Configuring your B4RN router for VoIP

Note: B4RN now provide their own VoIP service, "B4RN Voice". Make sure you read the Telephony article before embarking on the steps outlined here.

Read on to use the B4RN router for other providers.

Introduction

B4RN are currently (February 2023) providing Zyxel routers with built-in VoIP capabilities. A number of Zyxel models have been supplied but they share a common configuration system.

The purpose of this guide is to outline the process and Zyxel router configuration required to associate an ordinary telephone, plugged into the router (via a simple adapter), with a VoIP account.

However, the guide is not a reference for specific VoIP providers - each provider requires or recommends its own set of parameters to be configured in the router. Most providers publish the parameters that need to be set for a variety of specific devices (routers, ATA adapters, IP telephones, etc), as well as general advice for other devices. For example, Zyxel router parameters are specifically documented by provider Andrews and Arnold, but not by Sipgate, for which we have to infer the parameters from their general advice.

1. Audience

This guide is primarily intended for:

• B4RN customers who want to use their existing telephone instrument(s) and possibly their existing landline number (but not the landline itself), to make and receive telephone calls, and

• They do not want to use "B4RN Voice".

• Those intending (and are confident) to configure the B4RN router - the customer or perhaps a volunteer.

The reader should have read the document “Introduction to VoIP” elsewhere on the website before embarking on the process outlined in this document.

2. Scope

This guide outlines the process of  configuring the B4RN router, setting up an account and optionally “porting” an existing landline number to the new provider. 

No specific VoIP provider is recommended, but Sipgate and Andrews and Arnold are known to work.

3. The process step by step

• Register for a VoIP account.

• Configure the router.

• Arrange transfer (“port”) of your existing telephone number. *

• Connect telephone to router

• Check the status of your landline

* Note carefully that, if you wish to continue to receive calls on your existing landline number, you should not prematurely cancel your landline contract. See the detailed steps below.

1. Register for a VoIP account

This can be carried out in advance of or after B4RN installation. Create a VoiP account using the provider’s website. You will be offered a choice of telephone numbers. Having a number in advance of porting can be useful for testing, but is optional for those providers who charge for a new number (although it can be cancelled after testing is complete).

2. Configure the router

After B4RN is installed, your router can be configured to connect to your VOIP service. See the appendix for configuration details.

The service and configuration can be tested by temporarily plugging in a telephone to the router “PHONE1” port. See Testing below. Note at this stage the telephone number will be the one you chose when you set up the account.

3. Arrange to “port” your existing telephone number (optional)

There will be forms (online or paper) to complete (and a fee to pay) for your provider to request to take over (“port”) your landline number from your existing service provider. It is important not to cancel your landline contract until the porting of your number is complete. If you cancel before this you are likely to lose the number for good. Your landline number will be associated with your VoIP account and can be used instead of (or in addition to) the number you earlier chose from your provider. Follow the porting process as detailed on their website.

4. Connect telephone to router

An  RJ11 plug to BT socket adapter will be required in most cases to enable a telephone to be plugged into one of the two telephone sockets on the router. Using an adapter with a built-in “ring capacitor” will ensure any telephone instrument with a BT plug will work, and costs about £3.30 inc VAT and postage. Cheaper adapters (without the capacitor) may work with some more modern telephone instruments, or even a cable with RJ11 plugs at each end (like that used on your old ADSL router) but it is difficult to predict. Note that the telephone instrument could be a wireless (DECT) base station controlling handsets throughout the house.

The router configuration below assumes a telephone will be plugged into the first phone socket (PHONE1). 

5. Check the status of your landline

When the porting of your landline telephone number is complete, your contract with your landline provider should be automatically terminated. You may wish to verify this with them.

6. Final “tweaks”

There are a number of options that can optionally be added or changed from your provider’s on-line account (not all providers offer all these):

• Automatic Area Code  - can be set to local area code (eg 01524). Any number dialled without a leading 0 will have the code sent first.

• Outgoing caller-id – select the originating number the people you have called will see. You will probably want to select your ported number (if applicable).

• Voicemail – you can often get an email notification for each message.

• Call forwarding – forward incoming calls to another number if you don’t answer, or eventually to voicemail. You normally pay for the forwarded calls.

4. Testing

With the VoIP account set up and the router configured, the green “telephone” indicator  should illuminate. Note that this indicates successful registration with your provider. It is not necessary to have a telephone plugged into the router for this to take place - i.e. if the indicator doesn’t illuminate, it is not a problem with your telephone instrument!

With a telephone plugged into the first telephone port, make outgoing and incoming test calls. There may be specific codes you can dial to test specific aspects of the service - see your provider’s documentation.

If your telephone doesn’t ring on incoming calls, but the caller receives ring tone, it may be because an unsuitable adapter has been plugged in the telephone port; see Connect telephone to router above.

5. More options

VoIP (and SIP) is very flexible and it is possible to configure other telephone schemes. Examples:

• Because SIP supports concurrent calls on one VOIP account, two telephones (one in each router socket) can have simultaneous conversations.

• Two (or more) SIP accounts from different providers can be configured and each used for different types of call. For example, one account for incoming calls and another for outgoing.  Many providers have competitive rates for international calls to specific countries. Have a look at VoIP comparison sites such as www.voip-comparison.com

• Internal calls can be made from one telephone to another, and calls transferred between them.

• It is possible to connect the router to existing internal telephone extension wiring, but this requires some additional kit and is beyond the scope of this guide. A simple alternative is to use wireless telephones.

• If you don’t necessarily want to use your existing telephone instruments, you can install a “softphone” app on your smartphone to connect to a SIP service, so your calls are made from and received by it. Call quality can vary so you may have to try a few apps. No router configuration is required.

• Appendix

  1. Configuring the Zyxel router

Note: The screenshots below illustrate parameters relating to Sipgate. This is historical (we used to recommend Sipgate until it ended its “pay and go” service for new customers). Check with your VoIP provider for the actual parameters you need to configure.

Note: The following diagrams illustrate the minimum configuration required to get a working VoIP service. See the Summary of parameters on page  for other, optional, configuration parameters.

In your browser (Firefox, Chrome etc) enter “192.168.1.1” in the address bar. Follow the steps in the screenshots below.

Parameters should be changed or set as indicated in the following screenshots.

Summary of parameters

Table 1: Sip Account

Parameter: Value

SIP account selection: eg SIP1

Associated service provider profile: e.g. Sipgate

Enable SIP account: tick

SIP account number : Often set to User name (below) but I think is simply informative.

User name: SIP-ID or similar name

Password: SIP password

(optional) Enable Call Waiting: This is enabled by default but disable it if you want callers to receive immediate engaged tone if you are already on a call.

Table 2: Sip Service Provider

Parameter: Value

Service provider name: Sipgate (for example). Informative only.

Enable SIP service provider: tick

SIP proxy server: e.g. sipgate.co.uk, voiceless.aa.net.uk, or similar

Registrar (or Register) server: usually same as above

SIP service domain: usually same as above

Outbound proxy: only if required by provider

DTMF mode: RFC2833 if required by provider

SIP Register Expiration Duration: only if required by provider

Table 3: Phone device (usually PHONE1 for the first telephone port)

Parameter: Value

SIP Account to Make Outgoing Call: eg SIP1 (the SIP account as above)

SIP Account(s) to Receive Incoming Call: eg SIP1 (the SIP account as above)

Table 4: Phone region

Parameter: Value

Region setting: GBR-UK

Call service Mode: Europe Type

Document History

November 2020: Initial release

July 2021: Reference to new router

-Added Sipgate optional facilities

-More detail on porting process

-Minor clarifications and amendments

October 2022

Reference to generic Zyxel routers

-Removed router configuration backup (not now available)

-Note referring to withdrawal of Sipgate free service

-Layout changed for compatibility with Google Docs

February 2023

Major rewrite to make the document more general to accommodate other VoIP providers.

Document produced by B4RN volunteers

February 2023