Acrobits Groundwire iOS and Android smartphone application

[Liptonbrisk]

First, I'm not affiliated with Acrobits in any manner. Acrobits is the name of the app developer, and Groundwire is not a free app. I use this app on iPhones (a version of the same app is available for Android as well). Acrobits Groundwire doesn't require a subscription fee for push notifications using Freephoneline on iOS. A Freephoneline VoIP unlock key is required, obviously.


1. In the Groundwire app, under "Account", add (+) a "Generic SIP Account", and make these changes:

a) Title is whatever you want. Maybe enter "Freephoneline".

b) Username is FPL SIP Username found after logging in at https://www.freephoneline.ca/showSipSettings

c) Password is FPL SIP Password found after logging in at https://www.freephoneline.ca/showSipSettings

d) Use "voip4.freephoneline.ca:6060" without the quotation marks for domain. voip4.freephoneline.ca:6060 may help to circumvent potential SIP ALG issues in routers. You can use voip.freephoneline.ca or voip2.freephoneline.ca if you wish. I would just prefer not having to deal with additional troubleshooting issues, especially when people try to register using free Wi-Fi somewhere and can't.

e) For incoming calls, you might want to consider using "Push Notifications" to ensure incoming calls will ring even when Groundwire isn't in the foreground (or has been swiped away on iOS). Keep in mind that your Freephoneline SIP Username and SIP Password will be stored on an Acrobits' SIPIS (push) server. However, those credentials are encrypted, and the encryption key is stored on a different machine than the one with the encrypted data. Consequently, that scenario doesn't bother me. If that situation bothers you, then don't select "Push Notifications" for incoming calls.


2. If you're continuing (from above) to create your new account, select "Advanced Settings". Otherwise, In the Groundwire app, navigate to Account-->"Advanced Settings" for your FPL account.

a) NAT Traversal should be set to "Auto".

b) Tap on "NAT Traversal". Scroll down. "Send Keepalives" should be enabled. Change "Keepalive Period" to 20 (seconds).

c) Go back/return to the "Advanced Settings" menu.

d) Set Proxy to "voip4.freephoneline.ca:6060" without the quotation marks (this proxy setting appears to override whatever is entered for domain, by the way). Duplicate whatever you entered for above for domain.

e) Set Expires to 3600 seconds.

f) Make G.711u-law the highest enabled codec, particularly for Wi-Fi. I would do the same for "Codecs For Mobile Data". FPL only supports G.711u and G.729a. The G.729a audio codec uses less data, but it sounds significantly worse.

g) Make Packet Time 20ms. Click "Back" in the upper left to return to the previous menu.

h) "Outgoing calls need registration" needs to be enabled due to the 15 minute session timer that Freephoneline uses. If "Outgoing calls need registration" is disabled calls may drop after 15 minutes, particularly when using cellular data (the only way around not having the setting enabled is to place the call on hold and resume it before the 15 minute mark is reached).

i) Set a display name (this is outbound Caller ID name) using your name, and don't use "anon".

j) Set "Transport protocol" to udp.

k) Caller ID can be left blank.

l) Called ID Method should be "From Username".

m) Call Waiting should be enabled.


3. Within the "Advanced Settings" menu, scroll down to "Hacks", and select it.

a) Scroll down to "SIP Port". Change SIP port to any random number you want between 30000 and 60000.
Doing so helps to avoid potential SIP Scanners and may also help to circumvent SIP ALG problems.

ex. 55353

b) Click "Done" when you're finished, or save your settings.


There is no failed registration retry timer setting in Groundwire.

Refer to https://support.freephoneline.ca/hc/art ... redentials.



Good luck!