22 Jul
2014
22 Jul
'14
4:05 a.m.
I currently have a "skype" phone connected to USB which works just fine to
make calls. Only problem is that the cord is short :) and the quality is
not the greatest.
So, can I connect a regular POTS phone via a USB thing? What are they
called and do they work with Linux? I assume that the skype phone just acts
like a soundcard ... same with what I want?
Thanks.
--
**** Listen to my FREE CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
22 Jul
22 Jul
4:39 a.m.
On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 10:05 PM, Bob van der Poel <bob(a)mellowood.ca> wrote:
I currently have a "skype" phone connected
to USB which works just fine to
make calls. Only problem is that the cord is short :) and the quality is not
the greatest.
So, can I connect a regular POTS phone via a USB thing? What are they called
and do they work with Linux? I assume that the skype phone just acts like a
soundcard ... same with what I want?
I think you're thinking of MagicJack? They don't work on Linux, sadly.
--
Brett W. McCoy -- http://www.brettwmccoy.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In the rhythm of music a secret is hidden; If I were to divulge it,
it would overturn the world."
-- Jelaleddin Rumi
5:18 a.m.
No, not magicjack ... mind you my understanding is that newer versions of
these don't need a computer at all. They just plug into a 'net connection.
I should have been more clear. Right now I use google chat to make some of
my long distance calls. It's free and works pretty well. Just dial out via
my gmail interface. I have one of those $10 skype phones plugged into the
computer, which linux sees as a usb soundcard.
No, I can't receive calls via the google interface. And that's fine. Still
have my regular land line. And probably will for some time since none of
the VOIP providers seem to have phone numbers in my area and I don't want
to impose long distance on my local callers.
I have an extra cordless phone which works just fine on POTS. But, it's not
being used so I though I could use it instead of the $10 skype phone by
plugging it into the computer ... and that is the magic box I want :)
Thanks.
On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 7:39 PM, Brett McCoy <idragosani(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 10:05 PM, Bob van der Poel
<bob(a)mellowood.ca>
wrote:
--
**** Listen to my FREE CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
I currently have a "skype" phone
connected to USB which works just fine
to
make calls. Only problem is that the cord is
short :) and the quality is
not
the greatest.
So, can I connect a regular POTS phone via a USB thing? What are they
called
and do they work with Linux? I assume that the
skype phone just acts
like a
soundcard ... same with what I want?
I think you're thinking of MagicJack? They don't work on Linux, sadly.
--
Brett W. McCoy -- http://www.brettwmccoy.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"In the rhythm of music a secret is hidden; If I were to divulge it,
it would overturn the world."
-- Jelaleddin Rumi
7:11 a.m.
On 07/22/2014 05:17 AM, Bob van der Poel wrote:
No, I can't receive calls via the google
interface. And that's fine. Still
have my regular land line. And probably will for some time since none of
the VOIP providers seem to have phone numbers in my area and I don't want
to impose long distance on my local callers.
If you're keeping your landline why not get a SIP account and a separate
SIP phone that also does POTS (like the Siemens N300 + handset)? It's a
small investment but in my case I already earned back my SIP phone a
couple of times.
Jeremy
5:22 a.m.
On Mon, 21 Jul 2014, Bob van der Poel wrote:
I currently have a "skype" phone connected
to USB which works just fine to make
calls. Only problem is that the cord is short :) and the quality is not the
greatest.
So, can I connect a regular POTS phone via a USB thing? What are they called and
do they work with Linux? I assume that the skype phone just acts like a soundcard
... same with what I want?
Plug it in and see what differences it makes to arecord -l and aplay -l
POTS phone:
- expects a dc voltage across the line. Not so phantom, phantom power...
- expects 600ohm match... depends on how old it is though, newer may be
less picky
- runs audio both ways on the same line... this may be more difficult to
deal with. (echo cancelling)
Better to use two separate lines... prolly what the skype handset does.
--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net
5:39 a.m.
On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 8:20 PM, Len Ovens <len(a)ovenwerks.net> wrote:
Ummm ... plug it in? The "real" phone only comes with a regular phone jack.
Surely you're not suggesting I get out my solder and destroy something :)
So, can I connect a regular POTS phone via a USB
thing? What are they
called and
do they work with Linux? I assume that the skype phone just acts like a
soundcard
... same with what I want?
Plug it in and see what differences it makes to arecord -l and aplay -l
POTS phone:
- expects a dc voltage across the line. Not so phantom, phantom power...
- expects 600ohm match... depends on how old it is though, newer may be
less picky
- runs audio both ways on the same line... this may be more difficult to
deal with. (echo cancelling)
Better to use two separate lines... prolly what the skype handset does.
Most likely. My computers just see it as a usb card. Actually, I have an
el-cheapo headset with a mic which works the same way. Guess I just want to
avoid getting out the solder stuff ... you really have no idea what a mess
I can make with this!
--
**** Listen to my FREE CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
5:59 a.m.
On Mon, 21 Jul 2014, Bob van der Poel wrote:
On Mon, Jul 21, 2014 at 8:20 PM, Len Ovens
<len(a)ovenwerks.net> wrote:
Plug it in and see what differences it makes to arecord -l and aplay
-l
Ummm ... plug it in? The "real" phone only comes with a regular phone jack.
Surely you're not suggesting I get out my solder and destroy something :)
I meant the skype phone :) but from one of your other messages it seems
you already know it is an alsa device.
POTS phone:
- expects a dc voltage across the line. Not so phantom, phantom
power...
- expects 600ohm match... depends on how old it is though, newer may
be less picky
- runs audio both ways on the same line... this may be more difficult
to deal with. (echo cancelling)
Better to use two separate lines... prolly what the skype handset
does.
Most likely. My computers just see it as a usb card. Actually, I have an
el-cheapo headset with a mic which works the same way. Guess I just want to avoid
getting out the solder stuff ... you really have no idea what a mess I can make
with this!
Nothing wrong with practice ;)
If you need more phones to practice on, visit your local "goodwill" store
(place where people donate their old stuff and the store sells it for some
non-profit org).
--
Len Ovens
www.ovenwerks.net
3806
days inactive
3806
days old
linux-audio-user@lists.linuxaudio.org
6 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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Bob van der Poel -
Brett McCoy -
Jeremy Jongepier -
Len Ovens