Ok, Jon00 has gotten me hooked on getting up with the times and purchasing a VOIP device. When I spoke to him through X-Lite, using his FWD phone number, a couple days ago (From Florida to England) the conversation was AMAZINGLY clear, no lag, no artifacts and absolutely free).
I have fiddled around with computer to computer calls with software in the past, as just about everyone else has. This next step is amazing though! It allows you, for instance to pick up a regular cordless phone plugged into the adapter, get a dial tone, and dial a number, where in turn it rings on the other end, exactly as a regular phone would work. This is limited by the person on the other end having either VIOP hardware, or a "softphone" installed on the PC. With the amount of Cable/DSL users being VERY high on this BB, this will work for most people here, for free.
I KNOW this is not news to many of you out there, as I am late getting on the bandwagon with this one, but for others that are not familiar with this, it is really worth checking out!
The place to start is HERE. You sign up, and they will issue you a "Phone Number". Then by simply setting up your phone number in the hardware/software of your choice, you are ready to go. Anyone then can dial that number and your phone/softphone will ring.
Ok, now for the request for assistance
I am currently using a "soft phone", which is just a software version that runs on your computer. I am using X-Lite, which is a free program for VOIP dialing. Jon is using a hardware device that connects to his broadband router, and allows you to plug in any standard telephone.
I am looking for recommendations, on what type of device to get. Cost is a factor here, and would like to keep it around the $30-$50 range. Doing a search for VOIP on google ect, turns up a LOT of "false hits", and its hard to find what I am looking for. What type of hardware/ Network adapters are others out there using? I am looking for a device that will just plug into my router, and then can plug in a standard phone into that.
I have fiddled around with computer to computer calls with software in the past, as just about everyone else has. This next step is amazing though! It allows you, for instance to pick up a regular cordless phone plugged into the adapter, get a dial tone, and dial a number, where in turn it rings on the other end, exactly as a regular phone would work. This is limited by the person on the other end having either VIOP hardware, or a "softphone" installed on the PC. With the amount of Cable/DSL users being VERY high on this BB, this will work for most people here, for free.
I KNOW this is not news to many of you out there, as I am late getting on the bandwagon with this one, but for others that are not familiar with this, it is really worth checking out!
The place to start is HERE. You sign up, and they will issue you a "Phone Number". Then by simply setting up your phone number in the hardware/software of your choice, you are ready to go. Anyone then can dial that number and your phone/softphone will ring.
Ok, now for the request for assistance

I am currently using a "soft phone", which is just a software version that runs on your computer. I am using X-Lite, which is a free program for VOIP dialing. Jon is using a hardware device that connects to his broadband router, and allows you to plug in any standard telephone.
I am looking for recommendations, on what type of device to get. Cost is a factor here, and would like to keep it around the $30-$50 range. Doing a search for VOIP on google ect, turns up a LOT of "false hits", and its hard to find what I am looking for. What type of hardware/ Network adapters are others out there using? I am looking for a device that will just plug into my router, and then can plug in a standard phone into that.