Forum Topic

Anyone using their computer (esp Mac) for free/cheap phone calls and care to talk me through it?

Hi! Have spent this afternoon trying to find out more about this online and can't take it in. I've managed to register with Sipgate, have a new phone number, etc, but can't seem to get the details of what hardware is necessary. I emailed them, but in the meantime thought I'd canvass the good people here for (hopefully) non-techie advice that even I in my extreme ignorance can understand.Lots of people have recommended Skype, but I have an elderly clamshell iBook and am still using 10.2.8, so Sipgate seemed okay, but there's no straightforward information on cheap, simple equipment to get started. For instance, do I need a router? What's the cheapest acceptable hardware? What gets plugged into what? Mac-compatible drivers required/available?I'm using Now (www.now.com) for my broadband access, and as this doesn't require a BT line, I relish the idea of kicking them out of my life forever, along with their outrageous line rental charges and intrusive marketing.Anyone?

Holly Hodges ● 7280d6 Comments

Many thanks for all the clear and helpful info! I was one step ahead of you Jim - I posted on both Brentford and Chiswick just to increase my chances of help!FYI, there's also a £10 option with Now - possibly the cheapest broadband ever.Yes, I agree that the customer service is second to none (it was one of the things I checked out before I signed up - they even have a 0800 number!), and I have a very strong signal. It was up and working less than 24 hours after I rang to sign up. In contrast, my boyfriend has just gone back to BT for their broadband service (which is more expensive plus the cost of the BT line), he needed to make an appointment for an engineer to come out, wait a further few days for the kit to be delivered, a further few days for the service to be connected, and now he needs to spend another afternoon in while they try to actually get it working, as he's still without service.Also, Now has a 30-day period during which you can cancel or change (upgrade, downgrade) your service.As I'm still chugging along on 10.2.8, I don't think Skype is compatible, but I only really use my landline for fortnightly calls to the US and the occasional 0800 call, or whatever isn't included in my free mobile minutes, so I doubt I'll be using the computer frequently for phone calls. I'll see how I get on with my Sipgate softphone.Keep the info coming - I'd be interested to hear about experiences of services other than Skype, just to get a sense of what I'm in for.

Holly Hodges ● 7277d

£15/month for 512 speed connection. £18/month for 1G speed. No further costs unless you want a pay-as-you-go deal, in which case you pay £30 at the start for the transmitter modem.As with early mobile phones, you won't necessarily be in an area that covers you yet. They plan to blanket London before the end of the year, and roll out the rest of the country in pretty short order.Another caution: It's no good signing up to a higher speed connection than your signal strength can cope with. Positioning the aerial makes a huge difference at the moment. In my office the main computer needs the aerial where I get 2 bars consistently, so have only signed on for the 512 connection - paying for the faster speed wouldn't mean I'd get it. However using a laptop with the aerial in the centre of the office, we get 3-4 bars, which means the faster speed would be attainable.The reps are happy to come out and physically try out the system on the spot before you agree to it. TW8 is a good area.

Nigel Moore ● 7279d

how much does 'now' costs? thanks

M Dowling ● 7279d

Holly, I have recently shifted to "Now" Broadband and cannot speak highly enough of the customer care. It simply works, and I made sure the rep. who came around tried it out on my boat to check that the all-steel cabin didn't block transmission (does need open windows).I simply joined back up with Skype, which costs nothing, and it works as well on the wireless system as with any hard-line connection. Only drawback is a slight delay between speaking and hearing.If you have an inbuilt speaker and mike on the computer, you need nothing else. However you might wish to invest in a headset, as when used on "hands-free", the other person can hear their delayed voice echoing back!. A cheap but adequate set costs about £15, plugging into the mike and external speaker jacks. More sophisticated sets use USB.If you wish to use the system for calls to landlines and mobiles, rather than limiting use to "live" computers, you can put a tenner or less on account and ring anywhere in the world. Full details of costs are published by Skype, and mostly work out very cheap. Overseas mobiles possibly excepted.

Nigel Moore ● 7280d

Holly,Could I suggest that you also post your message on the Chiswick Forum?Whilst you may well get a good answer from TW8....there are several helpful posters on W4 also..who may well have the answers you need. Don't hestitate to go there...they have helped me several times recently on techno matters.

Jim Lawes ● 7280d

"I'd canvass the good people here for (hopefully) non-techie advice that even I in my extreme ignorance can understand."To be honest Holly,you are way ahead of me in the techie stakes as I dont understand this computer phone calls lark at all!I hope somebody has this already and can explain it simply so even I can fathom it out?

Paul Fisher ● 7280d