[Ext User(Greg Alexander)]

> Is there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?

http://forums.ozvoip.com/

They don't seem to be as busy as whirlpool.

[Ext User(Rod)]

Internode have just started offering their service.
Their suggested router is the Linksys WAG54G.
www.internode.on.net/nodephone/

Rod

"Leo Gaggl" <leo.0spam0.gaggl@nospam.g3i.com.au> wrote in message
news:42e5bcba$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
> Apologies for being a bit off topic here (but VoIP can be mobile too
> ;-) ). But are there any good comparisons of Aussie VoIP providers out
> there ? Found some stuff on Google, but nothing seems to be very broad. Is
> there something around similar to what Whirlpool is for ADSL ?
>
> I have been using OZTell for a while but the call quality (at least at the
> Adelaide POP) is pretty crap even on a 512SDSL connection.
>
> Any pointers appreciated.
>
> Leo
> Adelaide, SA

[Ext User(will kemp)]

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 10:52:28 +0930, Leo Gaggl wrote:

> Is anybody aware of an Australian SIP proxy service ? Where you can rent
> a number and then redirect it to whichever SIP provider you choose.
> Similar to DNS for domain names to IP.

you can do that with oztell, i believe. however, as we've seen in this
thread, a few people are unhappy with their quality.

ATP (http://www.austechpartnerships.com/atp) definitely provide that
service though, and their quality seems to be good, in my experience. have
a look at:

http://www.austechpartnerships.com/atp/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=3&page=1

see the "adhoc" mode.

will

[Ext User(A User)]

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:12:54 +1000, Frank Jones <frank@spam.com>
wrote:

>I think js meant freecall.
>
>You're confusing 'siPhone' 'siPPhone', which are two completely
>different companies.
>
>The o/s company:
>http://www.siphone.com / http://www.sipphone.com
>
>The Aussie company:
>http://www.siphone.com.au / http://www.freecall.net.au
>
>The Australian company - Freecall, who also uses the domain
>'www.siphone.com.au' - are indeed in australia. The server is 30ms away
>from me (proxy.freecall.net.au).
>

That may be true, but that's not what he said.

>They use the G729 codec, and from my business use, I've never had a
>problem with reliablity, and the quality is crystal clear.

What do you use for an ATA? Or do you have a SIP phone?
>
>For business use, it's a god send. We've saved an absolute fortune. We
>only use the landline for incoming calls now, and are thinking of ways
>of abolishing that - number portability is the problem though.
>
>

I believe you can actually buy numbers now which are portable. I will
know for sure in a week.

Most SIP providers have DID numbers for very low costs, about $6 a
month or less.

>A User wrote:
>> On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 08:56:12 +1000, John Smith <test@test.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I jumped from Oztell as well recently, quality and connection issues in
>>>QLD as well.
>>>
>>>I now use siphone (http://www.siphone.com/), which has been flawless
>>>(and very cheap for lots of short landline calls).
>>>
>>
>>
>> Sipphone are very good, but their servers are not in Australia and
>> there is quite a bit of latency.
>>
>> They also only offer GSM codec from memory.

[Ext User(Leo Gaggl)]

A User wrote:
> I believe you can actually buy numbers now which are portable. I will
> know for sure in a week.


I'd appreciate if you could let as know when you find out. That is what
I am after but have not found yet.

Thx,

Leo

[Ext User(Leo Gaggl)]

Rod wrote:
> Internode have just started offering their service.
> Their suggested router is the Linksys WAG54G.
> www.internode.on.net/nodephone/
>
> Rod

Yes - I have been testing it today. No monthly fee since they are my
ISP. Quality is pretty good so far. Unfortunately no DID yet.

Leo