How to Select a VoIP Adapter

Four steps to selecting a VoIP adapter

Selecting the right VoIP adapter (also known as an Analog Telephone Adapter or ATA) from the large variety of choices that currently exist on the market today can seem pretty daunting. After all, there are over 40 different VoIP adapters on the market today that could work for you!

Before getting into selection though, let’s get a better understanding of VoIP analog adapters. To start, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a way to send and receive calls across and internetwork (like the Internet). Adapters are pieces of equipment that allow you to leverage your existing telephone to send and receive Voice over IP calls.

This is done by connecting your regular telephone to the adapter through an FXS (Foreign Exchange Station) port and connecting your adapter to your cable modem or switch via an Ethernet port.

As you can see, these are really simple devices and the right one for your needs can easily be narrowed down with the answers from just a few questions.

How to Select a VoIP Adapter

• How many regular telephones or fax machines do need to connect? The answer to this question will determine the number of FXS ports your VoIP adapter will need.
• Do you have an available Ethernet port? If you don’t have a router, switch or available Ethernet port on these devices, you will want to look at VoIP adapters with dual Ethernet ports so that both your computer and VoIP adapter can be connected to the Internet.
• Are you keeping you land line? Many individuals only use Voice over IP for long distance calls and keep a POTS line for local calling. Others keep a POTS line as back-up, in case their Internet connection goes down. If you plan on keeping a POTS line (for either reason), you’ll need a VoIP adapter with an FXO port.
• Will this VoIP adapter work with your service? Most Voice over IP services can be used with most analog telephone adapters, but check with your service provider before purchasing an adapter to make sure that it’s compatible with their service (and allowed).

If you’re still unsure as to how to go about selecting the right VoIP Adapter, it’s advise that you contact your service provider of choice, or a certified supplier (like VoIP Supply). This way a well informed expert can walk you through proper selection based on your situation.

Additional VoIP Adapter Resources

Looking for additional information on VoIP adapters? Try these resources:

• What is a VoIP analog adapter?
• Types of Analog Adapters
• Linksys VoIP Adapters
• Grandstream VoIP Adapters

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