WiFi VoIP phone

I'm looking for a WIFi VoIP phone for a relative.

Any recommendations for both 'hands free' style and 'desk phone' style?

Many thanks.

Cheers!

Why WiFi instead of DECT?

The relative is moving in with another member of the family. My idea is that the phone number they are familiar with is ported to a VoIP supplier.
The new phone would then communicate via WiFi that is already there. Seemed a better option than running CAT5/6 to a socket for a desk phone or base unit. Means that friends and other family members can call on the number they have used for years..

Cheers!

In reply to a post by Ancient_Mariner:

The relative is moving in with another member of the family. My idea is that the phone number they are familiar with is ported to a VoIP supplier.
The new phone would then communicate via WiFi that is already there. Seemed a better option than running CAT5/6 to a socket for a desk phone or base unit. Means that friends and other family members can call on the number they have used for years..

Cheers!

Clive

I think most people would recognise what you are describing as a mobile phone. The existing number can be ported to a VOIP provider, the relevant software put onto the mobile then your relative can receive calls to both existing number and mobile number on the same piece of kit. If they can make the mental jump to receiving calls to their existing number on a mobile it may be possible way forward.

AM what GP described above.

Alternatively if they have an aversion to using smartphone, then pop in another VoIP DECT base with their credentials - plug it in and live a happy life. 🙃

A good method in many circumstances, but would be too technical for my relation.

An ATA with WiFi would be easiest to explain. But an ATA + WiFi Access Point in Client mode would be a bit cumbersome.

Cheers!

Wi-Fi portable handsets are all complete balls. Compatibility issues with access points, eating their batteries etc.

Snom phones can have the A120 Wi-Fi dongle plugged into them, and are often well supported by VoIP providers.

Wi-Fi phone are not worth the hassle and battery life is terrible,

go for an IP DECT (VoIP DECT) as others have suggested, coupled with a Wi-Fi bridge if you really need it to connect to Wi-Fi. Most IP DECT are two pieces handset with charger with a base to connect to the router.

Quite. DECT will have way better range (and battery life) than WiFi so something like an N300 (pretty inexpensive) voip capable base could be plugged into the LAN/network and just have the charging base with handset nearby. Examples…

Siemens Gigaset C570A Premium VoIP Phone, Single Handset, with base £95

Siemens Gigaset E630A Robust VoIP Phone, Single Handset, with base £120

Or there’s comparable Yealink available for similar money.

+1 for DECT instead of wifi

My MiL moved in with us and a cordless phone was beyond her so I used powerline adapters and Grandstream HT801 ATAs to put BT Big Button phones in her living room and her bedroom.

You could use powerline to extend the network to a desktop VOIP phone if needed. A fair number to choose from - I have a Yealink T22P in my home offce (now superceded but available for around £20 now) and it works well.

Edited by ferretuk (Fri 16-Dec-22 21:17:15)

Was the Grandstream HT801 ATA fairly easy to setup? For a future VOiP service that I'm considering the HT801 was recommended by the provider. On that provider's web site there is a setup guide that seemed straight forward, however did you encounter any potential problems with connectivity and/or security that one has to be aware of?

Edit: just to add, I would be using a dect phone with the base connected to the ATA then a connection over ethernet directly to the router.

Edited by 4M2 (Fri 16-Dec-22 20:57:25)

My recollection is that they were very easy to configure and worked well - No issues with echoes, which used to be a real problem with the first ATA I used some years back (Sipura SPA3000)

I'm sure you'll have found the manual, but page 27 pretty much shows the fields you need to fill in

https://www.grandstream.com/hubfs/Product_Documentat...

I didn't have any security issues or concerns.

Edited by ferretuk (Fri 16-Dec-22 21:12:01)

Thanks for the info and your reassurances - it's much appreciated

Did you use a single HT801 and connect its phone port to the two Big Button Phones, or use an HT801 for each phone?

Cheers!

Two separate HT801s, both registered to the same SIP endpoint.

Thanks for that.

I assume that when being called, both phones ring and either can be answered. What happens whilst that call is in place should the other phone be picked UP? Am I correct in thinking that for this VoIP you are using A&A?

Thanks!

Both phones ring on incoming calls and either handset can answer. Unlike wired POTS phones however, as the handsets are not in parallel the call cannot be joined by picking up handset #2. This phone can be used for making or answering a second call though.