Hi everyone,

Well, I've been experimenting with Skype and I like it. Now to make it work in my business setting.

We currently have a four line phone system. All telephone lines go into a base station. All the phones in the office tap into the base station. The base station handles call transfers, etc. Its not a PBX. Its more like the two-line consumer units, except its made to handle four lines. Its a Panasonic KX-TG4000B if you're interested. Very nice unit actually, since all the extension phones are cordless.

I'd like to go to one physical line in, and have Skype provide the remaining three.

I've seen "USB to RJ11" adapters like this http://cgi.ebay.com/VOIP-USB-to-RJ11-Home-...1QQcmdZViewItem and here's what I'm thinking:

1) Buy three Skype-In numbers
2) Buy three "USB to RJ11" adapters
3) Route the three lines into my base station

So here are my questions

1) Do you think this will work?
2) Do I need a separate computer for each Skype-In line, or can one computer handle it?

FWIW, we have enough computers to run a separate Skype-In line from each one, but I'd prefer to have all the Skype lines come off of one computer if possible.

Thanks in advance,

SOTN

Hey sellinonthenet!

Welcome to the Forum.

First, why do you want 3 SkypeIn numbers? Are they located in three different countries? I am just guessing but it seems you have ffour incoming telephone lines and you want to replace three with SkypeIN.

One SkypeIn number can handly many simulaneous calls. http://www.skypejournal.com/blog/archives/...n_and_cal_1.php

One computer will support 4 Skype Clients http://www.skypejournal.com/blog/archives/...skype_calls.php

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Bill

Ok, this sounds like it will work. But you don't mention an operating system. Do I need Win98, XP Home, or XP Pro? Thanks!

SOTN

Hey sellonline!

I suspect they all work, however I would recommend XP Pro with best processor (Dual Core ) and 2 GB of RAM.

Regards,

Bill

Thanks for the help Bill! I'll give it a try and report back.

SOTN

Hey Sellonline!

A word of caution. The 3 USB adapter may need to be from different vendors.

Regards,

Bill

Hi Sellinonthenet,

A couple of logistical points. You should work on the basis that SkypeIn will fail at times. The telephone system is designed for 5-nines availability 99.999%, data networking particularly ADSL will not be that reliable. There are many different factors that will conspire to cause SkypeIn failure at times. Even on this site SkypeIn is marked as Beta.

I'd suggest that you try this idea of yours with just one Skype-In number to start off, then when it has be running smoothly for a couple of months start transferring other lines to SkypeIn.

The capacity of your network link, its contention (how many people share it at the exchange) and quality of telephone line can all affect the number of lines that can be delivered as SkypeIn.

You might want to think about having dual ADSL links from different ISP's (and delivery routes) so that if one ADSL link fails you have alternative routing available.

I used to manage the technology of a Broking house - we had 8000 exchange lines for approx 1200 staff. We soon learned not to "put all of your eggs in one basket", particularly when trying new cost saving technology.

Bill,

I've ordered two USB adapters from an eBay seller. Frankly, it looks like everyone in the US (and most non-US sellers) is selling the same adapter. I'm going to hook them up to a dedicated computer that is currently running XP home. I'll see what happens and report back. I've got a couple extra computers here, so I can run them for phone service if necessary.

Oaksys,

Really our business is much smaller than what it appears. With business that way it is these days we really only need two voice lines here. In fact, one voice line + voice mail would work 90% of the time.

My plan in fact was to route a single Skype line into our phone system and see how it goes. If that works, route another. No matter what we're keeping a single land line for emergencies.

However, my experiments with Skype have been very promising. My wife claims the connection sounds as good as a land line, and thats with very cheap headsets.

Right now we're paying $20 monthly per line plus connection charges. I'd love to ditch the extra lines. The USB converters should be here next week.

And once I'm done with this, onto my next project. Ditching the fax line! I'll post back my results. Thanks!

SOTN

Sorry... forgot one final point.

Remember to protect the power to your PC and network equipment with a battery backed UPS. If you have a power outage and no back up you could lose your "phones". Even a low cost 10 minute endurance unit will cover a lot of the power outages, helping to ensure that your SkypeIn remains available.

In the UK we have a saying called Murphy's Law - "If something can go wrong it will do so at the worst possible time." Power outages always seem to happen just when you are going to seal an important deal or an important client calls for the very first time! It is great to say on a call - "Oh we've just had a power failure but the standby power has kicked in ok". You may have only spent 100 Euro's on a UPS, but it shows that you think professionally about your business.

On our site we have 90 mins UPS battery power coverage and have thought about a small petrol/diesel generator, but haven't found the need.

In a business heavily dependent on their phones, such as a financial markets trading company we specify a minimum 30 minutes UPS battery endurance (for important systems) if they have a standby generator. If there is no standby generator the endurance will be even longer typically up to 3 hours.

Well, I got my equipment today. I hooked up the first line, and got it working pretty quickly. Receives calls fine, and sends calls "OK". To make an outgoing call however, you have to press "00" first, and then "#" for it to dial. Still, its worth it to save a little bit (perhaps a lot?) of money.

Incoming call

Now, time to set up the next line... I'll post the results...

Well, here's the update.

I hooked up the second USB adapter and couldn't get it work work separately from the first. This was no surprise, I was warned this would be the case. So, I ordered a different make of USB adapter, and when it came in the instructions said there's a different dial sequence (00-xxx-xxx-xxxx-* instead of 00-xxx-xxx-xxx-#).

Since we make a lot of outgoing calls, that would mean "if you're calling on line 1, dial normally. Line 2, start with 00 and end with #. Line 3 start with 00 and end with *" and that's too much for our staff right now.

I could take some old unused computers and run a USB box off of each of them, but the though of running another computer just to support another phone line seems wasteful. Also they would have to be upgraded to XP so thats additional time and money.

So, my next step is to install Asterisk. I've ordered a USB adapter that supports two lines and is SIP compatible. I'm going to see how that works and report back. And unlike Skype, SIP will also allow me to use a low cost 800 number service without any bounce routing.

I'll report back as more progress is made.

SOTN

Hey sellinonthenet!

If you are considering Asterisk (good choice) check what these guys are doing: www.pikatechnologies.com and http://www.skypejournal.com/blog/archives/..._your_offic.php

Regards,

Bill

hi, there's a good solution for you.

ZiPCOM's SkyPBX integrate skype services to your PBX system. when people call your company skype account, the call will go through PBX system and reach the extension they would like to call. One SkyPBX box has 4 FXS ports. If 4 ports is not enough for you. You can extend it to unlimit ports that you need.

ZiPCOM's SkyPBX has a powerful management center that you can see call events, call history and event trace. you can see how long the talk on phone. It's very useful for Admin. to manage all records and credits.

would you like to have a telephony system that your office worker only use exist desktop phone to call/receive skype calls and have a center management to mange the skype credits.

See this website and read SkyPBX features information carefully. http://www.zipcom.com.tw , you can call skype: zipcom-ipex or write to sales3000@zipcom.com.tw also.

Hi

I have a kx-tg4000b too and want to add skype.

What is the best hardware. A cheap USB PSTN connector or a more fancy zipcom or other exchange box.

I want something that works automatically without a lot of extra dialing digits.

Thanks
John

May you need just a 4-line Skype Exchange---VE40P

It support call holding,forwarding,etc.Work with your existing PBX,for the outer,there is only one representative Skype ID,but actually,you have four lines,you could make four Skype call concurrently.

Attached is the datasheet for your reference.


www.wisecomtech.com

Thanks

How much?

Can I download the manual?

Where can you buy one?

Thanks
John

Please add me to your Skype contactlist by Skype ID:wisecomtech

No manual could be download,but you could find something usful in the website: www.wisecomtech.com

Another good solution is Skype2PBX is the only software that support up to 99 concurrent lines on the same gateway and works with different USB Box Brand.

I can see the cost of the interface boxes on the s2PBX website, but what is the cost of the Server software that appears to required to drive the process?

To run 2 or 4 concurrent skype lines with skype2bx is ok a P3 with 512 Mb of Ram, is not a too big computer.
Up to 15 lines you just need a normal p4 Dual Core processor with 1Gb Ram, i don't think is a very big and expensive request for 15 concurrent skype lines !
Of course if you want 50 concurrent lines you need a big and expensive computer but you event need a big and expensive PBX.
Bye