Resolved VoIP through whole house?

I hope this is an appropriate area to ask this question.

So, we are going to be switching internet and phone providers very shortly. The phone, instead of being home phone, will be switched to voip and dsl internet to cable. My brother has this setup already, but only has 1 house phone and doesnt need to know about this part.

The voip has a separate little modem it will come with so the computer doesnt have to be running to access the phone line. a big plus! But heres my question.

Currently, things are wired up so that our modem (as far as phone line type connections) runs into a surge protector, from the surge protector to a wall jack. that wall jack is wired to the main area in our basement, which then feeds all of our house phone jacks.

my question is, can i simply replace our current modem with this voip modem and provide a phone service to all of our house jacks?? or would it be harder than that... it cant be that easy, can it?

our other option is to buy new phones with 1 base but several chargers, but this would be a huge p.i.t.a as our setup is downstairs, so we would have to check our messages and such downstairs - where we rarely go.

i can provide pictures if needed, but if someone knowledgeable about this kind of thing could guide me, that would be great!

 

I have used a VoIP for several years. The particular setup I use didn't permit use over the existing wired system throughout the apartment. I could have had the provider come in (not free) and do some minor wiring modifications but I chose not to do that. So you might check with your VoIP provider to see what can be done in that regard. If your VoIP provider has a website, go there and check out the FAQ - I was able to get my questions answered there.

I used a single base with multiple handsets which has worked very well for several years. One note regarding checking messages, I can check my messages from the base or from any of the handsets. So if you do have to go that route, make sure the base/handset system you get has that capability.

 

You need a VoIP EPABX to connect different analogue phones unless you want all the phones in parallel.

 

sorry, all the phones in paralell? what does that mean?

ETA: I did submit an online form to them today explaining the situation and asking if this would be okay/work at all.

I read online about some phone companies somehow frying the voip box... but if there is a surge protector between the box and the phone company maybe that cant happen?

ETA2: well theyve responded btu it wasnt entirely helpful. they basically told me to buy new phones.

 

Does anyone have any further insight at all? I can provide photos of our current setup if it would help...

 

Mel,

Don't know if this will be of much help but my VoIP modem was simply connected via Ethernet cable to one of the open ports on my router similar to other devices.

If you aren't currently using a router, then the VoIP modem would connect directly to the existing cable/DSL modem and the computer would then connect to the Computer port on the VoIp modem. My particular modem (Vonage) has two ports for telephone lines in addition to the incoming and outgoing Ethernet ports.

As I said in my previous post, I couldn't connect either of the phone ports into my existing home phone system because of wiring issues. However, yours may be different. I would think you could give it a try and if if didn't work with your home wiring then go with the cordless/base station setup.

 

Ours is going to be similar to what you describe, with the voip having a modem rather than being directly connected. we also use a router to spread internet throughout the house (ethernet and wireless).

I guess worst case i could try it. im hoping it will work!

 

Unless you have something unusual - YES - that easy.

There’s really no difference between the telephone wire coming out of your current dsl (phone company modem) and your new cable, vonage or magicjack plus modem.

BTW "“ I "˜ve had Vonage for many years, recently added MagicJack and also have a land line.
Since the MagicJack and Vonage play nicely together "“ am about to zap the land line.

You can bypass any telephone lines (includes your current one) from going thru a surge protector. Just adds possibility of interference.

The DEVICES (modem, router ) AC connection is what should be connected to the surge protector. The telephone port in the combo protectors was for the incoming straight thru from the pole telephone line.

Important note if you have a router: Some say (mostly cable,phone companies) to put your modem FIRST in line. Right after your DSL or cable modem "“ then connect your home router to the Ethernet out of your modem.
Computers of course connected to your router.

Have never done it that way (various reasons). Connect VOIP modem to your home router just as if it was another computer.

Cable or DSL incoming line "“ cable or DSL modem "“ home router "“ computers and VOIP modems. If not enough ports on home router add a switch.

 

It worked!! Our service was switched on friday. We ended up having to disconnect the landline entirely though. we were getting the dial tone from the voip as well as the busy signal from the landline meaning that we were disconnected on their end at the same time.

it made some REALLY funny noises before i thought to remove the DSL filters though. but, all has been figured out now!