Option for OBI replacement

[rjniles]

Next month is the date OBI has published as an end of support for the consumer OBI devices. I like many users use the OBI to connect my Google Voice line to my wired or cordless home phones. Not that the OBI will stop working immediately but likely at some point in time it will. I am looking for replacement options other than porting my GV to a different service. Has any one considered using a "cell2jack" device in conjunction with the GV app on your cell to connect to your home phones? Here is an product I am considering.

https://www.amazon.com/Cell2jack-Cellphone-Adapter-Receive-landline/dp/B089984QRT/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=171Z8XT8CU2ZS&keywords=cell2jack+cellphone+to+home+phone+adapter&qid=1700571284&sprefix=cell2jack%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[MSRobi]

The issue is that outgoing calls will use your cell phone number, not your gvoice number.  There are workarounds, but if you want to pick up a handset and dial out, I don't see an easy way to have it use your gvoice number for the outgoing call.

[drgeoff]

The issue is that outgoing calls will use your cell phone number, not your gvoice number.  There are workarounds, but if you want to pick up a handset and dial out, I don't see an easy way to have it use your gvoice number for the outgoing call.

If you make the call using the GV app on the cellphone the callee will see your GV number.

[Lavarock]

Personally, I would just port the number to a Voip provider like Voip.Ms. Rates for Voip services is very cheap and you get support that you don't get with Google. You could still use your Obi device as it is, just change the provider for that number.

[MSRobi]

The issue is that outgoing calls will use your cell phone number, not your gvoice number.  There are workarounds, but if you want to pick up a handset and dial out, I don't see an easy way to have it use your gvoice number for the outgoing call.

If you make the call using the GV app on the cellphone the callee will see your GV number.

If I only had one GVoice number, that would work well.  My "home phone" was ported to gvoice 5 years ago. My "cell phone" was ported to gvoice even before that.  My wife's cell phone isn't gvoice.  I am thinking that it doesn't matter much any more if either of our cell phone numbers are used for outgoing "home" calls placed from a handset connected via a bluetooth device like cell2jack.  For the few times it is important that the outgoing handset call uses the "home" gvoice number, I can make sure that gvoice account is handling the call from my cellphone.  Since both our cell phone plans are unlimited talk, there is a strong incentive not to use a voip provider that we pay for either pay-per-minute or buying bulk minutes every month.

[Lavarock]

I don't know if it makes a difference in your situation but here is one thing that has helped a customer/neighbor of mine.

They have multiple inbound numbers ported to Voip.Ms. These numbers have different buttons on their Obi2182 phones.

Voip.Ms does not have multiple outbound lines for this account, they have one outbound connection. Each extension uses that outbound with the only difference being the CALLER ID they use to the called party. Voip.Ms allows me to specify an outbound CALLED ID. Until recently when the FCC changed thiungs, I could have used ANY caller ID (the Whitehouse for example).

Now, you can only use a called-id that you own. If the number is actually in your account (ported in), you can use that. If the number is not within your account (say a cellphone), you CAN use that number for outbound calls, but you have to verify that you own and control that number. They do that with a one-time telephone call and code.

[Taoman]

Now, you can only use a called-id that you own.

That's actually not the case if you have a PBX or an OBi device although it's not as easy as it used to be. You can edit your subaccount and select "I use a system capable of passing its own CallerID."

Then if you edit Physical Interfaces-->PHONE Port-->OutboundCallRoute and redirect your desired outgoing CID to your VoIP.ms trunk it will send that number as your CID. Example below:

{(<**2:>(Msp2)):sp2(5556661234>)},

[Lavarock]

I have no doubt that at some point you will have to prove that you own that number you manually supply. The new rules state that the owners must be identified to eliminate spoofing by others.

[tempo150101]

Well, mine went dead today. So did my dad's. I went to the setup page and I don't see a way to connect to Google Voice anymore.

What do we do?

[drgeoff]

Well, mine went dead today. So did my dad's. I went to the setup page and I don't see a way to connect to Google Voice anymore.

What do we do?

GV was working for me immediately before I started to type this sentence.

[Taoman]

I have 2 GV numbers on my OBi202 and both numbers are working as expected.

[tempo150101]

Thanks for the feedback, but I made a rookie mistake. The DC adapter dislodged itself from the powerstrip. But at least I completed my research. I now know what to do if it ever goes dead.

[drgeoff]

Thanks for the feedback, but I made a rookie mistake. The DC adapter dislodged itself from the powerstrip. But at least I completed my research. I now know what to do if it ever goes dead.

little bit of knowledge may help you do any future troubleshooting.

Unlike POTS, with IP telephony initial dial tone (ie when taking the handset off-hook) is generated in the user's equipment.  It does not come from the service provider.  A functioning OBi will provide dial tone even with no network connection.  You can prove that for yourself by unplugging the ethernet cable and lifting the handset.