Service FAQ's - Equipment

What equipment do I need to use OmniTalk service?

What is a router, and do I need one?

What is an ATA?

What types of telephones work with OmniTalk?

What is a Omni Phone?

Can I use someone else’s ATA, Omni Phone or SoftPhone with OmniTalk?

Will my fax machine work with OmniTalk?

Will my answering machine work with OmniTalk?

Do I need my computer to use OmniTalk?

Can I use OmniTalk service if I have a Mac (Macintosh) and/or Linux computer?

Can I use multiple phone extensions with OmniTalk?

Can I take my OmniTalk ATA or Phone with me when I travel? How about a SoftPhone with a USB handset?

Is OmniTalk a cell/mobile/wireless phone service?

Does OmniTalk support modems, TIVO boxes, or DirecTV boxes?

What equipment do I need to use OmniTalk service?

A high speed Internet connection (such as DSL or cable) and a normal telephone are required. OmniTalk will supply you with a small adapter device that connects your telephone to your Internet connection. The adapter device can interconnect with any available Ethernet jack on your home or business network. If there is only a single Ethernet connection on your DSL or cable modem, and your computer is plugged into this connection, you will need to buy an inexpensive gateway/router device in order to share multiple IP devices via the single connection.

What is a router, and do I need one?

A router is a network device that manages the distribution of data to and from multiple devices on your home or office network. Since you will want to use your computer for email or web surfing and use OmniTalk at the same time, you need a router. You have three choices:

1. Your DSL or Cable modem already has a router built into it. In this case, connect your computer to one Ethernet port and your OmniTalk device to the other.
2. You already have a router, to which your computer(s) is (are) connected. Plug your OmniTalk device into one of the other ports. Most recently manufactured network routers work with your OmniTalk service right out of the box. If not, or if you are using an early generation router, usually only minor modification(s) or a firmware download to your router’s setting will need to be done. Settings modifications are usually part of the router’s configuration software and can be reviewed in the router’s instructions. We’re not aware of every router on the market. Therefore, please email us your comments and experiences with different equipment and help us add to our knowledge database.
3. If you need to buy a router, PC Mall.com, Macmall.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. have inexpensive, very reliable ones, and your OmniTalk device will work just fine with any of them.

Note: We recommend DSL/cable web-safe routers that provide NAT and DHCP. OmniTalk will work with most routers available for purchase today, and if you are having trouble with your OmniTalk service on an older model router, we recommend that you download and install the router's latest firmware from the manufacturer's web site.

What is an ATA?

ATA stands for Analog Telephone Adapter. Typical home and single-line office phones, whether corded or cordless, use analog signaling to communicate with your local telephone company’s switch. An ATA takes those analog signals and turns them into VOIP so calls can go out over the Internet.

What types of telephones work with OmniTalk?

Any “regular” touchtone phone in your home or office can be used with your OmniTalk service. Corded or cordless phones work equally well. Digital office phones all have proprietary signaling, and will not work if connected to a OmniTalk device. However, OmniTalk can work with this type of key system or PBX via direct connection to the central “brain” of the phone system.

What is a Omni Phone?

A Omni Phone is a phone that has an ATA built into it, so it natively sends and receives VoIP. The OmniTalk Omni Phone is a 2-line office-type phone, with multiple “soft buttons” that can be configured to transfer calls, access voicemail, do speed dial, etc.

Can I use someone else’s ATA, Omni Phone or SoftPhone with OmniTalk?

No, it is not recommended as it would have to be supported by the OmniTalk platform, and therefore, might not work.

Will my fax machine work with OmniTalk?

Yes, your fax machine should work fine with OmniTalk. Simply connect it to a OmniTalk device in the same way you connect a phone.

Will my answering machine work with OmniTalk?

Remember, your OmniTalk service comes with free, full-featured voicemail. So, you do not need to utilize an answering machine at home. However, if you choose to use a home-based answering machine and your voicemail feature is currently active, remember to turn off the OmniTalk voicemail feature or you may end up with two different greetings playing at the same time!

Do I need my computer to use OmniTalk?

The answer is No if you are using a OmniTalk ATA or Phone to make calls. The answer is Yes if you’re using a SoftPhone with the computer microphone and speakers, a headset or a USB handset.

Can I use OmniTalk service if I have a Mac (Macintosh) and/or Linux computer?

Yes. OmniTalk service and access to your personal OmniTalk Control Panel are completely independent from your computer’s operating system (OS). For OmniTalk, you only need a high-speed Internet connection, and any browser (Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox or Apple’s Safari) can access your Control Panel.

Can I use multiple phone extensions with OmniTalk?

Yes. See the four ways below:

1. The easiest way is to use a cordless phone system that comes with a base unit and extra handsets. Plug the base station into the ATA. Multiple handsets can be placed anywhere in the house.
2. You can purchase a phone line splitter at places like Radio Shack or Best Buy. Connect the single RJ-11 splitter port to the PHONE port of the OmniTalk ATA. Connect two phones (or more, if you have a triple or quad splitter) to the other side of the splitter.
3. You can purchase wireless phone jacks which plug into your household electrical outlets. Connect the base unit to the ATA, and connect extra handsets into the jacks. Please note that only the phone attached to the base unit will display Caller ID information. Although wireless phone jacks will give you multiple extensions, you may periodically experience dropped calls on the extension phones and an inability to talk on more than one phone at a time.

Some of our customers have attached their ATA directly into the existing telephone wiring in their homes, in an attempt to distribute OmniTalk service to all the existing phone jacks in their home. We (and our Omni device manufacturers) do not recommend hooking anything to the ATA other than a single line phone. If you want to try this, you should seek advice and help from an electrician or someone who is familiar with internal telephone wiring. We highly recommend that you check the wiring on the jacks to make sure you don't have live PSTN voltage flowing when you connect your OmniTalk ATA (use a line tester - available at Radio Shack). Be advised that any damage resulting from practices contrary to manufacturer’s recommendations for the ATA will not be covered by warranty.

Can I take my OmniTalk ATA or Phone with me when I travel? How about a SoftPhone with a USB handset?

Yes, you can do any of the above, but the most convenient is undoubtedly a USB handset connected to your computer. An Omni Phone is quite large, and when you’re at a hotel that charges for high-speed Internet access, you’ll need your computer browser to log on and pay for access. An ATA demands a single-line phone wherever you happen to go, and many hotel phones are digital, office-style handsets which won’t work with the ATA.

Is OmniTalk a cell/mobile/wireless phone service?

No, it’s not. OmniTalk is a phone service that uses the Internet to make and receive calls. However, you can use a traditional cordless household telephone connected to a OmniTalk device.

Does OmniTalk support modems, TIVO boxes, or DirecTV boxes?

Yes, OmniTalk service does support TIVO, Direct TV, home security systems, or any other application that uses a phone line.