Computers & Electronics

freephoneline.ca - Free Local Soft Phone Line for lifetime VOIP

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Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
barginfreak wrote: Some dont.
That's what happens when internet service is unreliable, when the ATA loses registration, or when the ATA is not receiving sufficient bandwidth on your LAN.

That can also happen on some people's LANs due to UDP timeouts: Point D from https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 199#p78976.
Some go directly to the “follow me” option.
The incoming call is reaching FPL’s network, where it’s being forwarded, but not your ATA.

That's what happens when internet service is unreliable, when the ATA loses registration, or when the ATA is not receiving sufficient bandwidth on your LAN.

That can also happen on some people's LANs due to UDP timeouts: Point D from https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 199#p78976.

When troubleshooting, I would disable Follow Me: https://www.freephoneline.ca/followMeSettings.
Follow Me also makes it impossible for the ATA to block known telemarketing calls as described in the PDF guide: https://forum.fongo.com/download/file.php?id=2162.

The problem you're describing is associated with unreliable internet service or a QoS issue on your LAN, where the ATA is not receiving sufficient bandwidth.

Read the wintmtr test mentioned on page 16 of the guide and do it when you have issues.

You can also try the test at http://vac.visualware.com/portals/wfh/w ... sment.html.


I have isp modem
What brand and model are you using?
WiFi router
What brand and model are you using?
OBI port 2
What model? There is no port 2 on an OBi200.

Use this guide linked at the bottom of this first post to configure your ATA properly: https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 805#p73839.
Wifi router offers QOs but asks to enter highest/lowest kbs/Mbs, which I don’t know.

You don't know what internet speed you're paying for?

Run a speedtest between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.: https://www.speedtest.net/
qos slows down all connections
QoS often will, unless the router has a fast CPU or unless the user's ISP service is a slower tier.
Newbie
Dec 7, 2001
78 posts
2 upvotes
Laval, Quebec
This is a recurring problem for me i lose connection to freephoneline servers around holidays. It always eventually comes back but it's annoying! I cycled my router and my obihai to no avail.

There's no way for me to connect with them because they don't offer support. Only with fongo

Anyone else in that predicament?
Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
Pascal wrote:
Anyone else in that predicament?
Nope. My Internet service is reliable, I used Webslinger’s PDF guide, and I’m using a good router with UDP timeouts adjusted properly. My household has been speaking to parents and in-laws on their FPL lines, daily, including holidays.
Last edited by ArrowFlynn on Sep 8th, 2021 3:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Member
Nov 23, 2012
314 posts
177 upvotes
Ontario
sylvestor2002 wrote: Hi Dahlya,

you are correct. The problem was not with the service provider. My cordless phone went kaput 2 weeks ago and I got a new phone. I have not had any issues with caller ID on the new phone for 2 weeks, so for sure the issue was with my old phone slowly dying (after 15 years).
That's good that you discovered the problem.
Member
Nov 23, 2012
314 posts
177 upvotes
Ontario
Pascal wrote: Anyone else in that predicament?
My mom's FPL line hasn't had any problems, and I'm not noticing anything.

This guide has a good troubleshooting FAQ towards the end.

If you notice the problem happens whenever your modem's IP lease changes, then read the information about UDP timeouts in the guide.
Deal Fanatic
Jul 26, 2007
7566 posts
5264 upvotes
Toronto
Pascal wrote: This is a recurring problem for me i lose connection to freephoneline servers around holidays. It always eventually comes back but it's annoying! I cycled my router and my obihai to no avail.

There's no way for me to connect with them because they don't offer support. Only with fongo

Anyone else in that predicament?
I cycle voip2.freephoneline.ca and voip.freephoneline.ca every 6 month when it 'fails to register'

Oddly enough, one location currently has voip and 2nd location has voip2 and I cycle both location if either one fails. Simple as adding 2 and deleting 2 and save, takes few mins for obihai to reboot and testing calls. This is all I been doing for past few years, knock on wood nothing more.
Deal Addict
Sep 11, 2006
2300 posts
947 upvotes
Keep getting a spam call each day on my FPL that doesn't ring my phone and leaves a 8 second silent message from

Caller #6474962501
Caller #6473636254
Caller #6473636296

Nothing on Google to trace these numbers.

Anyone have any clue what these are about or how to block it? Started just this month, the phone doesn't even ring, and I just get an email notification and dials once each day. I'm using the Obi 202
Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
peteryorkuca wrote: I cycle voip2.freephoneline.ca and voip.freephoneline.ca every 6 month when it 'fails to register'
If you're having to do this, and if changing X_UserAgentPort makes the problem go away immediately without having to change the proxy server, then the issue is a corrupted NAT connection developing in the router, which can be fixed permanently by using a good router for VoIP and adjusting UDP timeouts. I'd rather have a good router than a good ATA. I've not had to change anything.

freephoneline-ca-free-local-soft-phone- ... #p32806663
peteryorkuca wrote: Only two issues I had for past few years, every 6 monthish were :

- NAT issues and fix was to change useragentport from 5060(default) to 35060 or random port
- change server from voip.freephoneline to voip2 and back to first one

Setup problem on various Rogers modem, white hitron coda works with sip agl disable. Black hitron cgn sip needed to be default or enabled (works disable for few hours and then incoming calls don't work)
This is fixed by using a good router for SIP that allows you to adjust UDP timeouts as described on page 45 of the PDF guide (http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 805#p73839) and also in point D from http://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=20199#p78976.
Last edited by ArrowFlynn on Sep 9th, 2021 8:50 pm, edited 4 times in total.
Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
Shadow Rider wrote:
Anyone have any clue what these are about or how to block it?
The steps are explained starting on page 27 of the guide: https://forum.fongo.com/download/file.php?id=2162.
For FPL, blocked calls will drop straight to voicemail, but instead you can just get a free Fongo Mobile number (or anything handy) and record, "This number is out of service" for its voicemail. Then you can route unwanted calls to it.

In X_InboundCallRoute for FPL, add {(MTelemarketers):sp1(theFongoMobilenumber)} where SP1 is an SP you have provisioned on the ATA and where theFongoMobilenumber is a number you want to forward spam calls.

For MTelemarketer list, use (64736362xx|647496xxxx), but if the caller can spoof any fake number possible, there's not much you can do other than to create a whitelist instead. The guide also explains how to create a whitelist.

You can also trap unwanted calls in the auto attendant: freephoneline-ca-free-local-soft-phone- ... #p21660123.
Deal Addict
Sep 11, 2006
2300 posts
947 upvotes
ArrowFlynn wrote: The steps are explained starting on page 27 of the guide: https://forum.fongo.com/download/file.php?id=2162.
For FPL, blocked calls will drop straight to voicemail, but instead you can just get a free Fongo Mobile number (or anything handy) and record, "This number is out of service" for its voicemail. Then you can route unwanted calls to it.

In X_InboundCallRoute for FPL, add {(MTelemarketers):sp1(theFongoMobilenumber)} where SP1 is an SP you have provisioned on the ATA and where theFongoMobilenumber is a number you want to forward spam calls.

For MTelemarketer list, use (64736362xx|647496xxxx), but if the caller can spoof any fake number possible, there's not much you can do other than to create a whitelist instead. The guide also explains how to create a whitelist.

You can also trap unwanted calls in the auto attendant: freephoneline-ca-free-local-soft-phone- ... #p21660123.
Genius. Whatever spam bot is calling is changing numbers, super annoying.

When you say MTelemarker list, the 64636362 and 646496 are all known telemarketers? The weird thing is the phone doesn't even ring, it actually just goes straight to VM and I get sent an annoying email with an 8 second blank message.
Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
Shadow Rider wrote: When you say MTelemarker list,
That is a user defined digitmap that you create on your own.
the 64636362 and 646496 are all known telemarketers
I don't know if those are known telemarketing numbers. I doubt it. Perhaps someone or a script/bot is just spoofing fake outbound caller ID numbers.

The weird thing is the phone doesn't even ring, it actually just goes straight to VM and I get sent an annoying email with an 8 second blank message.
I would prefer that over the phone ringing.

What's the sender's email address?

Have you already blocked numbers in either the ATA or your phone's handset and forgotten? You should check the ATA's call history in the Status->Call History section.
If the incoming calls aren't listed, they aren't reaching your ATA.

Then check your phone's handset for a blocked numbers list.

Login at https://www.freephoneline.ca/voicemailSettings to see if Rings Before Voicemail is greater than 1.

Also login at https://www.freephoneline.ca/doGetCallLogs and check call logs. If the calls are listed, then they're reaching FPL's network.

If calls are reaching FPL's network, but they aren't reaching your ATA, then check pages 40 to 42 in the guide.
https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 805#p73839
Last edited by ArrowFlynn on Sep 10th, 2021 1:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Deal Addict
Sep 11, 2006
2300 posts
947 upvotes
<6473636296@vm.fongo.com> is the VM and the same for the other numbers.

Regular calls come in fine, I just tested it with my own cell phone. Yea I guess between it ringing for no reason and not ringing this is preferred. Not sure why in particular these spam calls don't ring. Maybe FPL has some identifier.
ArrowFlynn wrote:
I would prefer that over the phone ringing.

What's the sender's email address?

Have you already blocked numbers in either the ATA or your phone's handset and forgotten? You should check the ATA's call history in the Status->Call History section.
If the incoming calls aren't listed, they aren't reaching your ATA.

Then check your phone's handset for a blocked numbers list.

Login at https://www.freephoneline.ca/voicemailSettings to see if Rings Before Voicemail is greater than 1.

Also login at https://www.freephoneline.ca/doGetCallLogs and check call logs. If the calls are listed, then they're reaching FPL's network.

If calls are reaching FPL's network, but they aren't reaching your ATA, then check pages 40 to 42 in the guide.
https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 805#p73839
Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
Shadow Rider wrote: Maybe FPL has some identifier.
FPL doesn't block anything, unfortunately.

What is interesting is that
6474962501
6473636254
6473636296
are all Iristel carrier numbers.

Iristel is a CLEC based in Markham, Ontario that offers VoIP numbers. Some robodialers/scammers do end up using Iristel numbers, and other VoIP services offer Iristel numbers or use Iristel as a carrier.

It's possible that due to SIP ALG or firewall NAT issue that some VoIP/SIP callers can't reach you. The problem could also be on their end. In those cases, the incoming calls would eventually reach FPL's voicemail system without necessarily making your phone ring. The issue would present as them hearing you, but you can’t hear them.

Check FPL call logs by logging in at https://www.freephoneline.ca/doGetCallLogs
Then check your ATA's call history.
Dial ***1
Enter the IP address you're told into your web browser. Login to your ATA.
Navigate to Status->Call History.

If those SIP (VoIP) calls are reaching FPL's network, but they aren't reaching your ATA, refer to pages 40 to 42 in the guide: https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 805#p73839.


I need to emphasize again that the problem could be on their end with NAT firewall or SIP ALG, which may explain why you're receiving blank voicemails. FPL's voicemail system has nothing to do with your router or anything on your end. If these callers can't leave audio on FPL's voicemail system, the problem is between the caller and FPL. So it seems plausible to me that the issue probably isn't on your end. A router or switch issue on their end may force the call to reach voicemail, and audio from them can't be left.

If these are scam calls, I doubt you want them to ring your phone anyway. That would deter me from trying to make these incoming calls work normally. Plus why are they just switching to different Iristel numbers and trying the same thing over and over again if they aren't scammers? Smells like garbage to me.
Last edited by ArrowFlynn on Sep 10th, 2021 5:39 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Apr 8, 2010
5621 posts
1552 upvotes
Toronto
So we currently have free phone line. Has been working flawlessly for 5+ years now.

Connected to a 1port obihai

We're in need of another phone jack

Instead of installing a phone jack. Would buying a two port obihai work?

One port to connect to the phone jack for connection, one for a phone.
Deal Addict
Feb 6, 2020
1306 posts
1486 upvotes
Gotoff wrote:

We're in need of another phone jack
A two-way phone jack splitter should work provided the number of phones attached have a combined REN (Ringer Equivalence Number) less than 5.

You could also make all phone jacks in your house work.

newegg-obihai-obi200-49-99-free-shippin ... #p28405624
Webslinger wrote: How do I connect an ATA to my house, so that all existing phone jacks work?

You may need to disconnect your Telco company's line at the demarc--or make sure power from it is not running to your existing phone jacks. Otherwise, you run this risk of frying your ATA. Visit http://www.voipmyhouse.com/#thesolution.

Also, check out bogolisk and canadaodyowner's pictures/posts over here: freephoneline-ca-free-local-soft-phone- ... #p24916597
and
freephoneline-ca-free-local-soft-phone- ... #p24917399

There's a related thread over here (might be a good place to ask):
phone-jack-wiring-question-voip-1293295/#p16243162
Gotoff wrote:Instead of installing a phone jack. Would buying a two port obihai work?
Yes, but a phone jack splitter probably costs $10 or less, whereas an OBi202 is more expensive.
https://www.newegg.ca/polycom-2200-4952 ... 6833617016
Deal Addict
Sep 11, 2006
2300 posts
947 upvotes
ArrowFlynn wrote: FPL doesn't block anything, unfortunately.

What is interesting is that
6474962501
6473636254
6473636296
are all Iristel carrier numbers.

Iristel is a CLEC based in Markham, Ontario that offers VoIP numbers. Some robodialers/scammers do end up using Iristel numbers, and other VoIP services offer Iristel numbers or use Iristel as a carrier.

It's possible that due to SIP ALG or firewall NAT issue that some VoIP/SIP callers can't reach you. The problem could also be on their end. In those cases, the incoming calls would eventually reach FPL's voicemail system without necessarily making your phone ring. The issue would present as them hearing you, but you can’t hear them.

Check FPL call logs by logging in at https://www.freephoneline.ca/doGetCallLogs
Then check your ATA's call history.
Dial ***1
Enter the IP address you're told into your web browser. Login to your ATA.
Navigate to Status->Call History.

If those SIP (VoIP) calls are reaching FPL's network, but they aren't reaching your ATA, refer to pages 40 to 42 in the guide: https://forum.fongo.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 805#p73839.


I need to emphasize again that the problem could be on their end with NAT firewall or SIP ALG, which may explain why you're receiving blank voicemails. FPL's voicemail system has nothing to do with your router or anything on your end. If these callers can't leave audio on FPL's voicemail system, the problem is between the caller and FPL. So it seems plausible to me that the issue probably isn't on your end. A Router or switch issue on their end may forces the call to reach voicemail and audio from them can't be left.

If these are scam calls, I doubt you want them to ring your phone anyway. That would deter me from trying to make these incoming calls work normally. Plus why are they just switching to different Iristel numbers and trying the same thing over and over again if they aren't scammers? Smells like garbage to me.
Yea agree. No need for me to go figure out why it's not ringing at this point. Very useful information as always from you above.

No call today so far. Hopefully these spammers tire themselves out.
Sr. Member
May 9, 2012
867 posts
238 upvotes
Montreal
Got the obi200 up & running. Only issue is that after 3/4 rings, the person calling gets a “please enter your password”. However my phone itsel (handset) has its own Voice messages that calls used to go and ppl could leave a message?
What setting do I need to correct to have no voicemail withObi/FPL but just to go onto the phones base VM?
Deal Fanatic
Jul 26, 2007
7566 posts
5264 upvotes
Toronto
barginfreak wrote: Got the obi200 up & running. Only issue is that after 3/4 rings, the person calling gets a “please enter your password”. However my phone itsel (handset) has its own Voice messages that calls used to go and ppl could leave a message?
What setting do I need to correct to have no voicemail withObi/FPL but just to go onto the phones base VM?
Log in to FPL and change the number of rings under voicemail to 12. You can't disable FPL voicemail unfortunately.
Sr. Member
May 9, 2012
867 posts
238 upvotes
Montreal
peteryorkuca wrote: Log in to FPL and change the number of rings under voicemail to 12. You can't disable FPL voicemail unfortunately.
Worked. Thank you !!

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