FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Welcome to the 786Calling Card /VoIP FAQ we aim to answer all the common VoIP questions that you might have on this page. 

·        Does VoIP work? 

Yes, VoIP is the future of telephony. Eventually all phone systems will be Internet based using VoIP; however there are a number of factors that can affect your VoIP reliability. 

·        How much bandwidth does VoIP use?

Most UK broadband lines are 256k upload; if the connection is not used for any thing else you can make about 3 / 4 concurrent calls on this single connection. However with ADSL MAX line from 786Calling Card you can achieve upload speeds of 832kb upload, allowing you to make more calls on a single broadband line.

·        Do I need a separate broadband Line? 

Depending on the amount of concurrent calls you make will determine how many broadband lines you will require. It is possible to use QoS on supporting ADSL routers, this gives VoIP traffic a higher priority over other web traffic and will help stop jitter. 

·        Does it matter who my ISP is?

Yes, it matters who your ISP are for a number of reasons. Your VoIP system will be using your Internet connection to make and receive phone calls there for it needs to be from a reliable provider with good support. Another key factor with VoIP is latency, latency is the time it takes for your data to get it destination. This is crucial as with VoIP the data is your voice, if the latency is high you will hear a delay. So use the good ISP. 

·        Can I use a normal phone? 

Yes, it is possible to use your existing analog phones with VoIP adapter; you plug your phone into the adapter and connect a network. 

·        How many numbers do I need?

It depends on how many calls you expect to have at anyone time and whether you want DDI in which case it's one per person.

·        Are the call charges from landline/mobile to VOIP noticeably different?

No, we provide a regular UK land line phone number, or you use your ported number, so people pay the same to call you.

·        What do I need?

ADSL, a SoftPhone on your computer; or VoIP adaptor which we supply preconfigured - with STD analogue handsets with display preferably

Or VoIP hardware phones which we supply preconfigured.

·        If I use and I use an adapter like the Linksys, can i use my DECT phones? 

Correct. 

·        Can I call skype users for free? 

No, Skype is a closed system and you can't connect to it. However we do connect to a number of other providers. To talk free from computer to computer. 

·        Will my VoIP phone work if the power fails?

No - Your ordinary phone doesn’t need a separate power connection, but as VoIP relies on your internet connection, if your broadband router has no power, your phone won't work either.

·        What about my fax machine?

We do not recommend putting fax machines on VoIP lines and would suggest putting it on the PSTN (regular phone line).

·        Are there any phone numbers that VoIP phones can't call?

You can phone most phone numbers, apart from premium numbers. The big exception is the emergency services. You can't call 999 on a VoIP phone at present, so in an emergency you would need to also have a mobile or landline.

·        Do I have to pay line rental? 

Yes, it depends if you have bought DID (Direct Inward Dialing) numbers then you have to pay for the number rental. Other wise it is pay as you go.