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General Support => On-Topic: Obihai and OBi Products => Topic started by: TimDan on June 18, 2017, 02:02:52 PM

Title: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 18, 2017, 02:02:52 PM
Could I use an ObiWiFi5G dongle attached to an Obi302 adapter to answer/make calls using my cell phone's WiFi?  I have the Obi302 ahead of my WiFi router to use PhonePower's VoIP.  My cell phone has WiFi for Internet access. 

Would the cell phone need an app to do that?  If so, what app(s)?

Thanks for any info.
TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: SteveInWA on June 18, 2017, 02:33:38 PM
Hi:

No, the OBiWiFi5G dongle is only used to connect the OBi device itself to your LAN, as a substitute for using an Ethernet cable.  Think of the OBi like a laptop which has both WiFi and Ethernet; you can use one or the other to access the internet.

The thing you want is the OBiBT (Bluetooth) dongle.  You then pair your mobile phone to the OBiBT, and your mobile phone then acts like another service provider for the OBi.  You can make and receive calls on your analog telephone, plugged into the OBi, using the mobile phone as you would if you were using PhonePower.

Are you sure you have an OBi 302, not a 202?  Did you get it from PhonePower?  If it's a 302 from them, you should contact them and ask if the configuration of the 302 is locked down, or if you can access its settings to add the Bluetooth dongle.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: drgeoff on June 18, 2017, 02:51:32 PM
@TimDan

It is not clear to me what you are asking.

If you want to make and answer PhonePower calls using your cellphone, there is an Android app for that which works over Wi-Fi or cellular data.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phonepower.softphone.android.  Maybe there is one for iOS.  No OBi required.

Or if Obion works on your cellphone you can give that the softphone number provided gratis on your Obitalk portal accountl.  That softphone can then be linked to your 302 to make and receive calls on the PhonePower account configured on the 302.  No OBiWIFI required but this approach is contingent on the 302 not being locked down as SteveInWA alluded to.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: SteveInWA on June 18, 2017, 03:02:06 PM
Quote from: drgeoff on June 18, 2017, 02:51:32 PM
@TimDan

It is not clear to me what you are asking.

If you want to make and answer PhonePower calls using your cellphone, there is an Android app for that which works over Wi-Fi or cellular data.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phonepower.softphone.android.  Maybe there is one for iOS.  No OBi required.

Or if Obion works on your cellphone you can give that the softphone number provided gratis on your Obitalk portal accountl.  That softphone can then be linked to your 302 to make and receive calls on the PhonePower account configured on the 302.  No OBiWIFI required but this approach is contingent on the 302 not being locked down as SteveInWA alluded to.

It was clear to me; that's why I answered his question correctly.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: drgeoff on June 18, 2017, 03:21:17 PM
Quote from: SteveInWA on June 18, 2017, 03:02:06 PM
Quote from: drgeoff on June 18, 2017, 02:51:32 PM
@TimDan

It is not clear to me what you are asking.

If you want to make and answer PhonePower calls using your cellphone, there is an Android app for that which works over Wi-Fi or cellular data.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phonepower.softphone.android.  Maybe there is one for iOS.  No OBi required.

Or if Obion works on your cellphone you can give that the softphone number provided gratis on your Obitalk portal accountl.  That softphone can then be linked to your 302 to make and receive calls on the PhonePower account configured on the 302.  No OBiWIFI required but this approach is contingent on the 302 not being locked down as SteveInWA alluded to.

It was clear to me; that's why I answered his question correctly.
That you answered his question correctly may be irrelevant to him if the specific wording of his question did not accurately reflect what he really wants to achieve.

Nothing either of us has written is incorrect.  Neither of us has a monopoly on offering info or advice.  As long as he does not receive conflicting info, he can choose whichever best meets his needs and ignore anything which is not useful.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 18, 2017, 07:48:34 PM
Quote from: SteveInWA on June 18, 2017, 02:33:38 PM
No, the OBiWiFi5G dongle is only used to connect the OBi device itself to your LAN, as a substitute for using an Ethernet cable.  Think of the OBi like a laptop which has both WiFi and Ethernet; you can use one or the other to access the internet.

OK, connecting the adapter to the Obi302 is not my objective as that is done with Ethernet cable.

QuoteThe thing you want is the OBiBT (Bluetooth) dongle.  You then pair your mobile phone to the OBiBT, and your mobile phone then acts like another service provider for the OBi.  You can make and receive calls on your analog telephone, plugged into the OBi, using the mobile phone as you would if you were using PhonePower.

I'm not trying to use my cell phone's tower services.  I'm trying to answer/make calls using my cell phone's WiFi and PhonePower while I work on my car in the carport.  The cell phone is just to be, in effect, a wireless phone.
My cell phone's service contract isn't even activated.

QuoteAre you sure you have an OBi 302, not a 202?  Did you get it from PhonePower?  If it's a 302 from them, you should contact them and ask if the configuration of the 302 is locked down, or if you can access its settings to add the Bluetooth dongle.

I do have an Obi302, and it's from PhonePower.  I haven't called them because it's Sunday.  :-)

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 18, 2017, 07:58:55 PM
Quote from: drgeoff on June 18, 2017, 02:51:32 PM
@TimDan

It is not clear to me what you are asking.

If you want to make and answer PhonePower calls using your cellphone, there is an Android app for that which works over Wi-Fi or cellular data.  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phonepower.softphone.android.  Maybe there is one for iOS.  No OBi required.

I want to answer incoming PhonePower calls that come in on my PhonePower number using my cell phone as if it were a wireless analog phone.  I want to also make outgoing calls on my PhonePower number using my cell phone.  In both cases, my cell phone is merely acting as if it were a wireless phone, i.e. not using cell towers or cell phone carriers.

QuoteOr if Obion works on your cellphone you can give that the softphone number provided gratis on your Obitalk portal accountl.  That softphone can then be linked to your 302 to make and receive calls on the PhonePower account configured on the 302.  No OBiWIFI required but this approach is contingent on the 302 not being locked down as SteveInWA alluded to.

That may be the answer.  I'll grill the PhonePower tech support on Monday.  Thanks, guys.

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: SteveInWA on June 18, 2017, 08:11:14 PM
Yes, in theory, you could use your "cell phone" (actually just a WiFi tablet, for this use case), but it wouldn't be using either of the two types of OBi dongles.  There are several methods, including Obion (sucks) or a softphone app like Counterpath X-Lite or Zoiper.  However, in real-world use, you aren't going to be satisfied at all.  You'd need a strong WiFi signal, and you would get rather poor battery life, keeping the WiFi/VoIP connection "awake" all the time.  And, then there's getting your greasy hands on the phone and trying not to drop it.

The better, and frankly obvious solution is to simply plug a modern DECT 6.0 cordless telephone base station into the OBi, and take the handset outside.  DECT has much greater range than WiFi, is designed to be used while moving around, and has far better battery life.  You can either use what you might already have, or buy a new one at your favorite big box store for not much money.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 19, 2017, 12:18:44 PM
Quote from: SteveInWA on June 18, 2017, 08:11:14 PM
..... The better, and frankly obvious solution is to simply plug a modern DECT 6.0 cordless telephone base station into the OBi, and take the handset outside.  DECT has much greater range than WiFi, is designed to be used while moving around, and has far better battery life.  You can either use what you might already have, or buy a new one at your favorite big box store for not much money.

Yup, that would be a straight-forward solution and a solution that I was trying to simulate.  I wanted a way to make my pre-paid cell phone do double duty via its WiFi feature.  I use it now just to check the news and get stock quotes via WiFi, and I don't even have it activated as a "cell phone".  I guess I'll check eBay for cordless phones.  Thanks for the clarification.

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: azrobert on June 19, 2017, 01:45:58 PM
I bought a cell phone on sale for $10 just for this purpose and I can make and receive calls with it. It's a fairly easy setup and doesn't cost anything, so you can see if it meets your requirements.

Use OBi Expert for OBi302 Setup:
Service Providers -> ITSP Profile D -> SIP -> ProxyServer : 127.0.0.1
Service Providers -> ITSP Profile D -> SIP -> X_Proxy:  Checked
Service Providers -> ITSP Profile D -> SIP -> X_SpoofCallerID: Checked
Voice Services -> SP4 Service -> AuthUserName : OBi302
Voice Services -> SP4 Service -> AuthPassword: password
Voice Services -> SP4 Service -> X_ServProvProfile : D

This will process outbound calls and route them to SP1:
Voice Services -> SP4 Service -> X_InboundCallRoute:
{OBi302>(Msp1):sp1},{ph}       (OBi302 must match User in CSipSimple)

This will send inbound SP1 calls to CSipSimple:
Voice Services -> SP1 Service -> X_InboundCallRoute:
ph,sp4(OBi302@local_client)

The above assumes your provider is on SP1 and the ITSP A DigitMap doesn't have any custom code that will cause problems. I don't own an OBi302 and I'm assuming it has the X_Proxy parm the same as an OBi2xx. This is need for the softphone to register to SP4.


Install CSipSimple softphone on your Android.
Add a new Account.
Select the BASIC wizard
Account name = OBi302
User = OBi302
Server = xx.xx.xx.xx:5063        (OBi302 IP address and SP4 port#)
Password = password
SAVE

Under Settings
Network > Lock WiFi: checked
User interface > Use partial wake lock: checked

Edit:
I just tried my cheapo phone outside on my patio and I successfully placed a call. This was approximately 70 feet away from my router. The outside wall is mostly glass, but the signal also passed through 2 interior walls.

Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 21, 2017, 01:06:26 PM
Quote from: azrobert on June 19, 2017, 01:45:58 PM
I bought a cell phone on sale for $10 just for this purpose and I can make and receive calls with it. It's a fairly easy setup and doesn't cost anything, so you can see if it meets your requirements.
. . . . .
I just tried my cheapo phone outside on my patio and I successfully placed a call.

Amazing!  Amazing!  You don't mention explicitly that you use an ObiWiFI5G dongle plugged into a Obi202, though.
Or do you use the WiFi from a WiFi router to link with your WiFi cell phone?  And can you receive a call?
If so, what is the indication that a call has come in?

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 03:04:40 PM
I don't use an OBiWiFi on my OBi200, but it won't hurt to use one. The cell phone connects directly to your router via WiFi and sends and receives calls over the network.

When you receive a call the cell phone will ring.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: drgeoff on June 21, 2017, 03:32:23 PM
The only purpose of an OBiWIFI is to connect the OBI302 to your router instead of using an ethernet cable between the two.  Your cellphone connects to the router by Wi-Fi (and thence by cable or OBiWIFI to the OBi302).  The cellphone does not (and cannot) connect directly to the OBi302.  An OBiWIFI plays no part in connecting the cellphone to the router.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 21, 2017, 07:44:25 PM
Quote from: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 03:04:40 PM
. . . The cell phone connects directly to your router via WiFi and sends and receives calls over the network.
When you receive a call the cell phone will ring.

Quote from: drgeoff on June 21, 2017, 03:32:23 PM
The only purpose of an OBiWIFI is to connect the OBI302 to your router instead of using an ethernet cable between the two.  Your cellphone connects to the router by Wi-Fi (and thence by cable or OBiWIFI to the OBi302).  The cellphone does not (and cannot) connect directly to the OBi302.  An OBiWIFI plays no part in connecting the cellphone to the router.

OK, thanks guys.  So the cell phone running the Android app "CSipSimple" acts as a SIP phone connected to, say  PhonePower, via the Internet.  Right?  And not having to buy the WiFi dongle sounds good.
How is the delay going through the "CSipSimple" software on Android on a cheap cell phone?  Noticeable?

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: SteveInWA on June 21, 2017, 08:00:57 PM
For gawd's sake.  You could have bought a brand new DECT 6.0 cordless phone by now, and be happily making phone calls.

For example:  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vtech-CS6114-Cordless-Phone-with-Caller-ID/15529448 (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vtech-CS6114-Cordless-Phone-with-Caller-ID/15529448) for $15.00
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 08:12:43 PM
QuoteSo the cell phone running the Android app "CSipSimple" acts as a SIP phone connected to, say  PhonePower, via the Internet.

This is NOT what I'm suggesting. The softphone registers directly to the OBi. Outbound calls are sent to the OBi and then routed out SP1. Inbound calls on SP1 are routed to the phone port and to the softphone.

You could register the softphone directly to Phonepower. I'm not familiar with Phonepower, so I'm not sure it will work. Phonepower would have to support 2 extensions, the OBi and the softphone and it must be able to route inbound calls to both.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 21, 2017, 09:06:31 PM
Quote from: SteveInWA on June 21, 2017, 08:00:57 PM
For gawd's sake.  You could have bought a brand new DECT 6.0 cordless phone by now, and be happily making phone calls.
For example:  https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vtech-CS6114-Cordless-Phone-with-Caller-ID/15529448 (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Vtech-CS6114-Cordless-Phone-with-Caller-ID/15529448) for $15.00
Of course, that is the 1st solution that I thought of, but it involves device proliferation and it's not as elegant as just carrying a cell phone to the carport in my pocket.  It is cheap, though.  Maybe I'll just drop a twisted pair out my kitchen window to the carport and use an old princess phone.  How's that for clunky?  :-)

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 21, 2017, 09:16:16 PM
Quote from: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 08:12:43 PM
QuoteSo the cell phone running the Android app "CSipSimple" acts as a SIP phone connected to, say  PhonePower, via the Internet.

This is NOT what I'm suggesting. The softphone registers directly to the OBi. Outbound calls are sent to the OBi and then routed out SP1. Inbound calls on SP1 are routed to the phone port and to the softphone.

You could register the softphone directly to Phonepower. I'm not familiar with Phonepower, so I'm not sure it will work. Phonepower would have to support 2 extensions, the OBi and the softphone and it must be able to route inbound calls to both.
I've already spoken with the lead tech support agent at PhonePower, and he offered no solutions and never mentioned a SIP client for Android, and I felt that I was pushing beyond his tech envelope.  I'll try PhonePower one more time, though.

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: SteveInWA on June 21, 2017, 09:20:06 PM
Quote
not as elegant as just carrying a cell phone to the carport in my pocket.  

What's elegant about that?  It isn't even a cell phone, since you canceled service on it.

You know, you can save those little scraps of bar soap, and use a kitchen grater to turn it into laundry soap, or you can use stolen grocery dairy cartons and an old door as a table, or you can save up kitchen grease and run your diesel car on it, or you can turn a tuna can into a stove...

There comes a point where it turns into being a pathological cheapskate, just for the sake of seemingly saving a buck.  I give up.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: Taoman on June 21, 2017, 09:34:04 PM
Quote from: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 08:12:43 PM

You could register the softphone directly to Phonepower. I'm not familiar with Phonepower, so I'm not sure it will work. Phonepower would have to support 2 extensions, the OBi and the softphone and it must be able to route inbound calls to both.


It should work. PhonePower supports 4 simultaneous registrations to the same account. All endpoints will ring for incoming calls. PhonePower doesn't support "extensions" (with separate SIP credentials for each extension) the way your average VoIP provider does.
For that matter they don't support SIP URI either which is an instant fail for me.
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 11:10:41 PM
Quote from: Taoman on June 21, 2017, 09:34:04 PM
It should work. PhonePower supports 4 simultaneous registrations to the same account. All endpoints will ring for incoming calls.

This makes the setup very easy. Don't make any changes to the OBi. Use the same credentials for CSipSimple that was used to setup Phonepower on the OBi.

Install CSipSimple softphone on your Android.
Add a new Account.
Select the BASIC wizard
Account name = Phonepower
User =
Server =
Password =
SAVE

Under Settings
Network > Lock WiFi: checked
User interface > Use partial wake lock: checked
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: drgeoff on June 22, 2017, 12:38:32 AM
PhonePower have their own softphone apps for Android,  iOS and PC.  http://www.phonepower.com/hardware.aspx
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 22, 2017, 11:08:19 AM
Quote from: SteveInWA on June 21, 2017, 09:20:06 PM
 I give up.

Somehow, I doubt that.  ;D

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 22, 2017, 11:28:52 AM
Quote from: azrobert on June 21, 2017, 11:10:41 PM
Quote from: Taoman on June 21, 2017, 09:34:04 PM
It should work. PhonePower supports 4 simultaneous registrations to the same account. All endpoints will ring for incoming calls.
This makes the setup very easy. Don't make any changes to the OBi. Use the same credentials for CSipSimple that was used to setup Phonepower on the OBi.

Install CSipSimple softphone on your Android.
Add a new Account.
Select the BASIC wizard
Account name = Phonepower
User =
Server =
Password =
SAVE

Under Settings
Network > Lock WiFi: checked
User interface > Use partial wake lock: checked
Quote from: drgeoff on June 22, 2017, 12:38:32 AM
PhonePower have their own softphone apps for Android,  iOS and PC.  http://www.phonepower.com/hardware.aspx

These are both very heartening.  I called PhonePower re their "Free Softphone" app, and their Tech Support said that it's downloadable for Android from the PlayStore.  The tech agent also said that there were no parameters to set other than those to identify my account, and that once set up, I should be able to use my cell phone's WiFi link with my WiFi router to make and receive calls just as I do with my analog desk phone.

I'll give the PhonePower app a try, and if that doesn't work out well, I'll try CSipSimple.  (I've read enough to know that there are a lot of sketchy phone apps out there.)  Thanks again, guys!

TimDan
Title: Re: ObiWiFi5G to enable cell phone's Wi-Fi to answer/make calls?
Post by: TimDan on June 22, 2017, 07:00:10 PM
Quote from: TimDan on June 22, 2017, 11:28:52 AM
I'll give the PhonePower app a try, and if that doesn't work out well, I'll try CSipSimple. 

I installed PhonePower's softphone app from the Android PlayStore, and so far it works OK.  It can make and receive calls, using just the cell phone's WiFi connection to my WiFi router with no drop-outs or distortions.  But that is with the WiFi endpoints just 4 feet apart.  I'll see in the days ahead if the system continues to serve my needs.  If not, I'll try the CSipSimple app.  So far, no need to buy a cordless phone. :D

Thanks, guys!
TimDan