Making PC to Phone VoIP Calls over Dial-Up Internet
Connections
By Nathan Smith
There’s a lot of hype these days surrounding Internet-based voice communications
(VoIP) replacing traditional telephone service. Most of this revolves around
companies such as Vonage who coin themselves as the ‘Broadband Phone
Company’.
So what about those of us who don’t have a broadband connection? Just because
you don’t have high speed Internet, doesn’t mean that you can’t save a fortune by
using VoIP for your long-distance calls. Whilst a broadband connection will usually
result in more consistent VoIP call quality, comparable results can be achieved
using a dial-up connection provided some simple
guidelines are followed.
Shop Around
Not all VoIP service providers support dial-up users. Companies such as
Vonage bill themselves as alternatives to traditional telephone service and shy
away from the dial-up community (who are tied to those ‘traditional’ networks to
access the Internet). Furthermore, some service providers only support dial-up
above a certain speed (e.g., 56Kbp). Two companies whose VoIP softphone
applications work well over low speed connections include Callserve and Go2Call.
‘Free-up’ your System Resources
In order to ensure the highest call quality, close programs that are running in the
‘background’. For Windows users, these applications can be seen in the taskbar at
the bottom right of your screen. ‘Right-click’ the icons and close those programs
that aren’t critical to system security (e.g., don’t close anti-virus software, firewall
applications and the like).
If you’re using Windows XP with user switching enabled, log off all users except the
one that will be used to make the call. This will prevent the other user identities
from running software and/or using your bandwidth while you’re making calls.
‘Free Up’ your Internet Connection
Given the limited data capacity of dial-up connections, it’s important that you
devote as much of your bandwidth as possible to the VoIP softphone application.
To achieve maximum call quality, don’t do anything that uses your bandwidth whilst
making calls. This includes instant messaging, checking email, using a webcam,
browsing the Internet, downloading, etc. In Windows, you can look at the two little
computers in the bottom right of your taskbar to see whether your connection is
being used prior to calling (the little computers illuminate when data is being
uploaded and/or downloaded).
Scan your System for Viruses, Spyware, Adware and Malware
Some of these malicious programs can hijack your browser, tie up your Internet
connection and slow down your system (not to mention seriously invade your
privacy!). I recommend AdAware for free scanning and removal of
Spyware/Adware. Once you’ve checked and cleansed your system of these nasty
programs, your virus definition files should be updated to minimize the chances of
re-infection.
Use a Headset with an Integrated Boom Microphone
Last but not least, using a headset with a boom microphone should eliminate those
annoying voice echoes often associated with PC to Phone calls. Echoes are
caused by your microphone detecting the voice coming from your computer
speakers and re-transmitting that voice signal back to the person you’re talking to.
By using a headset, the voice signals are limited in volume (due to the headset
being directly adjacent to your ears) and thus the chances of your microphone ‘re-
transmitting’ those voice signals is greatly reduced.
So there you have it. A Lack of high speed Internet needn’t mean a lack of PC to
Phone VoIP capability.
Nathan Smith
Nathan is the owner of netphonedirectory.com which deals specifically with PC to
Phone and PC to PC VoIP. The site includes a comprehensive directory of PC to
Phone service providers as well as information on VoIP and what you need to
make inexpensive long-distance telephone calls using your computer
Connections
By Nathan Smith
There’s a lot of hype these days surrounding Internet-based voice communications
(VoIP) replacing traditional telephone service. Most of this revolves around
companies such as Vonage who coin themselves as the ‘Broadband Phone
Company’.
So what about those of us who don’t have a broadband connection? Just because
you don’t have high speed Internet, doesn’t mean that you can’t save a fortune by
using VoIP for your long-distance calls. Whilst a broadband connection will usually
result in more consistent VoIP call quality, comparable results can be achieved
using a dial-up connection provided some simple
guidelines are followed.
Shop Around
Not all VoIP service providers support dial-up users. Companies such as
Vonage bill themselves as alternatives to traditional telephone service and shy
away from the dial-up community (who are tied to those ‘traditional’ networks to
access the Internet). Furthermore, some service providers only support dial-up
above a certain speed (e.g., 56Kbp). Two companies whose VoIP softphone
applications work well over low speed connections include Callserve and Go2Call.
‘Free-up’ your System Resources
In order to ensure the highest call quality, close programs that are running in the
‘background’. For Windows users, these applications can be seen in the taskbar at
the bottom right of your screen. ‘Right-click’ the icons and close those programs
that aren’t critical to system security (e.g., don’t close anti-virus software, firewall
applications and the like).
If you’re using Windows XP with user switching enabled, log off all users except the
one that will be used to make the call. This will prevent the other user identities
from running software and/or using your bandwidth while you’re making calls.
‘Free Up’ your Internet Connection
Given the limited data capacity of dial-up connections, it’s important that you
devote as much of your bandwidth as possible to the VoIP softphone application.
To achieve maximum call quality, don’t do anything that uses your bandwidth whilst
making calls. This includes instant messaging, checking email, using a webcam,
browsing the Internet, downloading, etc. In Windows, you can look at the two little
computers in the bottom right of your taskbar to see whether your connection is
being used prior to calling (the little computers illuminate when data is being
uploaded and/or downloaded).
Scan your System for Viruses, Spyware, Adware and Malware
Some of these malicious programs can hijack your browser, tie up your Internet
connection and slow down your system (not to mention seriously invade your
privacy!). I recommend AdAware for free scanning and removal of
Spyware/Adware. Once you’ve checked and cleansed your system of these nasty
programs, your virus definition files should be updated to minimize the chances of
re-infection.
Use a Headset with an Integrated Boom Microphone
Last but not least, using a headset with a boom microphone should eliminate those
annoying voice echoes often associated with PC to Phone calls. Echoes are
caused by your microphone detecting the voice coming from your computer
speakers and re-transmitting that voice signal back to the person you’re talking to.
By using a headset, the voice signals are limited in volume (due to the headset
being directly adjacent to your ears) and thus the chances of your microphone ‘re-
transmitting’ those voice signals is greatly reduced.
So there you have it. A Lack of high speed Internet needn’t mean a lack of PC to
Phone VoIP capability.
Nathan Smith
Nathan is the owner of netphonedirectory.com which deals specifically with PC to
Phone and PC to PC VoIP. The site includes a comprehensive directory of PC to
Phone service providers as well as information on VoIP and what you need to
make inexpensive long-distance telephone calls using your computer
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