Linksys VOIP adapter (PAP2) free+tax AR ($60 - $50 GC - $10 rebate) at Circuit City

[jrichrds]

Originally posted by: GTFan
If you want unlimited calls and your outbound is now working, start the Voipbuster app, click on the account link in the app and Paypal them 5 euros (about $6) to enable unlimited calls. Voipbuster has been ditching countries from the free plan so this may not last long, but hey it's fun while it lasts.

Do you have to maintain the 5 euro balance, or can you go below and still use voipbuster through your PAP2?

 

[kwo]

reserved the last one in my area - going to get it today, thanks OP.

A question - how reliable are these "free" VOIP carriers?

Also, how's the quality of the connection?

Just curious......

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: imation930
Hi I am deffently getting this PAP2 and I am going to unlock it but here's the 2 questions that I have and would like for someone to answer for me please thanks.

Question 1: I have heard that once PAP2 is unlocked it's firmware is Sipura. Correct me if I am wrong this is what I have been reading. Now I have heard that after it's unlocked at Spiura firmare you can flash the firmware to linksys's version 3.13 but no one has tried latest which is 3.15 as I read. I would like to know how to keep it unlocked and the steps and files where to get required to get it flashed to 3.13 if wise to do or is the Sipura better??? Any help thanks.

As part of the unlock procedure, you flash to the Sipura FW, then flash back to Linksys 3.1.3(LS). I've later flashed mine with Linksys ver 3.1.6(LS) which I downloaded from Vonage using tftp. You can do it yourself from an XP command prompt, as follows:

tftp -i ls.tftp.vonage.net get PAP2-bin-03-01-06-LS.bin
Or, just signup with the Yahoo PAP2 group and d/l it from the files section there.

You really don't want to use the Sipura FW since line 2 config is not available with that, and the status LEDs don't work right. Just flash up to the latest PAP2.

Question 2: Well this is kind of a 2-3 part question. Also I know you can get the NY number for free to get incomming calls and stuff. I am looking for free incomming calls and outgoing calls to people in the usa. If that's possible where to go to get it for PAP2. Also I would like to be calling a friend that used to live in USA but moved back to France. Is ther a way to get international calls for free or maybe a phone line setup for free or a one time cheap price with unlimited calling to france or maybe a france number on my PAP2 so I can call locally to him. If so how and where.

Calls to France are 1 eurocents/min with Voipbuster, see their rates page for details. I don't know of another free outbound VOIP service.

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: jrichrds
Do you have to maintain the 5 euro balance, or can you go below and still use voipbuster through your PAP2?

As long as you have any credit with them, you can make unlimited free calls. For as long as it lasts, that is. They're in beta and I'd bet with the flood of new PAP2 callers using the bejeezus out of their startup cash, it won't last too much longer.

 

[GTFan]

Originally posted by: kwo
reserved the last one in my area - going to get it today, thanks OP.

A question - how reliable are these "free" VOIP carriers?

Also, how's the quality of the connection?

Just curious......

Well I wouldn't ditch my regular phone service (landline, cell) for any VOIP provider, as they have proven over time that they are not as reliable. The quality of the connection voice-wise is quite good, better than a good cell call IMO and just a tick below a PSTN call. For voipbuster outbound calls in particular, there is a 1-second or so delay in the conversations, kind of like the old days when calling international. Nothing more than a small annoyance but it's certainly not like calling with a regular phone.

For anyone not getting good quality, make sure you ISP connection is up to snuff. VOIP will never work well if you're seeing lag or packet loss on your net connection. Use this site and this one to see how your quality stacks up for VOIP.

 

[kwo]

Just out of curiousity, if we pricematch with BB, won't that invalidate the $50 easy rebate from staples?

 

[GTFan]

Yes, but you can just resubmit the rebate with the new receipt; they'll usually do a return and re-ring at the lower price. If you've already submitted the limit (5 per address), wait until they invalidate the rebates for the old receipt on Easy Rebates before submitting the new rebates. Otherwise they might invalidate your new rebates since you'd show up as over the limit.

 

[kwo]

ummm..ok, let me clarify.

If I buy @ PM'd $35 price, but submit a rebate for $50, won't staples flag that and not fulfill since I didn't actually spend $50 in the first place?

 

[EvilYoda]

That's how hot deals works, people

I picked mine up today, going to do some research on what I can do with it tonight. Already with SunRocket right now but we're not happy so we're switching to Vonage...so hopefully we'll qualify for that $75 GC which I'll put towards some new phones or something.

Thanks again OP

 

[Miramonti]

I picked up the last 2 around here. :thumbsup:

 

[jaarjaar]

Thanks GTFan...

Originally posted by: GTFan

Line enable: yes
NAT mapping enable: yes
Proxy: stun.voipbuster.com
Use outbound proxy: yes
Outbound proxy: nat.voiptalk.com:5065
User ID: <your Voipbuster user ID>
Password: <your Voipbuster password>
Dialplan: (<:001>xxxxxxxxxx)

Here is what worked for me:
Line enable: yes
NAT mapping enable: yes
Proxy: sip.voipbuster.com
Use outbound proxy: yes
Outbound proxy: stun.voipbuster.com
User ID: <your Voipbuster user ID>
Password: <your Voipbuster password>
Dialplan: (<:001>xxxxxxxxxx)

 

[vanionBB]

I got the last one at Kent East Hill, thanks again Anami for the heads up on that one. I have Free World Dialup on one line and Voipbuster on the other. After playing with Voip buster I can tell you the quality seems to be better on a telephone, more responsive than the software, and less delay.

The thing that was kicking my ass was the DNS servers. It had DNS server ip's built into it. Once I changed them to my routers' DNS's it worked flawlessly.

Just dont plug it into the interweb before you flash it, and remember to use the filename when you flash. Read that whole thread on how to unlock it, not just the first part.

Thanks again ATHD!

 

[foohbah]

Heads up!
These were OOS for me at the weekend (Boston) but it looks like these are back in stock on line - I just snarfed one and filled in the easy rebate form immediately. FAR and free shipping is always a Very Good Deal (tm), thanks OP and thanks for all the extra info about flashing the gizmo

 

[JDJr]

Sweet.
Got one.
Thanks op and foohbah

JDJr

 

[ectx]

Silly mistake.....Voipbuster works for me now....

 

[kwo]

OK, I'm stuck - perhaps I should move this to tech help forum, but I saw no current links on Voipbuster or anything ('course I could have missed it).

I got the VOIP adapter, unlocked it and upgraded to newest 3.1.6LS firmware.

I have a netgear router, and configured port forwarding as per the Linksys PAP2 manual (ports 5060-5061, 53, 69, and 10000-20000)

I registered with VOIPbuster. (I can make calls via the software on my computer)

...but this is where I get confused.

I configured Line2 with settings as per this thread, and then plugged in a phone into Line2. The line does not light up at all and I hear no dialtone

I'm stuck. What do I do now?
(btw, I have verizon DSL, if that matters - with the modem in bridged mode)

Any ideas, or links to answers?

 

[highwire]

Kwo- This might be related to your post-

Modded the PAP2 . Got Both lines going - 4 blue lights, Stanaphone on line 1 is OK. But all I've gotten on the voipbuster line for the last day dialing my number is a busy signal. Then a couple of hours ago the line light went out all by itself. No dialtone, dead. Hmmm.

The VoipBuster windows app still works OK, though. This is my guess: The app is IAX based and uses the iax.voipbuster.com server. The PAP2 is a SIP device. VoipBuster may have pulled the SIP server intentionally or the extra traffic pulled it down. Either way, I'm hoping for more than a busy signal if it comes back

 

[ectx]

Originally posted by: highwire

Kwo- This might be related to your post-

Modded the PAP2 . Got Both lines going - 4 blue lights, Stanaphone on line 1 is OK. But all I've gotten on the voipbuster line for the last day dialing my number is a busy signal. Then a couple of hours ago the line light went out all by itself. No dialtone, dead. Hmmm.

The VoipBuster windows app still works OK, though. This is my guess: The app is IAX based and uses the iax.voipbuster.com server. The PAP2 is a SIP device. VoipBuster may have pulled the SIP server intentionally or the extra traffic pulled it down. Either way, I'm hoping for more than a busy signal if it comes back

Slly type.... it works for me now.....

Voipbuster did go out on me last night too (and the window based call was ok). I see the second line coming back on in the morning but I did not have time to test it.


Highwire: how do you get a number for Voipbuster?

 

[kwo]

Originally posted by: highwire

Kwo- This might be related to your post-

Modded the PAP2 . Got Both lines going - 4 blue lights, Stanaphone on line 1 is OK. But all I've gotten on the voipbuster line for the last day dialing my number is a busy signal. Then a couple of hours ago the line light went out all by itself. No dialtone, dead. Hmmm.

The VoipBuster windows app still works OK, though. This is my guess: The app is IAX based and uses the iax.voipbuster.com server. The PAP2 is a SIP device. VoipBuster may have pulled the SIP server intentionally or the extra traffic pulled it down. Either way, I'm hoping for more than a busy signal if it comes back

thanks for the reply. Any chance I could get a look at your "config" pages for the PAP2 (e.g. SIP page, Line1, Line2). Maybe a few screen shots or something (sans your pwd and such, of course)

I live in MA. so I'm just trying to set up line 1 for VOIPbuster to call out - not trying to link a line in yet.

 

[highwire]

Sorry for being unclear in my previous post Re: " dialing my number". I meant testing the VoipBuster line OUT by dialing to my own land line. No VoipBuster number

Kwo, I am just about where you are on this (verizon DSL,too), but I do have a connection and a light. I reread your 1st post and this could be related to your no connection:

For anyone who cannot get a server connection , this is the 1st thing to check:

If you are not getting the voipbuster line light, make sure you have changed the DNS in systems tab. Through all of the modding, the DNS IP for Vonage REMAINS. And, all the modding info (thanks a lot) does not tell you that the dns setup must be redone after the mod. The vonage DNS IPs will not work and need to be changed. Thus for DHCP:

With the PAP2 page in systems tab, remove the vonage primary and secondary DNSs. (I left mine blank)
Change DNS Server Order to : "DHCP,Manual".
Check that DHCP above is YES.

Edit:
Routers assign the necessary open ports to a specific lan IP address. If your router DHCP reassigns different IPs to the same unit when you power down then back up, you should go the static/manual route and designate a static IP address for the PAP2, preferably outside of the router DHCP range, and fill in your gateway, ip mask and DNS addresses on the system tab with your specific data.

r

 

[kwo]

Originally posted by: highwire
Sorry for being unclear in my previous post Re: " dialing my number". I meant testing the VoipBuster line OUT by dialing to my own land line. No VoipBuster number

Kwo, I am just about where you are on this (verizon DSL,too), but I do have a connection and a light. I reread your 1st post and this could be related to your no connection:

If you are not getting the voipbuster line light, make sure you have reworked the DNS in systems tab. Through all of the modding, the DNS IP for Vonage REMAINS. And, all the modding info (thanks a lot) does not tell you that the dns setup must be redone after the mod. Those vonage DNS IPs will not work and need to be changed. Thus:

With the PAP2 page in systems tab, remove the vonage primary and secondary DNSs. (I left mine blank)
Change DNS Server Order to : "DHCP,Manual".
Check that DHCP above is YES.

For anyone who cannot get a server connection , this is the 1st thing to check.
r

Huh. from my reading, I thought we were supposed to disable DHCP, assign a static IP (my PAP2 is behind a DSL modem bridged to a netgear 614 router.), and then give it the Verizon DNS' (4.2.2.1, 4.2.2.2 or whatever they are, can't quite remember now).

So I did that last night, but as I said, no connection is being made - I'm "offline". Also using the stun.voipbuster.com for proxy, and the nat.voiptalk.org:5065 for the outbound proxy.

just.....not...sure.....what...to...do....next......

 

[highwire]

Kwo-
Re: DNS, I am not into pain, and also prone to making typos, so I went the DHCP route just like eveything else on my lan. My old SMC router "stickies" devices by mac addr so the IPs don't float once assigned. And I opened the prescribed ports in the router to the PAP2 IP. But, if you have got your gateway, mask and DNSs right, that should work, too. You should probably set up the PAP2 IP to be outside of your router DHCP range if you're using DHCP on on the router - to avoid dup IP assignments. ( not a network expert here)

BTW, I had voipbuster server connections using your line setup, then changed proxy to sip.voipbuster and outbound proxy to stun.voipbuster.com and that connected also. So, your connection problem is likely to be other than the proxy designations. More like port, dns, etc

I'll edit my last post to mention the static ip setup.

r

 

[highwire]

One more Gotcha I stumbled on earlier trying to get a voipbuster connection. Others could trip on this, too.

THE VOIPBUSTER SERVER IS CASE SENSITIVE.

My VoipBuster ID is mixed case, so when I used all lower case in the PAP2 as I do for the VB website, the server didn't know me. The site was no help. I had to go to the original email from VB to double check my VB ID . After I got that right (and several other things) I got the light.

Now, back to why all I get is a busy signal. What an odyssey!

r

 

[ectx]

Originally posted by: GTFan

Voipbuster

Line enable: yes
NAT mapping enable: yes
Proxy: stun.voipbuster.com
Use outbound proxy: yes
Outbound proxy: nat.voiptalk.com:5065
User ID: <your Voipbuster user ID>
Password: <your Voipbuster password>
Dialplan: (<:001>xxxxxxxxxx)


There are big threads on FW and the dslreports VOIP forum on how to config these things if you have probs, you might want to do some reading if things don't work.

I copy in the wrong proxy name and it did not work for me. Spent 2 hrs to try all different solutions found on internet. It turns out that the above works for me....

Using SIP.voipbuster.com as proxy would cause a problem for me (cannot hear the other party's voice).

 

[kwo]

So, to end the "tech support" part of this hot deal thread..........on a whim I walked into my office this evening, and just turned the PAP2 on again.....

Wouldn't you know it, but the line1 light came on!

I plugged in a phone, called my wife on our landline and talked for about 10min before she said, "this is goofy - you're in the next room!" and hung up on me.

So, it wasn't me at all, but the VOIP servers! ARGGHGGHHHH!

Ah well, happy ending, and I"ll have to see if I can find more of those bad boys!

Thanks for the help!