Before you try it over the internet, do it locally. Plug a good fast
computer into your ethernet switch as a server. Go to the
dos|shell|cmd prompt and run:
iperf -s
For now, we'll use the defaults and TCP instead of UDP. iPerf will
display the port number. You'll need to run ifconfig or ipconfig to
get the IP address of the server.
Now, plug another machine into the ethernet switch as a client. Go to
the dos|shell|cmd prompt and run:
iperf -c IP_address_of_server
Get some performance numbers and see if they make sense.
Once that's working, try it via wireless, via the internet, or any
other tests that might be of interest. To get jitter,.on the server
side:
iperf -s -u -i 1
and the client side:
iperf -c Server_IP_address -u -b 10m
The -b option allows you to allocate the maximum bandwidth, which in
this case in 10 Mbits/sec.
Well, I do that by looking at graphs produced by the Java version
which you seem reluctant to run. You can probably determine which end
is a problem by introducing a 3rd internet connection to the test. Try
the bidirectional tests between each of the three locations. If two
paths are disgusting, while the 3rd is just fine, the endpoint that
has the two disgusting paths is at fault.
If you find all this to be too much effort, I suggest you fire up a
SIP softphone client on one of your computahs, and get someone else to
do the same. Then make a direct connection between the two computahs.
(This is a bit tricky so feel free to bug me for details). If that
works, you have a chance with VoIP. If that fails because your 900
MHz WISP connection is infested with jitter, then you'll be the first
to know before you spend any cash.
Uh, I think about 10 posts ago I said a friend had already tried her
VOIP phone on my Internet connection and it seemed to work fine. So all
of the above jitter tests, etc are overkill if the connection passes the
acid test, no?
We're not trying to troubleshoot anything at this point. We're trying
to determine if your 900 MHz WISP provider is capable of providing
useable VoIP service. The tests simulate a VoIP connection and
measure jitter, lost packets, and otto order packets. If any of these
are not sufficient for VoIP service, you will be the first to know. I
think it's a fair assumption that almost any wired broadband internet
connection will be better than a 900 MHz wireless link.
You used the WISP term which is the name the provider uses for this and
in fact the ISP company name is iWisp. I take it this is a generic
term? I thought it was a brand name. Is there just one major brand of
products doing this function?
Funny note... when the guy was here hooking up a test he asked me for an
email address. Having my own URL I make up email addresses that
correspond to the vendor I am giving it out to, this allows me to track
the source of spam. I gave him iwisp.net@ my URL and he gave me a
really funny look like I was trying to pull something. I found that
very funny... as in ha, ha funny.
You can only lose your time and money. I was trying figure out a way
to test your WISP connection to make sure it will work for VoIP. Then,
I was trying to figure out how to get any flavor of service without
spending much time and money. That's the $35 PAP2 ATA. If you want
to commit to some service for a year just to find that your WISP
service is inadequate, feel free to burn the time and money.
The money issue is moot, they have a money back guarantee. I think the
tests will be more time and effort than just trying a system to see how
well it works. I had tried to find Internet reviews, but I think you
think these are not of much value and I am not going to disagree with
you. Every one I researched had a number of happy users (otherwise they
would be out of business quick, no?) and a number of unhappy users, most
of who seemed to have valid complaints. So I have to assume that the
products work for most, but not all and more important is how the
company deals with it. No one complained that NetTalk didn't have
reasonable support.
I pay about $26/month for my AT&T POTS line, with measured rate and no
long distance service. At $15/month, you're probably on Lifeline
service, which is effectively subsidized home phone service. Please
find a better comparison.
I don't know what "lifeline" is, but I assure you my phone service is
*not* subsidized. This is what a phone line costs from Verizon. I pay
$0.10 per call (which are typically few) and more than half the $15 is
taxes and fees. The actual phone connection is just $6-7 a month. I
think that is true about anywhere. My two places are 100 miles apart
and in two different states and the bills were about the same with the
same options for service. When I recently inquired (as part of my
search for Internet, the WISP stuff is very new) Verizon has a very
strange way of presenting the available services on their web site. I
know you can get a simple, minimum cost plan from them because it is
regulated by a public service commission. The web site seems to hide
all this. I think every plan they showed had a bundle of services even
if only long distance, caller ID, etc.
Dunno. Since Callcentric sells inbound and outbound service
separately, it's conceivable that they only include E911 service if
someone purchases outbound service.
But that is not what their email says. That's my concern, they are
better than that something-Nine outfit, but they still don't make the
costs clear.
Outbound only service has a phone number. For CallCentric is
1777-Your-CCID. CCID is your CallCentric user ID. You can't call
that number from the PSTN (public switched telephone network) but you
can call it from another SIP phone:
<
http://www.callcentric.com/faq/4/130>
Then that is not a "phone" number.
<
http://www.callcentric.com/faq/23#159>
The $1.50 fee is NOT included in the following services:
Pay Per Call outgoing service
Any incoming service
Under these products you WILL be billed for 911 separately,
at $1.50/month plus a one time $1.50 setup fee, if you state
that your are in the US or Canada.
The way I read this is that you can make 911 calls with incoming only
service.
I don't get that. They say they will bill you for 911, but they don't
say you can make calls.
Dunno. I've never had the experience. However, it's my understanding
that if you have dialtone, you can dial 911.
That's different, when you are cut off for non-payment you have no
dialtone. But then I don't know for sure, I haven't had that problem in
many, many years.
You are an amazing wealth of information I have to say.
Yep. There are plenty of better and later devices. However, the
PAP2-NA is probably the most widely used and widely supported device.
You should not have any problems using it on any VoIP system. The
only gotcha is that eBay is full of counterfeit PAP2 boxes.
That's a later unit. There's also an SPA3102 which supports fail over
to POTS. Lots of options. Incidentally, I just ordered another 4
line SPA941 desk phone because I got tried of only having one line on
my current SPA921. More than one line is really handy.
One thing I'm not totally clear about is the second FXS jack on many
adapters. The accounts seem to say they support a second phone, but in
what way? Does that second phone have a separate number? Does it use
the same number but you can have two separate calls on the same number?
Incidentally, CallCentric recently added some new features, some of
which involve extensions.
So, put a SIP softphone client in his iPhone and be done with it. One
device does it all.
<
https://www.counterpath.com/softphone-products.html>
Try a test call and see if the 900 MHz WISP link can handle it.
We've already done that with a friend's phone adapter on more than one
occasion.
Assuming AT&T 4G data and an iPhone 4S, he's probably paying about
$80/month for the service (and subsidized phone). That's almost
$1,000/year. Somehow, $400 doesn't seem to much any more.
Yes, he pays $100 a month for an unlimited plan (grandfathered in). But
disposable income is hard to come by for a lot of people regardless of
what they consider "essentials".
The NetTalk is the path of least resistance, but I do like the idea of
getting service with a provider and having my own "universal" adapter.
We'll see. NetTalk is so cheap it will be hard to beat on price unless
I lived in NY state (NetTalk actually has totally free accounts in NY
for local service). I'm going into town tomorrow (it's a 25 mile drive
to anyplace that would sell this sort of electronics) and I'll see if I
can pick one up. I think the Walmart web site says they don't carry
them in the stores, but you have to order it online and they ship it to
the store which still takes three or four days. So I might still not
have it tomorrow.