|
What equipment do I
need to use Simply Voice service?
An Internet connection (such as DSL
or cable) and a normal telephone are required. Simply
Voice will supply you with a small adapter device that
connects your telephone to your Internet connection. The
adapter device can interconnect with any available
Ethernet jack on your home or business network. If there
is only a single Ethernet connection on your DSL or
cable modem, and your computer is plugged into this
connection, you will need to buy an inexpensive
gateway/router device in order to share multiple IP
devices via the single connection.
What is
a router, and do I need one?
A router is a network device that
manages the distribution of data to and from multiple
devices on your home or office network. Since you will
want to use your computer for email or web surfing and
use Simply Voice at the same time, you need a router
(click to see diagram). You have four choices:
- Your DSL or Cable modem already has a router
built into it. In this case, connect your computer
to one Ethernet port and your Simply Voice device to
the other.
- You already have a router, to which your
computer(s) is (are) connected. Plug your Simply
Voice device into one of the other ports. Most
recently manufactured network routers work with your
Simply Voice service right out of the box. If not,
or if you are using an early generation router,
usually only minor modification(s) or a firmware
download to your router’s setting will need to be
done. Settings modifications are usually part of the
router’s configuration software and can be reviewed
in the router’s instructions.
We’re not aware of every router on the market.
Therefore, please email us your comments and
experiences with different equipment and help us add
to our knowledge database.
- If you need to buy a router, PC Mall.com,
Macmall.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. have
inexpensive, very reliable ones, and your Simply
Voice device will work just fine with any of them.
Note: We recommend DSL/cable web-safe
routers that provide NAT and DHCP. Simply Voice will
work with most routers available for purchase today, and
if you are having trouble with your Simply Voice service
on an older model router, we recommend that you download
and install the router's latest firmware from the
manufacturer's web site.
What is
an ATA?
ATA stands for Analog Telephone
Adapter. Typical home and single-line office phones,
whether corded or cordless, use analog signaling to
communicate with your local telephone company’s switch.
An ATA takes those analog signals and turns them into
VOIP so calls can go out over the Internet.
What
types of telephones work with Simply Voice?
Any “regular” touchtone phone in your
home or office can be used with your Simply Voice
service. Corded or cordless phones work equally well.
Digital office phones all have proprietary signaling,
and will not work if connected to a Simply Voice device.
However, Simply Voice can work with this type of key
system or PBX via direct connection to the central
“brain” of the phone system.
What is
a SIP Phone?
A SIP Phone is a phone that has an
ATA built into it, so it natively sends and receives
VOIP. The Simply Voice SIP Phone is a 2-line office-type
phone, with multiple “soft buttons” that can be
configured to transfer calls, access voicemail, do speed
dial, etc.
Can I
use someone else’s ATA, SIP Phone or SoftPhone with
Simply Voice?
No, it is not recommended as it would
have to be supported by the Simply Voice platform, and
therefore, might not work.
Will my
fax machine work with Simply Voice?
Yes, your fax machine should work
fine with Simply Voice. Simply connect it to a Simply
Voice device in the same way you connect a phone.
Will my
answering machine work with Simply Voice?
Remember, your Simply Voice service
comes with free, full-featured voicemail. So, you do not
need to utilize an answering machine at home. However,
if you choose to use a home-based answering machine and
your voicemail feature is currently active, remember to
turn off the Simply Voice voicemail feature or you may
end up with two different greetings playing at the same
time!
Do I
need my computer to use Simply Voice?
The answer is No if you are using a
Simply Voice ATA or Phone to make calls. The answer is
Yes if you’re using a SoftPhone with the computer
microphone and speakers, a headset or a USB handset.
Can I
use Simply Voice service if I have a Mac (Macintosh)
and/or Linux computer?
Yes. Simply Voice service and access
to your personal Simply Voice Control Panel are
completely independent from your computer’s operating
system (OS). For Simply Voice, you only need a
high-speed Internet connection, and any browser
(Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox or
Apple’s Safari) can access your Control Panel.
Can I
use multiple phone extensions with Simply Voice?
Yes. See the four ways below:
- The easiest way is to use a cordless phone
system that comes with a base unit and extra
handsets. Plug the base station into the ATA.
Multiple handsets can be placed anywhere in the
house.
- You can purchase a phone line splitter at places
like Radio Shack or Best Buy. Connect the single
RJ-11 splitter port to the PHONE port of the Simply
Voice ATA. Connect two phones (or more, if you have
a triple or quad splitter) to the other side of the
splitter.
- You can purchase wireless phone jacks which plug
into your household electrical outlets. Connect the
base unit to the ATA, and connect extra handsets
into the jacks. Please note that only the phone
attached to the base unit will display Caller ID
information. Although wireless phone jacks will give
you multiple extensions, you may periodically
experience dropped calls on the extension phones and
an inability to talk on more than one phone at a
time.
- Some of our customers have attached their ATA
directly into the existing telephone wiring in their
homes, in an attempt to distribute Simply Voice
service to all the existing phone jacks in their
home. We (and our SIP device manufacturers) do not
recommend hooking anything to the ATA other than a
single line phone. If you want to try this, you
should seek advice and help from an electrician or
someone who is familiar with internal telephone
wiring. We highly recommend that you check the
wiring on the jacks to make sure you don't have live
PSTN voltage flowing when you connect your Simply
Voice ATA (use a line tester - available at Radio
Shack). Be advised that any damage resulting from
practices contrary to manufacturer’s recommendations
for the ATA will not be covered by warranty.
Can I
take my Simply Voice ATA or Phone with me when I travel?
How about a SoftPhone with a USB handset?
Yes, you can do any of the above, but
the most convenient is undoubtedly a USB handset
connected to your computer. A SIP Phone is quite large,
and when you’re at a hotel that charges for high-speed
Internet access, you’ll need your computer browser to
log on and pay for access. An ATA demands a single-line
phone wherever you happen to go, and many hotel phones
are digital, office-style handsets which won’t work with
the ATA.
Is
Simply Voice a cell/mobile/wireless phone service?
No, it’s not. Simply Voice is a phone
service that uses the Internet to make and receive
calls. However, you can use a traditional cordless
household telephone connected to a Simply Voice device.
Does
Simply Voice support modems, TIVO boxes, or DirecTV
boxes?
Yes, Simply Voice service does
support TIVO, Direct TV, home security systems, or any
other application that uses a phone line.
|
