Voip Questions

[Tippaporn]

I've searched this forum for VoIP threads that would answer all of my questions but haven't found suitable or comprehensive answers. VoIP seems to be a burgeoning market and to the relatively uninitiated (me) it's been rather confusing at times. So, here's my extensive list:

Goal.

My primary need for VoIP is business related. Based in Bangkok I require customer communication to the States. I'm looking for reliability and clarity and this is much more important to me than price. Also, I use VoIP in the States (where I am at the moment).

I need PC to phone service for Thailand. Incoming and web callback service is something I've seen offered but know little about. It would be nice if this type of service would allow me to receive incoming calls on my DTAC mobile from my U.S. customers. Or, allow me to use my mobile to call to the States and vice versa, from the States to Thailand (I believe this is the function of web callback services?).

Another goal I have is to become much better educated regarding VoIP. That includes not only an in-depth understanding of VoIP in general but also the array of VoIP hardware currently available. Suggested reading material (preferably in layman's terms, web or hard copy) and good user forum recommendations would be appreciated (sometimes I think TV might be the best as it seems the ones I've checked out have very little traffic and zero replies to 90% of the postings ).

Computer saavy.

Not stupid but I don't feel I'll ever know enough. Class me as moderate but talk to me as if I were a novice.

Equipment in Thailand. (Yes, I did read Vic's "Read before posting . . .")

Operating system: Windows XP Professional

Connection type: ADSL through TOT. Service type is 1,024kbps.

Modem: DLink (can't recall the model and I'm in the States). But, it allows me to simultaneously share my landline and connect to multiple computers using a network.

Browser type: IE

Equipment in U.S.

Operating system: Windows XP Professional

Connection type: Satellite through DWay.

Modem: DWay supplied.

Browser type: IE

History, present service provider and reliability.

I've been using NetTelephone for the past year and have been overall happy with it, though dissatisfied at times. When the service fails (due to either break up or one-way connection, where one party can be heard but not the other) it is completely unacceptable to me. This is the only VoIP service I have experience with and therefore have nothing to compare it to. I use this service both in Thailand and in the States using a single account.

Clarity, cost and features.

Initiating calls from Thailand I get very good clarity most of the time. When I call to a U.S. mobile and I don't I assume that it's due to the cellular service there, same as calling mobile to mobile in the States.

Initiating calls from the U.S. the clarity is degraded compared to calling from Thailand. Calling to landlines seems worse than to mobiles. I've had instances where my calls were poor to both landline and mobile, then had the call initiated out of Thailand to my U.S. mobile with excellent clarity.

Calling rates are competitive AFAIK. Thailand to U.S. landline/mobile is $0.019/min. (0.75 THB/0.011 GBP). U.S. to Thailand runs $0.079 (3.1 THB/0.045 GBP) to a Bangkok landline and $0.099 (3.90 BHT/0.057 GBP) to mobiles or landlines outside Bangkok.

Free PC to PC is up and coming. Incoming service and web callback is available. PC to phone service is set up via a replenishable, pre-paid account, which is much more preferable to me than monthly billing. Another benefit I like is that a single account can be used on multiple computers (although restricted to single usage, obviously).

Questions. (When responding it might be best to snip the rest of this post and keep only the questions section. Just a suggestion.)

1) Is there a better service provider in terms of clarity and reliablility? Cost is secondary to me. Does anyone else depend on VoIP for business purposes and how successful has your experience been?

2) While I imagine there to be many factors related to the overall quality of VoIP can someone list these for the benefit of a VoIP novice's understanding?

3) Is my seemingly poor quality in the U.S. due to my satellite service or is satellite service perfectly compatible with VoIP?

4) Is Internet speed a factor?

5) What specific hardware influences VoIP? Is there anything that can be upgraded to enhance quality and performance?

6) Are there any system tweaks that can be performed to accomplish the same? For instance, can more bandwidth be dedicated to VoIP if that would help?

7) Can anyone elaborate on incoming and web callback services and how these work? Does anyone use these features? If so, are they dependable enough to be worth subscribing to?

8) Are there custom, business-oriented VoIP systems that outperform what's available to the general public?

9) Does anyone have experience with SIP phones or other related VoIP hardware? (Note: I just ran across this seemingly extensive site: VoIP Hardware Center. Maybe I should check it out before posting but, oh well, I'm this far already. )

10) Does anyone know of good resources covering VoIP for personal educational purposes?

Hope this post isn't too much. My apologies if it is.

On a final note, does the ad min feel that VoIP is a topic that is greatly beneficial to TV members and worthy of being pinned? In this way it would provide in-depth coverage of VoIP where members could learn to implement best solutions while reducing repetetive posts on the topic. Might be a great service to members since most expats have more than usual communication needs. Just an idea.

Edit: I'm researching as much as possible on my own and will certainly relay info as I come across it. Maybe I'll end up answering some of my own questions.

Edited February 25, 2006 by Tippaporn

[Carmine6]

There are a lot of websites that rate the different services available and a google search should uncover them. The service you use looks like a very small player from the website.

The satellite link is probably the main reason you're having problems in the US. Possibly the fact that you're using a softphone (software) instead of a VOIP adapter as well. I think you need 90k speed to be able to handle a VOIP call, but that's minimum. If you browse the web at the same time, that takes up some speed on the line. And since it's software, any other thing running on the computer might also take processing time away from the softphone as well.

Even if upload and download bandwidth is ok with your satellite connection, the time in sending the signal up there and back will cause problems for receiving. It doesn't matter for data, but you're trying to talk real time and there's a built in delay on the sound coming back.

More mainstream VOIP providers send you an adapter that plugs into the network before the computer connection. You then plug a regular phone into that. Phones that plug directly into the network are also available and cost a bit more. By plugging into the network first, the adapter can prioritize the data for the call, and then let all the other data traffic through when there's time. This alone may help on the satellite link, but I woudn't bet on it.

[stoneman]

I am the owner of an export company here in Bangkok and almost 100% of our business is with customers in the US...

About a year ago we installed a Vonage line in the office and immediately our overseas phone bills dropped to nothing...Well $25 a month. We have now installed 3 Vonage lines in our office, one with a NY number, one with Chicago number and one with an LA number.. Do not know how we got along before Vonage.. I am a believer...

[ChiangMaiThai]

For your calls when you are in Thailand, far and away Vonage is the only way to go. It will work with the TOT package you have. You can buy Virtual numbers all over the US and Eurpope and have 'offices' in these locations. The people calling you have no idea you are in Thailand. They offer all kinds of extras for free including 3 way calling and voice mail. You can also have calls forwarded to any US number for free for times when you are travelling in the US. It is crystal clear, far superior to Skype.

[girlx]

I talked to Vonage and couldn't get them to send the adapter to Thailand... how did you all get your equipment and set up here? Advice appreciated!

[ChiangMaiThai]

I talked to Vonage and couldn't get them to send the adapter to Thailand... how did you all get your equipment and set up here? Advice appreciated!

Yeah, technuically they are not permitted to support it being used outside the US and a few other countries for legal reasons. Just have it shipped to a friend in the US who can then forward it on. There is also Vonage UK so you can have it shipped to a friend there too. If you don't know anyone in those countries, sign up with a mail forwarder for a month and they will get it to you. Check the power adapter carefully when you receive it. It might be made for the US only, but you can get a new one for a couple hundred baht here.

[stoneman]

I talked to Vonage and couldn't get them to send the adapter to Thailand... how did you all get your equipment and set up here? Advice appreciated!

Yes, they will not send to Thailand...We had them ship to a US address and then had friends bring them over...Also you must get a 220V adapter which you can find at Fortune...We left the 110V adapters in the US...cuts down on the weight...

Stoneman

[grahamb]

Don't know about Vonage US but Vonage UK also requires that the bill is paid by a credit card registered at a UK address. We have a UK credit card but registered address here in Thailand and that was no good for them.

We got around this by using a relative's address, credit card, etc. and Vonage UK works fine. We had a strange bug with it a month or so ago but it fixed itself and has been working fine for 12 months apart from that.

[stoneman]

Don't know about Vonage US but Vonage UK also requires that the bill is paid by a credit card registered at a UK address. We have a UK credit card but registered address here in Thailand and that was no good for them.

We got around this by using a relative's address, credit card, etc. and Vonage UK works fine. We had a strange bug with it a month or so ago but it fixed itself and has been working fine for 12 months apart from that.

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Yes...good point...We also pay the bills through a US based debit card...