How to wire your house for VoIP (Skype or Vonage).

VoIP is Cheap if not free and becoming more and more wide spread every day. However one of the draw backs of VOIP is that you are tied to a computer to make or receive calls. You can get phone adapters but you are still tied to one location, and that location is near a PC. One of the best solutions for VOIP is to have a dedicated computer for VOIP services. This instructable does not cover setting up a server, but is how to connect that server, or a Vonage (or other) VoIP router to your home phone wiring. This will also work for a non dedicated computer as long as you have a USB Phone adapter.

With a few simple steps you can use the same wires and same phones that your POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) use. You can have several phones plugged in and they will all ring when someone calls.

This will not allow you to use 2 phones at the same time, on the same call or even two separate calls. it just allows you to use your "normal" phones on your VOIP service through your existing wiring. And it allows you to use your VOIP service more like normal phones.

Disclaimer:
Do this at your own risk, you can get shocked or injured by doing this incorrectly. This system works for me and my configuration but it may not work for you. Make sure you understand enough about it and decided if it will work for your situation.

Step 1 Materials

Materials:

You need a VoIP service that have supported phone adapters Skype and Vonage are some of the most well known.

A VoIP Phone Adapter. http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=USB+VOIP+phone+adapter&_sacat=0&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313&_odkw=USB+VOIP+adapter&_osacat=0

(2) Leviton Voice Grade 4-Conductor QuickPort connectors. You can use 6 or 8 conductor ports as well.

(1) Leviton QuickPort Single-Gang Wall plates (a 2 location cover plate)

If you have an older home you might need to buy a single gang electrical box.

Tools:

Wire cutters
Flat screw driver and
Wire insert tool for the quick connect adapters.
A volt meter will come in handy for testing "live" lines but isn't necessary but recommended.

Comments

[AxvoiceInc]

Well both are very complicated as far as configuration is concerned. There are many other providers that are offering very good service and they are easy to configure. Therefore I would recommend some substitute like axvoice.

[gcai_fwb]

I recently switched to MagicJack Plus (VOIP service) which works great and is cheap

MJ unit ( size of a match box ) plugs into the router and then the phone (or phone line in my case ) into the MJ box

I had a old second line which was for fax - which had been disconnected from the demarcation point. Plugged my phone system (cordless 4 handsets) into the old fax connector box and everything works - totally transparent, save the massive reduction in my phone bill :-)

- this is a variation on hypershrimp's comment above

[hypershrimp]

If you had phone lines working previously at the house, this is the easiest way of hooking up a Voip line: Disconnect pots line from Demarcation. If you don't have one, cut the phone line out of the junction (Just don't be a jerk and cut it too short. Buy a phone slitter from the dollar store and and plug it into a jack close to the voip modem and plug in your phone into the splitter. That's it. All the jacks that were working earlier, should all be working now.

[Hextor]

That's basically what I was trying to convey, the pots line comes in at the top and can either be unused, used for DSL or connected to the bottom jack to connect the pots line to you home phones. If using VOIP just use a phone cord to go from the VOIP "BOX" to the home phones. it's a easy clean set up Thanks for looking