Dialing a disconnected number -- just rings / no message

[cj4331]

I just noticed that when I call a disconnected number from my new OBi / Google Voice phone it just rings and rings and rings.  If I call it from my cell or from the VOIP phone provided by my cable company I get a beep, beep, beep "this number has been disconnected..."  Why the heck would I not get the recording when using the OBi / Google Voice setup?

[CoalMinerRetired]

Sounds like that number uses what is called "early media" to tell the incoming call the number is disconnected.  As we are all finding out, this is unfortunately a feature Google Voice does not implement. I think of is as one of the tradeoffs for having a completely free/no cost home phone service.

Brief explanations:

http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=5250.0

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r27993515-Google-Voice-odd-behavior

Like is explained in the above, I see it when calling one certain 800 #. For 800#s only, there is a nice workaround here.

[cj4331]

Thanks CoalMinerRetired.  I wish I had know of these problems before I spent the $40 on the OBi100.  I saw the test busy number and tried that and it just rings and rings.  From another provider it's busy.  This could be a big issue for me as I call a lot of people that don't have call waiting and if they are on the phone it's just busy but I will not be able to know that now.  Lacking 911 makes me pause but lacking 911, not hearing busy signals, not being able to call toll free numbers, no hearing out of service announcements.  Maybe I should have gone with NetTalk. 

[CoalMinerRetired]

> This could be a big issue for me as I call a lot of people that don't have call waiting and if they are on the phone it's just busy but I will not be able to know that now. 

You're misunderstanding this. The problem is only with 800 #s, and only with a small subset of those. Per the linked thread, these are potential issues in this case also "The number you are calling has been changed. The new number is ..."

Of all the 800 #s I've dialed in the past nine months, I have one that exhibits the problem.  If you truly need to call a lot of 800 #s, see the reply in the link about how to route your 800 #s through alcazarnetworks, (http://www.alcazarnetworks.com/termination_tf.php).

[carl]

The problem goes beyond toll free. Also busy lines, disconnected numbers, non active numbers etc.
But you did not waste money on your Obi. There is a number of very good SIP providers you can use on your Obi which do not have this problem.

[cj4331]

I've tried a couple 800 numbers and it called them fine.  I'm trying to weigh my options.  I actually can't remember calling a disconnected number in ages until just recently when trying to find a heating and air dealer.  One apparently went out of business.  I kept the number and started forwarding junk callers to it with my current service.  I just tried to call it from the google voice/OBi phone while testing it and that's when I noticed the problem.  After hearing about the busy signal being a problem that could bother me.  But honestly I don't know where I can find a replacement provider that's simple and cheap.  NetTalk is a provider I've looked at that isn't bad.  Most of the sip providers that I've run across to use with the OBi seem quite complicated to figure out what they offer.  A real benefit of using GV is that when I call out from home it's coming from the number I want people to call me at.  When people call in my home and cell ring and I can look at the caller id to see if to take it on the cell if I'm not home.  I'm listening to any options.  I'm waiting to see if the quality and reliability of the GV/OBi is good before porting my home number to GV via a cheep cell intermediate step.

[Lavarock7]

I use VOIP.MS for my tollfree numbers. They allow outbound spoofing too.

If you create a free account there you may be able to use it for toll free numbers.

If you fund the account and use it and decide not to continue, they will refund your unused money, as long as you have not put funds in a second time.

I have been happy enough with them that I have ported a toll free number there and am porting a regular number to them (consolidating).

I like the way you can create sub-accounts, etc.

[giqcass]

Most toll free numbers will work fine from Google Voice.  There are exceptions and with a few changes on the OBi you can route toll free numbers through another carrier for free.  If you bought a NetTalk adapter then you would have been stuck with NetTalk.  The big advantage with OBi is you can go anywhere for service. 

I can't recommend any voip services personally that can compete with NetTalk price wise.

[cj4331]

Thanks everyone.  I'm going to try this for awhile to make sure it's reliable and clear.  If so I think I'm going to start porting my landline to GV.  I think it's the best solution.