Voice for the Angels

Selecting the right VoIP adapter (also known as an Analog Telephone Adapter or ATA) from the large variety of choices that currently exist on the market today can seem pretty daunting. After all, there are over 40 different adapters on the market today that could work for you!

Before getting into selection though, let’s get a better understanding of VoIP adapters. To start, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a way to send and receive calls across and internetwork (like the Internet). Adapters are pieces of equipment that allow you to leverage your existing telephone to send and receive Voice over IP calls.

This is done by connecting your regular telephone to the adapter through an FXS (Foreign Exchange Station) port and connecting your adapter to your cable modem or switch via an Ethernet port.

As you can see, these are really simple devices and the right one for your needs can easily be narrowed down with the answers from just a few questions.

• How many regular telephones or fax machines do need to connect? The answer to this question will determine the number of FXS ports your VoIP adapter will need.
• Do you have an available Ethernet port? If you don’t have a router, switch or available Ethernet port on these devices, you will want to look at VoIP adapters with dual Ethernet ports so that both your computer and VoIP adapter can be connected to the Internet.
• Are you keeping you land line? Many individuals only use Voice over IP for long distance calls and keep a POTS line for local calling. Others keep a POTS line as back-up, in case their Internet connection goes down. If you plan on keeping a POTS line (for either reason), you’ll need a VoIP adapter with an FXO port.
• Will this ATA work with your service? Most Voice over IP services can be used with most analog telephone adapters, but check with your service provider before purchasing an adapter to make sure that it’s compatible with their service (and allowed).

If you’re still unsure as to how to go about selecting the right ATA, it’s advise that you contact your service provider of choice, or a certified supplier (like VoIP Supply). This way a well informed expert can walk you through proper selection based on your situation.

Garrett Smith is the Director of Marketing and Business Development at VoIP Supply, the leading supplier of VoIP equipment (including VoIP Adapters) in North America since 2002.

Linksys SPA3000 Analog Telephone Adapter 1 Port FXO + 1 Port FXS $70.00 The SPA-3000 continues to deliver on Sipura Technology’s mission to provide market leading, best-in-class VoIP end points providing freedom and opportunity to service providers and end users.The SPA-3000 features VoIP adapter functionality found in the SPA-2000 and SPA-1000/1 with the additional benefit of an integral connection for legacy telephone network “hop-on, hop-off” applications. SPA-3000…

Sangoma A20004E 8 Port FXO Analog Card (PCIe) …

Sangoma A20002D 4 Port FXO Analog Card w/Echo Cancellation (PCI) …

Grandstream GXW-4104 FXO Analog Gateway – VPN gateway – 4 ports – Ethernet, Fast Ethernet – external $239.98 The GXW FXO IP Analog Gateway series offers the small enterprise, SOHO, remote offices and multi-location enterprises a cost-effective, easy to deploy VoIP FXO solution. The GXW410x series allows any business to seamlessly connect multiple locations with up to 8 PSTN lines, to an IP PBX system, or with an existing traditional phone system. The GXW series includes two models with 4 or 8 ports respe…

Grandstream GXW-4108 FXO Analog Gateway – VPN gateway – 8 ports – Ethernet, Fast Ethernet – external $343.00 The GXW FXO IP Analog Gateway series offers the small enterprise, SOHO, remote offices and multi-location enterprises a cost-effective, easy to deploy VoIP FXO solution. The GXW410x series allows any business to seamlessly connect multiple locations with up to 8 PSTN lines, to an IP PBX system, or with an existing traditional phone system. The GXW series includes two models with 4 or 8 ports respe…

Adtran NetVanta Analog Voice Module – 4 x FXO – Voice Module $281.99 Adtran NetVanta Analog Voice Module – 4 x FXO – Voice Module

Adtran Total Access 1500 Quad FXO UVG/MLT – Voice Module $224.99 The Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) module is used in the Total Access 1500 multiservice platform, to provide analog voice extension. The FXO interfaces to the central office switch and to an FXS or RPOTS card over a T1 facility. Four analog voice ports on the FXO access module provide four individual connections to the switch. The FXO supports standard loop start and ground start options. The FXO also supports Dial Pulse Originate (DPO) functionality.

Adtran Total Access 1175407L2 Expansion Module – 24 x FXO – Expansion Module $231.99 The Foreign Exchange Office (FXO) module is used in the Total Access 750 and 850 to provide analog voice extension.

Cisco FXO (Universal) Voice Interface Card (VIC) – 2 x FXO WAN – Voice Interface Card (VIC) $251.99 (VIC2-2FXO=) include 2-port foreign exchange office (FXO) analog interface cards. This card cover a full range of digital voice and WAN connectivity options and provide connectivity to the world’s PBXs, PSTNs, and Post, Telephone, and Telegraph (PTT) organizations.

Cisco 6-port Voice/Fax Expansion Module – 6 x FXO – Voice Module $749.99 The Cisco 6-port Voice/Fax Expansion Module provides enterprises, managed service providers and service providers the ability to directly connect public-switched telephone networks (PSTNs) and existing telephony equipment to Cisco 2821, Cisco 2851, Cisco 3825, and Cisco 3845 integrated services routers. With support for up to 24 total voice and fax sessions, the Cisco 6-port Voice/Fax Expansion Module is ideal for networks with high analog (foreign exchange office [FXO]).

valcom VIP-821 VoIP Gateway 1 x FXS , 1 x 10/100Base-TX Network LAN, 1 x FXO $307.99 The Enhanced Network Trunk Port Model VIP-821 will provide a single 10/100 Ethernet port, a single FXO Trunk port and 1 Failover port. The Enhanced Network Trunk Port Model VIP-821 will provide all circuitry and software to convert network data to audio output and analog trunk control signals. The Enhanced Network Trunk Port Model VIP-821 will provide all circuitry and software to convert input audio and analog trunk events to zone page audio and control information suitable for transmission to other Valcom IP Solutions products. The Enhanced Network Trunk Port Model VIP-821 shall form one part of a serverless Network based communications system.

OCTAL FXO NIM2 ALOG TRUNK-VOICE I/F VIM2 NETV6310 $610.99 OCTAL FXO NIM2 ALOG TRUNK-VOICE I/F VIM2 NETV6310

Analog Synthesizers $41.75 Analog Synthesizers

Analog Travelog $12.99 Analog Travelog

Death To Analog $11.99 Death To Analog

Analog Man $12.99 Analog Man

Analog Clash $10.99 Analog Clash

Analog Scale $10.49 Analog Scale

Adtran FXO+ Dual Voice Module – CSU/DSU Module – 2 x RJ-45 – 64Kbps $281.99 The FXO+ Dual Voice (FXO+) option module is one of the option modules available for use with the ADTRAN TSU 100/120/600. The FXO+ module provides two 2-wire voice-grade interfaces serving as the loop termination for central office line current and ringing voltage.

Cisco 7-Port Voice/Fax Expansion Module – 3 x FXS, 4 x FXO – Voice Module $835.99 This 3-port FXS and 4-port FXO voice and fax expansion module provides on premises FXS signaling to connect directly to a standard telephone, fax machine, or similar device and supplies ring, voltage, and dial tone. In addition, the FXO ports provide off-premises connection to the central office. FXS signaling support available includes loop-start and ground-start. There is no DID support. In addition, there is no FXO power failover support on the FXO ports.

Analog Deceit Beanie $23.95 The Analog Deceit Beanie.

Analog Men’s Arena Jacket $94.95 The Analog Arena Jacket