[DracoFelis]

Originally Posted by mpp

Thanks for the detailed information DracoFelis. You certainly make a strong case for the SPA3000 over the PhoneGnome. I appreciate the siplicity of Plug and Play but the power and control of setting up the SPA3000 almost any way you want is very compelling.

Since this thread was about comparing/contrasting PhoneGnome's and Sipura's, I just told you what I know an SPA3000 can do (as a way to help in the comparision). And truth be told, it is pretty amazing what you can make an SPA-3000 do once you learn how.

OTOH the PhoneGnome apparently has a number of the more common features you might want "built in", so they are (hopefully) much more simple to use. As a result, if you just want features that both a PhoneGnome and an SPA3000 can handle, the initial "setup" is likely going to be easier with the PhoneGnome (as one of PhoneGnome's main selling points is it's ease of setup).

NOTE: Once you have a SPA3000 setup properly, it can be very "friendly" (easy for someone around the house to use as a "phone"). So it's not the "use the phone" portion that is harder than it needs to be with an SPA-3000, it is simply the initial setup that requires you to be very specific about what you want the adapter to do when.

As a result, I think the SPA3000 (the main adapter I use) is an excellent choice for someone who likes control, and is not afraid of "do it yourself". But for someone who wants a working adapter with the most commonly desired "features" setup with "minimum fuss", the PhoneGnome looks like it might be a better choice.

So in the end, which is more important to you, ease of setup initially, or the greatest possible flexibility in setting up the adapter the way YOU want it? If ease of setup, get a PhoneGnome. OTOH if you want the greatest possible control (at the "cost" of a more difficult setup), do like I did and go with the SPA3000.

[mpp]

Originally Posted by PhoneBoy

I mostly use SPA-3000s to take either PSTN lines or locked ATAs from other service providers and making them available for use on an IP telephone like the SPA941.

I use my PhoneGnome on a normal PSTN line where I want some of PhoneGnome's "Features" (e.g. VoiceMail, outbound SIP calling), but would prefer to keep accessible via a non-IP handset.

Thanks for the clarification PhoneBoy.

[mpp]

Originally Posted by DracoFelis

So in the end, which is more important to you, ease of setup initially, or the greatest possible flexibility in setting up the adapter the way YOU want it? If ease of setup, get a PhoneGnome. OTOH if you want the greatest possible control (at the "cost" of a more difficult setup), do like I did and go with the SPA3000.

I got you ... complete control with a little elbow grease = SPA3000 or Plug and Play and no elbow grease = PhoneGnome.

On another note ... what router do you have setup with your SPA3000? I have a D-Link DI-730P and it hangs so often I do not even use it anymore. I am currently looking for a wired router as I understand they are less susceptable to hanging. I am currently favouring the D-Link 604 as they seem to have a lot of users with good things to say about them.
If you have any suggestions on this I would appreciate them.

On your SPA3000 do you get all the features that a PSTN line would offer as options such as Call Forward, Call Display, Follow Me ... etc on both the VoIP line and the PSTN line or maybe one of them ... or is it none?

Look forward to hearing back from you.

[mberlant]

The only caveat I have for you regarding D-Link is that they produce many routers that employ Symmetric NAT routing, which is wholly incompatible with SIP. Make sure the model you want does not use Symmetric NAT and you should be fine with any wired or wireless router.

Personally, I am partial to Linksys' WRT54G and WRT54GS, but stay away from hardware version 5 (the newest one) if you think you would ever want to put aftermarket firmware on the router.

[asethi]

I am using D-LINK wireless router DI-514 and have not had any problems with my PhoneGnome. The
Hi mpp,
PhoneGnome switches to local mode whenever I lose my internet, but switches back to normal mode when I get back internet.
As far as the call waiting, three-way conferencing and call forwarding features are concerned, I have not used them, however, they are available on PhoneGnome. I have gotten caller-id on calls received directly on my PhoneGnome, but my understanding is that caller-id feature is required on the PSTN line if you want caller-id on calls received via the PSTN line.
Hope this helps answer your questions.

[mpp]

Originally Posted by mberlant

The only caveat I have for you regarding D-Link is that they produce many routers that employ Symmetric NAT routing, which is wholly incompatible with SIP. Make sure the model you want does not use Symmetric NAT and you should be fine with any wired or wireless router.

Personally, I am partial to Linksys' WRT54G and WRT54GS, but stay away from hardware version 5 (the newest one) if you think you would ever want to put aftermarket firmware on the router.

Thank you for bringing this up mberlant. Symmetric NAT routing will interfere with SIP transmissions ... oh my ... another caveat to adhere to. After I read your post I had to do more research. I found a good link that supports your claims. You are probably aware of this link, it lists all SIP compatable routers:

http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/view/VOIP+Routers

More homework to do.

[mpp]

Originally Posted by asethi

I am using D-LINK wireless router DI-514 and have not had any problems with my PhoneGnome. The
Hi mpp,
PhoneGnome switches to local mode whenever I lose my internet, but switches back to normal mode when I get back internet.
As far as the call waiting, three-way conferencing and call forwarding features are concerned, I have not used them, however, they are available on PhoneGnome. I have gotten caller-id on calls received directly on my PhoneGnome, but my understanding is that caller-id feature is required on the PSTN line if you want caller-id on calls received via the PSTN line.
Hope this helps answer your questions.

Hi Asethi. Thank you for getting back with your router specs. It is good to know that your DI-514 is working good with the PhoneGnome. I have been notified that the older D-Link models use Symmetrical NAT encryption which is not compatable with SIP. Just when I had my sites set on the D-Link 604. Now I am seriously considering the Linksys WRT54G or WRT54GC. They are appairently open source and well supported by the open source community and have 3rd party ROM flashes that enhances the product over and above what Linksys offers. But all good things change and now I understand that Linksys is removing the opensource from their newer models.

If you forward your PSTN calls to VoIP would PhoneGnome then not activate the caller ID feature without subscribing to the PSTN service? Just a thought ... if it does work it would not cost anything as it would not be PSTN supplied.

It seems that the more you learn the more there is to learn in this hobby.

[a.d]

It is true that by default most D-Link routers are simmetric.
That will change if you enable "Gaming Mode".
My DI-604 works very well with ATA-s this way

[mpp]

Originally Posted by a.d

It is true that by default most D-Link routers are simmetric.
That will change if you enable "Gaming Mode".
My DI-604 works very well with ATA-s this way

Thank you for you post a.d. That is interesting that you have a D-Link 604 and it is working well with ATA's in "Gaming Mode". If I may ask what ATA's have you tested it with? I would be curious to find out what happens when you are on a VoIP call and downloading or uploading a large file? Does you VoIP quality downgrade at that point?

Look forward to your response.

[asethi]

If you forward your PSTN calls to VoIP would PhoneGnome then not activate the caller ID feature without subscribing to the PSTN service? Just a thought ... if it does work it would not cost anything as it would not be PSTN supplied.

It seems that the more you learn the more there is to learn in this hobby.

Hi mpp,
My PSTN line is plugged into PhoneGnome line port. So all incoming calls ringing on my local phone also ring the PhoneGnome. I can answer the calls using my PhoneGnome or my local phone. I am currently subscribing to CID on my local phone. I am not sure if I would get callerid on my PhoneGnome, if I did not subscribe to CID on my PSTN line. This question will have to be asked from PhoneGnome support team and I can then say goodbye to callerid on my land line.

I also have an incoming DID number from IPKALL for my PhoneGnome VOIP line. When users dial this number, it only rings my PhoneGnome and I get CallerId on my PhoneGnome. This proves that PhoneGnome supports callerid directly.