Obihai OBi200 1-Port VoIP Adapter with Google Voice and Fax Support for Home and SOHO Phone Service, Black

Don't be fooled by skeptics. I recently canceled my overpriced cable television service. internet- I upgraded my phone service, switched to fiber optic internet, and signed up for YouTube TV. Better channels, faster speeds, and a lower price were all appealing, but I also required home phone service. The Obihai makes his appearance. Despite what some reviews claim, you can get a FREE phone service that allows you to make and receive calls over the internet if you set things up correctly. br>br>Here's what I didn't know before setting up my new Obi200 that I wish I had known. This may appear to be a significant amount of work, but it is only a few minutes. br>br>1 - If you're looking for a unique way to express yourself, try using the words "innov Use your Google account to set up your Google Voice number in advance. * Despite what it appears to be, the Obi setup process does not assign a GV number - And, strangely enough, you'll be able to make outgoing calls without one by simply linking your Google account (which the Obi setup process DOES). Due to the lack of a phone number, those outgoing calls will not have caller ID. 2. br>br>1. br>br>br>br>br>br a* - IMPORTANT NOTE: You must assign your GV number to an existing cell phone number for call forwarding, as that is how GV works. Don't worry; you'll be able to unlink this later. 2. br>br>1. br>br>br>br>br>br b (opportunity) - The cell phone to which you assign the GV number must not already be associated with another GV number, which is what I wanted to do - If you only have one GV number, this section might not apply to you. I used a different Google account to get a new GV number dedicated to the Obi, and I assigned that new GV number to my wife's cell phone when I set it up, because I already have a personal GV number that rings on my work cell phone. (This, too, will be disabled in a subsequent step. ) )br>br>3 - If you're looking for a unique way to express yourself, try using the words "innovative So, you have a GV number now. Connect your Obi to the Obihai website and complete the new account setup process, which includes entering some Obi unit numbers and linking the Google account associated with your GV number. It's quite simple. br>br>4 - If you're looking for a unique way to express yourself, try using the words "innov STEP ONE ESSENTIAL - You can now make and receive calls, but not both! Because GV forwards calls to your cell phone, this is the case. Remember that we need to disconnect the cell phone number, and now is the time to do so. Open a web browser and go to Google Voice. The GV app isn't one of them. Only a web browser is required to make the necessary adjustments. Look for the LEGACY Google Voice link, which should be near the bottom of the left-hand menu. sidebar on the right You must use the older settings rather than the newer ones. You'll see the devices associated with your GV number once you've entered legacy settings. One will be your Obi (mine appears twice for some reason), and the other will be the phone number you used to sign up for Google Voice. UNCHECK the box next to the phone number you'd like to block. The settings will be saved. (You can set up email notifications for voice messages here as well. ) )br>br>5 - )br>br> You can now use your Obi to make and receive calls with your new GV number for free (aside from the Obi unit's cost). ) You might want to add 911 service or investigate Obihai's other premium services, but those aren't covered in this review. br>br>6 - If you're looking for a unique way to express yourself, try using the words "innov Oh, and here's the review in its entirety: br>br>Now that I've figured out the GV settings, everything works as it should. I was about to return it out of frustration, but I'm glad I persevered; however, I deducted one star for the company's limited support and the voice quality on my Panasonic cordless phones, which is acceptable but not crystal clear. Despite the additional steps required to get it to work properly, I highly recommend the Obi200 as a low-cost way to get VOIP phone service and avoid overpriced bundles from the phone or cable companies.

Magnus Rich

| Jun 08, 2021

I'm just giving you a heads up so you don't make the same mistake I did. These don't work anymore. What I mean is that their system won't let you add the device to the dashboard, and you won't be able to do anything with it until it's added, which is impossible. This is your final warning, I'll repeat. Purchasing is not recommended.

Kai Krause

| Jun 14, 2021

You can switch from a Verizon mobile home station to Google Voice and then to Obitalk. The Obitalk adapter box is a fantastic invention that allows you to make and receive free phone calls in the United States while maintaining your existing landline number. All you'll need is a Google Voice account (to create an internet IP address) and an Obitalk device with an Obitalk account (to convert internet signal to handset audio). There is a one-time $20 Google port fee, after which there are no additional fees unless you choose to purchase Obtitalk's advanced 911 service. Be aware that your Verizon cell phone service will be automatically terminated following the port. br>br>My story and how to switch from Verizon home base to Obitalk/Google voice for completely free "landline" phone calling with a fixed number. We cut the landline cord about two years ago to save over $40 per month in Frontier landline costs for a phone we were using less and less but for which we'd had that landline number for years. You know, the number that is embedded in so many places that you don't even consider who might have it. We converted that landline to a Verizon mobile home station, which is essentially a cellular phone base with antennae that connects to your house handsets to turn them into mobile phones, so we wouldn't miss the occasional useful phone call that would come to that established number. You simply pay Verizon for a second cell line, which in our family plan cost $20.

Spin forward a couple of years and honestly over 95% of phone calls to the house are now just spam. The remaining 5% are older relatives who do not know how to call our cell phone numbers. However, following a costly sewer repair, we decided to cut out all unnecessary expenses, and the $20 monthly charge for that home base cell line was the first to go. However. Hubby was still afraid of losing our connection to the old house phone number. To keep that number for free, I did some internet research and used this obitalk unit with Google Voice. There is no cost. br>br>Because any "how to" in Google Voice, Verizon, or Obitalk isn't really clear, I'll go over how to convert a landline that was already ported to a Verizon "Home Solution PDI" cellular base to now port it to Google Voice and Obitalk for free "landline" calling in the US while keeping an old house number below. WARNING: br>br> Before you can port, you'll need a Verizon PIN for that home base cell line, which you can get by logging into your Verizon account and setting up if you haven't already. You should receive a verification text on your phone. Once that's done, you can switch to Google Voice in a matter of minutes, and your Verizon cell phone will be automatically disconnected once the port is finished. Until the Google Voice/Obitalk conversion is complete, you will be unable to make or receive phone calls. STEPSbr>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br>br> At voice. google, go to Settings/Account. To add a new phone number, go to com. (If you don't already have a Google account/gmail, create one now. ) Enter your home phone number as the phone number you want Google Voice to use (this is the number that will be ported from your Verizon cell phone). Fill out the Google Voice menu form, stating your Verizon provider and, I believe, your account number (the number you're porting). For that home line number, you'll need to verify it with your Verizon PIN. It takes about 24 to 48 hours for that number to be ported to Google Voice (note that I didn't need to set up any "new" Google Voice number to forward to, nor did I need to create a new Google account). I just used my existing Gmail account to log in. Then I chose to make my home phone number (currently my Verizon cellular number) my Google Voice number. For me, Google Voice only knows that number. )br>br>2. )br>br>3. )br>br>4. ) Turn off your Verizon home phone cell base after you receive an email notification from Google Voice that your home phone number has been ported (mine took about 24 hours). This will prevent your efforts from being sabotaged. After that, you must visit Obitalk. To create an account, visit com and fill out the registration form. (It's best if you sign into Obitalk with your Google account. ) br>br>3. I used the same gmail account. br>br> After that, connect your obitalk device to the power source and set it up. Connect your phone to the Obitalk device with a phone cord, and then connect the Obitalk unit to your computer via ethernet. Your phone has been charged and is now connected to the internet. This handset will be used to follow the Obitalk instructions by dialing a code that will be sent to the Obitalk servers via your internet connection. Then, on the Obitalk menu system, you must follow the steps. When you get to the fill in section, type in your device serial number and choose "admin" as your password; you'll need to change it once you've completed the activation through the Obitalk account page. br>br>When this is finished, the Obitalk server will notify you. Because I wasn't expecting a password for the admin, it took me three tries to get through the system before it timed out. (I tried a few things from my Verizon account before going back to the old standby "admin," which worked. ) and later Obitalk website documentation stated that this is the default. )br>br>4. Now is the time to put your phone system to the test. The one we used was ideal. Calls in. He raises his voice. At Google Voice and Obitalk, we didn't have anything else to do. I meticulously recorded all of the sign-in email addresses and passwords, as well as my admin code and other vital website information. I printed the Obitalk page, which included all of the activation and device configuration information. I didn't try any special effects at this point. I was ecstatic to have my old landline number transferred to a Verizon home phone cell base, get rid of that $20 cell line, and now have completely free "landline" calling in the United States. br>br>I believe that the Obitalk unit is a fantastic idea. If Google Voice ever starts charging for the service, we'll probably just bury that old number because by that time, everyone, including doctors' offices, should be calling our phones. br>br>Wishing you the best of luck with your unit. br>br>UPDATE 5/28/2019: THE HANDSET ANSWER MACHINE HAS BEEN ADDED. We've had the unit up and running for a few days now. For my Panasonic basic hand sets with one base/answering machine and one extension, I discovered that I needed to turn off "let Google screen phone calls" and let the calls go straight to pick up. (To see that setting in "general settings," you may need to go to "Legacy View" in Google Voice. ) "I then set my answering machine to pick up after three rings, rather than the default of five rings on Google Voice. " That allowed me to pick up calls with a handset or direct them to my answering machine; however, Google Voice will now only pick up if I am on the phone and neither my answering machine nor my handset picks up. I then set up Google Voice to send me text messages whenever I received a voicemail or missed a call, as well as a desk top alert on my PC. Whew. That, I believe, concludes my remarks. br>br>Please be aware that you CANNOT make a 911 call using Google Voice; if you want to do so, you must sign up for Obitalk's service for a monthly fee (which is relatively low).

George Lindsey

| Sep 09, 2021

br>br>Plugged it in, hooked it up, echo test works fine. Everything is correct on my end. The issue arises when you try to add the device on OBI's website and actually use the service. It involves dialing a number that should trigger their server to connect to the device. I have tried it several times and it keeps timing out and refusing to connect. It's a known issue with their server, they told me. When asked when the problem will be fixed, they stated that they are aware of the issue and that their engineers are working on a solution. Understand that this has been going on for a while, and the only solution they could offer was for me to try it over and over until it worked. According to the representative, it can take ten times or 100 times. br>br>To put it another way, this company keeps selling a product that doesn't work. They expect you to keep trying to get the product to work and hoping for the best; if you have hours and hours to spend trying to connect this thing, buy it; if not, find another solution.

Myles Cardenas

| Dec 13, 2021