Wifi moden router with voip

[ChookD2]

As per the title, I am looking for a Wifi modem router that supports voip.

I am about to change my ISP and when I do I will then have two locked modem paper weights, enough. What I now want is a modem that I can just keep and if I wish to change ISPs in the future all it takes is a little re-configuration.

This will be working on the NBN (no bloody network) over FTTN and I will be looking at 50/20 as I am less than 400m from the node. I have had a poke around Whirlpool forums and those people just get too geeky in their discussions for me to follow. And I don't want to spend a lot of money, I'm on a budget (about $150). I'm still trying to talk SWMBO out of the landline but she is being a little insistent on having it.

So far I am considering the following:

1. TP-Link AC1200, not sure it supports voip so maybe the VR600.
2. Netgear nighthawk AC1900 R7000 (probably out of budget).
3. D-Link AC1900

If anyone has experience with any of the above good or bad I'd like to hear it. Or if you have a particular beast you are familiar with then by all means pop that in as well.

As for ISP or RSP or whatever they are called this week, I've narrowed that down to Aussie Broadband and Superloop so if you have some insight into these happy to hear it.

TIA

[donh54]

I was always under the impression that Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) would work through any modem. I've used it over dial-up (very laggy), and ADSL (quite good). So under the NBN it should be great.

[PhilipA]

The biggest problem for me is that nearly all bogus calls from Microsoft Telstra nbn and others come via the landline as it is a fixed known number.
i only recently found out that I can receive text to voice on it which sort of bemused me.
regards PhilipA
I too am constantly tempted to just pull the plug.

[DiscoMick]

We dumped our land-line when we got NBN and now just use mobiles. Can't imagine why we would ever need a land-line again. And no more 6pm calls begging for money. Just get the modem provided by your NBN provider and I can't imagine any problems. Get a smart TV with Wi-Fi to the NBN router and you're laughing.

[Tombie]

A land what? [emoji41]

VoIP is just another expense. Why have a cabled number when it will shut down if you lose power etc.

We all have big data mobile plans now, don’t we?

Are you looking for a Modem/Router or a Modem and use an existing router?

I have a modem and then a mesh network in the house and a switch to link up all the cables connections - eg the wiring to the workshop network.

[ChookD2]

A land what? [emoji41]

VoIP is just another expense. Why have a cabled number when it will shut down if you lose power etc.

We all have big data mobile plans now, don’t we?

Are you looking for a Modem/Router or a Modem and use an existing router?

I have a modem and then a mesh network in the house and a switch to link up all the cables connections - eg the wiring to the workshop network.

Well I've talked SWMBO out of the landline, so that has fixed that problem.

Still require a modem router. Have computer and smart TV cabled to router but want to also run cable to the Xbox which is currently on wifi. Wifi will cover 2 phone, 2 tablets and a laptop, not all at once.

[IndusD4]

I think you just need a (WIFI) router, not a modem router combined.

NBN was just installed at my place last month via HFC (Hybrid Fibre Cable). Where the cable comes into the room, I now have a small (black) NBN modem box. This box connects with a normal network cable to ANY WIFI router's WAN port. With ANY I mean, it will connect to the one you use today.

I did get a TPG wifi router with my setup but I am going back to my old WIFI router, as I don't have a home phone I don't need the TPG router plus it has some restrictions which my old router didn't have.

I would think you already have a WIFI (modem) router anyway and I would suggest you just keep the one you have. It saves you having to move all your devices to a new WIFI network. And the new NBN box will just plug into the back of your existing router. And you stay $150 under budget as well :)

As for why I don't want to use the TPG router, I may be a bit anal about this but I like to give all devices on my network a specific IP address and group them so I know exactly who and which device is causing issues (or eating up bandwidth at the expense of others people in the house). The TPG modem does allow you to reserve IP addresses but I think the max is 32. With a bunch of lights, home automation, laptops, phones, TVs etc it is easy to go over 32 devices.

Hope that helps.

Ron

[Tombie]

Indus. He has FTTN. Will still need either an ISP or self provided modem in that application.

[IndusD4]

I missed that. In which case he's more than welcome to have my TPG provided one as it will be redundant.

Ron

[ChookD2]

I think you just need a (WIFI) router, not a modem router combined.

NBN was just installed at my place last month via HFC (Hybrid Fibre Cable). Where the cable comes into the room, I now have a small (black) NBN modem box. This box connects with a normal network cable to ANY WIFI router's WAN port. With ANY I mean, it will connect to the one you use today.

I did get a TPG wifi router with my setup but I am going back to my old WIFI router, as I don't have a home phone I don't need the TPG router plus it has some restrictions which my old router didn't have.

I would think you already have a WIFI (modem) router anyway and I would suggest you just keep the one you have. It saves you having to move all your devices to a new WIFI network. And the new NBN box will just plug into the back of your existing router. And you stay $150 under budget as well :)

As for why I don't want to use the TPG router, I may be a bit anal about this but I like to give all devices on my network a specific IP address and group them so I know exactly who and which device is causing issues (or eating up bandwidth at the expense of others people in the house). The TPG modem does allow you to reserve IP addresses but I think the max is 32. With a bunch of lights, home automation, laptops, phones, TVs etc it is easy to go over 32 devices.

Hope that helps.

Ron

I can only dream of a fibre connection. Unfortunately you may find that most of the ISP provided equipment is lock to them and they generally won't unlock it. That is why I was looking at getting one so I don't have that issue in the future. Thanks for the offer though.


Indus. He has FTTN. Will still need either an ISP or self provided modem in that application.

Yes, FTTN. Was loads of trouble to start with but seems to have stabilised over the last 12 months or so. Will be interesting when I change and double the speed (crosses fingers).

Finances are a little scratchie at the moment so this project is on hold for maybe a month (or two) but any relevant infor still appreciated.

Thanks

[goingbush]

When you get NBN the landline is disconnected , there is no copper , So if you have a "LandLine" as part of the package its VOIP technology anyway.

I threw away the Modem that the ISP provided (at my cost) as they had too much control over it esp if you go with Telstra , they configure your modem so anyone can use your bandwidth , its called Telstra Air or Con Wifi, I mean Fon Wifi .

I bought a TP Link Archer VR400 , bloody fabulous but no VOIP facility .

[ChookD2]

When you get NBN the landline is disconnected , there is no copper , So if you have a "LandLine" as part of the package its VOIP technology anyway.

I threw away the Modem that the ISP provided (at my cost) as they had too much control over it esp if you go with Telstra , they configure your modem so anyone can use your bandwidth , its called Telstra Air or Con Wifi, I mean Fon Wifi .

I bought a TP Link Archer VR400 , bloody fabulous but no VOIP facility .

Unless you have FTTP then there is definitely copper, I have copper from house to Node, a bit under 400m. Even if you are lucky enough to get FTTC then it is still copper into your house unless you spend the dollars on fibre upgrade.

So the VR400 (AC1200) is "bloody fabulous" good to know.

[goingbush]

Unless you have FTTP then there is definitely copper, I have copper from house to Node, a bit under 400m. Even if you are lucky enough to get FTTC then it is still copper into your house unless you spend the dollars on fibre upgrade.

So the VR400 (AC1200) is "bloody fabulous" good to know.

Maybe l should clarify no copper to exchange, The last little distance from your house to FTTN or FTTC is irrelevant . You do not have a physical pair to exchange & the technology is VOIP even if your phone is plugged into a wall socket.

[ChookD2]

Maybe l should clarify no copper to exchange, The last little distance from your house to FTTN or FTTC is irrelevant . You do not have a physical pair to exchange & the technology is VOIP even if your phone is plugged into a wall socket.

Yes, no copper from node to exchange. But that "last little distance" with FTTN can have a big impact when you start going over 400m. ACMA test a number of provider and off the shelf modems and all began to suffer with distances over 400m. Test results (https://www.acma.gov.au/-/media/Consumer-Interests/Information/Modem-study/ACMA-modem-performance-testing_outcomes-report-pdf.pdf?la=en). It may have cost us more but I think they should have continued with the original plan of FTTP for most, this mixed technology is just a bandaid that will need to be ripped off eventually, and it will hurt.

Some will just go with 5G when it arrives but as I can't get more than 1 bar of 4G at my place I don't think I'm gunna see 5G anytime soon.

[DiscoMick]

The decision to go with copper from node to house was a ridiculous band aid supposedly cost cutting measure which didn't actually cut costs, but produced an inferior result. The only way to improve it is to replace the copper with fibre.

[ChookD2]

Sorry should have updated this a while ago. Went with the tp-link Archer VR400 AC1200, picked it up at Officeworks for $158. It has been in a couple of months now and has been faultless. The switch from Optus was without fuss. A phone call to Aussie Broadband (Australian call centre) and I was changed over within the hour. I had a minor glitch configuring the modem and a phone call to ABB tech support that was answered within about 2 min, problem sorted. And we ditched the landline.
I have gone from a 25 plan to 50 currently running at 54.999 Mbps down and 7.720 up, so I'm quite happy with the move, considering Optus told me the line was only capable of 8 Mbps.