Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter

[lily]

I just purchased a so called VoIP Unlock Key totaling $57.49. Free Phone Line does not allow me to refund even though no way to use the key with Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter which I'm using now. This so called key actually is the following:

SIP Username: 1XXXXXXXXXX (this is my phone number with FPL)
SIP Password: XXXXXXXX
Inbound/Outbound Proxy: voip.freephoneline.ca
Registration Expires: 180 to 3600
Use Preferred Codec: G711U or G729a
Use Preferred Codec Only: No
RTP Packet Size: 0.020
Ring Tone Frequency: 52
Ring Tone Voltage: 90
Recommended Linksys Dial String:(911|[2-9]xxxxxxxxx|1xxxxxxxxxx|011xxxxxxxxxxxx.|98*|[6-7]x*xxxxxxxxxxx.) (please note that this is a Linksys dial string we use for our devices and may not work with third party, non-Linksys/Sipura devices)

Could anyone please help me with following:
(1) How to config Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter with this Key? Or, just no way to use it with Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter? (I can log into Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter on my computer.)
(2) What is "Registration Expires: 180 to 3600"? The key expires in 180 to 3600 days?

[dibsmft]

FPL uses standard open source SIP protocol and should work with any computer SIP client or IP phone. Skype uses its own proprietary protocol and the Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter is almost certainly designed for the Skype protocol only and not for SIP so will not work with FPL. The very closed nature of Skype led me and many others to give up using it in favour of SIP.

[lily]

Thank you, dibsmft. I understand now.

FPL should know this. However, this is what they do: (1) I called their tech support, I was told the key "might work, but not guaranteed". (This guy should not work at tech support, or he was cheating.) (2) I call their sales, I was told "It should work". (No surprise, this guy is a sales man.) (3) Their website says "Already own a digital phone, digital home telephone adapter, smartphone app, or other VoIP/SIP phone device? Purchase the VoIP Unlock Key and instantly receive all credentials required (username and password, etc.) to configure and activate freephoneline on your device."

I agree with you that we should leave Skype. But it seems FPL is much worse. I'm not a tech guy, buy FPL is. Why not tell the public that their key will not work with Skype's adapter. They do not even put ATA recommendations anywhere. After you pay $57.49, they say "Recommended Linksys Dial String". I'm sure I'm not the only victim. By this, FPL can generate income, but how long can they survive by this way?

[dibsmft]

I am not sure that I would blame the FPL people as the could not possibly be expected to know what all the thousands of different ATA devices do, although, if you mentioned Skype it might have been a hint. I have answered many questions on another website from people wondering why SIP ATA boxes will not work with Skype! Give FPL a try on your Win7, it should work OK, and it you like it then get a SIP ATA (eg. GS286 or PAP2 .... not locked to a provider). I have not purchased the the Voip key from FPL yet as the service to Newfoundland (St. John's) is very limited but probably would if I could get a local number and local service here.

[Bloodsong]

I just purchased a so called VoIP Unlock Key totaling $57.49. Free Phone Line does not allow me to refund even though no way to use the key with Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter which I'm using now. This so called key actually is the following:

SIP Username: 1XXXXXXXXXX (this is my phone number with FPL)
SIP Password: XXXXXXXX
Inbound/Outbound Proxy: voip.freephoneline.ca
Registration Expires: 180 to 3600
Use Preferred Codec: G711U or G729a
Use Preferred Codec Only: No
RTP Packet Size: 0.020
Ring Tone Frequency: 52
Ring Tone Voltage: 90
Recommended Linksys Dial String:(911|[2-9]xxxxxxxxx|1xxxxxxxxxx|011xxxxxxxxxxxx.|98*|[6-7]x*xxxxxxxxxxx.) (please note that this is a Linksys dial string we use for our devices and may not work with third party, non-Linksys/Sipura devices)

Could anyone please help me with following:
(1) How to config Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter with this Key? Or, just no way to use it with Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter? (I can log into Skype FREETALK Connect Me Adapter on my computer.)
(2) What is "Registration Expires: 180 to 3600"? The key expires in 180 to 3600 days?

No your SIP session registers for X amount of seconds and then send a re-register. This provides a level of fail-safe against your device being permanently knocked offline by a power-flicker, packet drop/filtering/shaping by your ISP, network interruptions and various other technical issues associated with VoIP.

The settings are as they said above, there are some slight variances that may work for you, but generally speaking keep your settings as seen above. Username and Password as well as the provider's gateway must be exact.

I have never seen or used a "Skype Connect Me adapter" and while I imagine is very much like any other ATA, with the added ability of contacting Skype's servers which may use proprietary encryption/signalling standards. However, IF the device is capable of connecting to standard SIP accounts you shouldn't have too much trouble connecting this, and if you need someone to walk through it with you I'm always available for a team-viewer session to config for you.

The problem with buying something SKYPE branded, is you may find it's very much Skype proprietary and therefor (may) not be able to communicate with standard non-skype VoIP protocols. You should note that the ad for the FREETALK Skype adapter does say it requires a Skype account.

Workarounds:

Depending how involved you'd like to get, if you run a home asterisk server there are some protocols you can use to connect with Skype via Asterisk (An opensource business grade VoIP phone switch server software) and then forwarding those Skype calls over your asterisk server to your phone with Freephoneline. There are literally dozens of ways to make this type of set-up work, and it's beyond the scope or reach of what most people on FPL are willing if not capable, of doing.

UPDATE:

Reading the specs on the FREETALK I found this
Codecs

G.722
G.729
Skype NWC

Suggest there may be some way to use standard SIP protocols, but will likely require some firmware hacking.

A quick search does not reveal any previously hacked firmware version to me, so perhaps that's a project I'll get involved with.

[lily]

Hi, Bloodsong, thank you very much for your help. I went to asterisk.org. Wow, this world has things much better than Skype or FPL. I'm interested to try your Workaround. Before doing that, I need to dump Windows and learn Linux. As to firmware hacking, that's totally far beyond my capabilities. However, I am very very interested in your project.

[dibsmft]

You do not really have to "learn" Linux if you start with one of the relatively easy to use versions any more than your have to learn MS Windows. I normally use Linux "Mint" (32 bit) that offers most things that a user needs but there are many others available and runs as a live CD so that you can test it before installing. If you have a working old computer you could try it on that.
Good SIP clients that run on Linux are Linphone, Ekiga and Twinkle (all free). I use Linphone mostly and it should work with FPL OK.

[lily]

hi, dibsmft: thanks for your help regarding linux and sip applications for linux. i'll try that later.

also i found this interesting page Sip2Skype: Receiving SIP Calls in Skype (http://scopezoom.com/guide9.htm). i haven't tried yet. it seems a quick way to get around my problem.

the other site i found is http://www.3cx.com/, might be good for someone like me who do not use linux.

[sukasem]

Hi Lily,

It's not worth it. I was trying to bridge SIP and Skype before. You better get a SIP ATA from Kijiji or something.
Then, plug RJ45 from ATA to FREETALK (PSTN Line).

Now, you have both phone line and Skype line.

Cheers,
Sukasem

[FONGO_mike]

Depending on your cell phone (if you have a smartphone) you can now use Fongo (www.fongo.ca)