The internet has changed the way we access voice services. For many years now, companies have been offering their clients phone calls over the network rather than on land lines. These days, many people prefer to make these calls using a service like Skype or Google Voice.
There are several ways you can do this, but one of the most popular is through a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Gateway. The following guide will discuss just what a VoIP gateway is as well as providing information on how they work.
VoIP Gateways basically allow you to connect your existing landline with a broadband connection. This then allows you to call someone who uses a different provider. You might think that you would need to pay for an expensive subscription in order to use such a system, but most providers offer them for free to customers who already subscribe to their broadband package. Get yourself Sonus Ribbon SBC 7000 Large DSP-LC FPGA DSP100 SBC-7000-DSP-LC to manage your gateway in best way.
Of course, there is more to using a VoIP gateway than simply calling someone else. In fact, the technology behind such gateways requires a lot of effort from both sides to ensure that everything runs smoothly. In order to understand this better, let’s take a look at exactly what happens behind the scenes when you make a call.
What is a VoIP gateway?
When you decide to make a call by dialing another number, your telephone company assigns a specific line to it. When this happens, the call goes directly into that line and out the other end. However, if you’re using a VoIP gateway, things work slightly differently. Instead of having a fixed line, you can assign a virtual “phone” to whatever device you want. This means that the call will be routed through the gateway instead of going straight to the number you dialed.
This can save you money on your monthly bill since you won’t be paying fees for an additional line. It also offers the opportunity to call numbers which aren’t available within your own country. By doing this, you’ll get cheaper rates because the call is being sent across international boundaries where the rates tend to be lower.
With all that said, there are still some limitations. For example, you cannot call mobile phones. On top of that, there may be times when the call fails to go through. Luckily, there are plenty of solutions in place to deal with these issues. Let’s take a closer look at how this works.
How VoIP gateways work
As mentioned earlier, the first step is to set up a VoIP gateway. This involves making sure that you have a broadband connection and a regular telephone line. Once this is done, you’ll need to install software on one computer in order to create the gateway. There are two main types of software to choose from: Linux-based programs and Windows programs.
Linux-based programs usually require you to download and install the Open Source version of Asterisk. This software isn’t very difficult to use once you’ve installed it. It’s mainly used to route calls between users. If you want to add some extra features, you will then need to consider installing a program called Digium.
Windows-based programs usually involve downloading the Sonus SBC software. This software takes care of routing calls while you concentrate on setting up the rest of the system. With Sonus software, you must first have purchased a license before you start using it. After this, it’s fairly simple to install and configure.
Once the software is installed and configured correctly, the next step is to get it connected to the Internet. To do this, you’ll need to make sure that there is a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server on the same subnet as the gateway. This will ensure that the gateway gets its IP address from this server automatically, so you don’t need to worry about it manually assigning itself a static IP.
If you’re using a wireless network, you should first check whether the gateway is compatible with your router. If not, you will need to change it to match the router’s settings. Once this is done, you should be able to establish a stable link between your computers and the gateway.
After that, you can use the gateway to make and receive calls. Most modern gateways support both traditional PSTN protocols as well as VoIP.
While the process is fairly straightforward, there are some important considerations that you should keep in mind. As mentioned earlier, you should always check your ISP’s terms and conditions before connecting your gateway to the Internet. Some ISPs may charge you for incoming calls. They may even block the gateway completely if they notice any suspicious activity.
It’s also worth remembering that a gateway isn’t the only thing you need to setup. While it’s easy enough to find out about a gateway’s capabilities, you may need to purchase a separate hardware item if you want to add extra features.
Finally, you should know that there’s a limit to how much you can use the gateway. In general, you shouldn’t expect to exceed 10 minutes of talk time per day without incurring charges. Of course, this depends entirely upon the quality of the connection. If you’re using a broadband cable modem, it’s likely that you’ll struggle to achieve this amount of usage.
In short, using a VoIP gateway is a great way of saving money on your monthly bills. It’s also a useful tool for businesses who need to communicate with clients around the world. However, there are still quite a few problems that you should bear in mind if you plan on implementing a system like this.