UPDATED - 17/12/2003 - After a nightmare 1 1/4 hours on the phone to BT Monday, they actually called me yesterday afternoon with the password needed - I now have VOIP running. See bottom of article for details.
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I read an announcement last week from BT that they were offering a VOIP product to the consumer market. As I would find a second telephone quite handy, this seemed like something worth investigating.
Signed up to the service via their webpage last Tuesday. The site indicated that I would receive two emails, one to confirm my order, and the second with all the setup information needed to get the service working. I'd also receive a Broadband Voice Telephone Adapter (Cisco ATA 186).
Well the ATA-186 turned up today, but no sign of the emails that were promised. A call to the BroadBand Voice helpdesk on 0800 028 3228, and the lady I spoke with said ALL their calls today had been from people with the same question, "I have my telephone adapter, but no email with the setup details!". She promised that this would be looked into on Monday, and I'd get a call back.
Aside from this, I figured I'd try and proceed the configuration as far as I could. This involved plugging a telephone into the ATA-186, and the ATA-186 into my ethernet network. The ATA-186 is configured by default to get an IP address via DHCP, and if it doesn't get an IP address (determined by dialing 80# on the telephone and listening to the computerised voice read out it's IP address), then you're supposed to telephone the helpdesk.
I quote: "
Step 7
Dial 80 followed by a #. Make a note of the numbers you hear. If you hear "0.0.0.0" you'll need to change your router settings. Call us on Freefone 0800 028 3228 and we'll talk you through the steps.
The first call ended up with me being put through to BT Faults by the chap on the BTBroadbandVoice helpdesk, who had no idea why I'd been put through to them. We both agreed that it would be best if I rang the helpdesk back up again.
The second call, and the lady I spoke with said that the system should have read out it's telephone number when I dialed 80#, and had no idea why it said 0.0.0.0. (arghh!!)
Bugger that I thought, and went to the cisco website to find out how to do this manually.
read on...
Cisco's website has a very handy guide here.
Right, once the IP, default gateway and netmask were setup, the dhcp settings disabled, time to go back to the BT leaflet:
Step 8 On your computer start your web browser and go to www.bt.com/broadbandvoice Click on "Configure your BTA." On the form you will need to enter the numbers you noted in the previous step along with your Broadband Voice password, and you will need to choose the bandwidth you wish to use. Please follow the instructions on the website to configure the correct bandwidth. Click "Apply." You should see a confirmation that your configuration has been successful. Close the pop-up window.
Um, well righty-ho, first of all, you have to click on the page "Start using Broadband Voice.", and from there choose the link 3/4 of the way down the page that says "Configure your telephone adapter"
This brings a pop-up window, where you enter the IP address you get from dialing 80# (or manually configured in my case), the bandwidth, and your "Voice Password", and as best I can tell, the website initiates a connection to the ATA-186 to configure it over the web.
This involves setting a TFTP server, so the system can get an up-to-date firmware image (it actually appears the default supplied with the system only has a bootload image, and isn't capable of doing VOIP without an upgrade), and configures various VOIP parameters. It then proceeds to upgrade the firmware automatically [to Version v2.16.1.ms.ata18x (Build 030814a) ].
Unfortunately, if you configured the IP address manually, this wipes out all the IP settings, so you then have to go reconfigure the ATA-186 again.
Oh yes, the voice password thing, well it appears this isn't the password I specified for use when signing up to the service, so until BT ring me back with details, or that elusive email turns up, I've still got no VOIP telephone line. I gave up at this point.
If you're interested, the telephone numbers are 11 digits long, and have the following format:
05511-XXX-XXX
Other things I've found out, the service uses MSCP (as opposed to the more widely used SIP), and although I've got no password yet, a tcpdump session shows that my system has been chatting with the BT system for the last few hours:
22:00:36.255545 172.30.1.10.2427 > 62.239.63.xx.2727: udp 28 [tos 0x68]
22:00:36.610278 62.239.63.xx.2727 > 172.30.1.10.2427: udp 33
22:00:36.615680 172.30.1.10.2427 > 62.239.63.xx.2727: udp 28 [tos 0x68]
22:00:43.982406 62.239.63.xx.2727 > 172.30.1.10.2427: udp 32
22:00:43.989258 172.30.1.10.2427 > 62.239.63.xx.2727: udp 28 [tos 0x68]
Updates here as and when I get any movement from BT.
16/12/2003
I tried calling BT Broadbandvoice in the morning; I explained the missing emails, and she took my number and offered to call me back later that day.
No call back by 4:45PM, so I tried calling the BT Broadbandvoice line again. The details are too traumatic, but after 8 phone calls, 1 1/4 hours being transferred between btbroadband sales, bt broadband support and bt broadband faults (never, you'll note, bt broadband voice), and having the call hung up on me 7 times whilst on hold, I finally got through to BT Broadband Voice. I spoke with the same helpful lady I chatted to on Saturday, she apologised, and said that not even their department had given any guidance on this problem from anyone else at BT. She nevertheless did promise I'd get a call as soon as they heard anything.
Tuesday, and I get a phone call from BT Broadbandvoice, after giving various details about my account to them (to prove identity), she gave me the all elusive password I needed, and my new 05 telephone number.
It works! It's brilliant! Voice quality is just as good as the regular line. The future of telecoms? I seem to recall chatting to some colleagues back in 1995 about how telephony was going to take off over the internet, pity it is taking so long.
Gracious, sounds like a lot of work for a second phone line. Fortunately, competition has gotten the things down to about ten bucks a month here for a regular land line (for a second line; first one is still pretty stiff).
I got this service working last saturday...the voice password a a long string starting T.XXXXX and it was sent to me in a second e-mail along with the tel no...I can't believe the quality (I used the high b/w option)..my friends can't tell it's a VoIP line. What I really like is the WEB Care...like being able to configure those features (esp call forward) over the net...neat touch. I was surprised to see a cool product like this coming out of BT!
Hi, I got the service connected the other day too after similar problems to you with getting the password.
I am also quite amazed at how good the quality is.
Have any of you guys had a manual email sent to you by a man (name not mentioned incase he does not want to be named).
It is basically a "how are we doing" email. Also, have you had a problem with firmware on the ATA - For some reason mine is VERY screwed up and is not the correct image for BT!!!
Any comments would be welcomed - I am soooo looking forward to getting this working:)
Emails with passwords etc arrived last week. Box arrived this morning. No UK mains plug :( so got it plugged in via a travel adaptor. Plugged it all in, configured it first time, it works, dial the 055 number from another BT landline, it rings, all works, the quality is very good. (Broadband is 2Mb BT ADSL).
Go out shopping in sales to get a new telephone for it.
Nothing, cycle power its working again. Make a call 4mins into call it drops to silence, other person hears white noise and line drops. Cycle power, it works, this time for 6mins. Tried again, got 5mins. Tried lots of short calls <4mins, all work fine.
I tried telephoning the help line, 0800 028 3228. They ask you your number, giving the 055 number results in great confusion, the first couple of times they simply hung up saying it wasnt a BT number and they could not provide help.
On the 6th attempt, I discovered the key is to respond to the what is your number question with, a simple, I am calling about the New BT Broadband Voice product and I need help. At which point you're put through to someone who knows about the product, and how to run through the basic configurations.
Apparently this has been a common fault in the last week or so. Pings and traceroutes would indicate some kind of routing problem at the BT end.
Friends on KC in Hull get number unobtainable for the 055, as do friends with NTL lines, trying the number from mobiles works, O2 connects right away, Orange seems to take an age but then connects.
The CLI works with some but not all handsets.
However, this BT product has great potential. So long as ISP's don't start port blocking.
Am planning to get the service once I get my Blueyonder connection.
BT have really screwed up. I phoned the helpline number, only to be asked by the airhead why I wanted BT Broadband if I didn't have a BT line. DUHH!
Vonage plan to come to the UK in the next six months or so, and not before time. Same with Packet8.
I'm planning to try it outside the UK, so that people (UK expatriates) can have a virtual UK landline. The problems with 055 CLI are just what I anticipated- next it'll be unavailable outside the UK as +44 55- or damned expensive.
Why should ISPs start port blocking? They could include this service as part of their package!
I know someone in Kent using Vonage- I phone him on his New York number, it rings like a US phone, and sounds fine.
www.vonage.com
www.packet8.net
Today I achived a total of 8 (eight) yes 8! whole mins using my Broadband Voice line. However over 4 hours! (lucky I have a speaker phone) was spent on 0800 028 3228, yes this is the amazing broadband voice help desk staffed by operators that don't know anything about broadband voice. They help me by telling me to try the broadband voice help desk 0800 028 3228.
The nice email I have from broadbandvoice@bt.com tells me to telephone 0800 028 3228 and quote the reference number in the email. The reference number of course means nothing to the operative.
Dialing 151 from a friends BT line and getting ther operator to line test the 05511 number is amusing. Twice the distant voice from some call centre in India said it locked up her terminal when she tried testing it. But at least she knew what broadband voice was and offered the email address of the help desk.
Could it be my ISP or connection? A trip to work to test it on the 2MB leased line, same trick, it works for up to 8mins! A friends ADSL, 5mins!
The BT supplied Cisco ATA 186 does look nice and sexy. Its got a kinky green status light!
I have been told BT check the IP address to see if the device is in the UK. I've yet to try it though.
Anyone from BT care to comment? Anyone from BT know what Broadband Voice is?
Anyone know if the Cisco ATA 186 supplied by BT has a debugging or status web page? I know about, 192.168.xx.yy/dev/ But is there something like 192.168.xx.yy/debug/ ?? Something that might hint on the very short calls feature of broadband voice???
P, From experience, VoIP calls dropping out can often be due to port bindings in your router being lost. However it may be the ATA you have is dodgy. Certainly, I've not experienced call drop out on my line, but then maybe I'm just lucky! I would get BT to send you a replacement ATA if I were you.
Finally have my BT VoIP up and running...
I was wondering if anyone knew of any software implementations of the protocol BT are using - I can't seem to find much info on the MSCP protocol mentioned?
I too have been struggling with BT's Broadband Voice.
I ordered in December and received the Cisco the following day, but never received any emails other than one this week from a guy called Malcolm when I called to query progress. So I now have my 05511 number and password but can't get the service to work.
Despite a successful TFTP firmware upgrade (now running v2.16.1.ms ata18x Build 030814a), I can watch the MGCP call agent chatter, but no dialtone:
10:19:35.384379 192.168.1.123.2427 > 62.239.63.10.2727: udp 59 [tos 0x68]
10:19:39.717103 62.239.63.10.2727 > 192.168.1.123.2427: udp 50
10:19:39.728333 192.168.1.123.2427 > 62.239.63.10.2727: udp 25 [tos 0x68]
The latest advise from Technical was to credit my account with some funds, which I have done - but still no service.
*sigh*
dom,
It sounds like your ATA is registered on 2427/2727 but your RTP traffic isn't getting through your firewall. The technical helpdesk can tell you the UDP ports you need to open up. They told me, but I'm not sure whether it's different for different routers.
No, I've even tried it sitting completely outside the firewall, but with the same result.
I managed a single incoming call and dialtone on one occasion this evening, but then it went again. I hadn't changed any of the setup or network configuration so can only assume a fault with either the Cisco or BT equipment.
I was promised a call back from "the technical person who deals with these things", a guy called Ross apparently. I've been waiting for three days.
Think I'm going to have to call it a day :(
I have finally solved the problem on my own!
Guessing that the networking side of things was as it should be, I became suspicious of the password. As I had not received any emails, I called the helpdesk and the Broadband Service Team Manager sent my password to me in an email earlier this week.
I naturally assumed that he had been sensible and copy+pasted the password into the email, but then I noticed that the word "password" was not spelled correctly, so I wondered if the password itself was correct. So I tried every combination of substituting zeroes for O's and vice versa and hey presto it now works. So they had sent me the wrong password!
Now it's operational it works very well. My only complaint is that the 1571 voicemail service can't change to a stuttered dialtone when you have a message, so you have to check manually at regular intervals.
So my experience is that if you can work things out yourself, it's a good product. But don't rely on any support from BT. I have been told many lies by the so-called technical people, they really don't have a clue.
For those that are interested, once the TFTP firmware upgrade has completed you only need to make incoming firewall holes for 2427/udp and 16384/udp (or whatever you have listed as theMediaPort). All these connections will originate from www.bbvservice-jade.bt.com [62.239.63.10].
Dom, which password did they get wrong?...the voice password (T.XXXXX) or the password (the one that lets you log onto "your account")... because I found that if you get the voice password wrong it doesn't give you dial tone (strange if you had a wrong T.XXX password and still got dial tone)
The protocol used is MGCP not MSCP.
Multimedia Gateway Control Protocol
Oh dear, i did type mscp didn't I! Thanks for pointing that out.
I am using a non BT service, with 99% up time on a broadband connection, I also get free voip to voip calls. It's not rocket science, and there are much better providers around.
Worth looking at FWD Free World Dialup, www.fwd.pulver.com
The MSCP thing has real implications for BT's VOIP cost structure as it isn't p2p so BT needs to transit the whole call.
But hell I can't get the damn thing to work anyway.
Does anybody know how much it cost to call an 05511 number from a BT line?
Calls to 05511 numbers are charged at "g6" rates, which from a BT line cost 5 pence per minute, anytime. (weekday, evening and weekends!)
See
http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/current/docs/Call_Charges.boo/00251.htm
and
http://www.serviceview.bt.com/list/current/docs/Call_Charges.boo/00161.htm
I have BBV and it's great!
Would definately recommend Broadband Voice...
It's brilliant. Anyone know if you can change the BT Answer 1571 Greeting though? I can on my landline fone, but not my BBV one for some strang unknown reason.
Hmm... Anyway... if you need a second line definately consider this! Much cheaper than paying for installation of a second landline and the calls are cheaper too!
Im a blueyonder cable user with a 1.5Mb line.
Am i opening up myself to a world of pain going in to this BT BBV service over blueyonder cable?
Another question, can you get 3 way calling on BBV, if so do you guys know how much it costs?
Rob
You get all the services (3 way calling etc...) free with BT Broadband Voice and they have reduced the cost to just £5.50 per month. This come with BT Option 2 making evening & Weekend calls totally free up to an hour.
Having had the service for over a month I was quiet happy with it. Easy to set up and call quality compares well to any landline. That was up until a few days ago when for no apparent reason I have lost service. The status alarm is constantly flashing red and the line is dead as a doedo. Called bt three times "first muppet there is a network fault will be back on in a few hours" Second there are no network issues will have a check done" Third muppet " Sorry you will have to ring sales who then tell me to ring technical support. LOOP THE LOOP ! I have sent three emails that where delivered but as of yet unanswered eventhou I requested receipt. Three days now no phone no email and no service. It's a joke but not a funny one. I am now using Skype with cheaper national and very cheap mobile calls and free calls pc to pc. The only problem is you don't get an incoming call number which is what I really want with something that resembles a normal telephone with out the huge price tag of some of the VOIP telephones. I think BT might be a bit pissed off and purposely causing the problems as I ditched my landline for VOIP and have cut it off hoping I will pay them the extortionate landline rental. I also thought NTL broadband may be blocking a port somewhere so I can not use the service. Any suggestions would be greatly recieved. I can not see any reason why all of a sudden it would stop working. There as been no suggestion of a faulty FDX-840.
have you bothered to read the BBV site rob?
It says you get 3way calling,and they are same as regular call charge.
Its available to ANY fast connection
i have a FDX-840 from bt the prob is that its not working even though i have registered my details the status/alarm light keeps flashing red is it because of my ntl cable modem plaese help
there is a setting for MAC address spoofing for users of NTL / Blueyonder etc. This should make your ISP think your VOIP adapter is your cable router, thus allowing the VOIP ports. Don't think you always need to do this, definately not if your ISP is BT.
I want to ask the same question that FaceXXXX asked way back in January...
Does anybody know of any software implemenations of the MGCP that BT use for the VOIP?? So that calls can be placed etc. from software on the PC and via the soundcard/headset.
Its just brilliant got rid of my BT landline only have blueyonder now (TELEWEST) no line rental never any problems phone line always there and the mac address is the one on your pc not the one it comes up with to clone just use the mac address of your pc and you will run smooth like a baby. I would reccoment it as you get select services all FREE and why dont you try anominous caller rejection *227# that service is usually 15.00 pound a quarter on BT but not on here its free. To cancel it #227#