[CS-FSLUG] WiFi phones

[Jim Isbell, W5JAI]

MagicJack is exactly what you describe.  It plugs into the USB port on
a computer, ANY computer, and I have my telephone service.  Service
includes forwarding, FREE long distance in the US, Caller ID, and an
answering machine that sends the .wav files to my email.  The box
about the size of a Thumb Drive costs $20 and the service costs $19.95
a YEAR  or $60 for 5 years .  BUT....it runs on Windows not on Linux.
I bought a Windows box at the thrift shop for $4 and plugged it into
my LAN and access it from the Linux machine using xtightvms to remote
control the Windows box which is used ONLY as a telephone server.

Your "phone book" resides in the MagicJack which contains all the
firmware and a HD to store your numbers, call list and everything.  So
you can carry it in your shirt pocket to anyplace in the US and plug
it into any Windows computer that has Internet access, and you have
telephone service.

I carry it in my Laptop case along with a $1 thrift shop telephone
when I am on the road.  At home I plug it into the home telephone
wiring (after unlpuging Ma Ball at the box outside) and all my home
phones run on it.  The only problem is that if you dont have a powered
USB port you may not be able to ring the phones and it wont run on a
USB expander port.  It had to be pluged into the computer USB port.
Also if you are on a WiFi system that is heavilly loaded, such as in a
hotel, the calls are slower and may be disjointed.  But in MD Anderson
hospital and on my home WiFi its fine.  It takes some fiddling with
the computer bios setup to get things perfect, but nothing difficult

By unpluging from MaBell I save $30 a month and by using the laptop as
my "cell phone" I save another $50 a month. My only cost now is $1.67
a month....payable annually and my cable ISP connection...which I need
for TV anyway.

On 2/21/09, Frank Bax <fbax at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> Jim Isbell, W5JAI wrote:
>
> > What is asterisk.  I use the magicjack
> >
>
>
>  Asterisk is free open-source PBX software.  It's often used for VoIP; but
> with proper hardware adapters; you can interface with your local telco line
> and existing wired phones (like Linksys SPA3102).  Here's a video about
> Asterisk setup:
>         http://revision3.com/systm/asterisk/
>
>  When I purchase a WiFi phone; I should be able to take that phone to any
> public WiFi access point in the world; connect (over internet) to my
> Asterisk server at home; then make a call using my home's telco line.
>
>  Asterisk can also interface with Skype; so that when the WiFi device
> connects to Asterisk server; it can go through Skype (similar to "9" for
> outside line at the office).
>
>  What is magicjack?
>
>  Frank
>
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-- 
Jim Isbell
"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
you are just taking up too much space."