Using Obi110 via AA for Long Dist (initiated via Wifi)

[KAura]

Recently moved to MO and am truly in the boonies...

There is NO cell phone reception for miles, and to make matters
worse the family we are helping (staying with temporarily) only
has local calling on their phone which is VERY limited/frustrating.

I have reprogrammed a linksys router to work as a repeater and
have bridged it to a local wifi signal, but I only want to use this
wifi/dsl access as little as possible, preferably just to initiate calls.

As an aside:

I have contracted through Earthlink to use their services, but as
you might suspect there are also NO local numbers I can call to
initiate an internet connection over the phone line using dialup.


I need to be able to do the following:

I want to initiate a call to my Obi110 via wifi and have it call my
local landline.  Then, using the Obi110 AA I should be able to call
any long distance number without incurring long distance charges
via their local phone company.

(as an alternate messy method I could use the Obi110 and call the
local landline first, then flash and call the destination, then flash to
join the two and then drop the Obi110 from the call...  messy)

I have seen an example of calling the Obi110 from a landline
and then dropping the call and the Obi110 AA automatically calls
back the authorized calling # using inbound rules.  However, no
local access number is available to use to call the Obi110 so a
phone connected to the Obi110 will be used to initiate the call.


Question:

What is the easiest way to pick up the phone connected to the
Obi110, hit a few keys, and then have the AA call the landline
phone so I can then use the AA to call without long distance
charges and limited piggybacking on the local wifi?

What is the cheapest provider to go with so the Obi110 will
work as part of the solution to this problem?

[azrobert]

Setup a Speed Dial# like this:
aa(14805551212)

14805551212 is your local number.

From the phone connect to the OBi dial the Speed Dial number.
Let it ring once and hang up.
The AA will call your local number.

This will not accomplish your goal of limited WiFi use.
When you make the outbound call via AA you are using your VOIP provider, the same as using the phone attached to the OBi to complete the outbound call.

Your VOIP provider will charge you for 2 calls.
Here is a diagram of the call path AFTER the AA connects the call.

Local phone <--> VOIP <--> wifi  <--> OBi <-->  wifi <--> VOIP <--> Call destination

[giqcass]

How many Obi devices are you using?  To do what you are talking about there must be 1 Obi110 at your location and another Obi at another location or No obi at your location and 1 Obi at another location.   There are some alternatives if you only have 1 Obi at you location. 

[KAura]

az: Thanks for that super simple answer
almost too easy

giq: I have 1 Obi110 wifi piggybacked locally.

Guess I misunderstood...
thought if I use the Obi and flash call two #'s
and then flash again that the two #'s would
be connected and not use wifi once I hang up
the phone line connected to the Obi.

Thought this and using the AA are equivalent
concerning the use of the local wifi to initiate
the calls.  I don't see why the Obi device would
still be in use, but I do see why there would be
two VOIP charges per AA call.

[giqcass]

I have 1 Obi110 wifi piggybacked locally.

The Obi must be able to make an outbound call either over a phone line or over the internet.  When you have the Obi call you back it must make 2 phone calls.  One phone call to you and one phone call to the person you are calling.

There are a few options here.  The cheapest option I can think of doesn't use your Obi at all.  Initiate a callback from Google Voice with a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

The $69 option is using sipsorcery to initiate a callback from Google Voice.  A slight change to the normal setup and you would only use the internet to initiate a call.  The good part about this option is that you can use your telephone handset to initiate the callback.

Localphone.com  There are a couple ways this service could help you.  If they have a local access number you can direct dial people somewhere between $0.001-$0.005 per minute.  If they don't have a local access number you can use their callback service for somewhere between $0.002-$0.01 per minute.  The cheaper prices are if you buy a monthly subscription.  The higher prices are their pay as you go rate.  You should sign up for a free account to see just what they can do for you.  No credit card needed for the free account.

[sailing]

Just an alternative to your question. Voip.ms and others, allow subaccounts. (Voip.ms allows unlimited subaccounts.) A different device (oib, pc, tablet, etc) would be connected to each subaccount. The outgoing phone number would be your home phone number. (Voip.ms allows spoofing your phone number.) Now you can make a call from anywhere with wifi. Cost is about  1 cent per minute; inbound and outbound. Each subaccount can be given an extension. Calls between subaccounts are free.

[azrobert]

Guess I misunderstood...
thought if I use the Obi and flash call two #'s
and then flash again that the two #'s would
be connected and not use wifi once I hang up
the phone line connected to the Obi.

Thought this and using the AA are equivalent
concerning the use of the local wifi to initiate
the calls.  I don't see why the Obi device would
still be in use, but I do see why there would be
two VOIP charges per AA call.

You can do a simple test to see if the OBi is involved after you connect the call.

When the OBi is dormant the second LED will flash a couple of times then go out. This pattern will repeat.
When the OBi has an active call the LED will rapidly flash without pausing.

Try a call and see what the LED is doing.