Freephoneline.ca Config Info: Obihai OBi-110 ATA

I read the on-line reviews of the Obihai OBi-110 and its smaller sibling, the OBi-100, and decided to test an OBi-110 in conjunction with FPL.

The first challenge: if you purchase the OBi-110 or OBi-100 from Amazon.com (.com not .ca) it won't get shipped to Canada. Don't know why -- and don't really care except it involves one more step. Have the device shipped to a friend / relative in the good ol' US of A and then have it transshipped via UPS. It adds about $28 to the price -- but I believe in the long run it'll be well worth it.

STEP 1:
I presume you can read the instructions which come with the OBi-110 / OBi-100 about what plugs in where.
However, to summarize (I purchased an OBi-110 so I'll use this going forward; the OBi-100 is identical for purposes of these instructions):
#1. Plug in the supplied RJ-45 cable to the OBi-110 and plug the other end of the cable into your router. I have a D-Link DIR-615 with 4 wired ports of which 2 were free. The other two router ports have D-Link Gigabit Ethernet DGS-1008D switches / hubs attached.
#2. Plug the supplied telephone cable into the PHONE jack on the OBi-110 and the other end into your telephone handset
#3. If your router is set up for DHCP as soon as you connect the power (standard 12 V adapter) the device should receive an IP address
#4. Check that the POWER and PHONE LEDs are SOLID GREEN, and that the ACTIVITY LED flickers periodically
#5. Perform an echo test of the Obihai unit (using the OBiTALK network) by dialing **9-222-222-222
Alternatively you can make a test call by dialing **9-333-333-333 followed by the outgoing number



IF THE ABOVE IS SUCCESSFUL, YOUR OBIHAI DEVICE IS WORKING AND YOU CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STEP

STEP 2:
#1. I don't like random IP addresses, so I configured the OBi-110 to have a static IP address. This can be done on the device itself by following the voice prompts. To enter a "period" press the "star" key on your phone handset. I gave my OBi-110 a fixed IP address of 192.168.0.188
#2. To make sure the router is on the same page, I logged-in to the D-Link DIR-615 and mapped the OBi-110's MAC address to the IP address above

AND NOW THE FUN BEGINS

STEP 3:
#1. If you haven't already, purchase the SIP "key" from FPL -- $50.00 plus HST ($56.50)
#2. The e-mail will contain 3 items of info:
1. The Server Name (FPL calls it a "Realm"): voip.freephoneline.ca
2. Your User Name (the FREE DID telephone number you signed up for): 1AAAXXXNNNN (Your Number Goes Here)
3. Your Password (unique to you; this is the SIP "key"): 12345678 (Your Password Goes Here)
#3. Log in to the web configuration for the OBi-110: http://192.168.0.188 using the default admin user name and password

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Please note that in order to change the settings, you need to Uncheck the "Default" box on the right hand side.
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#4. Navigate to "System Management --> Network Settings"

#5. As you see from the screen capture, you need only to enter the "Local Time Zone" -- and this isn't critical to the functioning of the Obi-110 with FPL. It does help if you care about accurate call logs.
#6. Click on "Submit" and you will be prompted to reboot the OBi-110. Go ahead and do so as it takes less than 30 seconds.


STEP 4:
#1. If prompted, log in to the web configuration for the OBi-110: http://192.168.0.188 using the default admin user name and password
#2. Navigate to "Service Providers --> ITSP Profile A --> General"

#3. As you see from the screen capture, you need only to enter the "ITSP Name" Please confirm that "SignalingProtocol" shows "SIP" as the Default.
#4. Click on "Submit" and you will be prompted to reboot the OBi-110. Go ahead and do so.


STEP 5:
#1. If prompted, log in to the web configuration for the OBi-110: http://192.168.0.188 using the default admin user name and password
#2. Navigate to "Service Providers --> ITSP Profile A --> SIP"

#3. As you see from the screen capture, you need only to enter the "ProxyServer" name. Enter "voip.freephoneline.ca" without the quotes.
#4. Click on "Submit" and you will be prompted to reboot the OBi-110. Go ahead and do so.


STEP 6:
#1. If prompted, log in to the web configuration for the OBi-110: http://192.168.0.188 using the default admin user name and password
#2. Navigate to "Voice Services --> SP1 Service --> SIP Credentials"

#3. As you see from the screen capture, you need to enter:
1. The "AuthUserName" which should be your FPL Telephone Number
2. The "AuthPassword" which is the SIP "key" you purchased for $56.50
3. The "Caller ID Name" which is good phone etiquette. The field allows -- and the OBi-110 transmits -- lowercase text.
Note: If you want to block your ID you can do so on a one-off (*67) or persistent basis (*81)

#4. Click on "Submit" and you will be prompted to reboot the OBi-110. Go ahead and do so.


STEP 7:
#1. If prompted, log in to the web configuration for the OBi-110: http://192.168.0.188 using the default admin user name and password
#2. Navigate to "Physical Interfaces --> PHONE Port"

#3. As you see from the screen capture, you only need to change the value for "PrimaryLine" to "SP1 Service" [which should be FPL]
#4. Click on "Submit" and you will be prompted to reboot the OBi-110. Go ahead and do so.

IF EVERYTHING WAS SET UP CORRECTLY PICK UP THE HANDSET AND MAKE A CALL

IF IT WORKS . . . G R E A T !!

IF IT DOESN'T . . . I'M NOT ACCEPTING ANY LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY

REMARKS:
I've made a few calls local to Toronto and a LD call to Montreal and the call quality is superb. A barely noticeable notch below Ma Bell's POTS (or PSTN if you prefer) -- and at unbeatable value !!

I'll stress-test over the next 4 to 6 weeks . . . and if FPL and the OBi-110 both hold up (now I've got to UPS the modem / router / ATA / tel set combo for high availability) I'll make the move to port my Bell land-line and say "Buh Bye" to Ma Bell. All for about $150.00 all-in.

BTW, there's much much more the OBi-110 can do: handle a second SIP / VoIP provider; bridge PSTN and VoIP; call other OBi-110s and OBi-100s on the OBiTALK network (every device has a unique 9-digit number) anywhere, dialing plans, etc. etc. that it'll take me months to exploit even half of its capabilities.

I hope this post helps you if you're looking to purchase and ultimately configure an Obihai OBi-110 or OBi-100 ATA with FPL. Small wonder NerdVittles called the OBi-110 the "2011 VoIP Device of the Year" back in January !!