My phone IP addresses have changed. How do I get them back?

October 18, 2017 by Ying-Hui Chen

Our tech support team at VoIP Supply offers great pre- and post-sales support plus provisioning, consultations, configuration, and installation help. We get a lot of VoIP hardware and software questions and would like to share the solutions with everyone.

In previous Mom’s calling Q&A series, we have discussed: Soundpoint IP 560 failed to negotiate 1GB with my Cisco Meraki switch. Today, we have more new real questions and answers from VoIP users just like you.

My phone IP addresses have changed. How do I get them back?

Q: A few of our individual phone IP addresses have changed too and I need help getting them back.

A: I would hard-boot the system and swap ports in the switch. There’s no reason why you should be able to log-in to the server with what you have been using and then one day, it won’t allow you. The only reasoning behind this would be you were hacked. But, the chances are low. The phones IPs should not have changed either for that matter.

STAY TUNED

Come back for more VoIP questions and answers next time! If you have VoIP questions to ask us, please submit a technical support ticket or contact our VoIP experts today at (866) 582-8591

What does IP PBX stand for?

October 16, 2017 by Ying-Hui Chen

what-does-ip-pbx-mean You may have heard about IP PBX, but what is it exactly? What does it do? Let me tell you all. The acronym “IP PBX” stands for Internet Protocol Private Branch Exchange.

A Private Branch Exchange (PBX) is a telecommunications system that handles the call control functionality of your telephones and fax machines while simultaneously managing your connection to the PSTN. (Publicly Switched Telephone Network).

This means that it is a telephone system that handles your call control functionality and manages your connection to your telephone service provider through IP technology.

A VoIP Phone system interconnects your telephones, VoIP Phone system and your VoIP service utilizing your existing LAN and WAN infrastructure. See a common setup on the right.

Want to learn more? Download our Free Guide to VoIP systems here! Or, simply call our VoIP experts at 1-800-398-8647 to ask!

Become an Empowered Sangoma Partner Today!

October 13, 2017 by Ying-Hui Chen

sangoma-reseller Are you an OEM, Reseller, Systems Integrator, or the go-to IP provider for your customers? The Empowered by Sangoma Partner Program has exactly the benefits and options to fulfill your clients’ needs and grow your business!

Why Join Sangoma Partner Program?

A wide variety of VoIP product portfolios to choose from including FreePBX, PBXact, SIPStation and FoIP Services, etc.
Professional Support and Training – Receive professional support from the same team that is developing the Sangoma PBX platform
The industry’s best-engineered, highest quality, IP and UC solutions, supporting “any app, anywhere” for businesses and service providers of all sizes.

As a Sangoma Partner, you will….

Get lead referrals and bigger margin (with discounts of 10% to 60%)
Access to Sangoma marketing programs
Access to introduction to new, Not For Resale (NFR) products for testing
Receive pre-sale and post-sale support
Receive discounts on certified training and direct developer/manufacturer support

Review the program and requirements to become a Sangoma Partner

See Sangoma products

VoIP Supply is on Instagram Now!

October 12, 2017 by Ying-Hui Chen

As of today, VoIP Supply has 300+ YouTube subscribers, 1700+ Facebook fans, 3000+ Linkedin followers and 8500+ Twitter followers! Today, we are expanding our social network to another popular social platform – Instagram!

instagram-1 On Instagram, you will get to know a lot about our culture at VoIP Supply, our work environment, and fun team activities! Also, just like all of our other social media channels, Instagram is a place to stay engaged with VoIP Supply and gain important updates about VoIP.

It doesn’t matter if you are a VoIP reseller, a customer, or just a person who wants to get social and have fun, you are welcome to hop on board and get social with us!

Why follow VoIP Supply’s Instagram?

Stay on top of everything for VoIP: Learn the latest VoIP news, new VoIP hardware releases, firmware updates and more.
Never miss any awesome deals: Find exclusive sales and promotions just for our followers.
Get connected and have fun! – You will see a lot of fun photos about VoIP products, the VoIP Supply team, our office and warehouse, and all kinds of fun activities at VoIP Supply.

So, why not follow us on Instagram? Get social with us today!

The VoIP Addict’s Guide – Cost Effective Switching with Netgear

October 11, 2017 by Marc Spehalski

If you tinkered with computers as a kid, worked in IT for more than thirty seconds, or stood relatively close to an IT person, you’ve probably heard of Netgear. They’re the de-facto standard in SMB networking and produce the iconic blue cased equipment that seems to keep ticking on, infinitely, like a Japanese quartz watch movement. If you feed it power, it will function.

Netgear is also known for its more economical price point, providing really great value for the SMB customer. It’s especially valuable for customers looking to deploy VoIP in their SMB environment considering the feature set offered.

Enter the Netgear FS728TP-NAS switch

The FS728TP-NAS is a 24 port 10/100, L2, PoE switch with a 192-watt power budget.
That means with a phone using an estimated 5 watts of power, you can reliably power up to 38 phones as a conservative estimate. Also included are four Gigabit ports (2 copper and 2 combo SFP) for a switch to switch, or switch to router connectivity.

Now, you might be wondering why you would use a 10/100 switch for VoIP. Using Fast Ethernet (10/100) is a great way to save costs in a VoIP deployment if you aren’t planning on connecting PCs or other devices to the phone as a piggyback. If the phone is going to sit independently, it does not need gigabit speed, a 10/100 port is completely adequate. A single call over SIP using the extremely common G7.11 codec will require approximately 100 kbps of bandwidth, making Fast Ethernet more than enough to get the job done.

The FS728 is also a standard 19” rackmount switch with convenient variable fans inside to reduce noise. What’s also convenient is the feature set provided with the FS728, which caters to the needs of VoIP in particular.

Some of the things that will be particularly important to a VoIP deployment and make life better overall with the FS728:

Web-based management
VLANS (and auto voice VLAN)
PoE (802.3af) on all 24 ports
Access Control Lists
Quality of Service

My quick thoughts on VLANs:

VLANs specifically are an optional component of VoIP, although I strongly encourage them. They become useful when you share your network with both data and voice. Organizationally, a VLAN will separate the traffic and make it easier to apply policies to separate device types. It’s not a performance control as some might think, it’s a strategy for security and management, and even small networks can benefit from VLANs.

Now to the important part: The FS728 is a sub $500 switch, making it a no-brainer when it comes to the SMB space. It’s a great value considering all 24 ports are PoE, which is something you don’t always get with Netgear’s competitors. Also included is a lifetime hardware warranty, which an important consideration when switch shopping, because reliability has its own intangible value to a business. For a competitive quote on the Netgear FS728-NAS, give VoIP Supply a call!

Can I use Polycom VVX Phones with Digium Switchvox?

October 10, 2017 by Ying-Hui Chen

Are you considering to use Polycom Phones with Digium Switchvox but you are worried about the compatibility and other possible issues? Your questions have been heard! Our VoIP experts are here to answer the three frequently asked questions about using Polycom phones with Switchvox. Let’s find out!

Question 1: Can I use Polycom VVX phones with Switchvox?

Answer 1: A customer can use Polycom VVX with Switchvox but it’s important to understand the difference in the features they will and will not receive.

Switchvox customers get the tightest integration when using a Digium Phone as compared to any other phone on the market. The phone applications (contacts, status, call queues, interactive voicemail, voicemail screening, etc.) are just a few of the features that really differentiate a Digium phone compared to other SIP phones.

See this video below that highlights some of the Digium Phone features under 2 minutes:

For example, the status, presence and contacts apps, will save you an enormous amount of time on a daily basis. You can press the contacts soft key on my D65 and start typing a name and immediately able to see the status/presence indicator of the person you are trying to reach.

Question 2: Do I need to add the Polycom feature pack to the order?

Answer 2: The Switchvox Polycom Phone Feature Pack enables easier configuration and greater flexibility and control for users and admins. However, as Digium continues to roll out new integration and features, there is no guarantee that the Polycom phones will support the features.

Today, the Polycom Phone Feature Pack enables features such as distinctive ringtones, you can enable or disable the missed call notifications, etc. More detail on Phone Feature Packs can be found here.

Question 3: If I have valid licenses and use Polycom phones, will I get full support from Digium?

Answer 3: Digium doesn’t support the Polycom phone (hardware). However, Digium tech support will assist with answering questions related to the configuration/setup of an eligible Polycom phone when using a Switchvox Polycom Phone Feature Pack.

More questions about Polycom phones, Digium phones, and Switchvox? Call one of our VoIP experts at 1-800-398-8647 today!

3 Typical VoIP Adapter Functions

by Ying-Hui Chen

A VoIP adapter is a device that converts analog voice signals into digital IP packets for transport over an IP network. It plays an important role in the VoIP world. Many VoIP users can’t live without VoIP adapters because they provide the simplest and easiest way to switch to VoIP. Let’s check out some of the typical functions of a VoIP adapter!

There are three primary uses for a VoIP adapters and these are also the most popular applications.

3 Typical Uses for a VoIP Adapter

#1 VoIP Enabling your traditional telephone

Do you prefer the old telephone that you’ve been using for years and don’t want to switch to a new one? Not a problem. Using an FXS VoIP adapter you will be able to keep your existing phone and turn that into a VoIP phone!

#2 VoIP Enabling a small PBX System

If you use a small PBX or key system, you can leverage VoIP without having to buy a VoIP PBX. Using an FXS VoIP adapter you will be able to connect your existing PBX with the IP network allowing your PBX to send and receive VoIP calls.

#3 PSTN Connectivity for your VoIP System

Your communications are critical to your business operations. You can’t be without the ability to send and receive phone calls. With VoIP if your network goes down or you lose Internet connectivity you will not be able to send or receive calls – even emergency calls. To prevent this, you can use an FXO VoIP adapter to connect to the PSTN giving you failover and life-line capability.

Now you have learned the typical functions of VoIP adapters, check out our buyer’s guide to learn more about the types of VoIP adapters and how to select the VoIP adapter that works best for your business!

Top 5 Reasons to Consider SIPStation by Sangoma

October 9, 2017 by Steve Lopian

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Sangoma’s SIPStation and FAXStation lately, so we figured we’d make a video!

There are and will always be tons of decisions when it comes to choosing who you want to handle your VoIP Services, and we understand that at VoIP Supply. That’s why we created the CloudSpan MarketPlace! Between CloudSpan and our knowledgeable staff of solutions consultants, shopping around for VoIP Service has never been easier. But then we came across Sangoma’s SIPStation, and well, it got even easier.

As time moves on there are always going to be innovation and changes when it comes to VoIP, and right now SIPStation seems to be paving the way with their powerful features like trunk groups and concurrency bursting (just to name a few).

If you are interested in learning more about SIPStation by Sangoma, then check out the video, and see what our solutions consultant, Brian Hyrek, think are the top 5 reasons to consider using SIPStation by Sangoma.

Sangoma Released New s705 IP Phone with Large Color Display with Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Support!

October 6, 2017 by Ying-Hui Chen

It doesn’t matter if you are an entry or executive-level user, Sangoma’s s-Series IP Phones always have the solution that can fulfill your business demands. Especially if you are a FreePBX and PBXact user, you know how easy and fast it is to deploy Sangoma’s IP phones with your system.

Now, Sangoma is going one step further to roll out the new s705 that will take their executive-level users to the next level. Let’s check out what it is all about!

Large Color Display with Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Support

The new s705 is a 6 SIP accounts IP Phone that boasts a 4.3-inch full-color display and Wi-Fi & Bluetooth connectivity. Targeting exective-level users, the s705 IP phone really draws everyone’s attention with its enhanced network connectivity with Power over Ethernet (PoE), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support that allows you to enjoy a completely cable-free setup with your headsets and other devices!

And, of course, just like other Sangoma IP Phones, the s705 is designed to work seamlessly with FreePBX and PBXact and it is ready to work right out of the box – True Zero Touch Configuration.

Quick Facts:

6x SIP Accounts
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Support
Full Duplex Speaker Phone
5-way Conferencing
4.3 Inch Full-Color Display
45 Programmable Soft Keys
Dual Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Optional Annual Support & Software Maintenance Plans

Download the s705 datasheet

The s705 IP Phones are now available at voipsupply.com. For more information, visit our website or simply call one of our VoIP experts at 1-800-398-8647 now!

How To Use The Navigation Keys on the Snom D725

by Steve Lopian

When it comes to using your VoIP Phone at work, it can be very beneficial to know all the ins and outs. What do I mean by that? I mean that your VoIP phone can do more than just answer calls, and dial calls.

Depending on your job description, there are often things that your VoIP phone can do that can help aid you in your daily work, and sometimes, these things can be hidden! What do I mean by that? I mean that sometimes a button can do more than what it is labeled for.

In the past I had written a blog talking about all of the things an arrow key can do other than navigate through your phone’s interface. This blog is similar, but it focuses on the unique set of navigating keys on the Snom D725.

d725-1 Right on the phone’s front face, on either side of the navigation circle, is a button marked with a “check” and one marked with an “ex”. These are considered to be a part of the “navigation key” family and can do a few different things!

To start, the navigation key labeled with a checkmark can most obviously confirm and save actions. However, the less obvious is that this button can also return you to the previous screen, accept calls on speakerphone and in headset mode. Lastly, this button can also redial from the idle screen!

This buttons counterpart, the X-mark button, can obviously cancel actions, but what you might not realize (if you are lucky enough to have a Snom D725 on your desk) is that this button can also terminate calls on speaker phone and in headset AND handset mode.

A couple more things that this button can do are turning off the call LED after a missed call, and like its buddy, it can also return you to your previous screen.

And there you have it! I feel like that is quite a lot packed into just two buttons on a phone that has 47 buttons! Did you know these buttons full potential before reading this? Do you have any other tips for the Snom D725? Let us know!

My phone IP addresses have changed. How do I get them back?