Microsoft Windows: The Next Generation
As the arrival of the next version of Windows comes closer, I'm becoming less and less impressed with it's offerings. It's now widely known that it will ship in no less than 6 different versions. And some quiet yet stark changes have been made to OEM licensing that are likely to increase the total-cost-of-ownership. Lastly, IBM have been reported as internally moving away from Windows for their desktop platform of choice.
Quite honestly, I think Microsoft stocks are about to plateau as major changes are seriosuly considered in the business community. Time to look at the desktop linux offerings I think!
All I can hope for is that hardware vendors take Linux seriously so that business is well supported in choosing their next desktop platform.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Billion 7402VGP VoIP setup saga...
A long long long time ago... ok just kidding.
So I bought a Billion 7402VPG for it's features.. it's many features.. It's just a pity that ther documentation is not the best and that the layout & help available with the web configuration pages is perhpas not logical to the uneducated. I should start by saying that in the end I've found the VGP to be able to function as promised... with a little persistence and patience.. and perhaps a few sleep-thin nights..
Understanding the VoIP configuration pages
The VoIP system implemented in the VGP - perhaps like many other VoIP products is relativgely simple - it's just understanding some of the lingo and how the darn thing works that's the problem. So here'e my spiel on the VGP deal.
Firstly, you can have multiple SIP accounts (VoIP provider) accounts. Just think of them as a virtual line - you can make outgoing clls and receive incoming calls on them. They just get routed over the internet. The PSTN (Plain Simple/Subscriber Telephone Network) port provide a connection to a real phyisical phone line which is likely to also be you ADSL copper phone line.
Secondly, the setup of incoming and outgoing functions is quite separate for the most part. To explain the config pages in a logical fashion it's easiest to "walk" through them as part of a setup. But first a simple but well-learnt point;
--- SERIOUSLY - THIS COULD SAVE LOTS OF TIME ---
1. Setup the VGP for everything EXCEPT the VoIP functions - then Backup your configuration to file using the System->Backup & Restore function. I've found this config file to be very useful in sorting out some quirky problems (ie. reverting to this config to start again but not have to revert to Factory Defaults.)
Ok, now back to the config...
2. As far as setup goes, it is best IMHO to setup one or more (preferably all) SIP accounts. This is done in the "VoIP User-defined Profiles" link in the "Wizard" configuration page. Don't be tempted to put details into the "Wizard" page yet. "Add" new profiles; entering the details from your SIP provider as you go. When done you should have a nice list of SIP providers with you username, etc programmed in.
3. Returning to the "Wizard"Page, the "Select Profile" links can now be used to select the profiles that you have just setup. Once these profiles have been set & applied some further settings on the "General Setttings" page such as "Silence Suppression" can be reviewed. You will see the profiles should be applied to Phone Ports 1 & 2 depending on your setup. It should be said at this point that you have just setup the incoming part of the VoiP service. Phone Ports 1 & 2 "register" with the appropriate VoIP servers so that when a server receives a call for your VoIP number, it knows where to forward/route the call. As long as registration os active, you should receive call from your VoIP provider. It also needs to be pointed out that _SOME_ VoIP providers require that you are "registered" before you make outgoing calls. My experience would suggest that SIPme does require registration while Freecall doesn't.
4. OK, the next part involves Dial Plans; dial plans for the PSTN port and dial plans for EACH of the VoIP phone ports. From my reading the PSTN dial plan takes priority over the VoIP dial plans - there's a little in the VGP Manual on this point.
Dial Plans can be simple and some can be complex. The main point being that it DOESN'T matter which phone ports are "registered" to which providers - You can dial out from any port to any provider. The examples in the VGP manual aren't a bad starting point. Once you get the hang of the VoiP Dial Plan Editor it's not too bad. There are some good articles on Billion dial plans in the Billion support forums on VoIP and some further reading on dial plans more generally in the Whirlpool forums.
IF YOU GET STUCK & WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
Software is never perfect - except perhaps for the usual "Hello World" program.. and neither is the Billion firmware. I spent many hours trying to figure out why I could register with a SIP provider, but not make outgoing calls through them. It turned out that a reset to Factory Defaults and a clean manual setup fixed things. Playing around with the dial plans too much - particularly using the telent interface (CLI) - is asking for trouble. One post on the Billion forum which suggested this saved me from many more hair-pulling hours.
I'd certainly recommend the Billion & Whirlpool forums - post a thread and you'll be surpriseed how many helpfulfolk there are.
I hope this ramble helps...
FYI: Billion 7402VGP modem/router/ADSL2+/VoIP running firmware version 5.05.
So I bought a Billion 7402VPG for it's features.. it's many features.. It's just a pity that ther documentation is not the best and that the layout & help available with the web configuration pages is perhpas not logical to the uneducated. I should start by saying that in the end I've found the VGP to be able to function as promised... with a little persistence and patience.. and perhaps a few sleep-thin nights..
Understanding the VoIP configuration pages
The VoIP system implemented in the VGP - perhaps like many other VoIP products is relativgely simple - it's just understanding some of the lingo and how the darn thing works that's the problem. So here'e my spiel on the VGP deal.
Firstly, you can have multiple SIP accounts (VoIP provider) accounts. Just think of them as a virtual line - you can make outgoing clls and receive incoming calls on them. They just get routed over the internet. The PSTN (Plain Simple/Subscriber Telephone Network) port provide a connection to a real phyisical phone line which is likely to also be you ADSL copper phone line.
Secondly, the setup of incoming and outgoing functions is quite separate for the most part. To explain the config pages in a logical fashion it's easiest to "walk" through them as part of a setup. But first a simple but well-learnt point;
--- SERIOUSLY - THIS COULD SAVE LOTS OF TIME ---
1. Setup the VGP for everything EXCEPT the VoIP functions - then Backup your configuration to file using the System->Backup & Restore function. I've found this config file to be very useful in sorting out some quirky problems (ie. reverting to this config to start again but not have to revert to Factory Defaults.)
Ok, now back to the config...
2. As far as setup goes, it is best IMHO to setup one or more (preferably all) SIP accounts. This is done in the "VoIP User-defined Profiles" link in the "Wizard" configuration page. Don't be tempted to put details into the "Wizard" page yet. "Add" new profiles; entering the details from your SIP provider as you go. When done you should have a nice list of SIP providers with you username, etc programmed in.
3. Returning to the "Wizard"Page, the "Select Profile" links can now be used to select the profiles that you have just setup. Once these profiles have been set & applied some further settings on the "General Setttings" page such as "Silence Suppression" can be reviewed. You will see the profiles should be applied to Phone Ports 1 & 2 depending on your setup. It should be said at this point that you have just setup the incoming part of the VoiP service. Phone Ports 1 & 2 "register" with the appropriate VoIP servers so that when a server receives a call for your VoIP number, it knows where to forward/route the call. As long as registration os active, you should receive call from your VoIP provider. It also needs to be pointed out that _SOME_ VoIP providers require that you are "registered" before you make outgoing calls. My experience would suggest that SIPme does require registration while Freecall doesn't.
4. OK, the next part involves Dial Plans; dial plans for the PSTN port and dial plans for EACH of the VoIP phone ports. From my reading the PSTN dial plan takes priority over the VoIP dial plans - there's a little in the VGP Manual on this point.
Dial Plans can be simple and some can be complex. The main point being that it DOESN'T matter which phone ports are "registered" to which providers - You can dial out from any port to any provider. The examples in the VGP manual aren't a bad starting point. Once you get the hang of the VoiP Dial Plan Editor it's not too bad. There are some good articles on Billion dial plans in the Billion support forums on VoIP and some further reading on dial plans more generally in the Whirlpool forums.
IF YOU GET STUCK & WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
Software is never perfect - except perhaps for the usual "Hello World" program.. and neither is the Billion firmware. I spent many hours trying to figure out why I could register with a SIP provider, but not make outgoing calls through them. It turned out that a reset to Factory Defaults and a clean manual setup fixed things. Playing around with the dial plans too much - particularly using the telent interface (CLI) - is asking for trouble. One post on the Billion forum which suggested this saved me from many more hair-pulling hours.
I'd certainly recommend the Billion & Whirlpool forums - post a thread and you'll be surpriseed how many helpfulfolk there are.
I hope this ramble helps...
FYI: Billion 7402VGP modem/router/ADSL2+/VoIP running firmware version 5.05.
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Billion 7402VGP Tones & Rings
As with many setting on the 7402VGP, they isn't much in the way of plain english help. So here's a few things I've found:
PSTN-like dial tone settings for Australia:
Freq. 1,Power 1,Freq. 2,Power 2,On 1,Off 1,Repeat 1,On 2,Off 2,Repeat 2
400, -34, 425, -34, -1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0
Just keep in mind that you won't be able to tell if you're about to make a PSTN call or a VOIP call! I found this usefull because I have a piece of equipment that expects to "hear" an Australian dialtone before it will make a call.
Some useful - but cryptic info on other Australian tones can be found at:
http://www.741ge.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=40&t=5018&s=722e885458414f4026a1d7914c2f9ba2
PSTN-like dial tone settings for Australia:
Freq. 1,Power 1,Freq. 2,Power 2,On 1,Off 1,Repeat 1,On 2,Off 2,Repeat 2
400, -34, 425, -34, -1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0
Just keep in mind that you won't be able to tell if you're about to make a PSTN call or a VOIP call! I found this usefull because I have a piece of equipment that expects to "hear" an Australian dialtone before it will make a call.
Some useful - but cryptic info on other Australian tones can be found at:
http://www.741ge.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=40&t=5018&s=722e885458414f4026a1d7914c2f9ba2
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