Mulitiple Lines/Mulitple Extensions/IP Phones

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 1

We currently have cable internet and 4 phone lines coming into our house (home, office, wife, and fax). I'm thinking of switching to Vonage to reduce costs and enhance communications features.

Do I need 2 routers (2 lines each router), or is there a router for 4 lines? I was thinking about the Linksys WRT54GP2, and another adapter.

If I do use 2 routers, is there anything special or tricky about this setup?

I would place the router in a central location in the house, probably in the kitchen on 1st floor. Can I then simply run a cable to the 4 phone jacks, so that I could plug in analog phones at the other phone jacks on the second floor (wife's office) and the basement (my office)? The Vonage FAQ on the subject cautions that I mustn't have PSTN voltage (whatever that is), or I might blow up the router. If I disconnect the telephone company wires coming into the house, wouldn't that get rid of any PSTN voltage? In any event, will it work to simply plug from the router(s) to the wall jack and then plug other analog phones into other wall jacks?

Instead of using my old analog phones, I've thought about buying new IP phones, e.g., Aastra 480i, or maybe an Avaya or Cisco. Will these work (with features) with Vonage, or should I just stick with analog. Here's the link to the Aastra 480i:

http://www.aastra.com/enterpriseip/pro_237.asp

Thanks for all your help. I know I'm a novice, but I'm really interested in implementing the changeover.

Go Red Raiders.

Posts: 79 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Dec 28, 2004 Posts: 79

You might want to look at an Epygi Quadro 2X for the SOHO. They are 595.00 and act as router, firewall, NAT, and PBX.

It will support 2 analog phones and 2 IP phones like the 480i you mentioned. I would also recommend looking at the Snom 190 as well. These IP phones work really well with the Quadro.

The quadro has a web interface for easy implementation.

This can all be found at www.corkenn.com

If you decide to go with this setup, and need help setting it up... give me a jingle. I'll help you out... But again, its pretty easy.

Hope this helps,

Don

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:05 pm Post subject:

Search the forums for epygi.

They make a Vonage approved four line adapter with PBX capabilities that also supports SIP phones.

You may have to have a business plan to use it, anyone know for sure?

Posts: 8 · Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2005 3:12 pm Post subject:

Currently the registration information necessary to set up the Epygi 2x, 4x, and 16x boxes is not provided by Vonage with their residential packages.

The Business class packages however, work well with this type of solution.

Being a firewall, router, and full pbx system that can manage analog and ip phones together, it is the next step up from an ATA adapter.

Stephen, I like your call history excel application. The Epygi product has full call statistics, but only in text format, I believe. This application would be great for sales lead tracking, etc. from each line.

Eric

Posts: 79 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Dec 28, 2004 Posts: 79

Eric-

I agree 100 %....

Don