OK, I've been looking for a new phone so as to avoid the double filtering nightmare I was in, however, I've fixed it using this :

http://www.udiggit.com/udiggit/productD ... _MzI2NA==/

Which sits inbetween your phone and your USB socket and converts a standard DECT cordless (or any other type of phone) to a Skype / VOIP phone. It automatically switches between landline and VOIP calls and to manually switch (to dial out) you just press *

The best bit is though using http://www.voipcheap.co.uk who route VOIP calls out to BT lines FOR FREE, I now have completely free phonecalls to landlines and Skype accounts using the same phone and the quality is excellent, much better than the phone double filtered as it was.

No real point to tis, just sharing a money saving tip

Looks bloody excellent!

Does it still work OK when the mule's on?

yeah i heard its not so hot under emule usage

Works fine here with emule running

Obviously though the less bandwidth the lower the bitrate, but I've not noticed any problems

The only SLIGHT caveat is that in order to get totally free routing to landlines is that your VOIPcheap account must have some credit (mine has ?5).

I beg to differ.

I tried VIOPCheap the other night with eMule running, the download was about 25% of capacity, but the upload was pretty much maxed out. My Mrs said it sounded a bit 'stilted' (she meant it was breaking up a bit or cutting off bits of words, although that might have been my cheap microphone I was using on the PC). She also said I was sad for ringing her from the upstairs PC.



They've increased it to ?10 now. Still a good deal though, especially as she has a friend in New Zealand and calls to there are free.

You got one then?

It might be the upload on emule which for me was ~16kb at the time which may the reason for my better call quality.

AFAIK this is available in other countries too : http://www.voipcheap.nl/ for example, I'm sure there are others too

No, I was just trying out VOIPCheap before investing.

I take it you need to have a wire running :

PC--->VOIP BOX--->Telephone handset. ?

Yeah PC to VOIP box is USB then box to phone, then phone to phone line (via splitter)

Hmm, not much use to me then. PC is upstairs, main DECT phone is downstairs, so connecting them would be a pain.

bummer

Although you can use any phone with it, an extension / 2nd cordless should work just as well, AFAIK you don't have to have the phone PSTN plugged in.

although in that case, you might as well just buy a usb phone (although you lose handsfree obviously)

TBH, having to sit by the PC to make a phonecall is far outweighed by the fact it's free.

LOL, indeed it is

Just a heads up. VOIPCheap have now implemented a limit of 180 days to use the credit in your account. Not an issue if you use the credit to make cheaper phonecalls when they're not free, but might be for people who want to make a one-off investment of ?10 and have free calls for ever.